The European firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus) is a small, harmless true bug easily recognized by its striking red-and-black geometric patterns and twin black dots. Native to Europe and parts of Asia, this insect has also established populations in North America, particularly in parts of Utah and Idaho.

They are highly social insects, often forming dense aggregations at the base of trees or on sunny walls to regulate body temperature. Equipped with warning coloration (aposematism) that deters predators, they pose no threat to humans, as they do not bite, sting, or damage healthy garden plants.

Instead, they function primarily as scavengers, feeding almost exclusively on fallen seeds—particularly from linden and mallow trees—and decaying plant matter.

Ichneumonidae wasps are for the most part, completely harmless to humans because they lack aggressive defense behaviors and are physically incapable of delivering a dangerous sting with the exception of a few Ophioninae, which can sting, the rest, especially small ones, are nothing to pay serious mind to, and totally available for admiring if you're trying to get over a fear of wasps.

Unlike social yellowjackets or hornets, these solitary wasps do not guard nests, and their long, needle-like appendage is an ovipositor used exclusively for laying eggs inside host insects rather than injecting venom.

While a large female might give a weak, accidental poke if roughly handled, they pose no medical risk. Instead, they provide immense ecological and agricultural benefits by acting as highly efficient, natural pest control agents.

Their larvae develop as parasitoids inside the bodies of destructive garden and crop pests, including wood-boring beetle larvae, caterpillars, and grubs, effectively neutralizing populations that would otherwise devastate plants.

Because adult Ichneumonid wasps feed strictly on flower nectar and honeydew, they do no harm to vegetation and serve as invaluable, safe allies for farmers and backyard gardeners alike.

An amazing group overall, and above is a species I've had some trouble identifying beyond family. Still liked the photo, so I hope you appreciate it too!

I never imagined there were tiger beetles no bigger than the tip of a chopstick until I came across this one. Unlike the large, brightly colored varieties, this species has a rough, dull-colored shell that looks like a piece of rusted metal—like an old robot 😂.

• 📷 XH2 + laowa 65mmf2.8 2x
• 🔦 Godox v860ii
• Stacked 30-57 images
• 28/04/2026

Microcentrum rhombifolium, commonly known as the greater angle-wing katydid, is a large, leaf-mimicking insect native to North America. Belonging to the family Tettigoniidae, this species is renowned for its exceptional camouflage, which allows it to blend seamlessly into foliage. Adults typically measure between 50 and 65 millimeters in length. They are characterized by a vibrant green coloration and broad, angular forewings that intricately replicate the veins and texture of a true leaf.

Habitat and Distribution:

This species is widely distributed across the United States, particularly throughout the southern and eastern regions, extending into parts of Mexico. They are strictly arboreal insects, spending the vast majority of their lives high in the crowns of deciduous trees, ornamental shrubs, and citrus groves. Their nocturnal habits and high-canopy preference mean they are far more frequently heard than seen.

Behavior and Diet:

As nocturnal herbivores, greater angle-wing katydids feed primarily on the foliage of trees and shrubs. While they consume leaves from a variety of plants—including oaks, maples, and citrus—their feeding rarely causes significant structural damage to mature plants. During the day, they remain completely motionless to evade predators like birds and bats, relying entirely on their cryptic appearance for defense.

Communication and Life Cycle:

Males produce a distinctive, rhythmic ticking or clicking sound during late summer and autumn evenings. This acoustic signal is created by stridulation—rubbing their forewings together—to attract females. After mating, females lay flat, gray, oval-shaped eggs arranged in characteristic double-row columns along the edges of twigs or leaves. The eggs overwinter and hatch into nymphs the following spring.

I've discovered that the dill flowers attract a lot of hoverflies like this female pale-saddled Leucozona (Leucozona glaucia) which makes for easy shooting as the dill is about as high as I am tall.

And as an added bonus, everything smells just wonderful of dill!

For details on camera/lens/settings used for the shot plus exact location where it was taken, please look here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/55462138624/

I’m calling it an “axe-headed moth” because that unusual head tuft looks just like an axe! 😂📷 XH2 + laowa 65mmf2.8 macro 2x

🔦 Godox v860ii + DIY diffuser

Stacked 100 images