BioDiT Citrus: Exhibit 08: Insect Diversity

This is one of the oldest lineages of flying insects!  Its members are the dragonflies and damselflies.  The name Odonata is a reference to the toothed mandibles observed in adults.  Odonate larvae are aquatic and are called naiads (nye-ads).  Both the adults and naiads are carnivores.

Red Saddlebags

This is a red saddlebags dragonfly (Tramea onusta).  Given that this individual's color is more brownish or orangish, it is most likely a female.  Saddlebags are skimmer dragonflies with colored patches on their wings that give the impression that they are carrying saddlebags while in flight.

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 9/15/23 

Eastern Pondhawk

This female eastern pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) is an aggressive aerial predator.  Adult pondhawks attack other flying insects, including some as large as themselves.  They tend to favor temporary ponds (like our retaining pond!) which are less likely to contain predators of their naiads.

Photographed by Joshua Mckinnon, 9/27/23

Blue Dasher

The blue dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) is one of the most common skimming dragonflies in North America. It is easily identified by the brilliantly bright blue body with yellow. Each of its wings can move separately from the others allowing this species to hover for a period of time.

Photographed by Natalie Kramer, 10/19/23

Southern Spreadwing

The southern spreadwing (Lestes australis) is a type of damselfly.  When resting, the wings of most odonates extend from the body at a 90-degree angle.  As you might be able to tell from this picture, spreadwings are different!  They hold their resting wings at a 45-degree angle from their bodies.

Photographed by Joshua Mckinnon, 9/22/23

Citrine Forktail

The male citrine forktail (Ischnura hastata) in this picture is one of the smallest damselflies in North America.  It favors still waters...like our retaining pond...where it hunts for small flying insects to feed on.  

Photographed by Natalie Kramer, 10/19/23

The number of species of beetles in the world is extraordinarily large.  Estimates suggest that beetle species account for between 20% and 30% of all known animal species!  Beetle forewings are modified into a hardened shell (the elytra) which is the source of the name Coleoptera ("shield wing").  Like butterflies and moths, beetles go through a complete metamorphosis from larva to adult.  Mealworms, for example, are larval beetles.

Warrior Beetle

The warrior beetle (Pasimachus elongatus) is a large black ground beetle. Fusion of its shiny wing covers (called elytra) renders it flightless. It uses its sharp pincers to eat any insect smaller than itself, and has been observed tearing apart its prey like a warrior…hence its name!

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 10/13/22

Scarab Beetle

Many scarab beetles feed on feces, which they often bury underground. This is great for farmers and gardeners as it adds more nutrients to the soil. The scarab beetle seen here is Diplotaxis bidentata.

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 4/21/23

Dark Flower Scarab

The dark flower scarab (Euphoria sepulcralis) eats pollen and nectar.  It is considered a pest by some due to its destruction of corn, as well as roses and other flowering plants.  These dark brown to black beetles with metallic green or bronze reflections make a buzzing sound like a bee when they fly!

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 4/24/19

Banded Net-winged Beetle

The elytra (wing covering) of the banded net-winged beetle (Calopteron discrepans) are banded with orange and black across and raised ridges lengthwise. It is delicate and releases a mixture of toxins when broken, making them smell and taste bad to potential predators. Their orange-and-black banding is classic aposematic coloration, advertising their unpalatable nature.

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 4/22/19

Harlequin Lady Beetle

Harlequin lady beetles (Harmonia axyridis) are beneficial insects that prefer to feed on aphids, making them a gardener's best friend!  Aphid populations can grow quickly, but lady beetles can help keep them in check.

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 4/12/23

Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle

The twice-stabbed lady beetle (Chilocorus orbus) is distinctly different from more familiar orange and black lady beetles due to is two large red spots on its black wing covers.  It preys on many common garden pests, including aphids and mealybugs...but it favors scale insects!

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 10/19/22

Spotless Lady Beetle

The spotless lady beetle (Cycloneda sanguinea) is deep red and or orange in color, but without the spots than many people expect lady beetles to have. The pictured beetle is a male. You can tell from the white cleft in the middle of his head…females have all black in the center of their heads! Like other lady beetles, the spotless feeds on aphids, making it a beneficial insect to farmers and gardeners.

