Dee At 8 A.M.: Insects

Showing posts with label Insects. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

August 12, 2026

I am a Beyer’s Jewel Scarab

I'm pale green and my legs are lavender-blue

I have the smallest range of Arizona Jewel Beetles

But I can be found in New Mexico and Mexico too.

Thanks to today's special guest photographer and my sweetheart, David Simpson.

Location: Miller Canyon Hereford, AZ

Sources: https://arthurevans.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/reflections-on-arizonas-jewel-scarabs-part-1/

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

August 5, 2026

I am an Astylus bonplandi

Unlike most Astylus species, you can find me in the páramo

That means that I live above the forest line

But below the line where it snows.

Location: Quito, Ecuador

Sources: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277012785_A_contribution_to_the_genus_Astylus_Laporte_de_Castelnau_1836_in_Ecuador_with_descriptions_of_three_new_species_Coleoptera_Melyridae

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A1ramo#/media/File:Paramos.JPG

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

August 4, 2026

I am a a Northern Warrior Wasp

And we're called that for a very good reason

We defend our nest by loudly beating on it

And if you don't run, you are the one who is beaten.

Location: Refugio Paz de Las Aves, Nanegalito, Ecuador

Sources: https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/insects-invertebrates/warrior-wasp-sting

Monday, August 3, 2026

August 3, 2026

I am an Ennya sobria

I'm in the Treehopper family

I'm diurnal, so I'm active during the day

And I'm an herbivore, hence I hop in the trees.

Location: Via Cosanga Caucheras Kilometro 3, Cosanga, Ecuador

Sources: https://eol.org/pages/22166275

Saturday, August 1, 2026

August 1, 2026

I am a male Red Peacock Butterly

If I were female, I'd be bigger and orange-yellow

I've small scales on my wings for thermoregulation

Which helps keep me comfy and mellow.

Location: Mindo, Ecuador

Sources: https://sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/sites/default/files/lifesciences/images/Anartia%20amathea%20-%20Scarlet%20Peacock%20Butterfly.pdf

Friday, July 31, 2026

July 31, 2026

I am known as a Hypanartia dione dione
As a larvae I built 4 shelters

I used the shelters to molt through 6 instars

And now I'm off on butterfly adventures.

Location: Refugio Paz de las Aves, Ecuador

Sources: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267806353_The_life_history_of_Hypanartia_dione_dione_Lepidoptera_Nymphalidae_in_northeastern_Ecuador

Thursday, July 30, 2026

July 30, 2026

I am an Amastus coccinator

I'm in the Arctiini tribe

Arctiini is based on the greek word for "bear"

Cause as a larva I had a cute furry hide.

Location: Cosanga Napo, Cosanga, Ecuador

Sources: https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/39181

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

July 22, 2026

I am a Lesser Meadow Katydid

As the name suggests, I live in meadows and fields

I like to eat insects, flowers, and seeds

Whatever the meadow shall yield.

Location: Fellsmere Rd, Sebastian

Sources: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/118890-Conocephalus

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

July 15, 2026

Welcome to Japan Week on Dee at 8 a.m. Today we continue to feature the photography of my favorite expat, Joy Handley.

I am a Common Bluebottle butterfly

My wings are aqua surrounded by black

You can find me in moist rain forests

Or if I'm male, in a puddle seeking snacks.

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphium_sarpedon

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

July 14, 2026

Welcome to Japan Week on Dee at 8 a.m. Today we continue to feature the photography of my favorite expat, Joy Handley.

I am a Japanese Common Grass Yellow butterfly

I am yellow with black spots on my wings

I fly around grasslands and forests

And can be seen starting in early spring.

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Sources: https://www.takao599museum.jp/treasures/insects/%E3%82%B7%E3%83%AD%E3%83%81%E3%83%A7%E3%82%A6%E7%A7%91/3283/?lang=en

Monday, July 6, 2026

July 6, 2026

I am a Black Swallowtail Butterfly

Parasitoids find my larvae by chemicals in their feces

My larvae use their mandibles to throw their poop away

As do other Swallowtail Butterfly species.

Location: Oregon, Ohio

Sources: https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN906

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

July 1, 2026

I am a Black-collared Click Beetle

I like to live under bark

My body is copper colored and tapered

And my head is more reounded and dark.

Location: Maumee Bay State Park, Oregon, OH

Sources: https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/17644

Sunday, June 28, 2026

June 28, 2026

I am an Eastern Black Carpenter Ant

I was the first ant in the US given a name

In 1773

A scientist found me

In sawdust, "a carpenter ant!" he proclaimed!

(I'm dramatizing the situation here - but I assume that is how it happened:-)

Location: Maumee Bay State Park, Oregon, Ohio

Sources: https://www.si.edu/spotlight/buginfo/carpenter-ants

Sunday, May 31, 2026

May 31, 2026

I am known as a Green Horsefly

In the US, I'm the only horse fly that's green

I'm crepuscular, I'm spectacular,

I have fuzzy white scapulars

I'm the prettiest bloodsucker that you've ever seen.

Thanks to our very special guest photographer, Heather Stapleton!

Location: Private residence, Vero

Sources: https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/17583

Saturday, May 30, 2026

May 30, 2026

I am a Hardwood Stump Borer Beetle

My name says all that you need to know

I bore holes in hardwood

To me, it tastes good,

My jaws are strong, watch your fingers and toes!

Thanks to our very special guest photographer, Heather Stapleton!

Location: Private residence, Vero

Sources: https://www.whatsthatbug.com/hardwood-stump-borer-all-you-need-to-know-explained-simply/

Friday, May 29, 2026

May 29, 2026

I'm known as a Lateral-lined Sharpshooter

I'm a True Bug in the Leafhopper family

I'm the only species in this genus with red on my legs

And I wear pink stripes and dots that flatter me.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/16341

Thursday, May 28, 2026

May 28, 2026

I am known as a Skull-collecting Ant

I spray Trap-Jaw ants with my formic acid,

Then I decorate my nest

With their chopped off head

Eat a meal and then take an antacid.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://phys.org/news/2018-11-uncovers-predatory-behavior-florida-skull-collecting.html

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

May 26, 2026

I am an Atlantic Grasshopper

I like to stay in a semi aquatic place

My antennae are usually shorter than my hind femora

And I have a weirdly skeleton like face.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/5004

Sunday, May 24, 2026

May 24, 2026

I am a Marl Pennant Dragonfly

I live near salt marshes or a beach

I occasionally hunt in swarms with my friends

And often hunt from perches on reeds.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://virginianaturalhistorysociety.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2022/12/B28-full-Marl-pennant-1.pdf

Saturday, May 23, 2026

May 23, 2026

I am sometimes known as a Blue-eyed Roach

Which makes me sound prettier than I am

I'm fairly common in Florida

But I'm native to the Carribean.

Location: On the side (outside) of my house, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/82035