Nicole pointed out a pretty unusual insect on a water break down Curtis Creek Road. I’ve seen ichneumonid wasps depositing eggs under the bark of living trees with their massive ovipositor, and at first glance, this appeared to be another ovipositing wasp… but I think it’s a fly! Anyone know which family or lower taxonomic category?
Discovered a few of these Micanthena orbweavers stream-side.
These elateridae larvae roam moss-covered boulders and banks of the streams in Las Cruces, mandibles wide-open and hunting prey. Not pictured, because I don’t have an appropriate camera with shutter control, is their glow. If you’re in the stream at night and turn off your headlamp, you’ll soon notice small green “stars” lining the banks—hundreds of them. These guys are bioluminescent!
