Insect and arachnid behavior is influenced by many different environmental factors, such as seasonal temperature fluctuations and precipitation levels and timing.
Photo 1: Elm sawflies (Cimbex americana) belong to the order Hymenoptera, along with bees, wasps, and ants. Although they look similar to wasps, they do not have the characteristic thin waist and do not sting. Sawflies cut thin slits in leaves to lay eggs, which develop in to green caterpillar-like larvae. Adult sawflies feed on pollen and nectar, but large groups of sawflies can cause significant damage to plants and trees. Sawflies are found around the world, although many live in temperate zones where temperatures are moderate. Source: University of Wisconsin-Madison Master Gardener Program Sawfly Species Profile.
Photo 2: Species in the family Gasteruptiidae also belong to the order Hymenoptera along with elm sawflies, and are commonly referred to as carrot wasps. They got this name because they favor the nectar and pollen found on flowers of the carrot family. They can often be found moving between flower tops in grasslands and gardens in late spring and summer. There are 15 species in the Gasteruptiidae family across the US and Canada. Carrot wasps overwinter as larvae and continue to develop in the spring. Although adults are vegetarian, they lay eggs in the nests of other Hymenoptera species. Larvae will eat food left in the nest by the Hymenoptera nest-builder, or eat the larvae of the original inhabitant. Source: University of Milwaukee Carrot Wasp Species Profile.
Photo 3: There are 171 species of wolf or ground spiders in the genus Arctosa. Wolf spiders generally hunt alone and do not spin webs. They are known for moving quickly and pouncing on their prey. They can be found in both coastal and inland habitats with shrublands, alpine meadow, and wet coastal forest and are common garden visitors. Source: Beneficial Insects and Spiders of Alaska and National Geographic Wold Spider Species Profile.
Photo 4: The genus Tibellus includes 51 species of crab spiders that can be found in Europe, Asia, Africa and North and South America. Adult crab spiders can be found in low vegetation and foliage. Like wolf spiders, Tibellus crab spiders hunt prey and do not spin webs. Source iNaturalist Slender Crab Spider Species Profile.
Arctosa
Observations From Members