Other Insects

Field and Swamp: Animals and Their Habitats

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Other Insects (infraclass Neoptera, subclass Pterygota, class Insecta, subphylum Hexapoda, phylum Arthropoda, kingdom Animalia, domain Eukaryota)

This is a very miscellaneous assortment of insects. Go to True Bugs, Flies, Moths, Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies), Mantids or Beetles to see yet others.

Validity of taxa was checked against the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).

Dobsonflies and Fishflies (Corydalidae family, Megaloptera order)

Female Eastern Dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus), Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access, Orange County, NC, 5/29/05. Male Eastern Dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus), Peterborough, NH, 6/26/11. Photo by June A. Rhodes. Summer Fishfly (Chauliodes pectinicornis, Chauliodinae subfamily), Durham, NC, 6/8/07 Summer Fishfly (Chauliodes pectinicornis), Peaks of Otter, Bedford County, VA, 8/22/18 Spring Fishfly (Chauliodes rastricornis), Durham, NC, 4/24/11. Photo was taken at night.

Thrips (Thysanoptera order, Exopteragota superorder)

Flower thrip (Frankliniella tritici), Durham, NC, 5/31/18. Seen on Daisy Fleabane. Tube-tailed thrip (Phlaeothripidae family), Durham, NC, 1/4/20. Family ID thanks to Ken Wolgemuth. Tubetail thrip, showing beak, Durham, NC, 2/23/21 Tubetail thrip (Megalothrips bonanni), Durham, NC, 2/23/21. ID thanks to Manfred R. Ulitzka. Flower thrip on an American Persimmon fallen flower, Durham, NC, 5/8/25

Stick Insects (Phasmatodea order, Exopteragota superorder)

Mating stick insects (Anisomorpha ferruginea), Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 11/9/12. ID thanks to David J. Ferguson

Eastern Subterranean Termites (Reticulotermes flavipes, Rhinotermitidae family, Isoptera infraorder, Blattodea order, Dictyoptera superorder)

These termites have moniliform antennae: each segment has several little hairs on it.

Worker termites, Cox Mountain, Eno River State Park, Orange County, NC, 10/21/07, found under a log. They were very tiny, less than 2 mm long. Worker termites, Occoneechee Mountain Natural Area, Eno River State Park, Orange County, NC, 3/22/08 Soldier termite, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 3/14/08

Winged termites about to mate, Durham, NC, 4/18/08. Note that the female has removed her big wings for this purpose. Worker ant subduing a winged termite, Occoneechee Mountain Natural Area, Orange County, NC, 4/9/06 Termite with wings still on, but struggling. Durham, NC, 5/26/19 Same termite with one set of wings detached Same termite struggling Same termite afterwards

Common Scorpion Flies (Panorpa genus, Panorpidae family, Mecoptera order)

A useful guide: from the Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification

Scorpionfly (Panorpa acuta), Graybeard Trail, Montreat, Bumcombe County, NC, 5/3/12 Red Scorpion Fly (Panorpa rufa), Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 12/1/21 Female scorpionfly (Panorpa acuta), War Spur Loop, Giles County, VA, 6/16/11 Male Scorpionfly, Macon County, NC, 8/9/05. Most likely Panorpa acuta. Male Common Scorpionfly (Panorpa subfurcata, order Mecoptera, family Panorpidae), Blue Ridge Parkway, Marker 299, NC, 8/5/08. Female Common Scorpionfly (Panorpa subfurcata), Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 9/27/07. Female Scorpion fly (Panorpa banksi), Pettigrew State Park, NC, 4/28/09

Some Other Scorpion Flies (Brachypanorpa genus, Panorpodidae family, Mecoptera order)

Scorpion fly (Brachypanorpa carolinensis), Graybeard Trail, Montreat, Bumcombe County, NC, 5/3/12. ID thanks to Ken Wolgemuth.

Hangingflies (Bittacidae family, Mecoptera order)

At first glance, hangingflies seem similar to crane flies, but hangingflies have four wings and can seize insect prey with their unusual legs.

Hangingfly (Bittacus pilicornis), Tanawha Trail, Milepost 304, NC, 6/27/14 Hangingfly (Bittacus pilicornis), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham, NC, 5/20/09 Hangingfly (Hylobittacus apicalis), Tanawha Trail, Milepost 304, Avery County, NC, 7/8/16

Caddisflies (Tricoptera order)

Caddisfly, one of many seen flying around near the river's edge just beyone the formal end of the trail, Eno River State Park, Old Cole Mill Rd. Access, Orange County, NC, 3/30/13

Stoneflies (Plecoptera order)

These insects need cold, clean water to survive. Two stoneflies below were seen near New Hope Creek at Johnston Mill Nature Preserve; the the third was seen in a meadow near a creek in one of the coldest parts of North Carolina, in the northwest, at ~3300 feet elevation.

