LEO Network

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The LEO Network is a worldwide network of observers and experts that share their observations of environmental change.
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Observations

Non-native Beetle (Anomala)
Inside of a couch shipping box.
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

Septembers Are Changing in Lower Kalskag
Unusually rainy year for Lower Kalskag this year.
Lower Kalskag, Alaska, United States

Alaska abuzz over rise in wasp population
In Southcentral Alaska, wasps seem to be everywhere. One Anchorage clinic has seen more than 250 sting patients this year.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Rare Monarch Caterpillar Danaus plexippus
Rare monarch caterpillar-butterfly (Danaus plexippus) seen in five years.
Merion Station, Pennnsylivania, United States

Bumble Bees Are Still Out
Bumblebees (bombus polaris), moths, butterflies, mosquitoes (Culicidae) and gnats (Nematocera) are still here.
Slana, Alaska, United States

Unknown Butterfly (Polygonia gracilis)
Unknown butterfly observed in southwest Alaska.
Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States

Red Grasshopper
A unique insect?
Koyuk, Alaska, United States

Unusual Wasp (Dolichovespula maculata)
Interesting wasp is black with neon stripes
Wasilla, Alaska, United States

Loads of Yellow Jackets / Wasps (Vespidae)
Loads of Yellow Jackets (Vespidae)
Palmer, Alaska, United States

Unknown Bug (Ichneumonidae)
Unknown bug
Tatitlek, Alaska, United States

Caterpillar Infestation
Caterpillar infestation in Village
Holy Cross, Alaska, United States

Fritillary (Boloria alaskensis) Butterfly
Unusual Butterfly(?)
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

March Flies (Bibionidae) All Over Sand Point
Flies all over Sand Point
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

Early Breakup Causing Lots of Change
Early breakup brings early arrivals.
Lower Kalskag, Alaska, United States

Unusual Ladybug (Calvia quatuordecimguttata)?
First time we have seen so many ladybugs on our island.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

Eight-spotted Forester (Alypia octomaculata) Moth or Langston's Forester (Alypia langtoni)
An Eight-spotted Langson's (Fabricius, 1775) or Langson's Forester Couper observed lower Kenai Peninsula of Alaska.
Jakolof Bay, Alaska, USA

Unusual Weevil (Curculionoidea)
Unusual weevil (Curculionoidea)
Russian Mission, Alaska, United States

Spruce Aphid (Elatobium abietinum) Damage
Nuka Passage, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, United States

Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon aliaska) Butterfly
Large Old World Swallowtail Butterfly
Mountain Village, Alaska, United States

Black Fly
Black fly
Pedro Bay, Alaska, United States

Early Wasps (Leucospid spp.)
Early wasps
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum Wal)
Communities on the southern coastline of Kenai Peninsula have noticed changes to trees as a result of the aphid.
Kasitana Bay, Alaska, United States

Lots of Furry Moths
Unknown furry moth
Holy Cross, Alaska, United States

Unusual Insect Observed On Willow
On the upper Klamath River
Tulley Creek

Mosquitoes (Culicidae) Hatch
First mosquito (and bite) of year.

First Mosquitoe (Culicidae) of Spring
An early season?
Palmer, Alaska, United States

March Pollen and Active Honey Bees (Apis)
Warm temperatures drive emergence of early willow buds, pollen and honey bee activity.

Fuzzy Winter Caterpillar
A small black fuzzy caterpillar seen in the NPS administrative building in King Salmon, Alaska
King Salmon, Alaska, United States

Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)
Brampton, Ontario, Canada

A Very Large Grasshopper (Melanoplus)
Unusual Insect
Yakutat, Alaska, United States

Predaceous Diving Beetle (Cybister fimbriolatus)
Unusual beetle
Nondalton, Alaska, United States

Climate change brings new insect arrivals to Finland
New insect species typically arrive in Finland via Russia’s Karelian Isthmus. Entomologists say that the number of species in the
Savonranta, Southern Savonia, Finland
Eye on the Arctic

Unusual Beetle
5-31-15 Unusual beetle - Goodnews Bay, Alaska, USA
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States

Insect Die-off
5.21-15 Insect die-off - Chistochina, Alaska, USA
Chistochina, Alaska, USA

Ruby Tiger (Phragmotobia fuliginosa) Moth
Unusual moth
Kwinhagak, Alaska, USA

February Bees
We have bees in February
King Cove, Alaska, United States
Arlene Gunderson, Amy Mack, Ian Williams

Summer heat, invasive insects take toll on Interior Alaska birch trees
Interior Alaska’s hot and dry summer of 2013, coupled with an invasion of insect pests, has taken a steep toll on the region’s birch trees, experts say.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Lots of wasps
9-23-14 Lots of wasps - Kolikanek, Alaska, USA
Koliganek, Alaska, United States

