recent local insects

[Don Boucher]

I took photos of some insects recently, while incidentally doing other things.

California Spreadwing (Archilestes californicus)
I was having lunch near the office, at Bruce Starker park and this spreadwing landed on my shoe. I leaned forward to get a photo but it flew off. Luckily, it landed nearby. The pterstigma (spots on the outer, leading edge of each wing) are lighter than the similar looking spreadwings in our area; Lestes congener, L. Disjunctus & L. unguiculatus.

This Mediterranean Katydid (Phaneroptera nana) flew into our garden when we were having dinner on the patio. It's an introduced species. Hind wing is longer than the front wing. It's a male and it has prominent, curved cerci (at the end of the abdomen) shown in these photos.

European Mantis (Mantis religiosa)

I found this near the bike rack at work. An introduced species and the only mantis found in our area.

Western Yellowjacket (Vespula pensylvanica)

I found this poor Northwestern Garter Snake (Thamnophis ordinoides) at Bruce Starker Park on another day. It met its end somehow and the yellowjackets were taking advantage of it.They are Western Yellowjackets because they have yellow completely surrounding their eyes.

Don Boucher

Corvallis