Common Stonefly (perhaps Agnetina flavescens, Perlidae family). One antennae was truncated. Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 6/24/09 Common Stonefly on Queen Anne's Lace. Boone, Watauga County, NC, 7/8/11. Stonefly, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, 4/18/09

Barklice (Psocoptera order, which might be changed to Psocodea officially)

These tiny animals are amazingly diverse, common and typically overlooked where I live, at least when they're outside!

Tree Cattle (Cerastipsocus venosus), Durham, NC, 11/2/25 Tree Cattle (Cerastipsocus venosus), Durham, NC, 11/2/25 Tree Cattle barklouse (Cerastipsocus venosus), Durham, NC, 10/26/21 Tree Cattle barklouse (Cerastipsocus venosus) nymph, Durham, NC, 10/26/21 Barklouse nymph (Ectopsocus vachoni) was less than 1 mm long. ID thanks to Diane Young . Barklouse, Durham, NC, 11/3/20. Best guess is Valenzuela pinicola. If so, it is an introduced species. Adult barklouse (Ectopsocopsis cryptomeriae), Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC, 11/12/12

Nymph and adult barklice (and a bonus aphid in the corner). Left one is Echmepteryx hageni according to John F. Carr. The one of the right is Metylophorus noveascotiae, according to V. Belov. Common Barklouse (Metylophorus noveascotiae, Durham, NC, 11/19/16 Adult Narrow Barklouse (Graphopsocus cruciatus), about 2 mm long, caught in flight. Greenville, SC, 6/11/10. In order of lower to higher taxa, it's classified as belonging to Stenopsocidae, Caeciliusetae, Psocetae, Psocomorpha and Psocodea, according to the relevant Tree of Life Web page. According to this page, Psocodea replaces the traditional Psocoptera order. Adult Narrow Barklouse (Graphopsocus cruciatus, family Stenopsocidae), Durham, NC, 6/30/08. It has spun a web close to this leaf's surface. Order ID thanks to v belov. Adult barklouse (Hemipsocus chloroticus), Durham, NC, 8/1/08. ID thanks to v belov. Barklouse nymph? Durham, NC, 5/25/09, about 1 mm long. ID uncertain.

Scaly-winged barklouse (Echmepteryx hageni)

Mayflies (Ephemeroptera order)

The Eurylophella enoensis species, peculiar to the Eno River State Park (Durham and Orange Counties, NC), is not represented here.

Mayfly, Boone, Watauga County, NC, 8/1/21 Mayfly, New Orleans, LA, 11/7/16 Mayfly, Montreat, Buncombe County, NC, 4/30/14 Mayfly, Eno River State Park,
Pea Creek Trail, Orange County, NC, 9/12/07. Mayfly, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 3/30/07 Mayfly, Cox Mountain Trail, Eno River State Park, Orange County, NC, 5/6/07

White mayfly, probably originated in Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, but wound up on my car window back home, 5/13/24

Earwigs (Dermaptera order)

Earwig (Forficula auricularia), Durham, NC, 5/25/08 Earwigs (Forficula auricularia) on Common Milkweed, Durham, NC, 5/7/24

Silverfish (Lepismatidae family, Thysanura order)

Silverfish (outside), Durham, NC, 5/9/08

Jumping Bristletails (Archaeognatha order)

Jumping bristletail. Photo taken at night.

Eggs

Egg?, Durham, 6/16/05. You can see a dark head and a light body inside. These eggs were each about an eighth of an inch long. Egg, Durham, 6/20/05. The growing insect is mostly obscured. This seems to be farther along: the head is emerging, and organs seem to be visible. It moved when I touched it. Egg mass, most probably those of a Horse Fly, Durham, near mini-swamp, 7/13/06

Eggs, Durham, NC, 6/17/07. This egg mass, laid on a cattail leaf, was about 6 mm long. Suspect that they are stink bug eggs. Lacewing eggs? Durham, NC, 6/27/09

Copyright © 2006-2020 Dorothy E. Pugh. All rights reserved.


Female Eastern Dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus), Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access, Orange County, NC, 5/29/05.	Male Eastern Dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus), Peterborough, NH, 6/26/11. Photo by June A. Rhodes.	Summer Fishfly (Chauliodes pectinicornis, Chauliodinae subfamily), Durham, NC, 6/8/07	Summer Fishfly (Chauliodes pectinicornis), Peaks of Otter, Bedford County, VA, 8/22/18	Spring Fishfly (Chauliodes rastricornis), Durham, NC, 4/24/11. Photo was taken at night.