Photographed by Garrett Jones, 1/18/24

Bronze Blister Beetle

The bronze blister beetle (Lytta polita) has a slender brown to bronze metallic thorax.  It is found typically in the southern parts of the United States as they often eat pine pollen.   Blister beetles secrete cantharidin as a defense mechanism, which can cause skin blisters or can produce life-threatening inflammation if consumed by horses.

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 1/31/23

Southern Pine Sawyer

The Southern pine sawyer (Monochamus titillator) bores through tree bark. The fact that it can debark trees means it can produce deforestation…making it a pest. However, it commonly eats through fallen and dead trees…making it a beneficial decomposer. It lives in, reproduces in, and eats almost exclusively pine trees. It is a type of longhorn beetle, all of which have extremely long antennae.

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 3/24/22

Marbled Fungus Weevil

The marbled fungus weevil (Euparius marmoreus) is identified by the marbled black and brown coloring. It appears like a fallen leaf or acorn, which it uses as camouflage. This species is different from other weevils in that its antennae are straight and not angular. Adults eat fungi that grow under the bark of trees.

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 4/19/23

Hymenopterans are a group of insects with “membranous wings.”  Members of this group include bees, wasps, and ants.  Many Hymenopterans have a stinger at the end of their abdomen, and some – bees and ants in particular – live in complex colonies.  These insects have varied diets, with some being phytophagous (feeding on nectar or other parts of plants) and others being carnivorous.

Spider Wasp

Adult spider wasps, like Anopilus americanus, feed on nectar as adults. However, they tend to feed on flowers low to the ground because they also hunt for spiders which they will paralyze with their sting and then bring back to their burrow. The wasp will then lay an egg on the paralyzed spider, which will eventually serve as the larval wasp’s first meal when it hatches.

Photographed by Israel Matos, 4/26/23

Common Blue Mud Dauber Wasp

The common blue mud dauber wasp (Chalybion californicum) is a striking member of order Hymenoptera with its metallic blue body.  Adults feed on nectar, but they also hunt widow spiders...which they feed to the larval wasps!

Photographed by Alexis Sant, 9/11/23

Mexican Paper Wasp

Colonies of Mexican paper wasps (Mischocyttarus mexicanus) can have more than one queen (or foundress). Social roles of Mexican paper wasps are not fixed like they are in bees.  This means that if something happens to the queen, another wasp can take her place.

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 11/8/23

Southern Paper Wasp

Predators will destroy or knock down the nests of southern paper wasps (Polistes bellicosus) to get to the nutritious larvae inside. Surviving wasps will rebuild the nest using paper made from the exposed fibers of wood.

Photographed by Natalie Kramer, 10/19/23

Hunter's Little Paper Wasp

Fungi of the genus Claviceps cause an infection in various cereal crops (e.g. wheat, rye, sorghum) called ergot. Humans and other mammals can become sick from toxins produced by these fungi. One effect of ergot infection on plants is the release of a sugary secretion called honeydew. Wasps, like Hunter’s little paper wasp (Polistes dorsalis), will show up to feed on the honeydew and then pick up fungal spores, spreading the infection to other plants.

Photographed by Jasmine Blanford, 9/28/23

Florida Carpenter Ant

Florida carpenter ants (Camponotus floridanus) are seen in large numbers during the swarming season from April through June. They eat a variety of insects, plants, honeydew, and other sweets, and build their nests within wood.  This means they can be a major pest insect then they build their nests inside the wooden framework of buildings.

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 4/24/23

Chestnut Carpenter Ant

The chestnut carpenter ant (Camponotus castaneus) is an all-around deep rust red color.  Females take part in what are called Nuptial Flights: they fly and find mates.  They then will land, rip their wings out and then start their own colony.  The queen can live for a decade and each worker ant can live for several years.  Their life spans are considered extensive in relation to other insects.

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 3/28/23

Graceful Twig Ant

Graceful twig ant (Pseudomyrmex gracilis) colonies have one queen.  If something happens to her, worker ants "box" to create a new hierarchy! The higher-ranking dominant twig ants will take over egg laying responsibilities until a new queen is established.