Unusual Caterpillar
9-10-14 Unusual caterpillar - Big Lake, Alaska, USA
Big Lake, Alaska, United States

Caterpillar (Hyles gallii) with reddish tail
9-2-14 Caterpillar with reddish tail - Tyonek, Alaska, USA
Tyonek, Alaska, United States

Abundant Bees
08-17-14 Abundant bees - Eagle River, Alaska, USA
Eagle River, Alaska, United States

Thousands of Caterpillars
8-10-14 Thousands of caterpillars - Lake Clark National Park, Alaska, USA
Lake Clark National Park, Alaska, United States

Northern Grasshoppers
The northern grasshoppers never been observer here before.
Teller, Alaska, United States

Longhorn Beetle (Monochamus scutellatus) Observed in Late July
A photo of a black unknown insect taken in late July.
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

Fuzzy Black Caterpillars
7-28-14 Furry black caterpillars - Nondalton Alaska, USA
Nondalton, Alaska

Longhorn Beetle (Monochamus scutellatus)
Could invasive insect be an indicator of changing weather patterns?
Nome, Alaska, United States

Abundant Bees and Berries
7-14-14 Abundant bees & berries - King Cove, Alaska, USA
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Predaceous Diving Beetle (Cybister fimbriolatus) Larvae
Unusual insect observation approximately 2 1/2 inches in length and moved slowly, but had long strides.

Bugs Swarm at 2017 Mount Marathon Race
The 2017 Mount Marathon races were run under cloudy skies and damp conditions. A man swats at bugs that swarmed at the top of Mount Marathon during the race Tuesday, July 4, 2017 in Seward.
Seward, Alaska, United States
Alaska Dispatch News

Interesting moth
Interesting moth - One Tree Island, near Nondalton, Alaska, USA
Nondalton, Alaska, United States

Bright Green Bug
7-1-14 Bright green bug - Kongignak, Alaska, USA
Kongiganak, Alaska, United States

Moth invasions cause widespread damage in the sub-arctic birch forest
In just seven years, as much as one-third of the mountain-birch forest in the North Calotte region was severely defoliated by two moth species. Researchers now have a better understanding of what happened.
North Calotte Region, Northern Fennoscandia
ScienceNordic

Milbert's Tortoiseshell Caterpillar (Aglais milberti) Infestation
Milbert's tortoiseshell caterpillar infestation
Chalkyitsik, Alaska, United States
Tricia Wurtz, Jessie Moan, La'ona DeWilde

Geometridae moth
4-27-14 Geometridae moth - Naknek, Alaska, USA
Naknek, Alaska, United States

Bed bugs are calling Alaska home at increasing rates
In Anchorage, the city logged 68 bed bug complaints in 2013, a decrease from the 84 in 2012. There was just one complaint in 2007 and 2008 combined, according to city data.
Anchorage Daily News

Dog ticks burrow into Alaska, plan to stay
Dr. Kimberlee Beckmen, the sole veterinarian with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, has investigated 48 tick infestations in the past three years. She’s found evidence that two exotic species are established and reproducing in Alaska.

Vermonts bumble bee populations declining
Three of the 15 bumble bee species found in Vermont are thought to be extinct and at least one other species is in decline.
Norwich, Vermont, United States
VTDigger

Spotted Tussock (Lophocampa maculata) Moth Caterpillars
8-20-13 Arctiid moth caterpillars, Kake, Alaska, USA
Kake, Alaska, United States

Unknown Caterpillar
Unknown caterpillar observed
Naknek, Alaska, United States

Long-horned Beetle (Monochamus scutellatus)
8-11-13 Long horned beetle - Pitkas Point, Alaska, USA
Pitkas Point, Alaska, United States

Swallowtail (Papilio canadensis) Butterfly Caterpillar
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio canadensis) butterfly caterpillar

Predaceous Diving Beetle (Cybister fimbriolatus)
Predaceous diving beetle
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Horntail wood wasp
7-23-13 Horntail wood wasp - Selawik, Alaska,
Selawik, Alaska, USA

Tiger Moth (Arctia caja)
7-21-13 Tiger moth - St. Mary's, Alaska, USA
St. Mary's Alaska, United States

Lots of Mosquitoes (Culicidae)
Mosquito populations are way up in Southcentral Alaska this year. Extremely high numbers are also reported from interior Alaska.
Interior of Alaska, United States

Crane Fly (Tipula oleraceaa) Adult Sighted
Crane fly adult
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Mosquito invasion in Southcentral Alaska leads to run on supplies
Each spring, it seems, the air of Alaska is filled with the buzz of mosquitoes and the whines of people declaring that this is undoubtedly the worst bug season they've ever experienced. This year they may have a case.

