Jonny's Insect Catalogue

Beewolf Wasp - Philanthus gibbosus

These fierce fliers return to the blog, so pollinators must take caution... at least when the Beewolves aren't foraging (and pollinating) for themselves.

Spongy Moth Caterpillar, pupal and egg casings - Lymantria dispar (formerly Gypsy Moth)

With today's post, this blog can faithfully share even more examples of Spongy Moth Caterpillars that have been observed around Toronto. Upon reviewing the prior posts of this species, although there has been a fair distribution between the adult Moths, the remains of their pupal casings, and spongy egg cases diligently placed on concealed surfaces by the females, the Caterpillar activity hasn't been as conspicuous. To me, this has interesting to ponder over as I wonder if it's simply been that I haven't been able to find any Caterpillars. Alternatively, are there other factors at play here to consider? There just might be. While I cannot speak for Ontario as whole, but I am aware that aerial pesticide spraying has been implemented in Toronto and its surrounding areas in order to combat Spongy Moth numbers in an effort to control their populations. It sounds drastic, and can even have downstream effects on other insect populations caught in the crossfire, and even plant life. Since the Caterpillars are generalist feeders with an inclination to defoliate trees should they aggregate and their numbers become out of control, sometimes such a measure can be seen as needed if other methods of biological control aren't effective. Despite their presence in North America (as a whole) for over 100 years, ecosystems may need a bit more time and fine-tuning in order to keep the invasive Spongy Moth populations of North America (seemingly Canada more so) in check, without the need for human intervention. The Spongy Moth doesn't just stand about and roll over, however.

In order to increase its chances of survival, this hardy Caterpillar species has a body coated with irritating hairs. Mileage may vary on the potential rashes and itchiness which can occur through contact, but I recommend not handling them with bare hands. Especially since the hairs are prevalent throughout the Caterpillar stage. By the look of it, this individual has at least one more instar to grow into (it lacks the full red and blue coloration along its dorsal side), so those hairs were likely to remain in use for a bit longer as a defense while crawling about in the daylight. To otherwise avoid detection from predators, prying eyes, and aerial pesticide sprays, these Caterpillars can hide in wooden crevices and darkened areas until the nighttime hours arrive. To my understanding, this behavior is more prominent in larger Caterpillars, as Spongy Moth Caterpillars feed during the day when in the initial stages of their life cycle, and then switch to nocturnal feeding in the latter stages. Those same crevices and hollows come in handy when it becomes time to pupate and complete metamorphosis into its adult stage. Not only are those locations good for hiding, but they also allow the female Spongy Moth to conserve her energy for laying her mass of eggs in a location which is already suitable, rather than walking to another location. Case in point, among Pictures 7-10, take note of how close the pupal case remnants are to the overwintered egg mass. One of the mother Moths didn't need to move very far.

Dunning's Miner Bee - Andrena dunningi

Over the last few weeks on this blog, I've made a concerted effort to intermittently showcase and describe several varieties of Bees to revitalize this particular branch of insects. Perhaps it's because there are so many insect orders to cover from all the photography, but over the last while, I've felt that the Bees had fallen to the wayside at the expense of other insects. It's a shame too, as this insect clade is quite expansive and features all manner of eusocial (colony-founding) and solitary species, each with their own noteworthy traits and behaviors. This particular post features a species of solitary Bee that can be found on both flower and soil, but is usually more noticed when foraging around the former. And as a generalist forager, a Dunning's Miner Bee has plenty of suitable flowers to choose from for gathering nectar and pollen. As is with other solitary Bees, female Andrenid Bees will gather pollen as a provision for their future progeny in addition to potentially eating it themselves. However, unlike Bumblebees (among other Bees) which have specialized pollen baskets, more technically known as corbiculae, on their legs to store pollen pellets, female Dunning's Miner Bees have a different transportation strategy for loose pollen. Actually, Andrena Bees employ a pollen-carrying strategy which is of a similar method to Leaf-Cutting Bees. The tools of choice for both varieties of Bee are scopae (hairs, plural of scopa) which can hold and carry pollen.

While female Leaf-Cutting Bees have array of scopae arranged in rows underneath their abdomen for holding balled-up plant fibers and pollen, Mining Bees instead have layers of scopae on their legs. If you look closely at Picture 1, you may notice that our Bee friend in this post has her hindlegs swollen with yellow, dusty pollen. The gathered material she has amassed is like 2 full-to-bursting grocery bags clinging to her body. What a haul! The dry pollen collected will serve as bountiful provision for her future offspring once they hatch after sometime has passed from the mother Bee sealing them underground (the newest Mining Bees won't emerge as adults until next spring). The collected pollen is mixed with nectar and left in suitable quantities within each underground brood cell containing an egg (20-30 eggs on average). In addition to the hindlegs, many Andrena Bee species also have conspicuous amounts of scopae lining the rear portion of their thorax which can provide greater pollen storage during foraging. However, a mother Miner Bee must carefully manage the load of pollen (and nectar) that she brings with her back to the nest, as all that additional matter can greatly impact weight, and thusly affect takeoff, sustained flight, and maneuverability. Such encumberment isn't unique to this branch of Bees as even Bee families with pollen baskets, such as Honeybees, also have to account for additional weight while traveling from flower to flower throughout the day.

