Author: Kaelin Carbonetto
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128/150: The amazingly acrobatic eyed click beetle!
Animalia: Arthropoda: Insecta: Coleoptera: Elateridae: Agrypninae: Alaus: Alaus oculatus (Linnaeus, 1758) Alaus oculatus belongs to the family Elateridae, a group commonly known as click beetles. These insects get their name from the unique clicking mechanism they all share. When one of these beetles finds itself upside down, it will arch so only the tip of…
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118/150: A snake that plays possum
Animalia: Chordata: Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae: Dipsadinae: Heterodon: Heterodon platirhinos (Latreille, 1801) The eastern hognose snake is named for its distinctive upturned snout, which it uses to dig through sandy soil. Individuals average about 28 inches in length, with the females typically being larger than males. They are found in several pockets of eastern North America,…
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71/150: A lesser known truth of giant water bugs
Animalia: Arthropoda: Insecta: Hemiptera: Belostomatidae: Belostomatinae: Belostoma: Belostoma flumineum (Say, 1832) Happy Father’s Day! Belostoma flumineum is a member of the genus Belostoma, commonly known as giant water bugs. These predatory insects can be found in wetlands, marshes, and ponds across North America, and can grow to be about 2.5 cm long. Though commonly known…
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57/150: Providing A Good Start: The unique parental care of Wolf Spiders
Animalia: Arthropoda: Arachnida: Araneae: Lycosidae: Trochosa: Trochosa ruricola (De Geer, 1778) The Rustic Wolf Spider belongs to the family Lycosidae, and is known for its keen eyesight and skilled hunting. They occur in a wide range of habitats, including grasslands, woodlands, and scrubs across the globe. While many spiders lay their eggs and leave them…