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Aphis nerii
oleander aphid, milkweed aphid, sweet pepper aphid, nerium aphid
Aphis nerii is a cosmopolitan aphid species in the family Aphididae, primarily associated with plants in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), especially milkweeds (Asclepias) and oleander (Nerium oleander). The species exhibits complex reproductive strategies including parthenogenesis and viviparity, with winged and wingless female morphs. It is a significant pest of ornamental plants and a known vector of multiple plant viruses. The species has been introduced widely beyond its native range and is now found in tropical, Mediterranean, and temperate regions globally.
aphid pest milkweed monarch-butterfly virus-vector parthenogenesis viviparity chemical-defense cardiac-glycoside ornamental-pest biological-control integrated-pest-management
Lepidoptera
Butterflies and Moths, Lepidopterans
Lepidoptera is an order of winged insects comprising approximately 180,000 described species across 126 families and 46 superfamilies, making it the second largest insect order after Coleoptera. The group includes butterflies and moths, distinguished by scaled wings and bodies, complete metamorphosis with caterpillar larvae, and a coiled proboscis in most adults for liquid feeding. The order originated in the Triassic-Jurassic boundary around 200 million years ago and has coevolved extensively with flowering plants.
scaled-wings complete-metamorphosis pollinators agricultural-pests silkworm monarch-butterfly migration mimicry camouflage biodiversity-indicators
Lespesia
Lespesia is a genus of tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) distributed from Canada to Chile, with approximately 37 species in the Neotropical Region. Species are endoparasitoids of Lepidoptera caterpillars, with some records from sawfly larvae. The genus includes economically significant species such as L. archippivora, a major parasitoid of monarch butterfly larvae documented through extensive citizen science monitoring.
Tachinidae parasitoid biological-control monarch-butterfly Lepidoptera citizen-science endoparasitoid agricultural-pest-management
Lespesia archippivora
Caterpillar Destroyer
Lespesia archippivora is a tachinid fly parasitoid that develops internally within caterpillars, eventually killing its host. It is a generalist parasitoid known to infect at least 25 lepidopteran species and one hymenopteran species. The species is particularly notable for its impact on monarch butterfly populations, with studies estimating 6.2% of wild monarchs are killed by this fly. It has been widely used as a biological control agent against agricultural pests including armyworms, cutworms, and corn earworms. First introduced to Hawaii in 1898 for pest control, it is now established across North America and several Pacific islands.
parasitoid biological-control monarch-butterfly tachinid agricultural-pest citizen-science
Nomotettix cristatus
crested pygmy grasshopper, crested grouse locust, northern crested grouse locust
Nomotettix cristatus is a small pygmy grasshopper in the family Tetrigidae, commonly known as the crested pygmy grasshopper or crested grouse locust. It is one of approximately 35 Nearctic species of Tetrigidae. The species exhibits three recognized subspecies with distinct geographic distributions across North America. Like other members of its family, it is characterized by an elongated pronotum that extends over the abdomen, a trait distinguishing pygmy grasshoppers from typical grasshoppers in Acrididae.
pygmy-grasshopper groundhopper Tetrigidae Nearctic moist-habitat pronotum cristate North-America leaf-litter aquatic-margin Orthoptera Caelifera jumping-insect small-grasshopper crested-pronotum subspecies-variation Alberta Connecticut Florida Georgia Illinois lake-shore pond-edge stream-margin ground-dwelling Scudder-1862 Batrachidea-cristata Nomotettix-cristatus-cristatus Nomotettix-cristatus-compressus Nomotettix-cristatus-floridanus Tetriginae Acrididea Tetrigoidea Hexapoda Pterygota insect arthropod animal eukaryote metazoa animalia arthropoda insecta nomotettix cristatus crested pygmy grasshopper grouse-locust northern-crested-grouse-locust crested-grouse-locust crested-pygmy-grasshopper iNaturalist GBIF Catalogue-of-Life NCBI-Taxonomy Wikipedia Skejo Tumbrinck Devriese Hochkirch Morse-1895 Hancock-1902 Scudder-1863 Batrachidea cristata compressus floridanus Nearctic-region 35-species 2000-species 230-million-years dinosaur-contemporaries water-dependent-lifecycle Peruća-lake Croatia Balkans Europe systematics taxonomy faunistics natural-history biodiversity conservation endangered