Brown-Belted Bumblebee - Bombus griseocollis

Although identification of this insect looks simple at first, there are a few nuances to be aware of in order to make sure that you have the right Bumblebee. It can be tempting to call every rotund Bombus species with brown patterning on its abdomen a Brown-Belted Bumblebee, but it's also the insects with a little brown patch on their second abdominal segment which can be called "Brown-Belted". There are a handful of Bombus Bees with variable colorations of brown on their abdomen, with one of the most iconic examples being the Rusty Patched Bumblebee (B. affinis). The arrangement of brown coloration is more substantial compared to the typical brown belt arrangement seen here, and it is bordered by yellow hairs along the abdomen. Consider yourself lucky if you find one. Other Bumblebees with more diverse hair coloration along their abdomens, such as the Red-Belted Bumblebee (B. rufocinctus), might also be confused for the Brown-Belt if a color variation occurred, but the abdominal hairs of the former tend to be more prominent along the segments. Hopefully these brief example demonstrate the important of not jumping to conclusions so quickly. Even with this individual, the shadow of the Bee's wings actually creates the illusion of more brown coloration on segment 2 than is typical. As such it's important to be aware of other identifying characteristics to be certain.

In terms of what to look for, Bugguide has outlined the traits succinctly: black wings, black head without additional coloration, short and dense hairs on thorax, and (of course) the brown hairs on the second segment of the Bee's abdomen. All these diagnostic indicators can be seen here, and since this individual lacks oversized eyes, such as those found in male Eastern Carpenter Bees, we have a female Bee here. Furthermore, given her large size and where I found her, I have reason to believe she is not a worker, and might actually be a new queen! She's among the largest Brown-Belted Bee individual I've seen, and was found stuck between the garden shed's window and mesh. Actually, she'd been there for a few months since last year, so it's possible that she hid in that spot in order to keep safe until warm weather returned. However, I assumed that the Bee had became stuck and perished before the frost arrived, as that is a fate many insects caught in the mesh have succumbed to before. As 2026's backyard went on, I took notice and saw that her antennae were moving and her legs were stirring. She was alive! She made it through the winter, but now she was stuck with no sign of an entrance or exit in the mesh. The mesh was cut with an Exacto knife to free her and a good stick allowed her to climb out! Unfortunately, when I placed her on high branches using the stick, she beat her wings furiously, but plummeted to the ground twice. Without warmth, her muscles weren't ready and she was seemingly low on strength, as she otherwise appeared healthy. She was remedied by placing her on mossy stones beaming with sunlight, and in less than 10 minutes, she successfully took flight and buzzed away.

Shiny Blue Bottle Fly - Cynomya cadaverina

In theory, I would sincerely like to have Blowfly species and individuals with green exoskeletons and blue exoskeletons in equal amounts. In practice, however, previous posts on the blog provide more than enough of a case that I've had more luck in finding Greenbottle Flies. They've been photographed darting about the bounty of nature, in the front and back yard flower beds, and around the neighborhood flying in circles and landing on various leavings. For the lattermost choice of environment, that's just what Blowflies prefer and what they are well-equipped to make the most of; decaying matter, open wounds, and moist filth are the perfect environments for them to obtain nutrients, mingle with other individuals, and lay eggs. Today's Shiny Blue Bottle Fly does not make any exceptions for these preferences, and if flowers don't get its attention, expired animals and carrion sources certainly will. As for what this individual was doing, it was likely keeping itself warm through some sunning during a cool beginning of spring, much like the spring (of 2026) that Toronto has been experiencing from mid April to today. Although chilly, this species seems to have a slightly better temperature tolerance to cold compared to its relatives which (on average) emerge later on towards May or June. With early spring temperatures not being as much of an issue for this Fly species, it can gain early access to plenty of thawed out decaying matter which was previously buried by winter!

The adult Flies will actually overwinter as adults in North America (or Ontario at the least), so when enough warmth returns, this species will fan out from its hiding spots and immediately seek carrion or dung before other Flies become active. Not only does this behavior manifest in the spring, but also in the autumn. The generation of Flies sired in the spring will give rise to may more generations throughout the year leading into summer, and then to the colder stretches of autumn. With their cold tolerance, the last surviving adults can remain a bit more active and locate ripening, sugary fruits to sustain themselves until it becomes time to overwinter and repeat the cycle. Fascinating! As for how to tell this species apart from some of its North American relatives, it benefits to closely look at the thorax for the presence of a dark-blue middle-stripe and not so much of an iridescent sheen (the abdomen will be more pronounced) on its darker thorax. The face of this Fly will possess some reddish-brown coloration, and it will be larger-sized as well. With regards to the abdomen, the form and bristle density should be consist. Although this species is named for the striking and illuminating azure coloration of its abdomen, some individuals may possess dull blue or even dull green coloration. As such, the other characteristics have to observed too, and also the presence of white lobes near the margin of the wing (calypters) towards the thorax. With wings that feature a greyer tint, these structures can admittedly be harder to spot compared to the lobes of their Greenbottle relatives.

