2022 Insect Reflections
This was another great year to observe insects in the vicinity of the Sun Foundation. Many, many thanks to the Ericksen family (especially Bob and Joan) for sharing their enthusiasm for the natural world with so many others. Also, many thanks to the instructors and teaching assistants for inviting me into their classes to discuss the world of insects (and to take the time to examine what can be found at the Sun Foundation). This remains the basis of my citizen scientist project to better document the insects found in central Illinois.
Here is a recap of all the orders and families encountered during one week in June, 2022. I find this to be an amazing list. Keep in mid we are only looking at orders and families of insects. Think if we could identify all to the species level.
Here are the taxon totals for the week (not bad for a few hours of observations each day):
- 12 orders of insects encountered
- 82 families of insects encountered
The next time I offer these insights, I plan to also link to an iNaturalist project (Insects of the Sun Foundation). This was created in June, 2024 [updated June 4, 2024]. I set the parameters for this project to include all of Marshall County, Illinois (as some insects may not be readily observed in the confines of the Sun Foundation, but may occur nearby).
Order Coleoptera (beetles)
- Family Buprestidae
- Family Cantharidae
- Family Carabidae
- Family Cerambycidae
- Family Chrysomelidae
- Family Cicindellidae
- Family Cleridae
- Family Coccinellidae
- Family Curculionidae
- Family Dermestidae
- Family Elateridae
- Family Lampyridae
- Family Lycidae
- Family Scarabaeidae
- Family Staphylinidae
- Family Tenebrionidae
Order Dermaptera (earwigs)
- Family Forficulidae
Order Diptera (flies)
- Family Agromyzidae
- Family Asilidae
- Family Bombyliidae
- Family Cecidomyiidae
- Family Chironomidae
- Family Culicidae
- Family Dolichopodidae
- Family Mydidae
- Family Rhagionidae
- Family Sciaridae
- Family Simuliidae
- Family Syrphidae
- Family Tabanidae
- Family Tachinidae
- Family Therevidae
- Family Tipulidae
Order Hemiptera (true bugs)
- Family Anthocoridae
- Family Aphididae
- Family Aradidae
- Family Berytidae
- Family Blissidae
- Family Cercopidae
- Family Cicadellidae
- Family Coreidae
- Family Fulgoridae
- Family Gelastocoridae
- Family Membracidae
- Family Miridae
- Family Nabidae
- Family Pentatomidae
- Family Psyllidae
- Family Reduviidae
- Family Scutelleridae
Order Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps)
- Family Apidae
- Family Braconidae
- Family Crabronidae
- Family Formicidae
- Family Halictidae
- Family Ichneumonidae
- Family Mutillidae
- Family Vespidae
Order Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths, skippers)
- Family Crambidae
- Family Erebidae
- Family Geometridae
- Family Hesperiidae
- Family Lycaenidae
- Family Nymphalidae
- Family Papilionidae
- Family Pieridae
- Family Pterophoridae
- Family Pyralidae
- Family Sphingidae
Order Mantodea (praying mantis)
- Family Mantidae
Order Mecoptera (scorpionflies)
- Family Bittacidae
Order Neuroptera (net-winged insects)
- Family Hemerobiidae
Order Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies)
- Family Aeschnidae
- Family Calopterygidae
- Family Gomphidae
- Family Libellulidae
Order Orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets)
- Family Acrididae
- Family Gryllidae
- Family Tettogoniidae
- Family Tridactylidae
- Family Trigoniidae
Order Phasmatodea (walkingsticks)
- Family Diopheromeridae