North Carolina Insect Photos

Photographs by Will Cook, mostly taken in North Carolina. Equipment: Nikon CoolPix 995 (8/2001-5/2005), Nikon CoolPix 8800 (4/2005-8/2007), Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 (8/2007-present). I use the Nikon 4T (5/2005-8/2007) or Sony VCL-M3358 (8/2007-present) close-up lens for almost all my macro photos.

Insect ID books

Check out the Carolina Nature insects forum if you'd like to talk about the insects of the Carolinas.

Lepidoptera - Butterflies & Moths

Odonata - Dragonflies & Damselflies

Coleoptera - Beetles

Diptera - Flies

Other Insects

Blattodea (Cockroaches)
Wood Cockroach (Parcoblatta sp.) - Carroll Co., VA 6/17/06
Wood Cockroach (Parcoblatta sp.) - Durham, NC 7/27/06. Male (females are wingless).
Wood Cockroach (Parcoblatta sp.) - Orange Co., NC 8/24/08

Ephemeroptera (Mayflies)
Giant Mayfly (Hexagenia limbata) - Carroll Co., VA 7/22/06
Mayfly sp. 9470 - Montgomery Co., VA 7/13/07
Mayfly sp. 140458 - Carroll Co., VA 5/10/09
Mayfly sp. 150829 - Grayson Co., VA 5/30/09
Mayfly sp. 160032 - Grayson Co., VA 5/30/09
Mayfly sp. 1290100 - Uwharrie River, Montgomery Co., NC 4/17/2011

Hemiptera (Bugs)
Otiocerus degeeri (Planthopper) (Derbidae) - Carroll Co., VA 7/5/07
Otiocerus degeeri (Planthopper) (Derbidae) - Orange Co., NC 9/12/10
Metcalfa pruinosa (Citrus Flatid Planthopper) (Flatidae) - Durham, NC 10/2/06
Toad Bug 1200836 (Hemiptera: Gelastocoridae) - Durham Co., NC 8/23/09
Small Milkweed Bug (Lygaeus kalmii) (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) - Orange Co., NC 7/20/07
Small Milkweed Bug (Lygaeus kalmii) (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) - Durham Co., NC 9/13/09
Small Milkweed Bug (Lygaeus kalmii) (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) - Durham Co., NC 9/13/09
Bee Assassin (Apiomerus crassipes) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) - Orange Co., NC 5/26/07
Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)
Ambush Bugs (Phymatinae) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)
Assassin bug 2050 - Wake Co., NC 6/4/05
Assassin bug 6437 - Clay Co., NC 5/12/06
Assassin bug 2542 - Bladen Co., NC 10/6/06. Bizarrely camouflaged.
Assassin bug 1230432 - Greensboro, NC 5/15/10
bug 8161 - Moore Co., NC 7/1/07
bug 0262 - Orange Co., NC 7/20/07
leaffootedbug 0237 - Orange Co., NC 7/20/07
bug 0305 - Durham, NC 9/9/07
bug 40406 - Orange Co., NC 4/12/08
bugs 60404 - Haywood Co., NC 5/10/08
leaf-footed bugs 70375 - Robeson Co., NC 5/29/08
bug 90890 - Carroll Co., VA 9/6/08
bug 90996 - Carroll Co., VA 9/7/08
bug 1170744 - Durham Co., NC 6/21/09
bug 1280689 - Carroll Co., VA 4/10/11
bug 1300938 - Durham, NC 6/16/11

Homoptera (Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids, and Allies)
Periodical Cicada (Magicicada septendecim)
Dog-Day Cicada (Tibicen sp.) - Durham, NC 8/20/04. The heralds of summer.
Dog-Day Cicada (Tibicen sp.) - Brunswick Co., NC 8/28/04. Mating pair!
Dog-Day Cicada (Tibicen sp.) - Durham, NC 8/19/06. Attracted to a light at night.
Dog-Day Cicada (Tibicen sp.) pupal case - Chapel Hill, NC 9/9/06.
Dog-Day Cicada (Tibicen sp.) adult emerged from pupal case - Carroll Co., VA 7/15/07.
Dog-Day Cicada (Tibicen sp.) pupal case - Carroll Co., VA 7/15/07.
Dog-Day Cicada (Tibicen sp.) adult - Carroll Co., VA 7/15/07.
Dog-Day Cicada (Tibicen sp.) - Carroll Co., VA 8/17/07.
Dog-Day Cicada (Tibicen sp.) pupal case - New Hanover Co., NC 8/30/08.
Dog-Day Cicada (Tibicen sp.) - Carroll Co., VA 8/3/08. Emerging from pupal case.
Dog-Day Cicada (Tibicen sp.) - Carroll Co., VA 8/3/08. Emerging from pupal case.
Dog-Day Cicada (Tibicen sp.) - Carroll Co., VA 8/3/08. Just emerged from pupal case.
Dog-Day Cicada (Tibicen sp.) - Orange Co., NC 8/23/09. Attracted to a light at night.
hopper 80921 - Durham, NC 8/11/08
hopper 90201 - Orange Co., NC 8/24/08
hopper 90226 - Orange Co., NC 8/24/08. Same individual as 90201.
hopper 90268 - Orange Co., NC 8/24/08
hopper 90751 - Durham, NC 9/2/08
hopper 100998 - Durham, NC 9/30/08
hopper 9378 - Durham, NC 7/11/07
hopper 9392 - Durham, NC 7/11/07
hopper 9394 - Durham, NC 7/11/07
hopper 9399 - Durham, NC 7/11/07
hopper 9457 - Durham, NC 7/12/07. Cottony-tailed nymphal hopper.
hopper 1170715 - Durham Co., NC 5/21/09. Cottony-tailed nymphal hoppers.
hopper 1300936 - Durham, NC 6/16/11

Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies)
Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) (Apidae) - Durham, NC 5/14/09
Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) (Apidae) - Durham, NC 7/12/09
Bumble Bee (Bombus sp.) (Apidae) - Durham Co., NC 6/21/2009
Elm Sawfly (Cimbex americana) (Cimbicidae) - Clay Co., NC 5/21/05
Sawfly (Cimbex sp.) (Cimbicidae) - Botetourt County, VA 4/18/05
Callirhytis quercusgemmaria (Cynipidae) wasp galls with "nectaring" ants - Durham Co., NC 4/11/09
Ants (Formicidae) on wasp galls - same photo as above - Durham Co., NC 4/11/09
Red ants (Formica pallidefulva) (Formicidae) - Durham Co., NC 4/13/03. A colony of these ants was flooded out at the Flat River
impoundment near Falls Lake. Instead of walking over to dry land as the water rose, they climbed up grass
stalks and got trapped! There were dozens of ant balls like this in the area.
Red Imported Fire Ants (Solenopsis invicta) (Formicidae) - Chatham Co., NC 9/20/08
Short-tailed Ichneumon Wasp (Ophion sp.) 7697 (Ichneumonidae) - Carroll Co., VA 6/17/06
Short-tailed Ichneumon Wasp (Ophion sp.) 9019 (Ichneumonidae) - Carroll Co., VA 7/3/06
Short-tailed Ichneumon Wasp (Ophion sp.) 0910 (Ichneumonidae) - Carroll Co., VA 8/12/06
Short-tailed Ichneumon Wasp (Ophion sp.) 2188 (Ichneumonidae) - Carroll Co., VA 9/22/06
Ichneumon Wasp sp. 1008 (Ichneumonidae) - Durham, NC 8/19/06
Ichneumon Wasp sp. 40301 (Ichneumonidae) - Durham, NC 4/10/08
Leucospis affinis (Leucospididae), female - Carroll Co., VA 7/22/06. Parasitic on Megachilid bees.
Velvet Ant (Mutillidae) - Chatham Co., NC 5/18/05.
Velvet Ant (Mutillidae) - Orange Co., NC 4/12/08.
Velvet Ant (Mutillidae) - Orange Co., NC 4/12/08.
Southern Yellowjacket (Vespula squamosa) (Vespidae)- Durham, NC 8/19/06
Wasp sp. 1777 - Carroll Co., VA 9/3/06
Wasp sp. 2505 - Durham, NC 10/1/06
Wasp sp. 2876 - Carroll Co., VA 10/16/06
Wasp sp. 3686 - Durham, NC 3/7/07
Wasp sp. 5871 - Clay Co., NC 5/20/07. Amazingly long ovipositor!
Wasp sp. 7073 - Durham, NC 6/5/07
Wasp sp. 9095 - Carroll Co., VA 7/6/07
Baldfaced Hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) nest - Alleghany Co., NC 9/23/07
Polistes sp. 80495 - Carroll Co., VA 8/2/08
Common Aerial Yellowjacket (Dolichovespula arenaria) nest - Carroll Co., VA 8/3/08
Common Aerial Yellowjacket (Dolichovespula arenaria) - Carroll Co., VA 8/16/08
Wasp sp. 1040091 - Durham, NC 3/19/08
Wasp sp. 50435 - Granville Co., NC 4/27/08
Wasp sp. 90929 - Carroll Co., VA 9/6/08
Wasp sp. 1180229 - Durham, NC 8/23/09
Wasp sp. 1200865 - Orange Co., NC 8/23/09
metallic bee sp. - Durham Co., NC 9/13/09
metallic bee sp. - same individual - Durham Co., NC 9/13/09

