This wasp is about two millimeters long and easily mistaken for a tiny ant. They are fast runners and can jump readily with a unique method of contorting the body. This female is looking for insect eggs, which act as a perfect host for her own eggs. This species likely utilizes stink bugs as hosts.
Something comical about other animals experiencing the struggles of our human lives. Here a collared ant is dragging a dead carpenter ant back to its nest, when the claws of the dead ant get stuck on the bark. There’s something cathartic and endearing about the ensuing struggle. American Bird Grasshopper Banded Pennant Forcepfly (Merope tuber)…
This ant is bringing a young crab spider back to its nest. Spiders, many of which are soft-bodied and poorly defended, are often easy prey for ants. American Bird Grasshopper Banded Pennant Collared ant (Aphaenogaster) pulling carpenter ant (Camponotus) – gets stuck Forcepfly (Merope tuber)
This is a southern devil scorpion. They inhabit the southern Appalachian region and are the only scorpion that lives east of the Mississippi River, except for three species in Florida and surrounding areas. Like most scorpions, they have two eyes in the middle of their ‘head’ area, but also have ‘lateral eyes’. This species has…
Collared ants are common woodland inhabitants and feed on a variety of arthropods. Here, a worker is dragging a dead carpenter ant back to the nest to feed the young. Battles among ants are common, but many ants scavenge on dead insects as well, which is likely what is going on here. American Bird Grasshopper…
In the TN woods, you can find all kinds of surprises, like this Copperhead.
Salt is actually a rare resource in most of nature. Many insects, such as this flower fly, are acquire salt primarily from vertebrate bodies, such as urine, sweat, or tears. Here, this fly is lapping sweat from the arm of an entomologist who appreciates its beauty. Female tiny parasitic wasp (Eupelmidae) with an interesting jumping…