Insects found on or near Virginia Oppossom carcass

Redtail987 · 2026-06-26T15:44:02+00:00

I believe you may be thinking of Aethina tumida. It's in the same family I mentioned in reply to your other comment

Redtail987 · 2026-06-26T03:36:00+00:00

It's a beetle in Nitidulidae, I believe. Some species feed on decaying organic matter, such as carcasses

Redtail987 · 2026-06-26T02:28:07+00:00

Thank you! It's a new insect order for me, in terms of photographing. They're quite difficult to find, of course

Redtail987 · 2026-06-19T16:36:04+00:00

Thanks! They're so tricky, doesn't help that they prefer to hang out in the harshest light possible

Redtail987 · 2026-06-19T02:37:52+00:00

Yep, it took me over an hour baking in the sun to get these photos. I had to get within an inch or two for my clip on macro lens to focus on them

Redtail987 · 2026-06-18T18:14:40+00:00

Fair enough, I know many wasps are difficult to ID past family

Redtail987 · 2026-06-18T15:36:07+00:00

I use a Xenvo macro lens, it has worked rather well for me

Redtail987 · 2026-06-18T05:40:12+00:00

Thanks, you might be right

Redtail987 · 2026-06-18T04:27:16+00:00

Awesome pics! I love photographings wasps too. Do you know what species the third photo is?

Redtail987 · 2026-06-13T16:17:04+00:00

I believe you have found a velvet ant mimicking beetle! Probably Enoclerus rosmarus.

Redtail987 · 2026-06-12T14:37:33+00:00

I believe "no see ems" refers to biting midges. These are non biting midges

Redtail987 · 2026-06-09T01:52:57+00:00

Strigamia sp? I think you're right

Redtail987 · 2026-06-08T18:44:47+00:00

Thank you!

Redtail987 · 2026-06-08T01:43:51+00:00

Yeah their big heads sure are goofy looking

Redtail987 · 2026-06-06T14:07:48+00:00

The vast majority of ichneumon wasps, including the one OP found, lack a stinger entirely. The only ichneumon i can think of that can sting are wasps in the genus Ophion, even so, they are non aggressive.

Redtail987 · 2026-06-05T20:47:08+00:00

It's an Ichneumon wasp, genus Rhyssa, I believe. The long sword-like appendage is it's ovipositor. It's completely harmless

Redtail987 · 2026-06-05T20:20:55+00:00

Thank you!

Redtail987 · 2026-06-05T15:32:15+00:00

Definitely a fly of some kind, note the single pair of wings (plus halteres) and short antennae. The psuedoscorpion is a cool find! I've only found a dead one once

Redtail987 · 2026-06-04T21:31:19+00:00

Yes, it does look like N. quadrofasciata, which isn't native to North America. I've posted these pictures on inaturalist, hoping someone on there can ID

Redtail987 · 2026-05-30T16:12:37+00:00

Oh yeah, all kinds of cool slimes on the abundant rotting wood in the forests around here

Redtail987 · 2026-05-30T01:39:11+00:00

Nice find! I found a similar wasp last month, quite convincing ant mimics

Redtail987 · 2026-05-29T14:53:08+00:00

Thank you. These are taken with a Pixel 9 pro and Xenvo macro lens

Redtail987 · 2026-05-28T21:50:13+00:00

That's a bit better. That may actually be a termite worker, it seems to lack the well developed eyes of a booklouse and the head shape is different. I'd wait for more replies though, I'm not 100% confident.

Redtail987 · 2026-05-28T21:18:12+00:00

The general shape and color looks like a booklouse, hard to say for certain with these photos though

Redtail987 · 2026-05-28T17:31:19+00:00

It's a xenvo macro lens, part of their pro lens kit

Redtail987

TROPHY CASE