imperiled ZooKeys research amateur-naturalist citizen-science observation 53-observations rare neglected-diversity tropics Madagascar Australia New-Guinea Borneo Brazil Atlantic-Forest leaf-like-morphology spines warts undulations horns bizarre grotesque Hancock-1907 Genera-Insectorum Acididae pronotal-projection Holocerus Notocerus Holocerus-lucifer Holocerus-devriesei Notocerus-formidabilis Metopomystrum-muriciense Ophiotettix-pulcherrima Paraselina-brunneri Selivinga-tribulata Criotettix-bispinosus Tetrix-subulata Tettigidea-lateralis Tetrix-undulata Tetrix-tenuicornis Paratettix-meridionalis Paratettix-mexicanus Tetrix-depressa Tetrix-arenosa Tetrix-bipunctata Tetrix-japonica Paratettix-aztecus Hyperyboella-orphania Scelimena-producta Eurymorphopus-bolivariensis Discotettix-belzebuth Tetrix-ceperoi Tetrix-transsylvanica Arulenus Rhacocleis-buchichii Barbitistes-kaltenbachi Adžić Deranja Pavlović Fran-Rebrina Ivan-Budinski Vrlika HPM Hrvatski-Prirodoslovni-Muzej Zagreb Kitonić Miko Franjević Medak Mathieu Silva Pereira De-Domenico Sperber Connors Hendriksen Lambert Chong McMaster Monaghan Rentz Richter Rose Telnov Barclay Pauwels Entomological-Society-of-Latvia Riga Latvia Wallacea Volume-III biogeography nature-conservation Trinity-Audio guest-blog Josip-Skejo Orthoptera-of-Croatia Balkan-endemic endemic-species natural-history-museum museum-collections field-research career-determination serendipitous-discovery new-species systematic-research understudied-group regular-publishing 2021 2017 2020 2014 2016 2013 2012 2011 primary-school high-school biology-student snakes Uropeltidae Scolecophidia shield-tailed-snakes blind-snakes grasshoppers crickets Croatian-endemic first-encounter water-dependency lifecycle leading-European-orthopterists rare-species new-Arulenus-species understudied publishing Tetrigidae-research encyclopedia Elsevier digital-taxonomy open-access innovations journal growth trending social-media Flickr unidentified-rare-pygmy-grasshoppers students amateurs new-records not-rare Tribulation-helmed-groundhopper Kuranda Tully-Range Redlynch Kingfisher-park Speewah selected-awesome-places selected-amazing-taxa rainforests humid-forests extremely-rare weird-looking largest most-colourful ZooKeys-studies photographs identified-to-species-level variability pronotal-projection-morphology holotype Maroantsentra Antongil-Bay Tamatave Andasibe Vohimana Ranomafana Analamazaotra Traveler's-Palm Ravenala-madagascariensis natural-habitat skilful-flier flight large-back-spines Formidable-Pygmy-Grasshopper Sava-region true-colours small interesting Pygmy-unicorns Southern-America Murici description male-holotype head sternum frontal-view dorsal-view lateral-view sternomentum scale-bars Giraffehoppers unique antennal-shape face-coloration visual-animals courtship mating-pair Yapen-Island Cenderawasih-Bay W-New-Guinea young-entomologists decision study-pygmy-grasshoppers direction primary-and-high-school compare-data first-idea familiar-animals field order-Orthoptera friend fellow-student first-systematic-research two-Croatian-endemic-species first-years 2011-2012 never-saw single-pygmy-grasshopper BIOM Sinj Tetrigidae-location around-water first-time-ever lifecycle-water-dependent researching contacting Hendrik-Devriese Axel-Hochkirch Josef-Tumbrinck Croatian-Natural-History-Museum Skejo-et-al.-2014 Skejo-&-Caballero-2016 regularly-publishing Adžić-et-al.-2021 Endangered-Pygmy-Grasshoppers Encyclopaedia-of-Conservation Mathieu-et-al.-2021 ZooKeys-1042 Silva-et-al.-2017 comments recent-changes Metopomystrum Cleostratini Miriatrini ZooKeys-702 Skejo-et-al.-2020 online-social-media Anaselina Paraselina Selivinga rare-Australian-pygmy-grasshoppers ZooKeys-948 Malagasy-devils north south ZooKeys-957 Tumbrinck-&-Skejo-2017 taxonomic-and-biogeographic-revision New-Guinean-genus Ophiotettix-Walker-1871 Metrodorinae Ophiotettigini-trib.-nov.33-new-species nature's-creations encouraged U.S.-species spectacular closed Halloween orange-and-black Argus-tortoise-beetle Chelymorpha-cassidea oleander-caterpillar Syntomeida-epilais wheel-bug Arilus-cristatus morning-glory Convolvulaceae sweet-potato toxic-compounds alkaloids nerve-poisons monarch-butterfly milkweed-leaf-beetle oleander-aphid predator-protection polka-dot-wasp-moth vermillion-wings iridescent-blue-body white-spots wasp-mimicry ultrasonic-song mate-attraction egg-deposition oleander-leaf caterpillars cluster-feeding cardiac-glycosides heart-poisons dogbane-beetles natural-enemies barrel-shaped-eggs pale-orange exoskeleton-hardening orange-black-orange antennae-pale-orange body-and-legs-jet-black rear-end-brilliant-orange stout-beak proboscis impalement digestive-enzymes