Hermit Flower Beetle - Osmoderma eremicola

Here's a blast from the past; this robust and leathery Beetle was among the many insects uploaded during the blog's early days. I hoped to find another live specimen during my years of photography, but the only living individual I've been able to find so far was the one from 2017. It really wanted to ascend the backyard's black locust tree (seen in these pictures), and in retrospect, it was probably climbing in search of a mate or a location to lay eggs since (for the latter) this insect prefers to oviposit in rotten or decaying wood. Considering how this tree's health declined over the years after taking these photos and needed to be cut down, I am inclined to believe this Beetle has a reproductive-related objective here. Moreover, it's not the only insect who favored this old tree as an egg-depositing site for future developing larvae. However, there is always the possibility that it was simply looking for food. Although fading trees may be suitable egg-laying locations, the most fruitful place for a Hermit Flower Beetle's larvae to grow are in the hollows of old logs and decaying stumps. This way, after hatching they can feed and metamorphose at their leisure until the moist parts of the interior tree wood are gone. Interestingly, the presence of Hermit Flower Beetle larvae within the interiors of rotting wood is so exemplary that the species, and other Osmoderma Beetles, are considered an indicator species.

In essence, the presence of this Beetle's larvae allow ecologists and scientists to assess the quality of an environment and any changes therein. Particularly, the conditions which affect tree-dwelling Beetles, including the many species of Borer Beetles. With regards to Hermit Flower Beetle larvae themselves, they are similar in appearance to May Beetle larvae, including possessing a characteristic "C-shaped" body featuring white or creamy-yellow coloration. However, when comparing those two varieties of larvae, Hermit Flower Beetle larvae appear to be bulkier and more uniform in shape along the entire body, with a head coloration of brownish-red, rather than orange. This sounds very straightforward, but this description could apply to any number of Scarab Beetle larvae as a whole. If you were to find such insect individuals, it might be a good idea to monitor them within their habitat (with minimal disturbance) and observe where their metamorphosis takes them in order to successfully identify the Beetles which emerge. Once transformed into the adult form, you might expect the Hermit Flower Beetle to venture to sources of fruit in order to fulfill its dietary needs. While that's true, fallen fruit is probably the best fit if the adults emerge in the late summer to early autumn, rather than ripening fruit. Tree sap might be on the menu too, but such feeding activity during the day expose them to tree-dwelling insectivores such as birds and rodents. With a dark-colored shell, nocturnal life suits them better, and they are apparently drawn to light sources in a similar manner as many May Beetles are.

Flat-tailed Leafcutter Bee - Megachile mendica (very likely)

If you thought that this blog ran out of novel and interesting Bees to cover, here's one more species to add to the catalogue. Looking at these images in retrospect, I really wish that at the time I was skilled enough to take photos which better highlight the front of this insect. While the rear and dorsal side of this side are well represented, a more comprehensive view of the head, face, mandibles, and antennae would have gone a long way in aiding with this inconspicuous Leafcutter Bee's identification. In particular for this species, as well as many other Bees in the genus Megachile, it has an array of hairs adorning its face, and although you can make out a lot of them across the images of this individual, a frontal view would've better showcased the hair's color, density and fineness. That also goes for the whitish rings of hair around this Bee's thorax. Such as it is when you're looking back at older images and you realize that this Bee may have continued to turn away in order to have a solid escape plan if the camera and its operator were to get too close. All kidding aside, that's a useful mindset for an insect to have if it lacks any immediately visible defenses to counter an approaching threat. For this particular individual, it will have to rely on strong flight and predators having a prior association of stings from the females, or other similar-looking Bees, as defensive measures, as it is actually a male Bee.

The best characteristics, or lack thereof, that inform us that this Bee is a male, rather than a female, are the shape and proportions of its abdomen. From the images that I've seen, female Flat-tailed Bees have an abdomen which bulges out a bit on the sides while also tapering to a defined tip towards the end, like a small Wasp. The aforementioned tip will have copious sensory hairs which are positioned upright. The male Bees by comparison, as can be gleamed from these images, have a broad and squared-off abdomen with a flattened rear end which lacks the upright hairs. Finally, there is one more key observation which also helps make the distinction between females and males of many other species of Leafcutter Bees too. The underside of a female Flat-tail Bee's abdomen always houses row upon row of golden scopae (hairs, plural of scopa) on the underside of their abdomen which transport and hold (with assistance from the legs) collected pollen and fibers during flights back to the nest. Although faint, an example of these hairs can be seen in this post featuring an Oblong Woolcarder Bee. Despite this insect's small size, the array of golden hairs would be easily visible. Especially given that all pictures here are of this Bee's backside. I suppose it was useful in the long run to photograph this behavior, though I would've still liked to share a frontal view here. In any case, since the male Bee's primary objectives are to stay healthy, and secure a mate, it doesn't need scopae. Meanwhile females make great use of them to carry materials back to their nest for egg provisioning and retaining warmth. Therefore, we find this male locking for pollen and nectar from these black-eyed susans (a popular choice for our yard's myriad pollinators).

Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee - Agapostemon virescens

These gorgeous metallic green insects return for a blog post once again after a long hiatus. For those curious as to why, identification is very particular for the 4 Agapostemon species which call Ontario home, and after the last time I spoke about such a sweat-loving insect, there couldn’t be any second-guessing done this time. As such, I’m fairly confident that the delightful Bee featured scurrying about these echinacea flowers is a Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee thanks to its brown-colored wings, dark legs, and a noticeable lack of dense hairs on its thorax. The Silky Striped Sweat Bee (A. sericeus) was also in consideration at the start, but quickly ruled out as the females of that species have an exoskeleton coated entirely in an iridescent green shell. The males are a closer match, but the abdomen shape is more cylindrical, features an additional segment, and features prominent stripes of yellow, rather than white banding. Considering that information, it would benefit to remember this when observing and attempting to identify striped Sweat Bees using live specimens or pictures. The abdomen banding colors mentioned above seems to be ubiquitous across many of the North American Agapostemon Sweat Bees: the female Bees that feature banding or prominent hairs on their abdomen usually sport white coloration. Meanwhile the banding of a male Bee’s abdomen will feature yellow, or milky-yellow coloration in addition to a longer, more cylindrical abdomen (as mentioned above) which lacks a stinger. Based on the aforementioned characteristics, it’s likely safe to say that the green and striped individual walking along these echinaceas a Bicolored Bee, and it is also a female individual.

It’s quite fortunate that this Sweat Bee is one such species that is relatively straightforward to identify given the sheer magnitude of Bees to choose from. Specifically, those within the family Halictidae, which is technically composed of many subfamilies beyond Sweat Bees, those of which are sorted into the subfamily Halictinae, alongside Furrow Bees. This is just to say that even though Sweat Bees are just a branch within a larger family, there are may species to potentially find and observe. Furthermore, many species of Sweat Bee feature iridescent exoskeletons, which can make identification without more distinctive traits more difficult. It is for that reason why I’ve been more cautious when attempting to identify all-green, metallic Bees. While researching potential methods of more efficiently identifying North American Sweat Bees, I stumbled onto the tribe of Augochlorini, and the numerous genera within (around 30 worldwide, many are tropical). Based on the image finds, without a keen eye and some very close observations, particularly around the head of the insect, one would be forgiven if a Pure Green Sweat Bee was confused with A. sericus. Fortunately, there is no confusion with today’s Bee, and we can observe it with confidence. If you’re observing one in the wild, there’s little danger in getting close to them as the species is skittish and isn’t keen to sting, with the sting itself being fairly weak. For those curious, Justin Schmidt rates the sting pain of Sweat Bees in his book a 1 (out of 4). While weak, that’s no reason to provoke a Bee.

Conifer Seed Bug - Leptoglossus occidentalis

Well, how about that? It appears that Stink Bugs weren't the only variety of robust insect to recently become active as the warmer weather returns to Toronto. And yet, it's inside the home that these insects were found, rather than the sunny outdoors. Such is sometimes the case with an insect like this one as throughout my life, I've found many insects who have lost their way and stumbled into my room. Conifer Seed Bugs are very much included in those findings and they have always made their presence known time and time again with their noisy flight and the occasional release of a green apple-scented odors. While startling in the moment, when the shock of finding a notable and interesting-looking Bug passes, it's good to know (in this instance) that the insect you've stumbled onto is a harmless vegetarian and tends to not jab using its rostrum unless absolutely certain of a threat. For ascertaining such threats, and also navigating an urban environment, Conifer Seed Bugs will make use of their relatively large eyes, secondary ocelli, and their long 4-segmented antennae. From my own interactions, Conifer Seed Bugs tend to hide away if they sense danger, or turn themselves around an object in order to avoid direct visual from a perceived threat. Other bedroom visitors looking to avoid the outside cold, such as the Masked Hunter, can be more predaceous or defensive and can thusly be more inclined to bite within a bedroom.

