The yellow fly has earned a fearsome reputation among people who live in or visit marshes, forests, beaches, and rural areas of states such as Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and parts of the Carolinas.
The yellow fly (Diachlorus ferrugatus) is one of the most notorious biting flies found in the southeastern United States, particularly in coastal and wetland regions where warm temperatures and abundant moisture create ideal breeding conditions. Despite its common name, the insect is not entirely yellow. Adults typically have a golden-yellow to orange-brown body, vivid iridescent green or blue-green eyes, and clear wings with dark markings that help
Their long “stingers” are actually delicate egg-laying organs incapable of harming humans.
Parasitoid wasps are among the most fascinating and complex insects in the natural world, occupying a strange middle ground between predators and parasites. Unlike ordinary parasites, which typically avoid killing their hosts, parasitoids ultimately destroy the organisms they inhabit. The term “parasitoid” was created in the early twentieth century to distinguish this lifestyle from conventional parasitism.
Large, solitary bees that are often mistaken for bumblebees.
Carpenter bees, members of the genus Xylocopa, are large, solitary bees that are often mistaken for bumblebees due to their size and coloration. Unlike bumblebees, however, carpenter bees have a shiny, hairless abdomen
Adult EABs are metallic green beetles about 0.3 to 0.5 inches long.
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, is a beetle native to northeast Asia, including China, Korea, and Japan. It was first discovered in North America in the Detroit, Michigan area in 2002. It is believed to have arrived via wood packaging materials used in international shipping.
Exotic ambrosia beetles are costly pests of ornamental and fruit trees nationwide—from front-yard plantings of Japanese maple and oak to commercially grown orchards of cherry, peach, plum and even avocado.
Ambrosia beetles belong to the subfamily Platypodinae and the family Curculionidae within the order Coleoptera. They are a diverse group of beetles comprising over 3,500 species distributed worldwide.
The ticks follow white-tailed deer populations, and warmer winters and multiplying deer populations likely allowed the tick to spread through the country.
Ticks are small arachnids known for their blood-feeding behavior, and they belong to the subclass Acari. They are ectoparasites, meaning they feed on the blood of a wide variety of hosts, including mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles. Ticks are important vectors of various diseases, and they are found throughout the world.
Australian Bulldog Ant is one of the most deadly species of ant on the planet. They are listed in the Guinness Book Of World Records as the deadliest ant in the world.
Bulldog ants are a group of large, aggressive ants belonging to the genus Myrmecia, which is native to Australia. These ants are known for their impressive size, powerful mandibles, and potent stingers. Myrmecia are often called bulldog ants, bull ants, inch ants, sergeant ants, or jumper ants.
The yellow-legged hornet poses a threat to honeybees and other pollinators.
In August 2023, the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), in coordination with the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and the University of Georgia, confirmed the presence of a yellow-legged hornet (YLH; Vespa velutina) near Savannah, Ga.
Blowflies, also known as bottle flies, play an important role in the ecosystem as decomposers.
Blowflies, also known as blow flies, are a type of fly belonging to the family Calliphoridae. The name “blowfly” comes from the old English term “blawan,” which means “to blow or to swell.” The name is thought to be derived from the bloated appearance of carcasses that blowflies often feed on and lay their eggs in.
Vampirism — piercing or cutting animal skin to suck or lap up blood — is known throughout the animal kingdom.
The Calyptra, commonly known as the Vampire Moth, is a fascinating and unique insect belonging to the family Erebidae, subfamily Calpinae. These moths are notable for their unusual feeding behavior, which involves drinking the blood of other animals, earning them their intriguing name.
