Ant (Aphaenogaster) carrying young crab spider (Thomisidae) as prey back to nest

Phymata Fasciata is a species of ambush bug in the family Reduviidae. It is found in Central America and North America. It is shorter and stouter than its assassin bug cousins, being only about 1 inch long. Most are brightly colored, in shades of yellow, orange, red and greenish-yellow. View more insects on the Coal…

Melanotus is a genus of click beetles in the family Elateridae. There are at least 30 described species in Melanotus. They are famous for the noise they make when they need to make a hasty escape from a predator. A stiff spine on the anterior (belly) side of the beetle snaps with great force, propelling…

American Giant Millipedes are large terrestrial animals that inhabit forests and agricultural areas of eastern North America. Active in spring through fall, they can be found under rocks, rotting logs, leaf litter, and other decaying plant material. These millipedes are primarily nocturnal, preferring dark and damp areas where they spend most of their time foraging,…

Camel crickets, despite their name, are related to katydids rather than crickets. But unlike their cousins that sing to attract mates, camel crickets are largely silent. Instead they likely use smells and vibrations to communicate. Although, much of this is speculation, since the behavior of most species remains a mystery! American Bird Grasshopper Banded Pennant…

Nearly 1,000 species of click beetle inhabit the US, and eyed click beetles are among the largest. They have two large eyespots, surely for protection against predators, as eyespots in other insects. But the eyespots of eyed click beetles are unique. They absorb 96% of light, nearly ‘super black’, and much more than most blacks…