Soil-oviposition
Guides
Gryllinae
Field Crickets
Gryllinae, commonly known as field crickets, is a subfamily of true crickets in the family Gryllidae. These insects are characterized by their ability to produce sound through stridulation of the forewings, with males generating species-specific calling songs to attract females. Field crickets exhibit hemimetabolous development, with nymphs undergoing multiple molts before reaching adulthood. The subfamily includes numerous genera distributed worldwide, with many species serving as important model organisms in studies of behavioral ecology, neurophysiology, and evolutionary biology.
Lobiopa insularis
strawberry sap beetle
Lobiopa insularis is a sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae, widely distributed across the Americas from North America through Central America to South America and the Caribbean. It is a significant agricultural pest of strawberry and other soft fruits, causing direct feeding damage and indirect losses through fungal dispersal. The species has been extensively studied for its biology, life history, and control options, including biological control using parasitoids and entomopathogenic nematodes.
agricultural-pestsap-beetlestrawberry-pestbiological-controlNitidulidaefrugivoroussexual-dimorphismmate-guardingparasitoid-hostentomopathogenic-nematode-hostpolyphagousfungal-dispersal-agentoverwintering-adultlong-lived-adulthigh-fecunditysoil-ovipositionripening-fruit-attractionintegrated-pest-managementBrazilArgentinaAmericas-distributionProctacanthus
Marauders
Proctacanthus is a genus of large robber flies (family Asilidae) comprising approximately 18 described species distributed primarily in North America. These predatory insects are characterized by their robust build, prominent facial beard, and aggressive hunting behavior. The genus name translates from Greek as 'spiny butt' or 'spiny rear', referring to a distinctive morphological feature. Species within this genus are notable for their ferocious predation on other insects, with some species showing strong dietary preferences for particular prey types such as grasshoppers.