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What
Short-horned Grasshoppers (Family Acrididae)Observer
samantha_graceDescription
My partner Erika caught this grasshopper near the bus lot. We're not sure what it is, it could be an instar (nymph) of some sort. Belonging to the suborder Caelifera, I believe it belongs in the family Acrididae (short-horned grasshoppers). With further research, I believe its in the subfamily Acrididae because of it being silent and slant-faced. After narrowing it down to grasshoppers in Virginia (as simple as this seems, its easily to get caught up the billions of different grasshoppers), I can be sure to say that it belongs to the subfamily Gomphocerinae. From there, my best guess is that it is a short-winged green grasshopper (Dichromorpha viridis).
Its appearance is completely green, its got short horns, a slanted-face, and a segmented abdomen that's short. Its legs are similar to that of a locust. His wings are small and short n his body (however he still gave us trouble when catching it). As much as we observed it, it doesn't make any noise but lasts long without nourishment.
Photos / Sounds
What
Calyptrate Flies (Zoosubsection Calyptratae)Observer
samantha_graceDescription
I caught this big and strange looking fly near the woods next to the pond at my school. The neatest thing that I thought about it was its feet. I'm not sure what species it is (I believe its a Pararchytas decisus fly, it should be the genus), but I know its a Tachinid fly belonging to the family Tachinidae which contains 8,200 known species. They can be found all over the U.S. Since I don't have a picture of its feet: They are split in half on each foot (like hooves) and are a light yellow color, despite its other darker colors.
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus DineutusObserver
samantha_graceDescription
My partner Erika caught this Whirligig (Family: Gyrinidae) water beetle. We caught in a small pond from a pipe. We are both sure that it belongs in the genus Dineutus, but I'm not sure about the species emarginatus. There are so many that look alike and so many species.
From the first glance, there is nothing distinct about it, but when you look on the underside, it has two flipper-looking back legs and elongated front legs. Sorry, if the pictures aren't the best.
Photos / Sounds
What
Calico Pennant (Celithemis elisa)Observer
samantha_graceDescription
Erika and I caught this Calico Pennant (Celithemis elisa) dragonfly next to the pond at our school near the woods. I believe that its distinctions like the pattern on its abdomen and wings makes it a female pennant. I believe that it differs from a Halloween Pennant in that its coloration matches much more to a Calico Pennant. However, similarly, it has two spots on each wing with the same color where its wings attach to its body. Its eyes are a solid brown color, which is interesting how it contrasts with its yellow head.
Photos / Sounds
What
Blue Corporal (Ladona deplanata)Observer
samantha_graceDescription
My partner Erika and I captured what we strongly believe to be a Blue Corporal (Ladona deplanata) dragonfly near the pond next to our school (flying around in tall grass). A ton of different dragonflies were around the pond as well.
We believe it to be a female; it's abdomen is small and its body is a pale, dark blue. We thought at first it was an Eastern Pondhawk but its face and eyes are black. The distinct feature on its wings are the brown rectangular spots near the tips and the coloration where the wings attached to its body.
