A Giant Robber Fly, Pritchardomyia vespoides, from Arnold CA
Here are images of a large robber fly, Pritchardomyia vespoides, collected in Arnold CA, 25 September 2014, by Jose Rodriguez.
ID by Chris Cohen.
Click on an image to enlarge it
A giant robber fly from Arnold Ca. September 26, 2014.
This large robber fly has a body length slightly larger than one inch. Arnold CA, September 23, 1024
Ventral view of a large robber fly.
image of large robber fly head
another view of the head of the large robber fly
A close-up of the eye of the large robber fly
Side view of the giant robber fly.
the large robber fly in profile
This image highlights the legs and tarsal claws of the robber fly.
The tarsal claws and pads of the large robber fly.
an image of the wing of the large robber fly
The tarsal pads and claws of the robber fly.
A close-up of the tarsal pads of the large robber fly.
The tarsal claws of the robber fly.
Robber fly photo by Jason Mink. 5 September 2018, Arnold
Robber fly photo by Jason Mink. 5 September 2018, Arnold
Pine Tree Ants (2)
See also Pine Tree Ants and midden images.
Pine tree ants, Liometopum luctuosum, are common in the 2000-4000 foot elevation range in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties. These ants prefer to nest in large pine trees. The colonies get quite large.
A Super Colony? Pine tree ants will almost suddenly appear in spring, trailing from pine tree to pine tree. I (JT) have followed trails from tree to tree, and basically see a web of interconnected trails. It seems they form some sort of super-colony. As mentioned in the previous post on pine tree ants, I once took some pine tree ants from Pine Mountain Lake, in Groveland, to Columbia College, in Columbia, during early spring when the ants are trailing out to set up spring and summer nests. I placed the Groveland ants along side of a large trail of Columbia ants, and the Groveland ants immediately joined the Columbia ants’ trail. This observation makes me wonder if they are not all part of the same super-colony.
In their spring efforts to set up nesting areas, pine tree ants often move into the ceilings and walls of houses. Homes built with Celotex insulation are common targets, with the ants tunneling through the insulation to make nests, and throwing out the insulation, into piles on the floor of the house or cabin.
170 grams of ants collected from base of one pine tree, Arnold Ca August 2014. Specimens collected by Jose Rodriguez.
pine tree ants are approximately 1/8 inch long, with some variation.
activity of pine tree ant, Liometopum luctuosum. Picture by Jose Rodriguez.
pine tree ant, Liometopum luctuosum. Picture by Jose Rodriguez.
pine tree ant, Liometopum luctuosum . Picture by Jose Rodriguez.
Kissing bugs
Kissing bugs, triatoma protracta, are parasites of pack rats, living in their nests, and feeding on their blood, while the rat sleeps. Eggs are laid within the nest, and the kissing bug nymphs will also feed rat blood. Sooner or later, the pack rat will die, by predation most likely, and the dependent kissing bugs will not have anything to eat. Starvation forces them to leave the nest and seek a new host; this activity is most common at dusk, after prolonged hot spells. Being strong fliers, they are attracted to lights, but do not flutter around lights, like moths; they will land and walk the remaining distance. If a kissing bug enters your home, remember, it is there for food, and you are the target.
Kissing bugs appear to be attracted to heat and odor. People report finding them in their beds, basically waiting. It is customary for people that have a lot of kissing bugs, to take the sheets off, and check their beds before going to bed.
The name ‘kissing bug’ comes from reports, back in gold rush days, of people being bitten around the lips. This author has not seen that, and most reports of bites are on other body parts. This author was once bitten by one, on the foot. I never felt the bite, but the bite was prominent, and I’d categorize it as a nasty bite, large and really annoying. I tore the place apart looking for it and never found the bug, until…. it came back to get a second feeding a week or so later.
Below are images of adults and nymphs.
Specimens below collected by Paul Cooper, Jason Price, Heather Nordstrom.
Click on an image to enlarge it.
It bit a lady, twice.
Kissing bug, Triatoma. Calaveras County, September 15, 2014.
Kissing bug on a ruler
a close-up of a spot on the kissing bug
A view of the compound eyes of a kissing bug
the head and thorax of triatoma
The kissing bug abdomen area, detail
Kissing bug image by Paul Cooper, 8 June 2015.
Detail of head of kissing bug, ventral view. Specimen collected by Jason Price, LaGrange area, July 2015.
Detail of abdomen, dorsal view, of kissing bug.
Detail of wing cover of kissing bug, dorsal view.
Detail of head of kissing bug, dorsal view. Ocelli visible. Specimen collected by Jason Price, LaGrange area, July 2015.
Detail of head of kissing bug, dorsal view. Specimen collected by Jason Price, LaGrange area, July 2015.
Detail of kissing bug, dorsal view. Specimen collected by Jason Price, LaGrange area, July 2015.
Detail of kissing bug, ventral view. Specimen collected by Jason Price, LaGrange area, July 2015.
Detail of tip of proboscis of kissing bug.
Kissing bug nymphs
Kissing bug nymphs, probably first instars. Specimens collected approximately 3 September 2015, Sonora California, in a bed.
Kissing bug nymph, probably first instar. Specimen collected approximately 3 September 2015, Sonora California, in a bed.
Kissing bug nymphs, probably first instars. Specimens collected approximately 3 September 2015, Sonora California, in a bed.
Kissing bug nymphs, probably first instars. Specimens collected approximately 3 September 2015, Sonora California, in a bed.
Kissing bug nymphs, probably first instars. Specimens collected approximately 3 September 2015, Sonora California, in a bed.
Kissing bug nymphs, probably first instars. Specimens collected approximately 3 September 2015, Sonora California, in a bed.
Kissing bug nymphs, probably first instars. Specimens collected approximately 3 September 2015, Sonora California, in a bed.
Kissing bug nymphs, probably first instars. Specimens collected approximately 3 September 2015, Sonora California, in a bed.
Kissing bug nymphs, probably first instars. Specimens collected approximately 3 September 2015, Sonora California, in a bed.
Kissing bug nymphs, probably first instars. Specimens collected approximately 3 September 2015, Sonora California, in a bed.
Kissing bug nymphs, probably first instars. Specimens collected approximately 3 September 2015, Sonora California, in a bed.
Kissing bug nymphs, probably first instars. Specimens collected approximately 3 September 2015, Sonora California, in a bed.
Kissing bug nymphs, probably first instars. Specimens collected approximately 3 September 2015, Sonora California, in a bed.
Highlight on proboscis.
Kissing bug nymphs, probably first instars. Specimens collected approximately 3 September 2015, Sonora California, in a bed.
Kissing bug nymphs, probably first instars. Specimens collected approximately 3 September 2015, Sonora California, in a bed.
Kissing bug nymphs, probably first instars. Specimens collected approximately 3 September 2015, Sonora California, in a bed.
Kissing bug nymph. From a residence near Vallecito, Ca, 3 November 2015. Specimen collected by Ryder Richards.
Bee Keepers
The Sierra Foothill BeeKeepers Association has a list of bee keepers who can help remove a swarm of bees. As a rule, they do not like to open walls to get a hive. http://sierrafoothillbeekeepers.com/
Another beekeeper is Jake Hurst, 743-0798