Photo Gallery: Curiosities
Nearly all of our caterpillar, butterfly and/or moth entries are now in their own respective categories within our Photo Gallery so please look there if you know you are looking for one of those insect types.
-
- American Carrion Beetle (Necrophila americana) (Etna, ME; 6/12/2012)
-
- Margined Carrion Beetle (Oiceoptoma noveboracense) (Etna, ME; 4/11/2010)
-
- Barklice nymphs of Cerastipsocus venosus (often called “Tree Cattle” due to their herding behavior) (Searsport, ME; 8/6/2023) (Photo courtesy of J. Kristo)
-
- Barklice nymphs of Cerastipsocus venosus (often called “Tree Cattle” due to their herding behavior) (Searsport, ME; 8/6/2023) (Photo courtesy of J. Kristo)
-
- Bot Fly (Genus Cuterebra) (likely either the Mouse Bot, C. fontinella, or Rabbit Bot, C. buccata) (Portland, ME; 6/18/2022) (Photo courtesy of Hazen Camber)
-
- Bronze Ground Beetle (“Bronze Carabid”) (Carabus nemoralis) (Stetson, ME; 5/21/2009)
-
- Bronze Ground Beetle (“Bronze Carabid”) (Carabus nemoralis) (Etna, ME; 4/3/2010)
-
- Brown Prionid Beetle (Orthosoma brunneum) (Etna, ME; 7/26/2023)
-
- Cicadas (comparing Periodical cicadas with an Annual cicada)
-
- An Annual / Dog-day Cicada found in Maine
-
- A newly-molted Cicada and its former exoskeleton; Photo courtesy of April and Lee Townsend (Portland, ME)
-
- The shed exoskeleton of an Annual Cicada following a molt
-
- Click beetle
-
- Click Beetle
-
-
Eyed Elater
(a species of Click Beetle)
-
- Wireworms (Larval stage of beetles called Click Beetles)
-
- Wireworms (Click Beetle larvae)
-
- Crane Fly Larvae
-
- Example of a Crane Fly (this one is a “Large Crane Fly” in the Tipulidae family)
-
- Phantom Crane Fly (Family Ptychopteridae)
-
- Damselfly
-
-
Dobsonfly larva
(also called a Hellgrammite)
-
- A male dobsonfly; Orono, ME (07/17/2018).
-
- Female dobsonfly
-
- Dogwood Sawfly Larvae on a dogwood (middle instar stage) (7/17/2020) (Photo courtesy of Susan; Monroe, ME) (compare with adjacent photos of the final two instar stages which are very different)
-
- Final larval instar of the Dogwood Sawfly (Macremphytus testaceus) (August 9th, 2009; Medway, Maine) (Similar to a White Pine Sawfly larva)
-
- Eastern Boxelder Bug (Boisea trivittata) (adult stage) (Hallowell, ME; 4/19/2021)
-
- Eastern Boxelder Bug (Boisea trivittata) (adult stage) (Hallowell, ME; 4/19/2021)
-
- Eastern Cicada-killer Wasp (Sphecius speciosus) (~1.5″ long; solitary and non-aggressive) (often mistaken for a Murder Hornet due to its size) (7/11/2022; Raymond Cape, Maine) (Photo courtesy of Paul Tracy)
-
- Eastern Cicada-killer Wasp (Sphecius speciosus) (~1.5″ long; solitary and non-aggressive) (often mistaken for a Murder Hornet due to its size) (7/11/2022; Raymond Cape, Maine) (Photo courtesy of Paul Tracy)
-
- Elm Sawfly (larval stage) (7/27/2009; Pittsfield, ME)
-
- Elm Sawfly adult, resting on a pea plant (7/1/2020; Edgecomb, Maine) (Photo by E. Kerr)
-
- Fishfly adult (July 16th, 2016; central Maine)
-
- Fishfly adult
-
- Four-lined Silverfish (Ctenolepisma lineatum)
-
- Giant Water Bug (“Toe-biter”)
-
- Giant Water Bug (“Toe-biter”)
-
- Giant Water Bug (“Toe-biter”)
-
- Gold-marked Thread-waisted Wasp (Eremnophila aureonotata) (Rockport, ME; 8/30/2020)
-
- Hermit Flower Beetle, Osmoderma eremicola (a type of fairly large scarab beetle) (Photo courtesy of J. Grant) (Plymouth, ME – July 12, 2020)
-
- Horntail (also called a Wood Wasp)
-
- Horsehair Worm (these are not insects)
-
- Horsehair worm inside a 3.5″ diameter petri dish
-
- A Horsehair worm that has emerged from its host cricket
-
- House Centipede
-
- Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thysbe) getting nectar from Fall Phlox flowers
-
- Introduced Pine Sawfly larva (July 11, 2015) (central Maine)
-
- Introduced Pine Sawfly adult (Etna, ME; 4/15/2020)
-
- Katydid (Northern Bush Katydid, Scudderia septentrionalis) (Etna, ME; 8/6/2010)
