Found this lovely in the shed and moved her outside. That round belly means she’s full of eggs and will lay them soon, to hatch in the spring. Yay! We used to see mantises all the time — now it’s rare. Thanks to urban infill and the dadgum mosquit…

Bessbug, native to NC. Sally KneidelFound this huge Bessbug in the backyard, displaced by our whacked-out climate. Bessbugs are cool – one of the only beetles that live in groups and raise their young communally. And communicate by squeaking! The r…

So excited to see this amazing Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber) last month. About 10 miles from Mount Mitchell in North Carolina, the highest peak east of the Mississippi.  I think it’s Pseudotriton ruber nitidus, the Blue Ridge Red Salamand…

Giant Stag Beetle, Sally KneidelA rare treat — a fabulous Giant Stag Beetle (Lucanus elaphus). My fingertips for scale. Incredible!!! Saw this one at Little Sugar Creek Greenway last week. The huge jaws are only on males, they fight for females jus…

Saw this lovely little bug plodding patiently along a wall at a city park last week. She inspired me!She’s a wingless nymph (sub-adult) in the family Reduviidae.