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 4/19/23

American Honey Bee

The American honey bee (Bombus pensylvanicus) has seen continuously declining populations since the 1960s, and it is now considered a rare species.  It's estimated that 80% of all flowering plants are pollinated by honey bees, and according to the USDA, that includes more than 130 types of fruits and vegetables grown by American farmers.  This means declining bee populations threaten the economic viability of many agricultural enterprises. 

Photographed by Natalie Kramer, 10/16/23

Western Honey Bee

Western honeybees (Apis melifera) are native to Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.  European settlers introduced them to North America in the 17th century due to their role in pollination, the versatility of beeswax, and the popularity of honey.

Photographed by Natalie Kramer, 10/19/23

While many people use the term “bug” as a synonym for “insect,” scientists use the term bug to refer to the Hemipterans.  These “half-wing” insects are so-named because only half of the forewing is membranous for flight.  Members of this group have piercing sucking mouthparts, and include insects like assassin bugs and cicadas as well as agricultural pests like aphids and leafhoppers, and parasites like bed bugs.

Lyric Cicada

Annual cicadas like this lyric cicada (Neotibicen lyricen) do not emerge from their larval stage in regular, synchronized intervals.  Annual cicadas have a larval-to-adult emergence time that ranges between a year and a decade, but emergence is not synchronized.  Thus, some individuals emerge every year, typically in the summer to fall.  

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 9/15/22

Red-Banded Leafhopper

Seen here are two different nymph stages of the red-banded leafhopper (Graphocephala coccinea).  Adults of this species are so brightly-colored that they are also called the candy-striped leafhopper.  As a group, leafhoppers feed on plant sap at all life stages.  During feeding, this species of leafhopper and others can transmit the bacterium Xylellum fastidiosum between plants.  As this bacterium causes a serious plant infection called Pierce's disease, leafhoppers are an indirect threat to agricultural crops. 

Photographed by Natalie Kramer, 10/19/23

Boxelder Bug

The boxelder bug (Boisea trivittata) gets its name from the fact adults eats the seeds of maple trees...in particular, the boxelder maple!  While they are not a type of shield bug, they do produce a foul-smelling secretion as a defense mechanism, so are sometimes called stink bugs...though that name really should be used only for the shield bugs.

Photographed by Kellie Cook, 4/17/23

Giant Leaf-Footed Bug

Development of hemipterans (true bugs) involves multiple juvenile stages called nymphs.  The nymphs shed (or molt) their exoskeleton as they change from one stage to the next.  Here you can see several different nymph stages of the giant leaf-footed bug (Acanthocephala declivis) on the same tree branch.  Fully-grown giant leaf-footed bugs can be more than an inch long. 

Photographed by Natalie Kramer, 10/19/23

Rough Stink Bug

Shield bugs get their name from their flat, shield-like body shape.  Seen here is a rough stink bug (Brochymena arborea).   

Photographed by Nicholas Santana, 4/6/23

Black Stink Bug

The shield bug or stink bug family contains many members that can become agricultural pests when they achieve large population sizes.  Seen here is a black stink bug (Proxys punctulatus).   

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 10/25/22

Brown Stink Bug

In the U.S., shield bugs are commonly referred to as stink bugs due to the pungent chemicals that they often release as a defense mechanism.  Seen here is a brown stink bug (Euschistis servus).   

Photographed by Natalie Kramer, 10/19/23

Stink Bug

Members of the shield bug bug family come in many different colors.  Note the red tips on the spines behind the head of this green stink bug (Loxa falvicollis).   

Photographed by Garrett Jones, 12/5/23

Pale Damsel Bug

The pale damsel bug (Nabis capsiformis) is a true bug that, like assassin bugs, uses its piercing sucking mouthparts to eat other insects.  Also like assassin bugs, damsel bugs are considered beneficial insects.  They uses their front-legs in a fashion much like that of a praying mantis to capture insects smaller than themselves.   

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 4/7/23

North American Wheel Bug

Assassin bugs are among the insects most beloved by gardeners!  The North American wheel bug (Arilus cristatus) seen here is one of the largest bugs that can be observed in Florida.  Like all assassin bugs, it eats a wide variety of pest insects, including caterpillars and herbivorous beetles.  The fang-like proboscis extending from its head is used to inject venom and digestive enzymes into prey insects.  Be careful with assassin bugs of all sizes, though.  If they are provoked, their bite is extremely painful!  

