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Project Noah Nature School
I'm an aquatic entomologist studying giant water bugs and dragonflies, but I enjoy insects of all types. You'll see a lot of insects here!
North Carolina
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Definitely a moth fly in the family Psychodidae, but I'm not familiar enough with the fauna in your area to go any further. Another common name is the drain fly (they're supposedly particularly common in rarely used hospital drains because of all of the human waste washed down them, though they're also known to develop in everyday bathroom sinks), and yes, they are attracted to disgusting stuff. In fact, their presence in a body of water usually indicates heavy pollution. But they're so beautiful as adults too! Love the photos.
I agree - definitely Cantharidae, but I can't go further than that.
Sweet! I'm so excited! Wrapping them carefully in a few layers of tissues or toilet paper and then putting them in a small box usually works pretty well. They'll get crushed in envelopes and they need to be able to breathe or they'll be moldy on the way here, so don't put them into plastic bags or anything. Can I have you send me an e mail so I don't have to put the address to send them to online? It's speak004 at excite dot com.
Really? I would be so excited to get a Brood XIX cicada! I live in Arizona so I'm way out of range, but the Brood XIX emergence is very exciting to entomologists like me. If you seriously want to send me one, I would be thrilled to have one!
Chicago should be outside of the range of Brood XIX (it only extends to central Illinois) so you might be experiencing a different brood than the one in the south, Emma. Regardless, the periodical cicada emergence is always an impressive event! Amazing bugs.
Probably part of the massive Brood XIX, which just started emerging in the southern states a few weeks ago. This brood is on a 13 year cycle and is one of the largest Magicicada broods.
