Insect Observations

A grey wall jumper on a white pipe On a white pipe streaked with green moss in Lombok, a small grey spider sat with its …

Weaver ants on the march up a tree trunk In Lombok, a column of ants was moving up a tree trunk, threading between patches of …

A pale ghost rising from the forest floor On a humid morning in late July I was walking a shaded trail in Rhode Island when …

A leaf-footed bug with a red-tipped antenna Late July in Rhode Island, and this true bug came into view during a summer walk. It was …

The spined orb weaver of summer woods Late July in Rhode Island, and a walk in the woods produced one of the season’s classic sights: …

A pale green ambusher with sticky legs Late July in Rhode Island, and this assassin bug was out in the summer greenery, the colour of …

A flat beetle with the forest’s dirtiest job Late July in Rhode Island, and the woods are deep in their summer recycling program. On a …

A beetle that buries the dead and cares for its young On the same late-July walk in Rhode Island, a flash of color caught my …

A leaf-footed bug built for quiet battles On July 21, in a weedy field in Rhode Island, a big, brown insect landed on a stem …

A planthopper dusted with frost A few steps from the leaf-footed bug, something pale caught my eye. On July 21 in Rhode Island, a small …

A tiny barklouse with a scandalous name I almost missed this one entirely. On July 21 in Rhode Island, a dusting of pale specks on …

A wasp built like a needle On July 20 in Rhode Island, a long, thin wasp drifted onto a leaf in front of me and …