Insect of the week (May 26, 2025)
Our insect of the week is Promachus hinei Bromley, 1931 [DIPTERA: Asilidae]. It is a member of the same family we examined last week (the genus Laphria). Adult robber flies are often fast and loud. They capture other flying insects. This species often hangs from...
Insect of the week (May 19, 2025)
Our insect of the week is Laphria thoracica Fabricius, 1805 [DIPTERA: Asilidae]. As you can see in this stacked photograph, it resembles a common eastern bumblebee (which it often eats). Although not common, it can be found in central Illinois from late May through...
Insect of the week (May 12, 2025)
We next turn our attention to the insect order Diptera (the true flies). I plan to spend a number of weeks on these insects. Obviously you are familiar with the blood suckers (such as mosquitos, deer flies, horse flies and black flies). There are roughly 120,000...
Insect of the week (May 5, 2025)
Our insect of the week is Feniseca tarquinius (Fabricius, 1793). [LEPIDOPTERA: Lycaenidae] This is a most interesting butterfly. Commonly called the harvester butterfly, it is the only carnivorous butterfly in North America. Larvae feed on various species of aphids....
Insect of the week (April 28, 2025)
Our insect of the week for April 28, 2025 is the promethea silkworm moth, Callosamia promethea [LEPIDOPTERA: Saturniidae]. It is also known as the spicebush silkmoth because caterpillars prefer to eat the leaves of spicebush. You often see cocoons hanging from host...
Insect of the week (April 21, 2025)
Our insect of the week for April 21, 2025 is the snowberry clearwing moth, Hemaris diffinis [LEPIDOPTERA: Sphingidae]. It is so names because adults lose the majority of scales on their wings shortly after they emerge from the pupal stage due to their very active...
Insect of the week (April 14, 2025)
Our insect of the week for April 14, 2025 is the luna moth, Actias luna [LEPIDOPTERA: Saturniidae]. This is one of the larger moths in North America. Adults have been observed in central Illinois as early as late April (which is why we are discussing them now). As a...
Insect of the week (April 7, 2025)
Our insect of the week for April 7, 2025 is the eight-spotted forester moth, Alypia octomaculata [LEPIDOPTERA: Noctuidae]. It can be found throughout eastern North America. These are often encountered in where open areas meet woodlands. Adults are often active during...
Insect of the week (March 31, 2025)
Our insect of the week (March 31, 2025) is the owlfly, Ululodes macleayanus [NEUROPTERA: Ascalaphidae]. This species was first described in 1823. It is found in North, Central, and South America. Adults are easily recognized by their knobbed antennae and bulging eyes....
Peoria approximella (a moth named in New York for Peoria, IL). Photo of Michigan specimen courtesy Jim Vargo (used with permission).