Bugs

[guppiecat]

In recent months, I've been seeing bugs as I bustle to and fro (mostly fro). I am far more of an etymologist than an entomologist, so I'm not identifying species here. They're just bugs. There are also no funny captions, mostly because I can't think of anything particularly clever ('cause they're just bugs). They are, however, neat looking.

You also get to see extreme closeups of my fingers in some of these shots. Please be assured that they're not that big in real life.

Comments

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

Isn't one of those in the middle a mosquito? (I really like the last two. Fly, bug, fly!)

[guppiecat]

You're the second one to think that, so I might be wrong.

However, I'm pretty sure it's something else. Mosquitoes should have a long stabby proboscis thing. This one seems to have two jaws instead. It's clearer if you click through and view it large.

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

I think you're right. I viewed it original size, which I need to remember never do late at night--it could give you nightmares!

I did find this page: http://www.napamosquito.org/Mosquitos/mosquito1.htm I never realized that there were so many kinds of mosquitoes! Anyway, if you scroll on down, you can see "mosquito-like insects". The Dixid midge drawing looks almost exactly like your photo. Anyway, it's probably some kind of midge. Or a mosquito that lost its proboscis--but I think a midge is more likely.

[mplsfish.livejournal.com]

Could be a male mosquito?

[guppiecat]

The Internet suggests that male mosquitoes have "furry/hairy" antennae, so I suspect it's more likely to be a midge.

Either way, the important thing is that, whatever it is, you don't want it in the teleportation chamber with you when you're testing.

(Firefox's spellcheck knows "midge", but not "teleportation". Guess I know where their priorities are.)

[arkuat]

Pamela and I have seen several of those little iridescent green beetles; I was very happy with your photographs of them (especially that last one!).

[guppiecat]

Yeah, I love the last one too. I look at it and just think "gleeful little bug!".

Are they present in Minnesota too? I've only seen them in Canada (but I see them every time I go).

Art fair bug

[7ivy7.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you captured him. Thanks again for spending the day with Tesla and me. I really enjoyed!

[pameladean]

All right, I have to ask -- how do you guys (Karen and Guppiecat) know one another?

(And yes, I've seen those beetles in Minnesota, as Arkuat remarks below, and they are very willing to perch on anything.

I really like the photos of the fourth bug, the one with the lacy wings and the long, um, whatever, backwards antennae.

P.

Re: Art fair bug

[guppiecat]

I had a wonderful time as well.

I look forward to an eventual recurrence.

[guppiecat]

Actually, we don't. Karen friended me after I made some comment in your LJ. I presume that she likes my photos. :)

(Hi Karen. :)

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

I saw a comment he made somewhere (probably in your LJ!) and thought he was interesting, so I added him. We don't really know each other.

[warpmind.livejournal.com]

...That yellow insect - third and second from the bottom - looks kinda... parasitic. Sort of. But then, there's two of those things, so maybe it's not an ovipositor after all... What the heck is it? O.O

[arkuat]

Well, shiny metallic green beetles of about that size are present in Minnesota. I certainly can't guarantee they're the same species as your Canadian beetle. I've seen them at Pike Island (part of Ft Snelling Park, at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers) and in Wirth Park on the west side of Minneapolis.

[pameladean]

Well, that's excellent.

P.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I think #4 is a may fly.

K.

[pameladean]

I bet you're right. They are fantastical in that way. The color threw me off, I think.

P.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

I have a friend who posts pictures to InsectPOD and she thinks you should post these there because they're so good, and that you'll probably get names for everything there, too.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Looks like it's a Yellow May.

[pameladean]

Very cool! Thanks for the link.

P.

[guppiecat]

Thanks for the pointer. I've emailed him to ask how to go about the posting process.