liquefaction medieval-torture-wheel Hemiptera true-bugs sucking-mouthparts incomplete-metamorphosis egg-nymph-adult plant-feeders harlequin-bugs squash-bugs stink-bugs fierce-predators pest-control Reduviidae assassin-bugs Zelus-longipes milkweed-assassin-bug sticky-forelegs prey-snaring proteolytic-enzymes predigestion muscular-pump black-wing-buds goldenrods meadow-plants Pselliopus-barberi orange-assassin-bug black-stripes stealth leafhopper brown-marmorated-stink-bug Halyomorpha-halys biological-control-agent native-protein-sources autumn-egg-laying spring-hatching May-June red-abdomens orange-antennae sawfly-larvae beetles other-bugs painful-poke caution handling pet-keeping Mad-Magazine Spy-vs-Spy pointy-nosed-secret-agents entomological-equivalent Bug-vs-Bug Heteroptera clan awesome-predator native-to-North-America record-numbers nursery function-of-wheel speculation cautious-approach embrace liquefied-meal protein-for-growth egg-production cluster-size tree-bark magnificent-creatures wide-variety scores stealthy-stalking assassination complementary-outbreak benefit naturally-occurring-predators parasites stem-onslaught no-interest-in-humans retreat memorable-painful-poke firsthand-experience clever-assassin USDA-NIFA-SCRI-Award research-support action-video website predator-prey-relationship natural-enemy ultimate-comeuppance Chinese-praying-mantis yellow-and-black-garden-spider arachnid close-encounter invasive-pest Asia Allentown-PA 1990s millions-of-dollars-damage crops home-invasion 33-states winter-refuge rising-crescendo concern farm-fields landscapes creature's-bane bounty awesome-six-legged-predator medieval-torture-device source-of-speculation little-fact tasty-morsel mark hapless-victim slurp protein-for-development autumn well-fed-female several-to-more-than-one-hundred sycamore-tree attendance irony nocent triggered-outbreak remain-to-be-seen word-of-caution Assasi pet laboratory learned-firsthand try-not-to-handle victim Shrewsbury Martinson Sargent fascination inspiration archive creatures trees UF extension integrated-pest-management NC-State AG295 html tortoise-beetles IFAS orn ole-cpillar UKY Agriculture CritterFiles casefile insects bugs assassin suggested-common-name scientific-name Linnaeus Megha-Kalsi Dakshina-R.-Seal publication preparation happy-safe-Halloween eat-stink-bug part-3 meets-wheel-bug mid-Atlantic-region inimitable-pest apples vegetables soybeans homes discovery damage distress homeowners wicked-winter previous-episodes give-stink-bugs Baby-boomers outwit undo sucking-insects Mother-Nature liquefied-tissues egg-conversion clusters spring bright-red-abdomens lucky half-dozen stealthily-stalked assassinating stinky-marmorated-cousins no-particular-interest stalking-humans too-large taste-bad firsthand beware handling-directly Ashley Nancy Chris Ryan Erik Caroline wrangling death-of-stink-bug Part-2 vandalizing-vegetables sullying-soybeans invading-homes wide-variety-crops curious-reunion arachnid-kind stalking capturing assassinating-stink-bugs game gorgeous-wheel-bug-nymphs cluster-near-eggs venturing-off first-victim true-bug-clan bed-bugs leaf-footed-bugs nefarious-brown-marmorated-stink-bug predicted struggle protect-crops prevent-stinky-invaders overlook eating-mechanism business-end powerful-beak front-legs cautiously-approaches embraces impales pumps-strong-digestive-enzymes liquefy-body-tissues slurps larvae tens-to-more-than-one-hundred plant-hoppers aphids increase-in-populations stink-bug-laden-nursery curious-irony outbreak beneficial-wheel-bugs iNaturalist-taxon rank preferred-common-name observations-count 399 Wikipedia-summary kingdom phylum class order family genus GBIF-taxonomy-match matched-scientific-name canonical-name status accepted match-type exact distribution-records authorship specific-epithet classification eukaryota nomotettix-cristatus authority basionym group grasshoppers-crickets-katydids species instructions fill-all-fields available-knowledge field-cannot-be-supported return-null NOT-repeat-information each-section-focused useful-detail schema taxon-record entomology-guide accurate conservative informative factual-correctness completeness clarity verbosity usefulness CRITICAL-RULES information-not-clearly-supported NOT-infer-species-level-traits higher-taxa explicitly-justified NOT-repeat-same-information multiple-fields unique-non-overlapping-content vague-generalizations like-most-insects typically-feeds-on-plants cautious-language has-been-observed is-known-to NOT-fabricate behaviors diet life-cycle-details host-relationships FIELD-INTENT summary high-level-overview 3-5-sentences appearance physical-description-only identification