Mantodea (Mantids)
Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina) - Craven Co., NC 8/27/06
Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina) - Durham Co., NC 9/9/06
Mantis sp. 2386 - Carroll Co., VA 9/23/06
Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina) - Craven Co., NC 8/31/08
Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina) eggcase - Scotland Co., NC 4/18/10

Mecoptera (Scorpionflies and Allies)
Scorpionfly (Panorpa sp.) (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) - Clay Co., NC 5/13/06

Megaloptera (Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies)
Eastern Dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus), female (Corydalidae) - Montgomery Co., VA 7/13/07
Eastern Dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus), female (Corydalidae) - Montgomery Co., VA 7/13/07
Gray Fishfly (Neohermes angusticollis) - Durham, NC 6/2/2009.
Dark Fishfly (Nigronia serricornis) - Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009
Dark Fishfly (Nigronia serricornis) - Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009

Neuroptera (Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies)
Beaded Lacewing (Lomamyia sp.) (Neuroptera: Berothidae) - Durham, NC 6/28/06. Bizarre!
Green Lacewing (Chrysoperla sp.), tan winter form (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) - Durham, NC 3/2/06
Gray Fishfly (Neohermes angusticollis) (Neuroptera: Corydalidae) - Durham, NC 6/13/03
Gray Fishfly (Neohermes angusticollis) (Neuroptera: Corydalidae) - Durham, NC 6/2/07
Fishfly sp. 70658 (Neuroptera: Corydalidae) - Durham, NC 6/5/08
Fishfly sp. 70694 (Neuroptera: Corydalidae) - Alleghany Co., NC 6/14/08
Mantidfly (Dicromantispa sp.) (Neuroptera: Mantispidae) - Durham, NC 8/19/06
Mantidfly (Zeugomantispa minuta) (Neuroptera: Mantispidae) - Durham, NC 8/19/06
Mantidfly (Zeugomantispa minuta) (Neuroptera: Mantispidae) - Orange Co., NC 9/12/10
Antlion (Myrmeleon sp.) (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae), adult - Moore Co., NC 6/18/05
Antlion (Myrmeleon immaculatus) (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae), adult - Carroll Co., VA 7/24/10
Lacewing, sp. 3208 - Carroll Co., VA 8/13/05
Lacewing, sp. 90114 - Orange Co., NC 8/24/08
Lacewing eggs - Durham, NC 7/8/09
Lacewing eggs - Granville Co., NC 5/25/09

Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Katydids and Crickets)
Two-Spotted Tree Cricket (Neoxabea bipunctata) - adult female, Carroll Co., VA 9/3/06
Red-headed Meadow Katydid (Orchelimum erythrocephalum) - Durham Co., NC 8/29/10
Orange-winged grasshopper (Pardalophora phoenicoptera) - brown phase nymph, Scotland Co., NC 4/13/02.
Orange-winged grasshopper (Pardalophora phoenicoptera) - green phase nymph, Scotland Co., NC 4/13/02.
Common True Katydid (Pterophylla camellifolia) - Alleghany Co., NC 9/22/07. Ovipositing in the base of a tree trunk.
Common True Katydid (Pterophylla camellifolia) - Alleghany Co., NC 9/22/07. Same individual, a few minutes later.
Fork-tailed Bush Katydid (Scudderia furcata) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) - Harnett Co., NC 8/18/05
Camel/cave cricket sp. 2374 - Carroll Co., VA 9/23/06
Orthoptera sp. 9955 - Carroll Co., VA 7/14/07
Orthoptera sp. 00133 - Durham, NC 9/8/07
Orthoptera sp. 70343 - Robeson Co., NC 5/29/08.
Orthoptera sp. 80404 - Carroll Co., VA 8/2/08
Grasshopper sp. 80592 - Carroll Co., VA 8/2/08
Orthoptera sp. 90986 - Carroll Co., VA 9/6/08
Camel cricket sp. 80668 - Durham, NC 8/4/08
Grasshopper sp. 100866 - Carteret Co., NC 9/28/08
Katydid sp. 110099 - Carroll Co., VA 10/4/08
Grasshopper sp. 110829 - Scotland Co., NC 11/1/08
Cricket sp. 120492 - Dare Co., NC 11/9/08
Cricket sp. 120494 - Dare Co., NC 11/9/08
Grasshopper sp. 1210974 - Scotland Co., NC 10/4/09
Katydid sp. 1210424 - Carroll Co., VA 9/7/09
Grasshopper sp. 1200835 - Durham Co., NC 8/23/09
Grasshopper sp. 1200839 - Durham Co., NC 8/23/09
Grasshopper sp. 1200940 - Orange Co., NC 8/23/09
Grasshopper sp. 1200948 - Orange Co., NC 8/23/09
Katydid sp. 1200946 - Orange Co., NC 8/23/09
Grasshopper sp. 1230012 - Scotland Co., NC 4/18/10
Katydid sp. 1270711 - Orange Co., NC 9/12/10