The similar body shape and overall proportions have anecdotally led the aforementioned hunter to be confused with the Conifer Seed Bug if the encounter was very brief. Looking at them more closely, a Masked Hunter is all-black Assassin Bug (Reduviidae) with uniform legs, whiplike antennae and a curved rostrum, while the Conifer Bug is a mottled Leaf-Footed Bug (Coreidae) has a mottled appearance with thickened hindlegs with a notable, leaf-like projection near the termination of that leg on the tibia. With regards to that projection, always take note of the shape and size of that structure when you observe it on any insect. That one observation can make all the difference when identifying Leaf-Footed Bugs which are similar in appearance. At least among the Coreidae members which actually have those protrusions; the family is quite diverse in terms of form and appearance, and some of them have rather skinny hindlegs. They will, however, tend to have a narrow head, and today's specimen certainly showcases that. I would've loved to share more angles of this Bug's head and overall form, but interior lighting conditions were not suitable for photography and the moment this individual made it to the rim of the glass (which it was caught and transported in), it flashed its bright yellow abdomen and flew away in the direction of a pine tree. And so, its springtime objectives begin/resume.

Soft Brown Scale Insect - Coccus hesperidum

Despite winter's cold slowing things down in the insect world, that doesn't mean that things stop altogether, as can be evidenced with these tiny ovals. If you look a little closer beneath the waxy cuticle and you'll find features that correspond with more conventional insects. There's more to this appearance than meets the eye, but that will be discussed later on. While in nature, these small insects would be dormant until warmer weather arrives, any individuals fortunate enough to climb onto an indoor plant (from the outside) and experience consistently warm temperatures can ride out the colder days while indulging themselves with as food as they want without interference from natural predators. It's a pretty nice life...until the infestation is discovered, as was the case in these pictures. In the previous post featuring Scale Insects on this blog, there were only a handful of individuals planted on a ficus rubber plant; the thick and toxic sap doesn't necessarily provide the best environment. The individuals photographed here meanwhile had the perfect plant to adhere to: two young lemon trees still growing. This species of Bug has a penchant for citrus trees, and is considered a notorious pest within farming and greenhouse settings for those plants! Although Scale insects can be managed with ease, controlling them across many plants can be arduous if their numbers explode as seen in these images!

Their small size can make them difficult to account for as well, as one individual can lay a large amount of eggs and restart the infestation of tiny creatures again. Compared to my thumb, they are around the size of a blemish, and indeed, there are dozens of large individuals and (probably) hundreds of smaller individuals dotting the tree's leaves and stem! As a result of the aggregation's feeding, these poor plants have become drenched in sticky honeydew excretions. This is actually how we discovered these individuals. As a result of honeydew production, Carpenter Ants found their way inside the house in search of the sugary liquid, but haven't yet climbed up the stems to tend to the Scales. With an armored cuticle and a colony of tenders to ensure safety, the feeding activity is what causes complications to the plants that these Scales feed on, rather than the ongoing feeding itself. Accumulation of sugary material along the surface of a leaf invites mould to grow, and such a rot can spread and destroy plants rapidly if not addressed! While I'm seemingly making a big deal about this, aggregations of these Parasitic Bugs do not spell out doom and gloom. In fact, some species of Scale Insects have been used as biological controls to manage invasive plant-life be weakening them and slowing down their growth and potential for flowering and seed generation. This species, however, is not one of those controls.

Rose Shoot Sawfly - Phylloecus trimaculatus

These pictures have been sitting on my computer for nearly 7 years! Wow, that's a long time to wait for a successful insect identification, and genuinely, I feel silly for how long it took. Especially since I was looking in entirely the wrong places by wrongly assuming it was a variety of Ichneumonid Wasp, due to its overall form and it long, tube-like abdomen. Looking for male Ichneumonids of similar appearance, there were no matches among any of the sources and references I checked. Ultimately, what made identification of this insect more difficult were the photography angles I captured whereby its smoky wings concealed the connection between the thorax and abdomen, and so I was looking for a petiole (wasp-waist) that wasn't there. Moreover, looking closer at Pictures 2 revealed the presence of a short ovipositor (like a black spike) at the bottom of the abdomen's tip, so there's no way that this individual is a male Wasp of any sort. Although I occasionally stumble, stories like this continue to reinforce just how important it is to truly look closely at the insects you find, and from that consider a wider point of view in terms of the possibilities. For the insect in these pictures: since this is clearly a Hymenopteran which lacks a discernable petiole between the thorax and abdomen, it must be a Sawfly, albeit one with a form which is quite unique compared to prior species I've discussed. Mystery solved! The shortened ovipositor with the characteristic "saw" shape also indicates that this individual is indeed a female.

