Any other hobby entomologists here?

[PrettyBirdRocky]

I wasn't always an entomologist enthusiast, but our oldest son has, since he was able to walk and pick up dead bugs. That love grew and we learned how to do entomology for 4H- phew that's a lot of work.

Worms/caterpillars still give me the jeebies-- the way they move! Lol which is hilarious as I have a monarch way station out front.

My favorite seem to be beetles. Although I do tend to love them all.

We even had a pet wolf spider as she was found mid winter in a container. She helped me get over my fear of spiders and since her have grown my of all critters.

We had Madagascar hissing cockroach colony, and still have mealworms and dubias for reptiles/chickens.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Lol, Bug Life Matters?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Yes! I spent quite a while reading up on them after I released it!
From what I read I believe it was a female? And apparently they have a super short lifespan so the adults don’t even have mouths

Now that's interesting! I know that's true of certain other insects, but I did not know it was true of some moths.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

Yes! I spent quite a while reading up on them after I released it!
From what I read I believe it was a female? And apparently they have a super short lifespan so the adults don’t even have mouths

Correct on the mouthparts. The adults of the giant moths- Saturniidae- Polyphemus, Prometheus, Luna, Atlas, Io, Cecropia- all live maybe 2 weeks from emerging from their pupae. That's one reason their caterpillars are so big.

We bred a few a few years ago for entomology class as we homeschool as well so there is a ton of entomology information floating around in my head lol

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

A few recent photos. Just to add some pop! West central Indiana

Hairy rove beetle


Sphinx moth



Imperial Moth



Painted Hickory Borer beetle


Periodical cicada


Great Spangler fritillary


Tiger swallowtail


Hapola moth


Two spotted bumblebee


Paper wasp


Honey bee

 

[CoopBoots]

Ooh, I like this thread. I love butterflies, mantids, and have a growing interest in spiders...

Spicebush swallowtail caterpillar. I currently have two chrysalises that should hatch soon:

Monarch female; unfortunately my milkweed looks rough this year and I doubt we'll see caterpillars:

I'm raising Cecropia caterpillars this year for the first time! Husband paints Warhammer and wanted a model to pose with it, haha:

They have mostly cocooned now and I won't see moths until next year, assuming they stay healthy over the winter!

I've raised Luna moths, Monarchs, Black Swallowtails, Gulf Fritilaries, and a few other fairly random moth types. I've also done a little beekeeping, but I've been too busy with family and chickens to get back into it yet...

 

[azurbanclucker]

Ooh, I like this thread. I love butterflies, mantids, and have a growing interest in spiders...

Spicebush swallowtail caterpillar. I currently have two chrysalises that should hatch soon:
View attachment 3917652
View attachment 3917653

Monarch female; unfortunately my milkweed looks rough this year and I doubt we'll see caterpillars:
View attachment 3917654

I'm raising Cecropia caterpillars this year for the first time! Husband paints Warhammer and wanted a model to pose with it, haha:
View attachment 3917657
They have mostly cocooned now and I won't see moths until next year, assuming they stay healthy over the winter!

I've raised Luna moths, Monarchs, Black Swallowtails, Gulf Fritilaries, and a few other fairly random moth types. I've also done a little beekeeping, but I've been too busy with family and chickens to get back into it yet...

Ask your hubs How many points that cecropia caterpillar is?

 

[StinkyAcres]

I'm no entomologist, but I am very interested in bugs and love photographing them even though a lot of them creep me out, especially beetles and fishflies. I enjoy mothing and I've counted over 300 species on my yard list. I pin dead butterflies and moths I find. We keep Dubia roaches to feed our two pet tarantulas.

Spoiler: Lots of bug photos! (all taken by me)

Mourning Cloak caterpillar

Jumping spider species

Stable Fly

Scarlet plant bug species

Red-legged Grasshopper

Errastunus ocellaris leafhopper

Northern Walkingstick

Grapevine Beetle

Chinese Mantis

Rosy Maple Moth

Ultronia Underwing moth

Maple Callus Borer Moth

Halloween Pennant dragonfly

 

[TOMTE]

I'm no entomologist, but I am very interested in bugs and love photographing them even though a lot of them creep me out, especially beetles and fishflies. I enjoy mothing and I've counted over 300 species on my yard list. I pin dead butterflies and moths I find. We keep Dubia roaches to feed our two pet tarantulas.

Spoiler: Lots of bug photos! (all taken by me)

Mourning Cloak caterpillar

Jumping spider species

Stable Fly

Scarlet plant bug species

Red-legged Grasshopper

Errastunus ocellaris leafhopper

Northern Walkingstick

Grapevine Beetle

Chinese Mantis

Rosy Maple Moth

Ultronia Underwing moth

Maple Callus Borer Moth

Halloween Pennant dragonfly

WOW! Amazing photos! You're seriously talented I really love that borer moth!

 

[TOMTE]

A few recent photos. Just to add some pop! West central Indiana

Hairy rove beetle
View attachment 3917572

Sphinx moth
View attachment 3917573


Imperial Moth
View attachment 3917574


Painted Hickory Borer beetle
View attachment 3917584

Periodical cicada
View attachment 3917587

Great Spangler fritillary
View attachment 3917589

Tiger swallowtail
View attachment 3917590

Hapola moth
View attachment 3917591

Two spotted bumblebee
View attachment 3917594

Paper wasp
View attachment 3917592

Honey bee
View attachment 3917595

Rove beetles are so cool. And they're hard to photograph because they never want to sit still I've managed to get ONE passable pic of a Platydracus maculosus rove beetle, LOL! Also, that cicada is so tiny. I love it. Nice paper wasp, too!