distinguish-from-similar-taxa habitat environment-conditions distribution geographic-range-only seasonality timing-of-activity feeding-habits null-if-unknown developmental-stages behavior notable-actions-or-habits ecologicalRole role-in-ecosystem humanRelevance interaction-with-humans similarTaxa must-include-reason misconceptions only-if-meaningful extraDetails important-additional-context STYLE-RULES clear-direct-sentences avoid-fluff-filler-language repeating-taxonomy-in-prose overly-technical-jargon concrete-statements abstract-descriptions QUALITY-RULES completeness-high most-fields-well-supported completeness-medium partial-but-reliable completeness-low sparse-data hasInferredContent true-ONLY-if-generalization-used otherwise-false OUTPUT-FORMAT strictly-match-JSON-schema no-extra-fields no-commentary-outside-JSON water-associated three-subspecies N.-c.-cristatus N.-c.-compressus N.-c.-floridanus small-size 399-observations exact-match medium-completeness no-inferred-content factual-correctness-prioritized conservative-approach informative-content no-fluff no-vague-generalizations cautious-language-where-needed no-fabrication unique-field-content focused-sections JSON-schema-compliance no-commentary
Polistes dominula
European Paper Wasp
Polistes dominula is a highly successful invasive social wasp native to Eurasia that has established populations across North America, South America, New Zealand, South Africa, and other regions. First detected in North America near Boston in 1978, it has become one of the most abundant wasps on the continent. The species builds small, exposed paper nests in protected locations and preys primarily on live insects, particularly caterpillars. Unlike yellowjackets, it does not scavenge for meat or sugar. Its rapid spread has been attributed to ecological flexibility, superior competitive ability, and tolerance of human-altered environments.
invasive-species social-wasp paper-wasp predator pollinator urban-ecology eusocial nest-construction biological-control thermal-biology spatial-learning vibrational-communication aposematism honest-signal overwintering diapause Polistes Vespidae Hymenoptera North-America Europe New-Zealand South-Africa South-America monarch-butterfly caterpillar-predation nest-architecture gyne foundress dominance-hierarchy climate-change-impact energetics metabolic-rate microclimate suburban-habitat anthropogenic ornamental-pest vineyard-pest fruit-damage stinging-insect venom poison-gland warning-coloration Zahavian-signal Strepsiptera parasitoid Xenos behavioral-plasticity foraging learning memory thermoregulation ectothermy endothermy solar-radiation nest-temperature brood-development colony-survival multiple-founding single-founding season-length latitude temperate Mediterranean hibernacle overwintering-costs climate-warming range-expansion competition native-species-displacement biodiversity-impact conservation management control integrated-pest-management IPM identification antennae-color facial-markings caste reproduction male female sexual-dimorphism antennae abdomen wing mandible saliva paper comb cell pedicel trophallaxis larva pupa adult worker queen subordinate dominant aggression defense threat-display sting toxicity brightness coloration predator-avoidance prey caterpillar Lepidoptera butterfly moth garden agriculture vineyard orchard urban suburban rural forest habitat-preference temperature metabolism quiescence torpor survival fitness colony nest population abundance distribution range expansion invasion establishment introduction biotic-interaction trophic-cascade herbivory-suppression plant-fitness milkweed Danaus-plexippus monarch Nelson Tasman ecosystem-impact conservation-management biological-invasion ecology behavior physiology morphology taxonomy systematics nomenclature gender-agreement Latin Christ 1791 Vespa-dominula basionym catalogue-of-life GBIF iNaturalist observation citizen-science photography illustration field-guide orange black yellow red color-pattern size wing-length body compact legs short face square triangular dark curled straight elbowed blunt pointed tip Zahavian costly-signal hunt forage nectar honeydew aphid scale-insect flower grape umbellifer fennel lovage insect meatball feed emerge chew cap hexagonal wood-fiber bark exposed open umbrella stalk ant repellent substance coat protect location eave attic tree branch vine shrub cavity bird-box bee-hive shed grave-lantern overwinter shelter protected thermal climate cold winter spring summer autumn fall season month day activity defend threat display raise tiptoe social dominance hierarchy reproductive egg lay found cooperate compete selfish passive-aggressive individual recognition