Oak-hickory-forest
Guides
Geotrupes blackburnii blackburnii
Blackburn's earth-boring beetle
Geotrupes blackburnii blackburnii is a subspecies of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae. It is a medium-sized beetle with entirely black coloration and a nearly impunctate pronotum, distinguishing it from the closely related G. splendidus. Adults are most commonly encountered in fall, particularly on mild days, and are frequently found on or near animal dung in high-quality woodland habitats. The species has a broad distribution across eastern North America.
Orussus minutus
Orussus minutus is a rarely collected parasitic woodwasp in the family Orussidae, native to the eastern United States. The species is notable for its significant western range expansion documented through citizen science platforms and museum collections. Previously known from only about 50 specimens mainly in the Northeast, new records from Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, and Manitoba extend its range hundreds of miles westward. The species is extremely uncommon in collections despite intensive trapping efforts.