Mike’s Bugs

08/13/2026

Memories, August 13th, 2013:

Definitely a fritillary, although I'm not sure of the species. Spotted on Turkey Flats Trail over the weekend.

07/30/2026

Not a bee.

Memories: July 30th, 2011: “Today was a good day for seeing bee flies (flies that look like bees) out by the Colorado National Monument.” ~ This is a yellow-shouldered drone fly (Eristalis stipator).

07/24/2026

This one was spotted last year (July 23rd, 2025).

It’s truly not often that I spot an insect species that I’ve never seen before - not even in pictures.

I’ve seen adult antlions before, but never one with the faintest pink and bold black patterned wingtips. I’d never heard of a “Pleasing Picture-Winged Antlion” (Glenurus gratus) before tonight.

It’s a large insect, when it comes to what usually shows up to the porch-lights at night, especially these days when most of the larger moth species are becoming less common.

Cool critter!

07/21/2026

July 21st, 2026: Moth season has arrived in Olney, IL. Last night I saw a luna moth flying across the parking lot at work; and then, early this morning, I spotted this Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus).

07/19/2026

July 19th, 2011. Probably in Grand Junction, Colorado:

Morning Dragonfly

06/25/2026

Memories: June 25th, 2013

“Check this out. Neat wild leaf-cutter bee's nest I found under a wooden flower barrel in the front yard.”

~ Grand Junction, Colorado

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08/30/2024

“Bugs” by Jesse Welles

08/29/2024

August 29th, 2023:

“ Now we have a swallowtail chrysalis, attached to the parsley by a silken thread, and a tiger moth cocoon (it didn’t need anything fancy & thought the paper towel at the bottom of the container was just fine.) “

08/25/2024

August 25th, 2021: “This morning’s 3:30am Flora, Illinois insect was a rare sighting for me - a western tree cricket. They are much more flattened than katydids and they look something like fat lacewings whose wings lie flat instead of standing tent-like over their abdomen. I may have seen two of these before. I suspect I’ve heard plenty singing without knowing what I was hearing.”

08/24/2024

August 24th, 2021: “ One of today’s 2:30am Flora, Illinois insects. This is a . “