I see, it is segments, each containing a larvae?

Lynn - Yes, I assume they are individual eggs end to end.

bpsgarden/Brandi: That looks like the Cecropia Moth Caterpillar to me too ... neat looking Cat and beautiful Moth!

http://www.butterfliesandmoths...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H...

Great job catching those pests!

That last pic looks like one I see here often flying very quickly across the grassy meadow bottom... I say that because the wings are a match but I've never been able to catch one sitting! Not sure what they are, I think maybe some kind of wasp that lives in the ground in a burrow or holes? I see holes in the gound out there too. Hoping for an ID on those!

wildflowers said:Great job catching those pests!

That last pic looks like one I see here often flying very quickly across the grassy meadow bottom... I say that because the wings are a match but I've never been able to catch one sitting! Not sure what they are, I think maybe some kind of wasp that lives in the ground in a burrow or holes? I see holes in the gound out there too. Hoping for an ID on those!

I'm wondering what it is also because tons of these were seen here last year and again this year around early May. I'm starting to pay more attention as I really need to learn to id the helpful and not so helpful insects.

dormantsrule said:

C

Could this be a Black Onion Fly (Tritoxa flexa)? Here is a photo of one:
http://www.marylandinsects.com...

It sure looks like it could be.

It looks that way to me, too. DormantsRule, do you remember approximately how big "B" was? I have something in mind but what I am thinking of is small (1/8th inch up to 1/4 inch) and your guy looks larger (?). Thanks

OldGardener said:

Could this be a Black Onion Fly (Tritoxa flexa)? Here is a photo of one:
http://www.marylandinsects.com...

Thanks much as I sure do think you're right. B is a little larger than 1/4"

Good IDing OldGardener! I'll have to keep an eye out here to see if I have the same.

Here is one of my most interesting characters in the garden. It's a Robberfly, although I don't recall which one off hand (Janet ID'd it). I'll have to get back on the name. He kind of looks like a bee on first glance but he's never looking for pollen or nectar, he's looking for other insects. I call this one 'Thug'. He can be found lurking around the flowering plants, waiting for his next victim.

I found this hornworm munching on my Vitex tree. I was surprised because I did not think they ate members of the Verbena family.

This is the Manduca rustica rustica (Rustic Sphinx hornworm) http://www.silkmoths.bizland.c... You can see subtle and not so subtle differences....the head has what look like tiny spines and the Horn is green in color and also has those same spiny projections.

Ok, just hand over the camera quietly, and no one will get hurt.

Wow, what a nice clear photo! That's outstanding!

That is wild .... and I agree with Woofie, an outstanding photo; such a cool looking critter!

It almost looks like it is getting ready to pupate.

I agree nice picture, Moon! and it does look like its getting ready to pupate. I have to admit, it's such a nice picture, it makes me cringe a little to see it, looking so much like the tomato hornworm, they scare me!

Thank you to you all.
I had to laugh Woofie....I have spent 3 years learning to use this camera.....and it only took 6 or 7 tries to get this picture.

He is somewhat different from the Tomato Hornworm....and that is what saved him.... : Having lost whole plants to the other one, I am not too nice to them. And I do agree they are so large and rather scary looking......sort of "alien" but nothing like "ET"

I went back out this morning to check on him ....and he was no where to be found. We had some fairly heavy rains Sunday morning, so perhaps he moved to a "safer" location, or he may have been snatched up by one of the birds. I do know that they go into "underground chambers" to pupate....maybe that is where this one has gone.

Again, Thanks for your kind comments,
Moon

DormantsRule, I think B may be related to this guy:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HpxO...

but the wing pattern isn't quite right and the guy in this photo is slightly smaller than 1/4". What are your thoughts? I'll keep looking

Do you have walnut trees (or possibly peach trees) in the area? The wing pattern looks like it may be that of Rhagoletis completa - the walnut husk fly - when the wings are overlapped together like that in your photo...

http://bugguide.net/node/view/....

The color of the body seems to be quite variable (I have probably looked at a couple hundred photos of this guy) so I have been focusing more on wing pattern.

dormantsrule, on your picture A, is that bug on milkweed? If so, maybe its some kind of milkweed beetle?

Could it possibly be a fly from the Ulidiidae Family....called the Picture -winged Flies?

http://bugguide.net/node/view/...