Category Archives: Insect Behavior

09.22.2022 Wood Splitter’s Delight

Posted on September 22, 2022 by Steve Gingold

Well maybe not all wood splitters but this one was happy to find these and get a nice shot of the two peacefully, I think, coexisting under the bark of some of my firewood that I was prepping for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Closeup Photography, Insect Behavior, Insects, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Canada Fire-colored Beetle, Dendroides canadensis, Massachusetts, millipede, New England, Ophyiulus pilosus), western massachusetts | 15 Comments

09.14.2022 Web Wednesday-Marbled Orbweaver

Posted on September 14, 2022 by Steve Gingold

Just as large and hairy as the Spotted Orbweaver I posted a while back but a lot more beautiful. Marbled Orbweaver-Araneus marmoreus. I don’t know if this is true for all this species but unlike the Spotted and other orbweavers … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Closeup Photography, Insect Behavior, Insects, macro photography, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Arachnid, Araneidae, Araneomorphae, Araneus marmoreus, Entelegynae, Marbled Orbweaver, Massachusetts, New England, western massachusetts | 12 Comments

09.08.2022 A handsome greenie

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Steve Gingold

I’ve mentioned previously about the larvae that collect debris as a disguise or camouflage known as bagworms. They are members of the Synchlora genus also known as Emeralds. Wavy-lined Emerald-Synchlora aerata. When young and not so fastidious as the adults … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Closeup Photography, Insect Behavior, Insects, Lepidoptera, macro photography, Moths, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, geomet, geometrid, Geometridae, Geometrinae, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, New England, Synchlora aerata, Wavy-lined Emerald, western massachusetts | 14 Comments

09.05.2022 More Aster Attraction

Posted on September 5, 2022 by Steve Gingold

This Blackberry Looper-Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria caught my eye after the Cabbage White flew off. I haven’t photographed an adult yet but with any luck this larva will give me the opportunity. When mature, it’s an emerald with white lines and quite … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Closeup Photography, Flora, Insect Behavior, Lepidoptera, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Blackberry Looper, caterpillar, Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria, Geometridae, Geometrinae, insect, larva, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, New England, New England Aster, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, western massachusetts | 12 Comments

09.03.2022 I’m knockin’ on your door again my darlin’ I’m knockin’ on your door please answer me

Posted on September 3, 2022 by Steve Gingold

When we opened the door to let Bentley out last night this visitor seemed to want in. Leafhopper-Rugosana querci Those eyes are a lovely mark. These hoppers are found mostly in the eastern U.S. but a few midwest states host … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Closeup Photography, Insect Behavior, Insects, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Auchenorrhyncha, Cicadellidae, Hemiptera, insect, leafhopper, Massachusetts, New England, Rugosana querci, True Hopper, western massachusetts | 24 Comments

09.02.2022 Fighting Frustration

Posted on September 2, 2022 by Steve Gingold

This Mason Wasp-Parancistrocerus sp (possibly) was going from flower to flower on this American Burnweed-Erechtites hieraciifolius trying for some pollen in our yard. Eventually these flowers do open a bit more but for now the going was difficult.

Posted in Amherst, Closeup Photography, Flora, Insect Behavior, Insects, macro photography, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Aculeata, American burnweed, Amherst, Erechtites hieraciifolius, Hymenoptera, insect, Mason Wasp, Massachusetts, native flowers, native plant, New England, Parancistrocerus sp, Vespidae, Vespoidea, western massachusetts, Wildflowers | 10 Comments

08.29.2022 Finally!

Posted on August 29, 2022 by Steve Gingold

While walking around the yard yesterday afternoon with the 7D setup I came across a Monarch caterpillar apparently resting after a meal of milkweed leaf. As I made a few images I felt something breeze by and it was an … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Butterflies, Closeup Photography, Insect Behavior, Insects, Lepidoptera, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Danaus plexippus, Danaus plexippus caterpillar, Danaus plexippus larva, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, Monarch butterfly, monarch caterpillar, monarch larva, New England, nymphalidae, Papilionoidea, western massachusetts | 29 Comments

08.26.2022- Green Eyes

Posted on August 26, 2022 by Steve Gingold

I found the eyes of this Northern Paper Wasp-Polistes fuscatus to be very attractive especially with the lightly colored face. Just look at them. I can tell you from personal experience, so far, that they are not at all aggressive. … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Closeup Photography, Insect Behavior, Insects, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Hymenoptera, Massachusetts, New England, Northern Paper Wasp, Polistes fuscatus, Umbrella Paper Wasp, Vespidae, Vespoidea, western massachusetts | 17 Comments

08.10.2022 Our friend the Robber Fly

Posted on August 10, 2022 by Steve Gingold

They seem to be mean little guys. They eat other insects including flies. But, aside from being part of the balance Nature supports, they also keep pests under control. Robber Fly-Efferia aestuans male with Striped Deer Fly-Chrysops vittatus. The image … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Closeup Photography, Insect Behavior, Insects, macro photography, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Asilidae, Chrysops vittatus, diptera, Efferia aestuans, insect, Massachusetts, New England, Robber Fly, Tabanidae, western massachusetts | 16 Comments

08.08.2022 The night time is the right time

Posted on August 8, 2022 by Steve Gingold

For making more wasps apparently. Actually this was evening so not quite dark yet. Thread-waisted Wasps-Ammophila sp. These two were flying all over the boneset patch in tandem. Here you get a good look at just how “thread-waisted” these wasps … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Closeup Photography, Insect Behavior, Insects, macro photography, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Aculeata, Amherst, Ammophila sp., Hymenoptera, Massachusetts, New England, Sphecidae, Thread-waisted Wasp, western massachusetts | 12 Comments