facial-marking cognition mushroom-body brain intelligent artist architect navigation plasticity spatial relocating food resource dish bait training experience vibration communication signal substrate-borne abdominal wagging oscillation secretion modulation perceive react movement attention feeding inspection body-temperature ambient solar radiation metabolic cost energetic expenditure efficiency warming change impact increase invasive spread success competitive ability flexibility adaptation reaction response condition year variation productivity founding single multiple rate benefit cooperation predation parasitism vesparum stylopid stylopization parasite host infestation mite Acari wasp fly effect community decline Danaus plexippus mortality instar early late larger smaller vulnerable resistant discovery chance contact direct recruitment nestmate site cascading trophic cascade herbivory suppression plant growth production Asclepias net exclusion experiment outcome suggestion strong detrimental ecosystem strategy method development protection biodiversity region first 2016 recent established exotic congener chinensis longer comparison higher lower greatest area built structure native unsuccessful translocate unable thrive warmer origin contributor factor research thesis insight behaviour knowledge direction aid effective journal publication DOI 10.26686 wgtn 14538585 v1 University Wellington Victoria MSc student dissertation study investigation analysis data field resident report local indirect interaction level function service provision natural pest biocontrol ornamental decorative crop damage fruit cherry western Colorado at least ripening choice preference height ground strata microsite environment closed habitat dense vegetation surrounding bush Patagonia Argentina Chile NW detected 2003 sympatric coexistence overlap minimal facilitation behavioral process interspecific semi-urban poorly studied species Hypodynerus labiatus new light finding contribution understanding collecting anthropized highlight importance consideration Ethology 10.1111 eth 13505 abstract only limited detail full text required 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ReplyDelete RepliesReplyOut prairieSeptember 8:02 keeping cabbage worm seen RepliesReplyAnonymousSeptember 13 2:06 PM becoming here Upper Peninsula Michigan pendulum seems swung ago everywhere vanishingly rare haven't again house right RepliesReplyL.R ShimerSeptember 4:35 head gal work everybody else kinda egalitarian RepliesReplyLarryMay 9:34 directed Bev Wigney BTW lived NE Missouri detailed presented Thanks cogent scientifically accurate summary insect's life-cycle RepliesBug EricMay 3:47 kind compliments Delete RepliesReplyReplyAdd commentLoad Blog currently reply reader himself Working resolve Newer Older Subscribe Atom Demonized hosting 4 p.m.Saturday Jan 20 Room 1124 Academic Surge 455 Crocker Lane campus Attendees chat check 50,000 vespid eight-million free friendly Parking estimate 2000 described inhabit 500 undescribed headline-grabbing giant Vespa mandarinia formerly Asian news media dubbed murder hornet confuse identify sheet example hidden rodent burrow wall huge 100,00 will scavenge meat sugar soda hamburger road open-faced commonly located annual die cabbageworm white superb much delivered presentation website interested mechanism evolution honey Current project involve novo sequencing genome transcriptome genomic epigenetic regulating nutrition virus health hold doctorate Illinois Urbana–Champaign Gene Robinson postdoctoral Christina Grozinger unwelcome yard patio Preferring like beneath Sometimes legless grublike outstretched hand 15 relatively unaggressive problem doorway list earlier lepidopteran carry yeast winemaking fermentation flavor wine fuscatus recognize devoted mother dote fury opinion human-like great cooperator overall undercurrent selfishness manifest perfect themselves mushroom learning/memory 10 photogenic peer petal visitor camp Sierra Nevada mountain witnessed stinging crowded table ah sipped wondered says elsewhere which fertilized must warms enough lot protein baby need survived because drier usual deal competing go maintenance 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Pteromalus cassotis
Pteromalus cassotis is a gregarious parasitoid wasp in the family Pteromalidae that specializes in attacking monarch butterfly chrysalides. A single female may lay numerous eggs in one host, with documented emergences of up to 425 adult wasps from a single chrysalis. The species exhibits extreme female-biased sex ratios, averaging 90% female offspring.
parasitoid gregarious monarch-butterfly chrysalis-parasite sex-ratio-bias biocontrol