Ant (Aphaenogaster) carrying young crab spider (Thomisidae) as prey back to nest
This ant is bringing a young crab spider back to its nest. Spiders, many of which are soft-bodied and poorly defended, are often easy prey for ants.
This ant is bringing a young crab spider back to its nest. Spiders, many of which are soft-bodied and poorly defended, are often easy prey for ants.
Ponerine ants like this live their lives in forest soils and feed on other arthropods.
This wasp is about two millimeters long and easily mistaken for a tiny ant. They are fast runners and can jump readily with a unique method of contorting the body. This female is looking for insect eggs, which act as a perfect host for her own eggs. This species likely utilizes stink bugs as hosts.
Camel crickets, despite their name, are related to katydids rather than crickets. But unlike their cousins that sing to attract mates, camel crickets are largely silent. Instead they likely use smells and vibrations to communicate. Although, much of this is speculation, since the behavior of most species remains a mystery!
Collared ants are common woodland inhabitants and feed on a variety of arthropods. Here, a worker is dragging a dead carpenter ant back to the nest to feed the young. Battles among ants are common, but many ants scavenge on dead insects as well, which is likely what is going on here.
The Banded Pennant is a small dragonfly (to about 1½ inch long) with distinctive black markings and reddish eyes. Look for the Banded Pennant near water. They are also seen flying in open lots and ditches, fields and meadows. It is active from late spring to early autumn. View more insects.
These attractive metallic flies are commonly seen on leaftops, hunting for smaller insects. They are lively creatures and some species have elaborate mating dances.