Photos / Sounds
What
Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans)Observer
jtragerDescription
Crossing the road in early morning - Most unusual for one to leave her web, especially in such a gravid state.
Photos / Sounds
What
Leadplant (Amorpha canescens)Observer
jtragerDescription
In planted prairie, among Sporobolus heterolepis and Salix humilis
Photos / Sounds
What
Ailanthus Webworm Moth (Atteva aurea)Observer
jtragerDescription
So-called Ailanthus webworm on a native plant Simaroubaceae: Leitneria floridana, in planted wetland.
Photos / Sounds
What
Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee (Agapostemon virescens)Observer
jtragerDescription
On Oenothera speciosa in my garden
Photos / Sounds
What
Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee (Agapostemon virescens)Observer
jtragerDescription
On Oenothera speciosa in my garden
Photos / Sounds
What
Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea)Observer
jtragerDescription
On xeric dolomite grassland (glade)
Photos / Sounds
What
Bigfruit Evening Primrose (Oenothera macrocarpa)Observer
jtragerDescription
On xeric dolmite grassland (glade).
Pardon my fingers, but useful for scale.
Photos / Sounds
What
Clubbed Mydas Fly (Mydas clavatus)Observer
jtragerDescription
On Pycnanthemum tenuifolium in prairie planting
Photos / Sounds
What
Missouri Acrobat Ant (Crematogaster missouriensis)Observer
jtragerDescription
Currently in synonymy with C. minutissima, but C. missouriensis has distinct biogeography (though broadly overlapping in SE USA), dwells in sterile soil rather than in moist forest litter, has darker coloring, and is measurably and consistently larger than C. minutissima. Here, they're on a bit of canned peach.
Photos / Sounds
What
Blackened Blister Beetle (Epicauta atrata)Observer
jtragerDescription
On Calystegia sepium, field near Visitor Center
Photos / Sounds
What
Black-and-gold Bumble Bee (Bombus auricomus)Observer
jtragerDescription
Queen bumblebee foraging at Baptisia alba
Photos / Sounds
What
Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer (Coluber constrictor ssp. flaviventris)Observer
jtrager
Photos / Sounds
What
Southern Blue-flag Iris (Iris virginica var. shrevei)Observer
jtragerDescription
in created wetland
Photos / Sounds
What
Prairie Pleatleaf (Nemastylis geminiflora)Observer
jtragerDescription
visited by halictid bee
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus PanorpaObserver
jtragerDescription
This is the most common early season scorpion fly in eastern North America.
Photos / Sounds
What
Formica difficilisObserver
jtragerDescription
Formica difficilis a grassland ant, that can be abundant in patches of native grassland, very old fields, or brushland, but is absent from most of the modern landscape of its native eastern and central USA. Here, workers are tending aphids on a shingle oak sapling in a field.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Trailing Ant (Monomorium minimum)Observer
jtragerDescription
The Little Black Ant is well named, jet black and topping out at about 1.75mm long. Here a worker visits a petiolar nectary of Partridge Pea in my back yard prairie planting. This is one of the most abundant ant species in the yard.
Photos / Sounds
What
Black Legionary Ant (Neivamyrmex nigrescens)Observer
jtragerDescription
Neivamyrmex nigrescens is one of two army ant species that is found as far north as the lower Missouri River Valley. Here they were bivouacked in a rotten log in the wilder portion of my back yard. This log has been occupied by a series of at least 6 species of ants over the last two years!