As to this species itself, today's find is a unique branch within the families of the Sawfly "suborder," Symphyta. Specifically, this insect to part of the family Cephidae, or Stem Sawflies, so named because they lay their eggs within plant stems using their saw-shaped ovipositor. The resulting larvae that hatch are stem borers which consume the innards of their host plant as they develop. Suitable plants may include grains, berries, trees, and in the case of this particular species: roses (this is to say, plants in the rose family, not just rose flowers). Naturally, a few species within this family can be considered troublesome pest insects who can jeopardize the growth and/or health of the plants they feed on as the larvae will grow until of substantial size. The larvae will only exit their host plant to overwinter in the soil, and emerge as adults when weather is suitable again. Thusly, we have this adult individual seen here. According to reports around the Rose Shoot Sawfly, adults have typically been spotted in April and remain active throughout the summer, much like this one. Compared to the appearance of other Sawflies, as mentioned above, this species has an overall longer body which is laterally compressed. That is to say that it isn't a perfect cylinder and it is somewhat flattened. In addition, parts of its body are substantially elongated compared to more typical Sawflies. Specifically, their pronotum is quite elongated, they possess longer antennae (at least over 20 segments here), and the aforementioned abdomen is more tube-like and extends past the wings, rather than bulge out. These adaptations could conceivably aid in laying eggs, providing sensory information, or aid in mimicry of Wasps in order to avoid potential predation, but I'm not certain on which is correct. Considering I thought this individual was an Ichneumonid, mimicry seems very likely.

Red-Legged Grasshopper - Melanoplus femurrubrum

While the Red-Legged Grasshopper has been featured prominently on this blog time and time again, today's set of images allows us to highlight some particular features for this species thanks to a unique point of view. It's all thanks to the first picture showcased (and Picture 6 to a lesser extent), and with some luck from the glass storm door this Grasshopper individual was holding on to. For the first time on this blog, we have a look at the ventral (underside) of a Red-Legged Grasshopper and what a difference it is from the streamlined and winged side of the insect. Firstly, take a close look at how each of the legs are connected to the body and how all the joints are structured. Each leg is positioned just so in order to maintain grip on the glass pane and also allow it to crawl upward by pulling itself up with its forelegs, and pushing upward using its hindlegs. Since glass is a relatively smooth service compared to more natural surfaces such as tree bark, stone or soil, a secure grip is more important than ever. As far as traversal on such surfaces goes, Picture 7 shows just how careful and intentional movement on such a surface is; this individual slowly pressed upward with a careful extension of the hindleg. As well, this highlight also shows us just how responsive such an individual is with the array of sensory hairs upon her legs.

While Grasshopper mobility in unusual environments is something to consider, that's not the primary reason for this post. Rather, this post is meant to draw attention to this robust insect's abdomen and its mouthparts from the angle seen in Picture 1. Speaking of the former body section first, looking at this individual's abdomen allows us to confirm that she is a female Grasshopper. Although the keen-eyed observer can successfully distinguish a female and male Red-Legged Grasshopper by looking at the abdomen from the top, the underside gives us the best view of what to look for. As mentioned in an earlier post, the abdomen of a male Red-Legged Grasshopper widens out as it moves away from the body and ends in a rounded form. A female's abdomen meanwhile tapers to a point featuring rear claspers. Thanks to the view in Picture 1, the tapering is most evident. As for the mouthparts: if you zoom in on the aforementioned picture, you will find a great view of the maxilla and labium manipulators which rest upon the labrum (front-facing mouthpart) and the mandibles. Many of these mouthparts are present in other insects, but each order has its own configuration (usually) designed with a diet in mind. This configuration for this species is adapting to chew through vegetation and consume it: the manipulators move food towards the mandibles while taking in sensory information related to the food, and the labrum helps hold food in place while the mandibles carve it up into swallowable pieces.

Stonefly - Subfamily: Perlodinae

With special thanks to a dear friend of mine exploring the wilderness of Squamish, British Columbia, this video is the first (of hopefully many) of 2026. Keeping to their active season of early spring as also recorded in previous videos, the Stoneflies of Squamish have returned and this one is quite active! Although this individual appears to be on dry land, it isn't very far from a water source. Specifically, this insect was filmed near the Squamish River by Edgewater Park; a fine water source spend time developing as an aquatic nymph. According to my friend who recorded this video, the rocks filmed here are occasionally submerged completely by water which arrives in the form of rainfall and meltwater from on snow on B.C.'s mountains. If that's the case, this is the perfect environment for Stonefly nymphs to complete their metamorphosis into a winged adult. They would be able to cling onto these stones or nearby man-made structures when the water rises, and then emerge as it recedes and conditions become warmer and drier. My friend also noted that while the stone parts exposed to the sun were radiating heat, the water was freezing. While such temperatures would be harmful to most insects, Plecopterans can have adaptations against ice cold conditions such as chemicals within their hemolymph (blood) that act as an antifreeze, or even simple strategies such as insulating themselves from cold within riverbed materials. If successful and uneaten, the result is a fit adult Stonefly with energy to spare as it searches for a mate. Although now equipped with braided-veined wings, it usually will not fly far from its emergence site.