-
- Locust Borer
-
- Sugar Maple Borer (Glycobius speciosus) (6/13/2021; Panton, Vermont — but also found in Maine) (Photo courtesy of M.O. Metcalf)
-
- March Fly (“Lovebug”) (Family Bibionidae; genus Bibio) (likely Bibio femoratus) (Etna, ME; 5/27/2023)
-
- Mayflies (the immatures are aquatic)
-
- Mayfly (adult)
-
- Mayfly (adult)
-
- Metallic Wood-boring Beetle (Family: Buprestidae)
-
- Oil Beetle (female) (genus Meloe) (central Maine; late September 2019) (Photo courtesy of M. Pelletier)
-
- Pseudoscorpion
-
- Red-headed Ash Borer (Neoclytus acuminatus) (Jonesboro, ME; 4/11/2022)
-
- Red Flat Bark Beetle (Cucujus clavipes) (they are predators on other insects) (York County, ME; April 11th, 2022) (Photo courtesy of P. Wirth)
-
- Red-banded Leafhopper (Graphocephala coccinea) (also called the Candy-striped Leafhopper) (Etna, ME; 8/2/2009)
-
- Red-shouldered Pine Borer (Stictoleptura canadensis) (7/12/2020)
-
- Reticulated Net-winged Beetle (Calopteron reticulatum) – Camden, ME 8/14/2017
-
- Reticulated Net-winged Beetle taking flight (Calopteron reticulatum) – Camden, ME 8/14/2017
-
- Rhododendron Leafhopper (Graphocephala fennahi) (Greenville, ME; 8/26/2007)
-
- Robber Fly (female Efferia aestuans) (Scarbarough, ME; 7/17/2022)
-
- Rove Beetle
-
- Rove Beetle
-
- Hairy Rove Beetle; Etna, ME, 6/9/2018.
-
- Leopard Slug (also called a Spotted Slug or Giant Garden Slug) (June 1st, 2012) (Northeast Harbor, ME)
-
- Leopard Slug versus Tawny Garden Slug
-
- Sapwood Timberworm (female) (beetle) (Hylecoetus lugubris) (Stetson, ME; 5/23/2022)
-
- Sapwood Timberworm (female) (beetle) (Hylecoetus lugubris) (Stetson, ME; 5/23/2022)
-
- Scorpionfly
-
- Silverfish
-
- Small-headed Fly (resting on the underside of a maple leaf in Etna, Maine, July 27th, 2018)
-
- Spider Beetle (Whitemarked Spider Beetle)
-
- Smooth Spider Beetle (Gibbium aequinoctiale)
-
- 3/11/16. A large mass of springtails. Photo courtesy of C. Senn. Lincolnville, ME.
-
- Closeup image of a Sprintail
-
- Closeup of a Springtail
-
- Small Winter Stoneflies (Old Town, Maine; 3/11/2022) (possibly Allocapnia recta) (Photo credit: courtesy of Edward S. Grew)
-
- Stonefly (adult) (the immatures/nymphs are aquatic)
-
- Stonefly (adult)
-
- Example of a Syrphid Fly (feeding on Queen Anne’s Lace pollen)
-
- A species of Syrphid fly: Toxomerus marginatus
-
- Syrphid flies (droneflies) feeding on pollen of narrow-leaved goldenrod flowers (Schoodic Point in Acadia National Park; 10/10/2017)
-
- An example of a Hover fly or Syrphid fly that mimics bee/wasp-like patterning
-
- Tachinid fly (likely Hystricia abrupta) (Newburgh, ME; 7/28/2020) The adults of this species feed on nectar and their larvae develop inside caterpillars (Photo courtesy of J Atherton)
-
- A Tachinid fly in the genus Cylindromyia (they are common flower visitors in open/weedy areas)
-
- Tanbark Borer / Violet Tanbark Beetle (Phymatodes testaceus) (Cape Elizabeth, ME; 5/4/2023) (Photo courtesy of MB)
-
- Three-lined Potato Beetle (Lema daturaphila) (central Maine, 7/20/2021) (very common on tomatillo plants; uncommon on potato in spite of its name)
-
- Six-spotted Tiger Beetle (Cicindela sexguttata) (Orono, ME; 5/12/2022) (Photo credit: courtesy of Edward S. Grew)
-
- Tortoise Beetle (larva); Photo by G. Dill, staff
-
- Narrow-winged Tree Cricket (Snowy Tree Cricket) (Oecanthus niveus) (Wells, ME; 8/24/2022) (Photo courtesy of Tom Baxter)
-
- Two-spotted Tree Cricket (Neoxabea bipunctata – female) (Wells, ME; 9/4/2022) (Photo courtesy of Tom Baxter)
-
- Water Scorpion
-
- Water Scorpion
-
- Water Striders on Mount Desert Island (August, 2010)
-
- Western Conifer Seed Bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis)
-
- Western Conifer Seed Bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis)
-
- Winter Firefly (Ellychnia corrusca) (5/3/2011; Etna, ME)
