Sometimes my favorite bug finds are those I least expect. I was driving home from school and this adorable Jumping Spider in the family Salticidae was just hoping along on my dashboard! Luckily for me, I had a little bug-catching container right in my purse on the passenger seat. I scooped her up and brought her home for a photo. I am rather proud of myself because I believe I correctly identified her as a Black Jumper in the genus Sassacus. Here is a very close match and better photo on bugguide.
The Goldenrod that grows near my house is always teeming with life. That is where I found this Mite. I don’t know much about identifying mites but I am going to guess this is a Spider Mite. Many mites are red but Spider Mites are commonly found on flowers, where if their numbers become abundant, can be harmful to the plants.. Mites are not insects they are Arachnids, see the 8 legs??
This Planthopper is rather cool looking with his printed thorax. I found him on the wild flowers outside my house. I think he may belong to the Cixiid family of planthoppers.
Flower Tumbling Beetle probably genus Mordella that I found on the Goldenrod outside our house.
Green Emerald moth that visited our bathroom wall the other night. Look at its pink face and outline. It truly looks like a creature out of a fairytale.
Kenny called me into the bathroom the other night and once I arrived he pointed to our wall at this beautiful creature and simply said “Look, pretty.” This is definitely a Geometer Moth known as a Green Emerald. I’m having trouble distinguishing which one. The closest matches I’ve found so far is the Southern Emerald (Synchlora frondaria) or the Columbian Emerald Moth (Nemoria darwiniata).
Here is the latter on bugguide.
Flower Crab Spider I found outside on the Goldenrod.
I at first assumed this was a Hoverfly larva munching on all the aphids that cover the wild Mustard outside of my house, then I saw legs! On closer inspection, I believe it is a Lacewing Larva (see the large pincher-like jaws near the head?) who are every bit as deadly to pesky aphids and should be welcomed just as much as Ladybugs in your garden!
His coloring reminds me of mint chocolate chip.
Spotted Cucumber Beetle I spotted.