Great Black Wasp - Sphex pensylvanicus

Quickly following up from yesterday's post featuring two species of Grass-Carrying Wasps, hopefully the insect individuals featured here can serve as an aid in identification. As mentioned, if size is removed from the equation, this species of Wasp can strongly resemble the appearance of some North American Grass-Carrying Wasps at a glance. However, more closely inspecting them will reveal features such as a differently-structured head with larger mandibles, an overall longer and rounded abdomen attached to a shorter petiole/wasp-waist, and drastically larger and longer legs. For the lattermost feature, the hindlegs are of particular note given their extreme length if you can imagine them at full extension. All in all, this amounts to an imposing Wasp with a characteristic "Sphex-like" form. While it may be a big shortcut in terms of amateur identification, nearly all North American Sphex genus Wasps have a similar look to them in terms of body proportions, even if the coloration can vary wildly between dark and ornate. Regardless of appearance, allowing a sprawling Wasp like this one to carry on about its day of foraging and/or hunting is wise. I personally play things safe and do not attempt to handle any type of Wasp, and I recommend the same caution to all readers. Especially if you have a confirmed allergy to insect stings.

Having said that, based on some of the prior insects I've handled for a closer look, I can see the appeal of allowing a Wasp to explore a palm or an arm in a safe manner. And as far as Wasps go, solitary Digger Wasps can be a relatively safe bet to handle carefully if positively identified. The goal being to give the insect room to move without harm so as to avoid its sting. Do note, however, that according the sting pain index within "The Sting of the Wild" book, the sting of a Great Black Wasp registers as a 1 out of 4, indicating a sharp but overall minimal and short-lived pain on average. The pain inflicted is not simply from the stinger jabbing the skin, but also from the venom introduced to the bloodstream. Although we know a lot about the prey capturing behaviors of Wasps like this one, we actually know very little about the specificity of the venom's composition other than it's full of peptides designed to dysregulate the bodily functions of Orthopterans. What is a certainty, however, is that the venom is specialized for hunting insects by stinging multiple times, and it (usually) has a minimal effect on humans. The venom likely contains inflammation compounds based on human interactions, but the more intriguing peptides are the Wasp kinins (this a large group of compounds, with each Wasp possessing its own unique blend) which causes a captured Katydid's body to experience muscle contractions and paralysis by blocking neural signals.

Grass-Carrying Wasps - Isodontia auripes & Isodontia mexicana

While capturing these images initially, I had it in mind to create two separate posts featuring these 2 species of insects. That's usually how it goes: an insect is found, and its images are showcased proudly with a bit of text highlighting notable features, behaviors, or something that happened as the pictures were taken. However, a shift over the last few years on this blog has resulted in more combination posts that feature 2 insects in order to highlight similarities or differences between them. In this case, we continue on from a previous post with these insects and get both types of highlights while leaning more towards the similarities. Particularly as the species shown in today's post are sorted into the same genus (Isodontia) and both were found within the same location among a forest of blooming goldenrod. Before diving in, let's have a quick refresher in order to distinguish between the two Wasps found here. Firstly, the individual with dark-colored wings and legs featuring a prominent brown-coloration is a Brown-Legged Grass-Carrying Wasp (Isodontia auripes), while the overall smaller individual with all-black legs and smoky wings is a Mexican Grass-Carrying Wasp (Isodontia mexicana). An examination of their bodies is the best way to successfully identify these solitary Wasps as the color of their wings can vary. As well, in flight you might see one carrying a blade of grass or insect prey in the form of a Katydid or similar insect.

Following up from the prior post featuring both of these species, additional information has also come to light which is of great importance when it comes to identification. The dark body and brown coloration of the legs of I. auripes are notable among North American Grass-Carrying Wasps, but such characteristics can be common in species from other families. For example, Wasps such as the Katydid Wasp (Sphex nudus) and Wasps within the Podium genus have a strong superficial resemblance. For a while, I was even convinced that I misidentified these individuals, but Sphex Wasps tend to have a unique look to them with a shorter waist, and Podium Wasps appear more slender with larger mandibles for transporting prey. Grass-Carrying Wasps are no slouches when it comes to moving prey themselves once the adults emerge during the summer months. Despite their dainty form, they can firmly grip a stung Orthopteran and transport it to their brood chamber tubes concealed by grass. The adult Wasps will feed on pollen or nectar, and that usually means coming into close proximity with other flower-loving insects (of which there are quite a few among the goldenrod flowers here). In case of a confrontation, both of these Wasps may be more likely to flee against larger aggressors but can bite and sting if they need to. While it's best to air on the side of caution, if their sting would be painful, a species of Grass-Carrying Wasps would have received a caution in the Schmidt Pain Index, but I cannot confirm. As such, it's best to leave them - that to say both species - be while navigate flowers and simultaneously collect food for themselves (and/or larvae) and carry out pollination.