-
- Winter Firefly (Ellychnia corrusca) (5/3/2011; Etna, ME)
-
- Example of a wood roach (Dusky Cockroach, Ectobius lapponicus) (male) (Stetson, Maine; 7/13/2015)
-
- Example of a wood roach (Tawny Cockroach, Ectobius pallidus) (male) (Acadia National Park, Maine; 10/11/2009)
Additional Photos and Information:
- American Carrion Beetle
- Backswimmers and Water Boatmen (UWM)
- Barklice (Cerastipsocus venosus) (“Tree Cattle”) (BugGuide.net)
- Bot Flies (BugGuide.net)
- Mouse Bot Fly Cuterebra fontinella (BugGuide.net)
- Rabbit Bot Fly Cuterebra buccata (BugGuide.net)
- Boxelder Bugs (BugGuide.net)
- Bronze Carabid / Bronze Ground Beetle
- Brown Prionid (Beetle) (BugGuide.net)
- Carrion Beetles
- Cicadas
- Click Beetles
- Crane Flies
- Damselflies
- Dobsonflies
- Dogwood Sawfly (Iowa State Univ Extension) (additional images, including the adult stage: BugGuide.net)
- Eastern Boxelder Bugs (BugGuide.net)
- Eastern Cicada-killer Wasp (Missouri Dept. of Conservation) See also: Sphecius speciosus (BugGuide.net)
- Elm Sawfly
- European Ground Beetle
- Eyed Click Beetle (Eyed Elater)
- Fishflies
- Flower Flies (also called Hover Flies or Syrphid Flies)
- Four-lined Silverfish (and Firebrats)
- Giant Water Bug
- Glire Bot Flies (BugGuide.net)
- Mouse Bot Fly Cuterebra fontinella (BugGuide.net)
- Rabbit Bot Fly Cuterebra buccata (BugGuide.net)
- Gold-marked Thread-waisted Wasp (BugGuide.net)
- Ground and Tiger Beetles (Penn State)
- Hermit Flower Beetle (BugGuide.net)
- Horntails
- Horsehair Worm
- House Centipede
- Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (BugGuide.net)
- Introduced Pine Sawfly
- Katydids (also known as long-horned grasshoppers)
- Leopard Slugs
- Locust Borer
- March Flies (Univ. of Wisconsin)
- Mayflies (Michigan State Univ. Extension)
- Metallic Wood-Boring Beetles (Univ. of Minnesota Extension)
- Narrow-winged Tree Cricket (BugGuide.net) | Listen to the ‘call’ made by a similar species (Singing Insects of North America)
- Oil Beetles
- Praying Mantids (Univ. of Kentucky)
- Predaceous Diving Beetles (BugGuide.net)
- Pseudoscorpions (BugGuide.net)
- Red Flat Bark Beetle (Penn State / New Kensington)
- Red-headed Ash Borer (BugGuide.net)
- Red-banded / Candy-striped Leafhopper
- Red-shouldered Pine Borer (BugGuide.net)
- Reticulated Net-winged Beetle (BugGuide.net); See also (similar species; Banded Net-winged Beetle (Univ. of Florida)
- Rhododendron Leafhopper (BugGuide.net)
- Robber Flies (NC State Extension)
- Efferia aestuans (BugGuide.net)
- Rove Beetles (Iowa State University)
- Sapwood Timberworm (BugGuide.net)
- Scorpionflies (Univ. of Kentucky)
- Silverfish (and Firebrats)
- Small-headed Fly
- Spider Beetles (people sometimes mistake these for spiders, bed bugs, or ticks)
- Springtails / Snowfleas
- Stoneflies (the nymphs are aquatic) (BugGuide.net)
- Small Winter Stoneflies (Family Capniidae)
- Winter Stoneflies (Family Taeniopterygidae)
- Sugar Maple Borer (BugGuide.net)
- Syrphid Flies (also called Hover Flies or Flower Flies)
- Tachinid Fly (Hystricia abrupta) (BugGuide.net)
- Tachinid Fly (genus Cylindromyia) (BugGuide.net)
- Tachina (Tachinid) Flies (BugGuide.net)
- Tanbark Borer / Violet Tanbark Beetle (often encountered when they emerge indoors from oak firewood) (BugGuide.net)
- Three-lined Potato Beetle [pdf] (UNH)
- Tiger Beetles (Texas A&M)
- Tiger Beetles of Vermont (iNaturalist)
- Maine IF&W: Rare Tiger Beetles
- Ground and Tiger Beetles (Penn State)
- Six-spotted Tiger Beetle (BugGuide.net)
- Tortoise Beetles
- Tree Crickets
- Narrow-winged Tree Cricket (BugGuide.net) | Listen to the ‘call’ made by a similar species (Singing Insects of North America)
- Two-spotted Tree Cricket (BugGuide.net)
- Water Boatmen (UWM)
- Water Scavenger Beetles (Texas A&M)
- Waterscorpions
- Water Striders
- Winter Firefly
- Western Conifer Seed Bug
- Wood Roaches