Bugs of Mackie

European Earwig - Forficula auricularia

2011-12-31T18:02:00.000-08:00

When I first saw this earwig in the garden I was thrilled because I don't see them where we live. Apparently not everybody shares my enthusiasm. I was told that in this area they are quite common and can be a nuisance.

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle - Harmonia axyridis

2011-12-20T17:19:00.000-08:00

When I was picking plums I found lots of these tiny pupa stuck to them. They were originally introduced in North America to control aphids.

Stone Centipede - Lithobiomorpha

2011-12-04T14:15:00.001-08:00

I have always thought that centipedes were fascinating, but also creepy, especially when they are fast like this one. They seem to move along so effortlessly. I found this one up in Fylton Forest under one of the stump stools.

Stink Bug - Chlorochroa

2011-12-03T20:00:00.000-08:00

I was in the Fylton Forest looking at one of the Oregon Grape shrubs when I noticed this stink bug on it. It seemed right at home crawling around amongst the berries.

Woolly Aphid - Eriosomatinae

2011-11-26T18:35:00.001-08:00

It was a cloudy day and we were sitting out having coffee when I noticed this tiny bluish thing flying above the flower bed. It was a Wooly Aphid and at only 3mm these tiny guys are pretty tough to follow.

Green Arches - Anaplectoides prasina

2011-11-12T06:52:00.001-08:00

I found this worn late season moth under the porch light. No surprise since the larva feed on apple and there are lots of orchards in this area.

Spider Wasp - Pompilidae Auplopus

2011-11-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

I found this guy near the gate to the Fylton Forest where the California Quail like having their dust bath. When I first saw this guy I knew I had never seen anything like it before. Its movements were quick and nervous-like, always digging in the sand and flying off when approached. It seemed like it was on a mission.

Four-spotted Sap Beetle - Glischrochilus quadrisignatus

2011-11-05T17:53:00.000-07:00

We were sitting at the picnic table having coffee when B spotted this guy crawling across the table. I thought it was odd that it had a bunch of stuff stuck to it until I found out that it was a Sap Beetle.

Cat-Faced Spider - Araneus gemmoides

2011-10-30T13:57:00.000-07:00

I love that name "Cat-faced Spider." I found this one up in the Fylton Forest on one of the rose bushes beside the path. It can hide really well as you can see from the first photo. I was hoping to get a better look so I went back and checked every few hours and on one occasion I was lucky enough to find it finishing a meal.

Ants (Formicidae) - Lasius umbratus

2011-10-22T18:32:00.000-07:00

I was wandering around the Fylton Forest one afternoon when I decided to gently lift one of the logs that is used as a stool. I was happy to find these ants farming aphids and some with larva. I've often wonderd how they work together. Then I found this quote by Dr. James C. Trager on Bugguide.net

Western Yellowstriped Armyworm Moth - Spodoptera praefica

2011-10-21T18:14:00.000-07:00

Moths are so underrated, they are excellent pollinators and also quite beautiful. I found this one by the veranda on the south side of the house.

Treble-bar Moth - Aplocera plagiata

2011-10-18T18:32:00.000-07:00

Every morning I went out to check if there were still some moths around the porch light and I was never disappointed. In fact, most mornings there were quite a few of these around. They are an introduced species used to control St John's wort.

Marsh Crane Fly - Tipula oleracea

2011-10-06T19:15:00.000-07:00

I love crane flies! They kind of fly gracefully. I often smile when one of my co-workers describes one to me saying "I saw the biggest mosquito ever."I found this crane fly by one of the flower pots on the east side of the house.

Crackling Forest Grasshopper - Trimerotropis verruculata suffusa

2011-10-01T17:26:00.000-07:00

It only makes sense that I found this Crackling Forest Grasshopper up in the Fylton Forest.

Carpet Beetle larva - Dermestidae

2011-09-23T20:58:00.000-07:00

One afternoon Sharon invited me up to the Joan Heriot Centre to look at some of the specimens in the collection. While we were going through the insects, we found these Carpet Beetle larva feeding on a slug specimen.

Maple Spanworm Moth - Ennomos magnaria

2011-09-23T19:49:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favourite moths. It shows up in the fall when the leaves are starting to turn yellow so it fits in beautifully. I found this one by the house.

Western Conifer Seed Bug - Leptoglossus occidental

2011-09-23T16:30:00.000-07:00

One afternoon while I was wandering around the Joan Heriot Centre I saw one of these in a large spider web. That evening I went back to the same area and found this one crawling on one of the fence posts.

Woodlice - Oniscidea

2011-09-23T15:44:00.000-07:00

When I first saw this bug I knew it wasn't anything that I had ever seen. As it turns out, it's not even a bug. It's a crustacean.

Soldier fly - Stratiomyidae

2011-09-23T14:56:00.000-07:00

This beautiful greenish fly was one of the first things I photographed when we arrived.