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 11/7/23

True flies are a member of the order Diptera.  The name means "two wings," and the true flies use only their forewings for flight.  Posterior wings in flies are reduced in size and called halteres which function as a sensory organs that provide the fly with information about in-flight body-rotation.  Though this group contains a number of annoying and even dangerous members (like horse flies and mosquitoes), it is a very diverse order with many species that are beneficial for humans.    

Ferruginous Tiger Crane Fly

The ferruginous tiger crane fly (Nephrotoma ferruginea) is named for its shiny, rust-like coloration. (Ferrous refers to iron, and ferruginous means rust!)  When at rest, its long and narrow wings are held flat on its back.

Photographed by Garrett Jones, 1/30/24

Crane Fly

Crane flies like Toxorhina magna bear a superficial resemblance to another type of fly -- the mosquito.  For this reason, they are misidentified as mosquitoes or they are given names like mosquito hawk or skeeter-eater on the assumption that they eat mosquitoes.  In fact, crane flies have very short lifespans as adults and effectively do not eat at all...they just mate!  So remember:  crane flies are not mosquitoes, they don't eat mosquitoes, and they are totally harmless to humans!

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 4/13/23

Robber Fly

Robber flies like Efferia aestanus are ambush predators that inject their prey with neurotoxins. They eat beetles, butterflies, grasshoppers, and other insects. They also make a tasty meal for frogs, birds, and lizards!

Photographed by Nicholas Santana, 3/8/23

Common Lovebug

Not your typical pest, the common lovebug (Plecia nearcita) is a species of fly that neither bites nor stings.  It eats decaying plants as a larva and feeds on nectar as an adult. But its mating swarms are so large that they can make driving a bit difficult.

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 9/27/23

Red-Tailed Flesh Fly

Red-tailed flesh flies (Sarcophaga crassiplalpis) consume the waste of humans and animals, and lay their eggs on decaying bodies. The presence of these flies and their larvae on corpses can help investigators estimate the time of death.

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 3/30/23

Long-Legged Fly

Long-legged flies are a group of true flies characterized by metallic-colored bodies and large eyes.  They also typically -- though not always -- have relatively long legs.  The long-legged fly seen here is Condylostylus longicornis.

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 4/19/23

Long-Legged Fly

Most adult long-legged flies are predators feeding on other small invertebrates.  Since many feed on mosquito larvae and aphids, they are definitely beneficial to humans.  The long-legged fly seen here is Condylostylus mundus.

Photographed by Jasmine Blanford, 9/23/23

Stilt-Legged Fly

Stilt-legged flies like Gallipeza nebulosa are easily identified by their extra-long, slender legs.  They can be red or brown in color.  These harmless flies do not bite or sting, though they can be confused with wasps or hornets due to their elongated bodies and wings.  

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 4/18/23

Black Soldier Fly

The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is common in many parts of the world, though most often in neotropical climates.  This species has a predominately black body with metallic green and blue on thorax and a red end of the abdomen.  Its antennae are twice the length of its head, and its appearance mimics wasps like mud daubers.   

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 4/25/23

The “straight-winged” members of order Orthoptera include grasshoppers, crickets, and their various relatives.  These insects exhibit an incomplete form of metamorphosis with the larvae looking like wingless adults.  While some Orthopterans are major agricultural pests, they are also one of the insect groups most frequently eaten by humans!

Short-Winged Green Grasshopper

The short-winged green grasshopper (Dicromorpha viridis) seen here is a type of slant-faced grasshopper.  This type of grasshopper is frequently found in wet habitats and typically is not a threat to gardens and agricultural crops as these species do not usually congregate in large numbers.

Photographed by Alexis Sant, 9/14/23

American Bird Grasshopper

The American bird grasshopper (Schistocera americana) can be detrimental to crops if in large numbers. In Florida, it is specifically a threat to citrus trees. Unlike other local grasshoppers, adults of this species are seen through the winter.

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 10/27/21

Giant Katydid

The green, leaf-like giant katydid (Stilpnochlora couloniana) is largest katydid species. They are known for their song-like sounds which are heard in the evening time. Their songs can differ whether being used for mating, territorial display, or defense.

