This Katydid's "eardrum", or tympanic membrane, is visible on its front leg.
Nancy, one of the participants at the 2008 Bugguide Gathering, studies Tree Crickets. Everyone was surprised when she came out of the woods with her flashlight and told us she had something she wanted to show us. This photo shows how the male tree cricket modifies a leaf to amplify his chirping sound. He chews a hole in the leaf, sticks his head through the hole, and then uses the hole to amplify the sound of the chirps to attract a female! How cool is that!? As later written by Nancy, "This photo also shows the (brown) metanotal gland area (like a tree cricket honey pot) -- where the female will feed while he slips the spermatophore where it needs to be." She is the expert and can say it a lot better than I can!
spp. / Neuroptera This adult Lacewing was photographed on a sheet that we attached on the wall of the cabin at science camp. We had turned on a black light overnight to attract insects. Lacewings lay their eggs on tree bark. Since the larvae are canabilistic, the eggs are located at the end of thin stalks. The larvae cover themselves with tiny pieces of tree bark and lichen as a form of camouflage. The larvae attack and eat tiny insects. (See photo #7)
