astronomy-to-zoology

[astronomy-to-zoology]

 No info available, Not my photo

Can you please tell me what kind of snake this is?

That looks like a California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae) a subspecies of common kingsnake found in the western US and Mexico. 

[astronomy-to-zoology]

Fly acting like a bee? Chicago.

Yes! This looks like Helophilus, a wasp mimicking hoverfly. 

[astronomy-to-zoology]

Is it ironic to see a groundhog in a tree?

Very much so, I never knew that they climb. I guess it makes sense, they are basically just big squirrels. 

[astronomy-to-zoology]

Hey there! I was wondering if you’d be able to ID these for me. The stick bug was found in Indiana, and the other two were from when I was doing fieldwork in Puerto Rico over the summer! Even if you can’t ID I thought they were pretty cool! 😎

This stick insect is a Northern Walkingstick (Diapheromera femorata), one of the coolest insects in the Midwest. The other to I probably can’t get to species but I’ll give my best guesses. The spider looks like a tarantula, maybe Avicularia laeta or a similar species. The moth is one of the Hawk Moths (Sphingidae), probably  Xylophanes pluto or a very similar species. Cool finds!

[astronomy-to-zoology]

I saw this bug in my garage last Thursday. I thought that it was a wasp or a mosquito when it landed next to me, but it did not behave like one, and it was entirely passive for as long as I was around it. Any idea what it is? I live in the middle section of the east coast of the USA.

This looks like one of the Hanging Thief Robber Flies (Diogmites sp.), a genus of robber flies which hang while feeding. Not to be confused with Hangingflies which are in a completely different order and are more closely related to scorpionflies 

[astronomy-to-zoology]

Would really appreciate some help with this one. I couldn’t find it online, and it was crawling on my bedroom ceiling. @.@ I’m in northern Arkansas if that helps. TIA

This is (or was) a jumping spider (Salticidae). Its hard to tell when its all desiccated like that but this might be Phidippus clarus or a similar Phidippus sp. 

[astronomy-to-zoology]

Found this guy in central PA!

This is a male Eastern Dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus) a fairly common species that spends most of its time as an aquatic larva. Males have those large, showy mandibles which are completely harmless as they have no real mechanism for closing them with any force. Females have more traditional mandibles and can give a fearsome bite if mistreated. 

[astronomy-to-zoology]

This lil guy is about the size of a thumbnail and was seen in southern arizona

This is one of the Lynx Spiders (Oxyopidae), probably Peucetia viridans a widespread southern species. 

[astronomy-to-zoology]

Found a few of these in my garage. Hard to knock down also. Chicago.

This is (or was) the nest of a Mud Dauber (a broad term that is applied to several families), or a similar wasp. They make these nests out of mud and saliva, and store paralyzed prey in them for their larvae to eat. You can see the remnants of some of the chambers in your photo. 

[astronomy-to-zoology]

Eastern WA state, I’m not familiar with butterflies featuring eyespots in my area. The other side of the wings are a more solid reddish orange, also with eyespots, I’d love an ID!

This is a Common Wood Nymph (Cercyonis pegala) an open area species that ranges throughout North America.

[astronomy-to-zoology]

Found in Oregon City, OR!

Awesome find! This is a Strawberry Crown Moth (Synanthedon bibionipennis) a colorful species of clearwing moth that feeds on a variety of rosid species, including strawberries.

[astronomy-to-zoology]

Sorry for the picture quality. The spider is camouflaged on the lower brown thing. You can see her abdomen, it has some pretty markings. St. Louis. Sorry about my ID spam!

This is a Common House Spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum), a super common species of cobweb spider that is associated with areas of human habitation. If you live in some sort of house, chances are that you have several of these living with you. 

[astronomy-to-zoology]

Saw it while on vacation in Israel. It had beautiful blue eyes!

This looks like an Ensign Wasp (Evaniidae) a family of distinctive wasps that are parasitoids to cockroaches. 

[astronomy-to-zoology]

Hi there! I have tried my darndest to ID this guy but there are just about 0 online resources that want to help me. Found in Flagstaff, AZ. Thanks in advance!

This looks like Pseudohemihyalea ambigua  a species of Tiger Moth (Arctiinae) that is associated with pine forests. Bugguide.net and Mothphotographersgroup are good resources, it can take awhile to sift through them but the answer is usually there! 

[astronomy-to-zoology]

Found in southwest PA

This looks like the larva of a dytiscid beetle, a large family of aquatic beetles that are sometimes known as “predaceous diving beetles”. 

EDIT: since it was found away from water it is more likely ground beetle larva (Carabidae), a similar family in the same suborder.

[astronomy-to-zoology]

This is a Steel-blue Cricket Hunter (Chlorion aerarium) doing what it does best; paralyzing and laying eggs into crickets...

[astronomy-to-zoology]

This little dude wouldn’t stop buzzing right by me while I was trimming vine away from our lilac bush (NE Tennessee)

This looks like an Acanthocephala sp. Leaf-footed Bug. A family of true bugs named after the leaf-like projections on their hind tibiae. Also a fun fact, this genus shares its name with a completely unrelated (but still cool) phylum of mostly parasitic invertebrates that are related to rotifers!