Mossbugs!

Nature photography I have a particular interest in insects but will photograph anything I can get my hands on. I will try and include basic facts about the species featured in my posts. All photography is done by me, I also post all my observations on INaturalist. Feel free to send me asks! I hate Gen AI

[moss-and-bugs]

Will anyone ever be as cool as this springtail riding a beetle?

No, this is the peak form

Maybe one day but it's doubtful

Yes.....

Beetle

Voting ended onJun 2

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Oh to be a tiny parasitoid wasp with antennae longer then your body

(photo taken 4/23/26)

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I think this might be one of the best photos of a leafhopper I've ever taken???? This lil guy did NOT want his photo taken but I managed to snag one anyway

(photo taken 5/14/26 in Illinois)

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I feel like I've seen a lot of nomad bees this year which is fun

(photo taken 5/14/26 in Illinois)

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Pachyschelus purpureus

These cool little beetles feed on wild geranium. They're a very beautiful blue color and I honestly can't believe I got to see TWO

(photos taken 5/14/26 in Illinois)

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Flies have no right being such cool little weird guys

(photos taken 5/14/26 in Illinois)

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Two beautiful spiders from the other day

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Garden Springtail (Bourletiella hortensis)

Harms Woods - Glenview, IL - May 6th 2024

Talk about an absolute joy to see! I just happened to see this little guy through my camera while photographing the Millipede posted yesterday. I am familiar with the springtails used within bioactive enclosures as I keep them with my Isopods and in my Jumping spider enclosure but those look very different then this guy and other members of the Order Symphypleona (Gobular Springtails) do. They primarily feed on fungi and moss.

[moss-and-bugs]

Cylindroiulus ?caeruleocinctus?

Harms Woods - Glenview, IL - May 6th 2024

Man I love Millipedes. They're so cool looking and all their little legs are so fascinating. If this is the specific species that I think it maybe then this is an introduced species to the United States. It is native to Northern Europe

[moss-and-bugs]

Genus Trombidium

Harms Woods - Glenview, IL - May 6th 2024

These little guys belong to the Family Trombidiidae also known as red velvet mites. I always think its such a treat when I get to see these just as the bright red color makes them pop so much and they are so weird shaped.

[moss-and-bugs]

Lovebug (Bibio femoratus)

Allegheny National Forest - Pennsylvania - April 28th 2024

I think the legs and the eyes of this fly are so fascinating. I love the striking red and their eyes are just so huge they're honestly a little unsettling.

[moss-and-bugs]

Running Crab Spider (Philodromus ?rufus?)

Allegheny National Forest - Pennsylvania - April 28th 2024

I love finding running crab spiders I think they're such an interesting shape and honestly just so cute. This was one of many creatures I found while I was trying to pack up at the end of my camping trip and they were all honestly so distracting because I couldn't help pulling out my camera every time even though I was about to have to go drive 8 hours to get home.

[moss-and-bugs]

Green False Hellebore (Veratrum viride)

Allegheny National Forest - Pennsylvania - April 27th 2024

This one is a fun one. It is such a strikingly beautiful plant. It is also HIGHLY toxic which honestly I feel like it just screams HI I'M TOXIC the way it stands out in boggy wet areas is so striking and also so suspicious. When we were hiking my friend saw this and we didn't know what it was at the time and immediately they were like that plant is 100% toxic there's no way it isn't.

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American Giant Millipede Complex (Complex Narceus americanus)

Allegheny National Forest - Pennsylvania - April 26th 2024

Alright back to bug posting. Man oh man was I THRILLED to see this beauty. I've seen these millipedes two or three times before but I have only ever seen them dead never alive before this guy!!! It was so thrilling to get to see one actually alive and moving around.

The average lifespan of this species is unknown but we do know they can live to at least 11 years.

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Genus Vaucheria

Allegheny National Forest - Pennsylvania - April 26th 2024

when I had first found this beauty in one of the little creeks I honestly assumed it was some type of moss. I was beyond delighted to discover it is actually a type of yellow-green algae. Species in this genus are apparently sometimes known as water felt which makes sense because it had such a weird felt like texture that was so fascinating and nothing like what I expected it to be. Watching the water run over it was also so beautiful.

[moss-and-bugs]

Family Osmundaceae

Allegheny National Forest - Pennsylvania - April 25th 2024

These belong to an unknown species of fern belonging to the family Osmundaceae. This family of ferns is ancient and the only living family left in the Order Osmundales

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Oak Gall Wasp (maybe Amphibolips quercusostensackenii)

Allegheny National Forest - Pennsylvania - April 25th 2024

I honestly love looking for galls and I love finding galls. One of my favorite parts of Fall (through honestly Spring) is that with all the (particularly oak leaves) that have fallen down its a great opportunity to look for Galls that might be hidden away up in parts of trees I can't reach/see. I think they're just so cool and I think the insects that make them are so cool and I just hold so much love in my heart for Galls