A recent case of mistaken identity sent me to the internet to search for answers. I photographed what I thought was a bald-faced hornet on a coneflower.. However, upon closer inspection, the comparison didn't seem to match up.
There were just slight differences.
There were just slight differences.
So I asked my "friends" on the Facebook page PA Insects for help. It turned out that the bee was not a bee but actually a fly. They suggested that the insect in question was indeed an aptly named bald-faced hornet fly and not a hornet at all.
Wikipedia described the insect as follows," 'Spilomyia fusca ... is a fairly common species of syrphid fly ... The adults, also known as flower flies for they are commonly found around and on flowers from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein rich pollen. "
Another Facebook user posted, "Fly=1 set of wings," as a tip for identification.
Wikipedia described the insect as follows," 'Spilomyia fusca ... is a fairly common species of syrphid fly ... The adults, also known as flower flies for they are commonly found around and on flowers from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein rich pollen. "
Another Facebook user posted, "Fly=1 set of wings," as a tip for identification.
Another insect that is often misidentified also showed up this past week. The hummingbird clearwing moth is often mistaken for its namesake, the hummingbird. The moth is actually a member of the sphinx family and like their namesake also feed on flower nectar.
In fact, a post by Beatriz Moisset on the Hummingbird Moth (fs.fed.us), said, "They fly and move just like hummingbirds. Like them, they can remain suspended in the air in front of a flower while they unfurl their long tongues and insert them in flowers to sip their nectar."
Moisset went on to write, "there are several species of hummingbird moths. ... The most familiar ones are the Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) and the Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe). They are both widespread throughout North America ..."
In fact, a post by Beatriz Moisset on the Hummingbird Moth (fs.fed.us), said, "They fly and move just like hummingbirds. Like them, they can remain suspended in the air in front of a flower while they unfurl their long tongues and insert them in flowers to sip their nectar."
Moisset went on to write, "there are several species of hummingbird moths. ... The most familiar ones are the Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) and the Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe). They are both widespread throughout North America ..."
Meanwhile, another insect that is often mistaken as another is the spicebush swallowtail.
It has a very similar appearance to that of the female dark form on the tiger swallowtail.
The difference is limited to some spots.
Meanwhile, I still struggled to nail down the identities of the fritillaries that have visited my garden. They could be an Aphrodite, Atlantis or great spangled fritillary all of which have been spotted in Venango County before.
Again, I suspected that the difference was down to a couple of spots. I felt I might have to give in and download a couple of insect identification apps.
Again, I suspected that the difference was down to a couple of spots. I felt I might have to give in and download a couple of insect identification apps.
(UPDATED 8/9/2022: Apparently my first guess at jack-o-lantern mushroom was correct. A post on a Facebook page that was identified as a jack-o-lantern mushroom look very similar to my photos. A little more digging revealed that jack-o-lanterns have gills, which these did. Chicken of the woods fungi have pores. So while Kennedy did have a few mouthfuls, he didn't get sick. We will be detouring around the jack-o-lanterns. Edible, not edible, get an expert's opinion before you consume. That's just the nature of things 'round here. )
Of course, the lookalikes weren't limited to just the insect population. What I thought were some poisonous jack-o-lantern mushrooms, were not. (Oops... they were.)
The next day they had grown to reveal their true form as the edible chicken of the woods. (No, they hadn't. They were jack-o-lanterns.)
Of course, the lookalikes weren't limited to just the insect population. What I thought were some poisonous jack-o-lantern mushrooms, were not. (Oops... they were.)
The next day they had grown to reveal their true form as the edible chicken of the woods. (No, they hadn't. They were jack-o-lanterns.)
That turn of events turned out to be a good thing since Kennedy, once again, ate my photo subject. (Kennedy suffered no ill effects from these. Thank, goodness.)
Is it a fly or bee, A bird or a moth, edible or not? Nature will always keep me guessing.
That's just the nature of things round here.
Is it a fly or bee, A bird or a moth, edible or not? Nature will always keep me guessing.
That's just the nature of things round here.
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