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 9/27/17

Broad-Tipped Conehead

The broad-tipped conehead (Neoconocephalus triops) is a type of katydid. It has a slender end to the wings, and very long hindlegs. Its green in color allows it to mimic and blend with leaves. In south Florida, its songs can be heard year-round, while its activity is seasonal as you move further north.

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 2/9/22

Narrow-Winged Tree Cricket

Mature adult narrow-winged tree crickets (Oecanthus niveus) are green, with a long, slender body. As with other crickets, males produce sounds through stridulation in which they rub their forewings together.  Narrow-winged tree cricket males are known to produce more rapid, higher pitched sounds in warmer temperatures.

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 10/17/23

Members of order Zygentoma are collectively called silverfish or firebrats.  This old insect lineage has a number of distinctive features, including a lack of wings, direct larval-to-adult development without metamorphosis, and three elongated structures (cerci) emerging from their back end.

Typical Silverfish

Silverfish like Ctenolepisma longicaudatum, seen here, are detritivores, meaning they eat organic matter that falls off living organisms.  In nature this takes the form of hair, feathers, shed skin cells, and leaves, making them an important part of the decomposer community.  When living in close association with humans, they feed on similar substances found in our homes and offices.  Things like clothing starch or the paste in book bindings.

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 2/23/24

Order Blattodea contains the cockroaches and the termites.  It is worth noting that while termites are eusocial (i.e. have a complex, caste-driven social structure), cockroaches are social...they have complex interactions without a caste-structure.  Some cockroach species exhibit parental care of their young, and all engage in regular grooming of their antennae...both of which may be a bit surprising considering how we view members of this order as, well, gross!

Cuban Cockroach

The Cuban or banana cockroach (Panchlora nivea) is a subtropical cockroach identified by its long antennae and translucent green wings. It is typically only found outdoors and is not commonly known as a pest. At up to 24-cm long, females are almost twice the size of the males and take longer to mature.

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 8/20/19

It's probably a surprise to learn that the mantids (members of order Mantodea) are close relatives of termites and cockroaches.  With their elongated bodies, mantises may look more like stick insects (phasmids) or grasshoppers (orthopterans), but they don't share a close ancestry with either group.  As a group, mantises are ambush predators that use their raptorial fore-legs to strike and capture  their prey.

American Grass Mantis

Most species of grass mantis are found only in South America, but the American grass mantis (Thesportia graminis) is found in the southeastern US, mainly in Florida and Georgia. Its slender brown body and long antennae cause it to resemble a pine needle or a blade of grass. It can be mistaken for a stick insect if you don’t look carefully, but once you see the raptorial fore-legs, there is not question that it’s a mantis!

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 3/28/23

The "net-winged" lacewings of order Neuroptera are cousins to the beetles.  Adult lacewings often eat sugary secretions from plants or insects, though others are carnivores or omnivores.  The larvae, however, are all specialized carnivorous.  Often called ant-lions, lacewing larvae have long mandibles that are used for piercing prey insects and then sucking out their fluids.  This is in stark contrast to the delicate-looking adults!

Common Green Lacewing

There are several species of green lacewings in Florida that are members of the genus Leucochrysa.   It is virtually impossible from a photo alone to tell them apart.  Lacewings are characterized transparent wings that look like lace when open. Their larvae are beneficial to crops and gardens as they deter and mitigate pest insects.  These larval predators are often called antlions.

Photographed by Edith Ramlow, 9/18/23

Order Psocodea contains insects commonly called lice.  When people envision lice they typically picture parasitic lice which suck blood from their hosts.  In fact, most lice (called booklice and barklice) are scavengers that play a role in the decomposition cycle, and otherwise have little impact on humans.  Larval lice, or nymphs, look like wingless adults.

Tree Cattle

Cerastipsocus venosus is a common species of barklouse found in the southeastern U.S.  Like most species of barklice, it feeds on moss, lichen, and dead bark on the surface of trees.  The nymphs of this species can be seen grouped together tightly in little herds on tree branches.  This gives rise to their common name -- tree cattle! 

Photographed by S.C. Schenk, 4/19/23