invertebrate enjoyer

The one thing I love about summer: BEETLES EVERYWHERE!! I had to be kinda quick with taking these pictures because it's breeding season for these guys, and they are not picky with where they choose to mate. Ask me how I know. :(

Been quite busy with work and other obligations, but finally found some time to go out and sit early enough in the day to see some active critters. Here's an adorable little ribbon jumping spider! It was extremely curious about me and was happy to climb onto my hand to investigate.

A pharaoh cicada, mid molt! Molting actually happens way faster with these guys than I thought. I watched the newly emerged nymph climb up to here, then about 30 minutes later it was already to this stage. Another 30 minutes passed and it was already crawling around, with wings almost fully inflated! I expected it to take around 3 hours just for it to get past the "still in the old exoskeleton" stage, which shows me I still have a lot to learn about the molting process of insects. It will most likely take a few more hours for its new exoskeleton to fully harden, though. They are so fascinating 🥹

These are Pharaoh cicadas, a 17-year periodical species within the genus Magicicada (such a whimsical name). Their scientific name even reflects their 17-year burrowing cycle - Magicicada septendecim. Their common name, Pharaoh cicada, comes from the male's call - to some, it sounds like someone shouting "Phaaaaar-aoh".

And so it begins...

I got to see one of my favorite native beetles today, the horned passalus beetle (aka bess beetle)! I'm always so happy to come across these dudes. In the third image, you can see some phoretic mites which these beetles often have hitching a ride on them, but are harmless. Horned passalus beetles also have a neat defense mechanism where they will rub their wings under their elytra to make a soft hissing/squeaking noise, and even have other distinct noises they make to communicate with each other! They are such cool beetles.

It's a greater bee fly (Bombylius major)!! I was so excited to finally spot one of these. I wish I could have taken a closer photo, but lil dude skedaddled the second I moved after taking this one.

This arm was made specifically to hold several cicadas at once

I'm so excited it's finally warming up enough for the buggos to emerge again! Here are some friends I found the other day :)

Harvestman enjoying some cantaloupe!! <3 (ft. fly who also wanted some)

found not one, but TWO parasitoid wasps on the same plant the other day. another win for wasp enjoyers