Strange bug
6-10-13 Strange bug - Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Spruce Aphid (Elatobium abietinum) Infestation
5-15-13 Spruce aphid infestation Kake, Alaska, USA
Kake, Alaska, United States

Birch Shieldbug (Elasmostethus interstinctus) in November?
Birch shieldbug found in Wasilla home in November.
Wasilla, Alaska, United States

Spruce Bark Beetle
We are worried about the effects of large infestation and about wildlife.
Fort Yukon, Alaska, United States

Rusty Tussock Moth Caterpillar
Potential problem for local trees, berry bushes and other plants.
King Salmon, Alaska, United States

Bird experts aflutter over drop in rufous hummingbird numbers
The number of rufous hummingbirds visiting southern Vancouver Island over the summer is dropping and the cause may be climate change, says a local bird expert.
Central Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
Times Colonist

Non-stinging Wasp (Cynipoidea) Larva
Non-sting wasp (cynipoidea) larva
Slana, Alaska, United States

Weird Orange Bug
6-12-12 Weird orange bug - Pilot Point, Alaska, USA
Pilot Point, Alaska, United States

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Brown marmorated stink bug
King Cove, Alaska, United States
Corlene Rose, Honey Lou Wilson, Mike Rasy

Square-legged Camel Cricket (Tropidischia xanthostoma)
We found an unusual looking spider or insect.
Klawock, Alaska, United States

Caterpillars gang up on berry bushes, native trees
The outlook for blueberries in Southcentral Alaska this year is bleak, scientists say. The reason: Two species of moth have damaged berry patches, as well as native deciduous trees, from the southern Kenai Peninsula to Mat-Su.

Bugs on Geese
Beetles seen moving around on geese
Wainwright, Alaska, United States
Jessie Moan, Linda Agnasagga, Heather Dingman

Pesky insects should not pose a problem to homeowners until late summer
Newark, Delaware, United States
UDaily

ALASKA: A havoc-wreaking beetle loose in the forest
STERLING, Alaska — Spent today tramping around the boggy depths of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, which is about a three-hour drive south of Anchorage. Berg The group went there to see h…
Sterling, Alaska, United States
SciGuy

Worst grasshopper infestation ever on tap for Prairies
Prairie farmers are facing a grasshopper infestation the likes of which might never have been seen in Western Canada. The last kick from a drought that devastated crops last year.
Saskatchewan, Canada
CBC

Virus unique to Finland sees biggest outbreak in decades
Nearly 500 cases of the mosquito-borne viral infection have been diagnosed so far this autumn. The disease tends to be cyclical, meaning cases remain very low for about seven years and then there are suddenly hundreds of cases in one year.
Ilomantsi, North Karelia, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Canada's AG warns Nunavut about dangers of not having a climate change action plan
Nunavut is not prepared to deal with the impacts of climate change and doesn't have a plan to deal with them, according to the latest report by Canada's auditor general.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
CBC News

Tent Caterpillar Infestation
At one point our entire red brick house was covered in the black caterpillars trying to reach the adjacent forest. The silk web-like nests began to appear on our trees in May and within weeks, the forests foliage was decimated.
Woodford, Ontario

1st Asian giant hornet found in Snohomish County
Entomologists believe the invasive insect is an “old hornet from a previous season that wasn’t discovered until now” because it was “very dried out."
Marysville, Washington, United States

Spruce beetles’ expansion into Denali National Park poses questions about forest changes
The aggressive infestation that took hold in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough north of Anchorage in 2016 has now spread north, covering hillsides in the communities outside the park with rustred dead trees and reaching into park boundaries.
Cantwell, Alaska, United States

Rare bug spotted for first time in more than 30 years
The discovery in the Cairngorms is only the eighth time a cow wheat shieldbug has been recorded in Scotland.
Aberlour, Scotland, United Kingdom
BBC News

A creeping mass of insect larvae near a Denali lodge raises the question: ‘Am I hallucinating?’
A worker in Kantishna glimpsed the rare phenomenon in which hundreds of Alaska gnat snakeworm larvae formed a crawling column.
Healy, Alaska, United States

Butterflies in the middle of winter and other insects in our homes
In Two Rivers,at a time when the outside air’s temperature has not been above freezing since October — three butterflies living in a heated garage.
Two Rivers, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Red Lily Beetle (Lilioceris lilii) settles in Edmonton, Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

3rd and 4th known cases of ‘Alaskapox’ — both mild — were recently diagnosed in the Fairbanks area
How the virus is contracted and how long it’s been around still remain a mystery. But researchers have found evidence in small mammals.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Seeing brown birch leaves? It’s not necessarily a sign of fall. Blame leaf-munching larvae
The birch leafminer ate its way through birches across Southcentral and Interior Alaska this summer. Hot and dry weather earlier in summer may have been optimal for them.

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