The Arthropods' Daily – November 2023

No. 76 | November 2, 2023

Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee

Megachile rotundata, the alfalfa leafcutter bee or leafcutter bee is a European bee that has been introduced to various regions around the world. As a solitary bee species, it does not build colonies or store honey, but is a very efficient pollinator of alfalfa, carrots, other vegetables and some fruits. Because of this, farmers often use M. rotundata as a pollination aid by distributing M. rotundata prepupae around their crops. Each female will construct and provision...

No. 77 | November 3, 2023

Garden Bumble Bee

The garden bumblebee or small garden bumblebee, Bombus hortorum, is a species of bumblebee found in most of Europe north to 70ºN, as well as parts of Asia and New Zealand. It is distinguished from other bumblebees by its long tongue used for feeding on pollen in deep-flowered plants. They have a remarkable visual memory capacity, which aids them in navigating the territory close to their habitat and seeking out food sources. Due to its long...

No. 78 | November 4, 2023

Common Green Capsid

Lygocoris pabulinus also known as the common green capsid, is a species of bug from the family Miridae which can be found throughout Europe (except for Greece, Malta, and Iceland). It feeds on plants.

No. 79 | November 5, 2023

Goldenrod Crab Spider

Misumena vatia is a species of crab spider with holarctic distribution. In North America, where it is the largest and best-known flower spider, it is called the goldenrod crab spider or flower (crab) spider, because it is commonly found hunting in goldenrod sprays in the autumn. Young males in the early summer may be quite small and easily overlooked, but females can grow up to 10 mm (excluding legs); males reach 5 mm at most.

No. 80 | November 6, 2023

Marmalade Hover Fly

Episyrphus balteatus, sometimes called the marmalade hoverfly, is a relatively small hoverfly (9–12 mm) of the Syrphidae family, widespread throughout the Palaearctic region, which covers Europe, North Asia and North Africa. The upper side of the abdomen is patterned with orange and black bands. Two further identification characters are the presence of secondary black bands on the third and fourth dorsal plates and faint greyish longitudinal stripes on the thorax. Its color patterns may appear wasp-like to...

No. 81 | November 7, 2023

Luperus luperus

No. 82 | November 8, 2023

Common European Greenbottle Fly

The common green bottle fly (Lucilia sericata) is a blow fly found in most areas of the world, and the most well-known of the numerous green bottle fly species. It is 10–14 mm long, slightly larger than a house fly, and has brilliant, metallic, blue-green or golden coloration with black markings. It has short, sparse black bristles (setae) and three cross-grooves on the thorax. The wings are clear with light brown veins, and the legs and antennae...

No. 83 | November 9, 2023

Common Drone Fly

Eristalis tenax is a hoverfly, also known as the drone fly (or "dronefly"). It is migratory and cosmopolitan, the most widely distributed syrphid species in the world, and is known from all regions except the Antarctic. It has been introduced into North America and is widely established.

No. 84 | November 10, 2023

Common Red Soldier Beetle

The common red soldier beetle (Rhagonycha fulva), also misleadingly known as the bloodsucker beetle, and popularly known in England as the Hogweed Bonking Beetle is a species of soldier beetle (Cantharidae).

No. 85 | November 11, 2023

Black Garden Ant

The black garden ant (Lasius niger), also known as the common black ant, is a formicine ant, the type species of the subgenus Lasius, found all over Europe and in some parts of North America, South America, Asia and Australasia. The European species was split into two species; L. niger is found in open areas, while L. platythorax is found in forest habitats. It is monogynous, meaning colonies have a single queen.

No. 86 | November 12, 2023

Red-barbed Ant

Formica rufibarbis is a European formicine ant of the Formica fusca group. In the classification by Auguste Forel, it is treated in the subgenus Serviformica. F. rufibarbis is subject to a Species Action Plan (SAP) in England, where it is known from only two locations, although it is not considered to be at risk on continental Europe.

No. 87 | November 13, 2023

Apolygus lucorum

Apolygus lucorum is a species of true bug in the Miridae family. It can be found everywhere in Europe except for Albania, Bulgaria, Iceland, Malta, and Portugal.

No. 88 | November 14, 2023

European Tarnished Plant Bug

Lygus rugulipennis, common name European Tarnished Plant Bug, is a species of plant bugs belonging to the family Miridae.

No. 89 | November 15, 2023

European Tarnished Plant Bug

Lygus rugulipennis, common name European Tarnished Plant Bug, is a species of plant bugs belonging to the family Miridae.

No. 90 | November 16, 2023

Lygus pratensis

Lygus pratensis is a species of plant bugs belonging to the family Miridae.

No. 91 | November 17, 2023

Aphidoidea

Aphids, also known as plant lice and in Britain and the Commonwealth as greenflies, blackflies, or whiteflies (not to be confused with "jumping plant lice" or true whiteflies), are small sap-sucking insects and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Many species are green, but other commonly occurring species may be white and wooly, brown, or black. Aphids are among the most destructive insect pests on cultivated plants in temperate regions. They are capable of extremely rapid increase...

No. 92 | November 18, 2023

Lygus pratensis

Lygus pratensis is a species of plant bugs belonging to the family Miridae.

No. 93 | November 19, 2023

Aphidoidea

Aphids, also known as plant lice and in Britain and the Commonwealth as greenflies, blackflies, or whiteflies (not to be confused with "jumping plant lice" or true whiteflies), are small sap-sucking insects and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Many species are green, but other commonly occurring species may be white and wooly, brown, or black. Aphids are among the most destructive insect pests on cultivated plants in temperate regions. They are capable of extremely rapid increase...

No. 94 | November 20, 2023