Phasmatodea (Walkingsticks)
Northern Walking Stick (Diapheromera femorata), male (Phasmatodea: Heteronemiidae) - Carroll Co., VA 7/23/05
Northern Walking Stick (Diapheromera femorata), male (Phasmatodea: Heteronemiidae) - Carroll Co., VA 7/23/05

Plecoptera (Stoneflies)
Stonefly 7761 (Perlidae?) - Carroll Co., VA 6/17/06
Stonefly 8876 - Carroll Co., VA 7/5/07
Stonefly 8892 - Carroll Co., VA 7/5/07
Stonefly 9280 - Carroll Co., VA 7/8/07
Stonefly 170163 - Carroll Co., VA 6/13/09

Psocoptera (Barklice and Booklice)
Psocoptera sp. 9028 - Carroll Co., VA 7/3/06

Trichoptera (Caddisflies)
Lepdiostoma sp. (Lepidostomatidae) - Carroll Co., VA 9/23/06. Very small and dark.
Pycnopsyche gentilis? (Limnephilidae), male - Carroll Co., VA 9/23/05
Pycnopsyche scabripennis (Limnephilidae), male - Carroll Co., VA 9/3/06
Caddisfly sp. 8477 - Carroll Co., VA 7/1/06. Large.
Chimarra sp.? (Philopotamidae) - Carroll Co., VA 6/17/06. Very small and dark.
Caddisfly 9085 - Carroll Co., VA 7/6/07
Caddisfly 9419 - Durham, NC 7/12/07
Caddisfly 1060811 - Durham, NC 5/16/08
Caddisfly sp. 1050185 - Carroll Co., VA 4/25/08
Caddisfly sp. 110044 - Carroll Co., VA 10/4/08
Caddisfly sp. 140425 - Carroll Co., VA 5/10/09. Small and dark.
Caddisfly sp. 1180115 - Carroll Co., VA 7/3/09
Caddisfly sp. 1240301 - Carroll Co., VA 6/6/10

Unidentified Insects
Scale insect 8375 - Alleghany Co., NC 7/1/06
Insect 2115 - Carroll Co., VA 9/22/06
Insect 3653 - Durham, NC 1/28/07. Tiny and dark.
Insect 3674 - Durham, NC 3/7/07. Tiny and dark. May be same species as 3653.
Insect 4188 - Durham, NC 3/24/07. Tiny. Similar to 3653 and 3674.
Insect 8149 - Durham, NC 6/28/07. Tiny.
Insect 8155 - Durham, NC 6/28/07. Minute, perhaps a 2 mm wingspan.
Insect 8837 - Carroll Co., VA 7/5/07
Insect 70651 - Durham, NC 6/4/08. Minute.
Insect 160260 - Carroll Co., VA 5/30/2009
Insect 1230792 - Greensboro, NC 5/15/10

 

Recommended Insect Books: Though web sites are helpful, it's easier to learn how to identify insects by studying good books. Here are a few to get you started. If you would like to help support this web site, please click on the images below to buy through Amazon. Field Guides
	A Field Guide to Insects (Peterson Field Guides) by Donald J. Borror and Richard E. White (1998) Perhaps the best general field guide to the insects of North America. Great illustrations and scientifically accurate text.
	Insects (Golden Guide) by Herbert S. Zim and Clarence Cottam (2001) The venerable Golden Guide is great starting point for kids.
	National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders by Lorus and Margery Milne (1980) The first field guide I ever owned; my sister gave this to me when I was 14, helping spur my interest in nature. Out of date, but still worth having on hand.
	National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Insects and Spiders & Related Species of North America by Arthur V. Evans and Craig Tufts (2007) A newer guide with great photos to help identify the most common species.
	Garden Insects of North America: The Ultimate Guide to Backyard Bugs by Whitney Cranshaw (2004) Great photographic guide for the gardener.
	Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America by Eric R. Eaton and Kenn Kaufman (2007) I don't have this one, but it looks great.
	The Songs of Insects by Lang Elliott and Wil Hershberger (2007) This CD of insect songs, with acompanying book featuring gorgeous large photographs, is excellent for identifying common daytime buzzing insects and mysterious chirps in the night.
Insect Biology
	Borror and DeLong's Introduction to the Study of Insects by Charles A. Triplehorn and Norman F. Johnson (2004) This college textbook is fantastic for serious entomologists.

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Comments? Questions? E-mail me at cwcook@duke.edu

All photographs and text ©2011 by Will Cook, unless otherwise noted.