Flower thrip (Frankliniella tritici), Durham, NC, 5/31/18. Seen on Daisy Fleabane.	Tube-tailed thrip (Phlaeothripidae family), Durham, NC, 1/4/20. Family ID thanks to Ken Wolgemuth.	Tubetail thrip, showing beak, Durham, NC, 2/23/21	Tubetail thrip (Megalothrips bonanni), Durham, NC, 2/23/21. ID thanks to Manfred R. Ulitzka.	Flower thrip on an American Persimmon fallen flower, Durham, NC, 5/8/25


Mating stick insects (Anisomorpha ferruginea), Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 11/9/12. ID thanks to David J. Ferguson


Worker termites, Cox Mountain, Eno River State Park, Orange County, NC, 10/21/07, found under a log. They were very tiny, less than 2 mm long.	Worker termites, Occoneechee Mountain Natural Area, Eno River State Park, Orange County, NC, 3/22/08	Soldier termite, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 3/14/08


Winged termites about to mate, Durham, NC, 4/18/08. Note that the female has removed her big wings for this purpose.	Worker ant subduing a winged termite, Occoneechee Mountain Natural Area, Orange County, NC, 4/9/06	Termite with wings still on, but struggling. Durham, NC, 5/26/19	Same termite with one set of wings detached	Same termite struggling	Same termite afterwards


Scorpionfly (Panorpa acuta), Graybeard Trail, Montreat, Bumcombe County, NC, 5/3/12	Red Scorpion Fly (Panorpa rufa), Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 12/1/21	Female scorpionfly (Panorpa acuta), War Spur Loop, Giles County, VA, 6/16/11	Male Scorpionfly, Macon County, NC, 8/9/05. Most likely Panorpa acuta.	Male Common Scorpionfly (Panorpa subfurcata, order Mecoptera, family Panorpidae), Blue Ridge Parkway, Marker 299, NC, 8/5/08.	Female Common Scorpionfly (Panorpa subfurcata), Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 9/27/07.	Female Scorpion fly (Panorpa banksi), Pettigrew State Park, NC, 4/28/09


Scorpion fly (Brachypanorpa carolinensis), Graybeard Trail, Montreat, Bumcombe County, NC, 5/3/12. ID thanks to Ken Wolgemuth.


Caddisfly, one of many seen flying around near the river's edge just beyone the formal end of the trail, Eno River State Park, Old Cole Mill Rd. Access, Orange County, NC, 3/30/13


Common Stonefly (perhaps Agnetina flavescens, Perlidae family). One antennae was truncated. Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 6/24/09	Common Stonefly on Queen Anne's Lace. Boone, Watauga County, NC, 7/8/11.	Stonefly, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, 4/18/09


Tree Cattle (Cerastipsocus venosus), Durham, NC, 11/2/25	Tree Cattle (Cerastipsocus venosus), Durham, NC, 11/2/25	Tree Cattle barklouse (Cerastipsocus venosus), Durham, NC, 10/26/21	Tree Cattle barklouse (Cerastipsocus venosus) nymph, Durham, NC, 10/26/21	Barklouse nymph (Ectopsocus vachoni) was less than 1 mm long. ID thanks to Diane Young .	Barklouse, Durham, NC, 11/3/20. Best guess is Valenzuela pinicola. If so, it is an introduced species.	Adult barklouse (Ectopsocopsis cryptomeriae), Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC, 11/12/12


	Nymph and adult barklice (and a bonus aphid in the corner). Left one is Echmepteryx hageni according to John F. Carr. The one of the right is Metylophorus noveascotiae, according to V. Belov.	Common Barklouse (Metylophorus noveascotiae, Durham, NC, 11/19/16	Adult Narrow Barklouse (Graphopsocus cruciatus), about 2 mm long, caught in flight. Greenville, SC, 6/11/10. In order of lower to higher taxa, it's classified as belonging to Stenopsocidae, Caeciliusetae, Psocetae, Psocomorpha and Psocodea, according to the relevant Tree of Life Web page. According to this page, Psocodea replaces the traditional Psocoptera order.	Adult Narrow Barklouse (Graphopsocus cruciatus, family Stenopsocidae), Durham, NC, 6/30/08. It has spun a web close to this leaf's surface. Order ID thanks to v belov.	Adult barklouse (Hemipsocus chloroticus), Durham, NC, 8/1/08. ID thanks to v belov.	Barklouse nymph? Durham, NC, 5/25/09, about 1 mm long. ID uncertain.


Mayfly, Boone, Watauga County, NC, 8/1/21	Mayfly, New Orleans, LA, 11/7/16	Mayfly, Montreat, Buncombe County, NC, 4/30/14	Mayfly, Eno River State Park, Pea Creek Trail, Orange County, NC, 9/12/07.	Mayfly, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 3/30/07	Mayfly, Cox Mountain Trail, Eno River State Park, Orange County, NC, 5/6/07


White mayfly, probably originated in Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, but wound up on my car window back home, 5/13/24


Earwig (Forficula auricularia), Durham, NC, 5/25/08	Earwigs (Forficula auricularia) on Common Milkweed, Durham, NC, 5/7/24


Egg?, Durham, 6/16/05. You can see a dark head and a light body inside. These eggs were each about an eighth of an inch long.	Egg, Durham, 6/20/05. The growing insect is mostly obscured.	This seems to be farther along: the head is emerging, and organs seem to be visible. It moved when I touched it.	Egg mass, most probably those of a Horse Fly, Durham, near mini-swamp, 7/13/06


Eggs, Durham, NC, 6/17/07. This egg mass, laid on a cattail leaf, was about 6 mm long. Suspect that they are stink bug eggs.	Lacewing eggs? Durham, NC, 6/27/09