Western Honeybee - Apis mellifera

Toronto was fortunate enough to have another warm spring day today loaded with good sunlight and temperatures peaking at around 15°C-17°C! Just as this happened before last month, any warm day with otherwise suitable conditions is an opportunity for nature to thrive and grow. Although it's a gradual process, the plants will find the footing once more and erupt with green, and insect will soon follow as they search for food or locations to lay eggs. In the case of today's find, several worker Honeybees were spotted out and about visiting flowers in order to facilitate replenishing of their hive's food stock. Although nature continues to rejuvenate, there aren't many options for flowering plants all across Toronto yet, but here these Bees found clusters of early blooms which appear to be squill flowers (if I'm incorrect, please let me know) and are making the most of their available nectar and pollen. Until spring arrives in full force with consistent weather, worker Bees like this must play the long game and continuously seek out the next wave of flowering plants in order to maintain a steady intake of food for the colony. The Bees have to tackle this while potentially low on reserves from the winter in combination with competing with other hives for the same resources and also defending their colony. Moreover, this warm day is just one day as according to Toronto's forecast, we're due for another string of cold and potentially rainy weather which may continue to limit foraging opportunities. However, while non-optimal weather conditions can be a slowdown to Honeybee activity, a colony is usually prepared for such situations.

If a colony's hive is kept out of the elements within a cavity or a hollow, Honeybees fair better until warmer temperatures arise. This is amplified if the Bees were able to construct their nest against a warm structure or inside a material with insulating properties. Inside the colony, the active worker Bees will actually increase their body heat by rapidly vibrating their thoracic muscles. As they vibrate, the worker Bees appear to "shivering", but in reality they are working hard to make sure that they can keep themselves, the hive, and any developing broods warm. Larger colonies and colonies with more fit Bees have an easier time facilitating their home climate control system. On the note of the aforementioned developing broods: a Queen Honeybee will cease laying eggs as temperatures plummet and winter arrives in order to converse energy, but she may resume laying eggs in February or March (in a temperate climate) in preparation for the incoming spring. As such, it's all the more important to keep the hive at an optimal temperature (reported to be between 32°C-36°C/around 90°F - 97°F) to facilitate metabolism and growth as the colder months wane. In order to power a hive-wide heating system the diligent worker Bees feed off of their accumulated, well-preserved honey reserves from the year. However, since it takes a large amount of collected nectar from many trips to many flowers to produce a cell of honey, it's very likely that a colony could feel the stress of low resources, thusly necessitating foraging as soon as conditions become favorable, if only for a day. For anyone curious, just as Bees can heat up a hive, they can also cool their hive during warmer days by absorbing heat through the underside of their bodies, and by using their wings like fans.

Nomad Bee - Nomada sp.

Despite the prominence of well-pollinating eusocial (colony-founding) Bees within nature, it can be staggering to learn how many varieties of solitary Bees exist in nature. In contrast to their eusocial cousins who must manage themselves, their colony, the stability of their nest and that colony's new workers, solitary Bees only need to account for their needs and the needs of their future progeny. This blog has documented many types of solitary specimens before including such finds as Andrenid Bees, Leafcutting Bees, and Sweat Bees. The Nomad Bee individuals showcased here are also solitary Bees, and are technically classified as Cuckoo Bees (of the subfamily Nomadinae). Interestingly, many of these Bees that I've seen within this branch are very Wasp-like in appearance as a result of their proportions, bright colors and smoky wings, these individuals very much included. As well, although these Bees will actively contribute to pollination, it's worth noting that they lack a pollen basket (a notable distinctive feature of these Bees). As their common name would suggest, these Bees tend to lack a nest and they wander around their environment, but they do not do so in an aimless manner. Rather, each species of Cuckoo Bee searches for something specific which may require diligence, keen senses and a bit of luck in order to be successful. This Bee's subfamily name gives us all the information we need, as this branch within the Anthophila clade received its common namesake from the cuckoo birds.

While I don't wish to paint all cuckoos with the same brush, the most notable cuckoo birds are known as brood parasites, whereby the parents lay their eggs in the nests of other birds and leaving their offspring to be raised by a different species, often at the expense of the original chicks. Much the same happens when this type of Bee encounters the dwelling or nest of another particular Bee. Specifically, the entirety of Cuckoo Bees are considered kleptoparasites; the adult Bees seek out a host and lay their own tiny eggs inside the egg cells of that host. After the cell(s) is sealed, the Cuckoo Bee's egg will hatch and eat the host's larva using specialized mandibles, and then move onto the stored pollen and/or nectar after the first molt. Moreover, each species of Cuckoo has a particular host which it seeks out, rather than target all potential Bees. Moreover, while female Cuckoo Bees bare the responsibility of laying eggs within a host's nest (when the host isn't home), the males are the ones which scout out for the nests and locate them, which may be what is occurring with the most prominent individual among these pictures (except in Pictures 5 and 10) who is likely to be a male Bee. From my understanding, male Nomad Bees tend to be smaller and darker in color, and will have 13 antennae segments (females have 12) plus a pygidial plate which protrudes from the abdomen's tip. Picture 1 offers a glimpse at this intriguing and identifiable structure.