Forest-edge-species
Guides
Anthrax irroratus
Spotted Bee Fly
Anthrax irroratus is a bee fly (family Bombyliidae) widespread across North America, ranging from Alaska and northern Canada to Central America and the Caribbean. Adults are pollinators that frequent flowers, while larvae are parasitoids of solitary bees and wasps in at least five families. The species is one of numerous bee flies that exploit ground-nesting Hymenoptera as hosts.
bee-flyparasitoidpollinatorground-nesting-beessolitary-waspsNorth-AmericaBombyliidaeAnthraxdipteraectoparasitebiological-controlpollinationmeadow-speciesopen-habitatnectar-feederlarval-parasitoidHymenoptera-parasitewidespread-speciesSay-1823Alaska-to-Central-AmericaPuerto-Ricobee-mimicflower-visitornest-parasiteburrow-parasitetiger-beetle-parasite-relativeanthracinaeanthracininatural-enemy-of-pollinatorsbeneficial-insect-conflictconservation-concern-for-native-beesbee-hotel-visitorspring-pollinatorhyperactive-flierlong-proboscispollen-vectorhost-generalistfive-host-familiesexternal-parasitemaggot-like-larvalegless-larvasucker-attachmenthost-tracking-behaviornest-following-behaviorfemale-oviposition-strategyegg-deposition-at-burrow-entrancelarval-development-in-soilpupal-stage-in-soilcomplete-metamorphosisendopterygotebrachyceran-flyasilomorphabee-fly-tribespotted-bee-flyirroratusspeckled-appearancewing-pattern-speciesNorth-American-endemismNearctic-distributiontranscontinental-rangeArctic-to-tropicsaltitudinal-generalisthabitat-generalistflower-fidelitynectar-dependencecarbohydrate-requirementshigh-metabolic-raterapid-wing-beatthermoregulatory-behaviorsun-baskingpre-flight-warm-uppollen-transportincidental-pollinationnon-deliberate-pollen-collectionhairy-bodysetae-for-pollen-adhesionmimicry-of-beesBatesian-mimicrypredator-avoidancedefensive-resemblanceflower-constancyforaging-rangenest-provisioning-interferencelarval-food-usurpationhost-larva-consumptionhost-killingtrue-parasitoididiobiont-or-koinobiont-uncertaindevelopmental-timing-with-hostsynchronized-life-cycleseasonal-activity-overlap-with-hostspopulation-dynamics-linked-to-hostsnatural-biological-controlecosystem-service-trade-offpollination-benefit-vs.-pollinator-costnative-bee-conservation-concernmanaged-bee-riskalfalfa-leafcutter-bee-parasitemegachilid-parasitehalictid-parasiteandrenid-parasitecolletid-parasitesphecid-parasitecrabronid-parasitepemphredonid-parasiteapid-parasitemultiple-host-familieshost-breadthgeneralist-parasitoidopportunistic-parasitefacultative-parasitenest-substrate-generalistsoil-nesting-hostsburrow-nesting-hostsground-nesting-Hymenoptera-specialistcavity-nesting-parasite-occasionalwood-nesting-parasite-occasionalstem-nesting-parasite-occasionalpith-nesting-parasite-occasionalbee-block-parasitebee-hotel-parasiteartificial-nest-parasiteconservation-management-implicationbee-hotel-design-considerationparasite-screening-for-bee-hotelsnative-bee-protectionsustainable-agriculture-conflictintegrated-pest-management-considerationbiological-control-agentnatural-enemy-conservationhabitat-management-for-parasitoidsmeadow-conservationprairie-conservationfire-maintained-habitatearly-successional-habitatdisturbance-dependent-speciesopen-habitat-specialistshade-intolerantforest-edge-speciesriparian-meadow-specieswet-meadow-speciesdry-prairie-speciessand-prairie-speciesclay-soil-speciesloam-soil-speciessoil-texture-generalistelevation-range-broadsea-level-to-alpinecoastal-plain-speciesinterior-plain-speciesmountain-speciesdesert-edge-speciesarid-land-tolerancemesic-habitat-preferencehydric-habitat-occasionalxeric-habitat-occasionaltemperature-tolerance-broadcold-climate-adaptedwarm-climate-adaptedfreeze-toleranceheat-toleranceclimate-generalistweather-dependent-activitysunny-weather-preferencewind-tolerance-moderaterain-avoidancehumidity-tolerance-moderatedrought-toleranceseasonal-drought-survivalaestivation-possiblediapause-uncertainoverwintering-stage-unknownpupal-overwintering-likelyadult-longevity-brieflarval-duration-variabledevelopmental-plasticitytemperature-dependent-developmentdegree-day-requirements-unknownvoltinism-uncertainunivoltine-possiblebivoltine-possiblemultivoltine-possiblegeneration-overlapcontinuous-emergence-possiblepeak-activity-springpeak-activity-summerautumn-activity-occasionalwinter-inactivityadult-emergence-synchronized-with-host-emergenceprovisioning-period-exploitationhost-larval-stage-specificityhost-instar-preference-uncertainsecond-instar-host-possiblethird-instar-host-possiblefinal-instar-host-preferenceprepupal-host-possiblepupal-host-unlikelyhost-size-range-broadsmall-host-exploitationlarge-host-exploitationsingle-host-per-larvasolitary-developmentgregarious-development-rarecompetition-with-conspecificssuperparasitism-possiblemultiple-eggs-per-host-possiblehost-discrimination-uncertainoviposition-deterrent-uncertainmarking-behavior-unknownlearning-behavior-possiblespatial-memory-for-nestsvisual-host-locationolfactory-host-locationchemical-cue-followingvibrational-cue-detectionnest-entrance-recognitionburrow-depth-assessmentegg-placement-precisionsubterranean-ovipositionsurface-egg-depositionegg-survival-without-host-contacthatching-trigger-unknownlarval-search-behaviorburrow-penetration-abilityhost-location-within-nestattachment-site-selectionventral-attachment-typicaldorsal-attachment-possiblelateral-attachment-possiblethoracic-attachmentabdominal-attachmentcephalic-attachment-rarecaudal-attachment-raresu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ruber
red-spotted plant bug, Mirid Bug
Deraeocoris ruber, commonly known as the red-spotted plant bug, is a medium-sized predatory mirid bug native to Europe that has been introduced to the Nearctic and Neotropical realms. Adults measure 6–8 mm and display variable coloration from light brown or orange to black, with a diagnostic red cuneus. The species is univoltine, with adults active from July to September. It is an important biological control agent, feeding primarily on aphids and other small insects.
Milesia virginiensis
yellowjacket hover fly, Virginia flower fly, Virginia Giant Hover Fly, News Bee
A large, striking syrphid fly native to eastern North America. Adults are notable mimics of yellowjackets and hornets, complete with yellow, brown, and black coloration and a loud droning buzz. The species is active primarily in mid-summer to early fall, frequenting forest edges and meadows. Larvae develop in decaying wood. The species carries extensive American folklore, commonly known as the "News Bee" for its habit of hovering near people.
Parrhasius m-album
white M hairstreak, White-M Hairstreak
Parrhasius m-album is a small hairstreak butterfly (wingspan 32–41 mm) with metallic blue upper wings and a distinctive silver underside marked by an M-shaped pattern. Females are larger than males. The species is strongly associated with oak habitats throughout the southeastern and central United States.