Western Conifer Seed Bugs (Leptoglossus occidentalis) (aka Pine seed bugs) are in the True bug order Hemiptera (“half-wing,” a reference to the two different textures of the front wings and in the Leaf-footed bug family Coreidae, a large family of sometimes-dramatic-looking, sap-sucking insects with pretty cute little nymphs. Coreids produce a buzzing sound in flight and an odor when provoked.
03.02.22
Howdy, BugFans,
When the BugLady was on Riveredge’s excellent floating pier in the Milwaukee River last spring, she looked over and saw two, spectacular Striped fishing spiders on rocks above the waterline.
02.16.22
Greetings BugFans,
The Bugs in the News file is bursting at the seams again.
02.04.22
This is not your grandfather’s fritillary (unless your grandfather is a Southerner). Gulf Fritillaries are in the Brush-footed butterfly family Nymphalidae, along with a whole bunch of familiar Wisconsin butterflies, and they’re with the fritillaries in the subfamily Heliconiinae (which used to be its own family). But, unlike our familiar fritillaries, they’re in the tribe Heliconiini, aka the Heliconians or Longwings, many of which occur in tropical climes and have long, slim, spectacular wings.
01.26.22
Greetings, BugFans,
The “Bugs without Bios” series features a bunch of lovely insects that need to hire a PR firm – they fly happily below the radar, and little is written about them.
01.19.22
Greetings, BugFans,
It’s a bird that evokes strong feelings in its admirers and detractors. In winter, its beautiful blue, black and white colors perk up our otherwise drab landscapes.
01.12.22
Salutations, BugFans, Here we are, in the trough between Christmas and New Year’s. The interminable Christmas movies have been put to bed (YAY!), and reruns rule. Here, too.
01.06.22
Season’s Greetings, BugFans, When the BugLady initiated this annual tradition in 2012 – showing pictures of bugs she had photographed but whom (objective case) she had already written about (OK – about whom she had already written) – she was already in trouble.
01.06.22
Howdy, BugFans, Hairstreaks are spiffy little butterflies that are named for the hair-like markings found on their underwings. Most have thin, twin tails (sometimes two pairs of tails) on the […]
12.15.21
Howdy BugFans, Full disclosure: the BugLady’s copy of Bob Dubois’s Damselflies of the North Woods (aka The Bible) automatically falls open to the page that shows the rear ends of the male […]
12.08.21