Hemiptera; Pentatomidae; Unidentified Strachiini, When I started trying to identify this bug, I could see that it has many prominent features and thought that it would not be too difficult. The head, that kind of round cornered triangle shape with bulging eyes stuck on the sides as an afterthought makes it sure to be a Hemipter. The laterotergites, the shape of the pronotum and the large scutellum all combine to confirm it is a Shield Bug. So the most obvious feature, the big bright "Y" on its back should do very well in finalizing my I.D. - not a hope. When I looked in the inaturalist website, there were dozens of them and they all had this "Y" on their backs. So Unidentified Strachiini it is , at least for now.
The adults I have seen here are pretty nonchalant. One even flew in through the window of my friend's house as her daughter was studying. In the last couple of years there has been litigation over a waterbody near my house. So nobody can touch this waterbody. Water hyacinth does not care; it has proliferated to cover the entire lake. Cormorants have disappeared but there has been an explosion in the local population of the waterhen.
Thanks for the suggestion! We have spotted an American toad nearby so it’s a good guess!
Common short weed with long leaves, each leaf has a dark spot
I was looking at the slime mold in my previous spotting and something moving in this hole caught my eye. These holes are abundant across the landscape as are chipmunks. Thus hole was near a garage we are building so these animals see us on a daily basis.
I was looking at the slime mold in my previous spotting and something moving in this hole caught my eye. These holes are abundant across the landscape as are chipmunks. Thus hole was near a garage we are building so these animals see us on a daily basis.