My husband was chopping down a rotten pitch pine last week and found dozens of beetles under the bark. Knowing my interest for beetles, he brought one home for me to see (and photography with my macro lens!). We were able to identify it as a ribbed pine borer (Rhagium inquisitor), a member of the longhorn beetle family (Cerambycidae) that is widespread throughout North America and Eurasia. The ribbed pine borer is unusual within this family, however, as it has…
When you think of nature in winter, you might think of snow, bare trees, and cold temperatures. If you’ve ever visited the Cape Cod Canal during the winter, you might think of eiders. Few people, however, would say “insects” as their first thought. While many insects are dormant through the winter, there are some who like to buck the trend. The winter firefly (Ellychnia corrusca) is one of these. They belong to the family Lampyridae, which includes fireflies and lightening…
Darners, of the family Aeschnidae, are our largest dragonflies. Besides their large size (some are more than 3 inches in length), darners can be distinguished by their large eyes that meet in a long seam on the top of their head. Their abdomens also tend to be long and narrow, perhaps reminiscent of a darning needle. They also tend perch vertically, with their heads facing up, either by hanging from branches or clinging flat against the trunk of a tree,…