All Multimedia

Cotesia congregata - a little parasite of caterpillars. This one is from Karen Kester's lab in Richmond where she and her gradstudents raise them and discover things about the host (Sphinx moths I believe) parasite relationship. Photo by Greta Forbes.

An unknown Crab Spider or perhaps running crab spider, identification help would be great, I hope to post another shot of the back at some point. Beltsville, Maryland

I believe this mollusk is now called: Crassicantharus noumeensis: Gold-banded Latirus. But I could be wrong it was in the Smithsonian national collection and the name in the unit tray was Latius noumeensis ...thanks to Amanda Robinson for passing this along. Need to work on my lighting...to much fall off to the right.

April, Dorchester County, Maryland, likely off of willow, resting on fish hook tip. Joe Cavey supplied the determination

April, Dorchester County, Maryland, likely off of willow. Joe Cavey supplied the determination

Ground Cricket....from around the base of Building 308, Beltsville Agriculture Research Center, unknown species

Appropriately coming from the latin noun for emerald, comes this large lovely from western Australia.

Appropriately coming from the latin noun for emerald, comes this large lovely from western Australia.

Appropriately coming from the latin noun for emerald, comes this large lovely from western Australia.

I believe that this specimen came from Kenya, but I could be wrong about that, will have to check with Laurence Packer and look up the barcode number. Note the cool oil collecting hairs present under the abdomen.

I believe that this specimen came from Kenya, but I could be wrong about that, will have to check with Laurence Packer and look up the barcode number. Note the cool oil collecting hairs present under the abdomen.

Unknown Cuerna species of Leafhopper from Fossil Butte National Monument, Wyoming

A native plant associated with dry rocky areas...usually intermixed with woodlands. As a mint it probably is a reasonable bee plant as an obscure, small plant it probably hasn't been looked at that much. Classic native mint used in all sorts of teas and infusions. Photo and specimen by Helen Low Metzman, Howard County, MD.

A native plant associated with dry rocky areas...usually intermixed with woodlands. As a mint it probably is a reasonable bee plant as an obscure, small plant it probably hasn't been looked at that much. Classic native mint used in all sorts of teas and infusions. Photo and specimen by Helen Low Metzman, Howard County, MD.

Cupido comyntas, July 2012, Beltsville, Maryland, USA

Unknown large weevil from Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic

Unknown large weevil from Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic

Ironically, after posting a picture of a dead white footed mouse, we post a picture of a skin warble or bot fly from the same species or species group of mice. In this case this is Cuterebra fontinella, a rather handsome fly with an interesting lifestyle. Collected as part of a large bumblebee survey by volunteers for Eric Rayfield. Photograph by Hannah Sutton.

Christmas lights jumping spider from the Dominican Republic, species unknown, but surprisingly marked with fluorescent scales

Christmas Lights Jumping Spider from the Dominican Republic, species unknown, but surprisingly marked with fluorescent scales

Dalmannia pacifica Fly, Fossil Butte National Monument, Wyoming. In hand sanitizer in a cuvette Ben added a piece of black construction paper on the bottom of the cuvette to decrease the reflectance of the cuvette wall, this worked, but the paper bled purple/blue..for an interesting effect.