Category Archives: Entomology

Coastal Tiger Beetle

Posted on June 23, 2017 by Jeremy Sell

Coastal tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Ellipsoptera hamata) inhabit the shores of the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to southern Texas. Adults can be found from April through December but are most common in June. Their striking coloration and patterning, narrow thoraxes, … Continue reading →

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Random Insect: Tiger bee fly

Posted on July 30, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

This summer I have been noticing quite a few of these distinct large flies hanging out around my house in southeast Michigan. At first glance I thought they were in the horse fly family (Tabanidae) but they are actually in the bee … Continue reading →

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Seeking Solitude at Great Basin National Park

Posted on June 10, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Great Basin National Park is located in east-central Nevada and is one of our country’s least-known and least-visited parks. Back in 2013 my wife, her friend and I drove a few hours north of Las Vegas to get a taste of what this remote … Continue reading →

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Random Insect: False Blister Beetle

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

True blister beetles (Coleoptera: Meloidae) get their common name from their ability to produce cantharidin, a substance that can cause chemical burns. They produce this compound to ward off potential predators, including humans. A person who touches one of these … Continue reading →

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Random Insect: Click Beetle

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are unique insects because of a special trick they can perform. When they find themselves stuck upside-down or alarmed by a potential predator, they can suddenly “snap” their flexible thoracic joints to create a “click” sound and launch … Continue reading →

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The Great Salt Lake, Utah

Posted on May 28, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Beyond the Great Lakes that surround my native Michigan, the next largest lake in the United States is the Great Salt Lake in northern Utah. Although the lakes of both states share similarly impressive surface areas they are incredibly different in … Continue reading →

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Random Insect: Short-tailed Ichneumon Wasp

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Ichneumon wasps are perhaps the largest animal family on the planet, made up of between 60,000 and 100,000 different species. Approximately 5,000 to 8,000 can be found in North America, and of these eleven are of the genus shown here … Continue reading →

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Random Insect: Scarites Ground Beetle

Posted on May 8, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Of the nearly 3,000 known species of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) that inhabit North America, seven of them are members of the genus Scarites. These insects can be found in lawns, gardens, and fields throughout the spring and summer. They are relatively large and grow … Continue reading →

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Random Insect: Spring Azure

Posted on April 26, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Found in woodlands throughout much of eastern North America, spring azures (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Celastrina ladon) are rather eye-catching little butterflies. Relatively small in size, it is easy to overlook these insects when they are resting. The simple black-and-white pattern on … Continue reading →

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Random Insect: Tachinid Flies

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

There are over 150,000 described species of flies (Diptera) in the world, making them one of the most diverse animal orders on the planet. Although they are divided into over 160 families, a full seven percent of all known fly species … Continue reading →

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Random Insect: Greater Bee Fly

Posted on April 17, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Common and widespread across much of North America, greater bee flies (Diptera: Bombyliidae: Bombylius major) are usually found in and around woodlands. Adults are typically encountered from March through May feeding on the nectar of early spring wildflowers. Their larvae, in contrast, … Continue reading →

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Plant-Insect Interaction: Bees on a Squawroot

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Squawroot (Conopholis americana, Orobanchaceae) is a fascinating plant because it is a parasite of other plants. Found in eastern North America it feeds predominantly on nutrients produced by oaks and beeches (family Fagaceae). Since it does not perform photosynthesis and lacks the green … Continue reading →

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Random Insect: Half-Wing Moth

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Winter has been gradually giving way to spring, and the other day I was greeted by this Half-Wing moth (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Phigalia titea) resting on my front door. These insects are found mostly near wooded areas of the eastern US, and adults … Continue reading →

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Three Days in the Pyrenees of Spain: Part 3

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Re-energized from our day of relaxation in the peaceful Pyrenees, my wife and I spent day three further exploring the mountainous countryside of northern Spain. From our hotel near Janovas we drove west and north on N-260 toward Parque Nacional de Ordesa … Continue reading →

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Random Insect: Winter stonefly

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Although I’ve written about winter stoneflies (Plecoptera: Taeniopterygidae) once or twice before, the other day I came across an individual that represented the earliest one I had ever seen. On February 27 I was visiting my dad on his farm … Continue reading →

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2015 Countdown: 20 Favorite Wildlife Photos

Posted on December 30, 2015 by Jeremy Sell

I have to admit, I think 2014 was the high-water mark of my wildlife photography. A diverse array of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals that best-represent North America adorned that post, and it was one of my proudest achievements. While … Continue reading →

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Random Insect: Fishfly

Posted on May 31, 2015 by Jeremy Sell

Fishflies (Megaloptera: Corydalidae: Chauliodes sp.) can be found throughout eastern North America wherever there are slow-moving rivers and floodplains. Their juvenile aquatic nymphs are omnivores, feeding on the decaying plant matter and small arthropods that litter these waters. After fattening up the nymphs … Continue reading →

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Random Insect: Ichneumon wasp

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Jeremy Sell

It’s estimated that there are 60,000 to 100,000 species of Ichneumon wasps worldwide, with approximately 5,000 to 8,000 inhabiting North America. They make up what may be the largest family of animals on the planet, and as a result they’re … Continue reading →

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North Cascades National Park

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Jeremy Sell

North Cascades National Park is only three hours northeast of Seattle, but its remote location makes one of America’s least-visited national parks. Established in 1968, this federally-protected area encompasses 789 square miles (2044 square km) of mountain wilderness in the Cascade Range of … Continue reading →

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Random Insect: Halloween pennant

Posted on October 21, 2014 by Jeremy Sell

Although I came across these Halloween pennants (Odonata: Libellulidae: Celithemis eponina) in late June, I thought I’d wait until a more festive time to post photos. The orange and black patterning does seem suggestive of jack-o’-lanterns. As with other dragonflies these … Continue reading →

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