Ponerine ant (Ponerini)
Ponerine ants like this live their lives in forest soils and feed on other arthropods.
Ponerine ants like this live their lives in forest soils and feed on other arthropods.
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)
The Chinese Mantis is a long, slender, brown and green praying mantis. It is typically longer than other praying mantis species reaching just over 11 cm (4.3 in), and it is the largest mantis species in North America. Its color can vary from overall green to brown with a green lateral stripe on the borders…
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…
This is a mournfulthyrsi, a colorful, day-flying moth found in forests throughout the eastern US. As caterpillars, they feed only on the leaves ofgreenbrier (Smilax), a thorny vine that often irritates hikers. It’s fun to associate an attractive day-flying moth like this with the thorny plant that many curse. European hornet (Vespa crabo) flying back…
We believe this is a Marasmius Siccus, though it may be a Marasmius Fulvoferrugineus. It is quite small in person. To see more of the mushrooms at Coal Creek, click here.
Scuttle flies are likely among the most ecologically diverse families of all arthropods. The diversity of habits is staggering. Although some scuttle flies specialize on ants, even killing them in interesting ways, these individuals are likely just seeking to snack on an already-dead ant, before scuttling on their way Female tiny parasitic wasp (Eupelmidae) with…