The Insect Arena

The Insect Arena I photograph insects/ other wildlife in their natural habitat. Not an entomologist. Go outside! Explore! Not affiliated with the bug fighting pages. No AI.

Nature enthusiast and nemophile (look it up- a great word!) with a passion for bugs.

I usually don't even bother trying to get to species with any type of flies except for certain individuals that don't lo...
07/22/2026

I usually don't even bother trying to get to species with any type of flies except for certain individuals that don't look like anything else. Being that I'd never seen a Long-Legged Fly (Dolichopodidae) so brilliantly blue I decided to have a look at the other species on iNat. I think this has got to be a male Condylostylus mundus (Bugguide says the females are green), as I can't find anything else remotely close to the dazzling color on this one. March 2023. Largo Florida, USA.

Considering this spider belongs to the Long-jawed Orbweavers (Tetragnathidae), its "jaws" are decidedly average in size....
07/14/2026

Considering this spider belongs to the Long-jawed Orbweavers (Tetragnathidae), its "jaws" are decidedly average in size. Compared to some of the Stretch Spiders (Tetragnatha), who look like they'd have a hard time even holding their head up their chelicerae are so long, this one doesn't even look like it belongs in the same family. She makes up for it, though with spectacular coloration that will catch your eye no matter where her web is. It's especially stunning when the sun reflects off the silver on the abdomen. March 2023. Largo, Florida, USA.

Most moths looking to hide out in the leaf litter are specially suited to blending in with the colors and textures of de...
07/13/2026

Most moths looking to hide out in the leaf litter are specially suited to blending in with the colors and textures of dead leaves. This isn't one of those. The snow white color of this Southern Milky Argyria Moth (Argyria lacteella) made it pop against the darker background of its attempted shelter and once it realized it was spotted, it immediately took off again. The range info on iNat has it from Maryland south to Florida and west to Texas, but the range map seems to have it pretty much confined to Florida. March 2023. Largo, Florida, USA.

The oxymoron of the Damselflies (Zygoptera), this is a mating pair of Orange Bluets (Enallagma signatum). Despite the c...
06/28/2026

The oxymoron of the Damselflies (Zygoptera), this is a mating pair of Orange Bluets (Enallagma signatum). Despite the common name, the females aren't always orange. Some stay blue, some turn green, and some become a bit more yellowish than orange. March 2023. Largo, Florida, USA.

A female Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) and what I think is an Alligatorweed Flea Beetle (Agasicles hygrophila). ...
06/28/2026

A female Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) and what I think is an Alligatorweed Flea Beetle (Agasicles hygrophila). The Forktail looks so different from the one from a few days ago that I was a bit surprised that it turned out to be the same species. The female from the mating couple I previously posted was a blue morph, which looks exactly like another male (this may help the female to avoid "unwanted advances"). March 2023. Largo, Florida, USA.

An insect assortment frequenting the water flora of the small pond at this park. 1- A Long Legged Fly (Dolichopodidae),...
06/24/2026

An insect assortment frequenting the water flora of the small pond at this park. 1- A Long Legged Fly (Dolichopodidae), possibly some type of Condylostylus. 2- male Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis). 3- mating pair of Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii). 4- A wasp-mimicking Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera). 5- Probably the Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), but not 100% on that one. There are many that look very similar. March 2023. Largo, Florida, USA.

Only after I strung these four photos of this Spotted Pink Lady Beetle (Coleomegilla maculata) together did I notice the...
06/23/2026

Only after I strung these four photos of this Spotted Pink Lady Beetle (Coleomegilla maculata) together did I notice the other two creatures in the photo. The small fish below would probably love it if the beetle were to fall in, and something else moving around o bit higher up on the leaf that I can't quite figure out. Nice to spot one of the native Lady Beetles (Coccinellidae) every once in a while. March 2023. Largo, Florida, USA.

At first I thought this was a teneral Clubtail (Gomphidae) due to the kind of bland coloration of this one's body. It's...
06/09/2026

At first I thought this was a teneral Clubtail (Gomphidae) due to the kind of bland coloration of this one's body. It's tough to make out the markings on the thorax, but from what is visible, this quite resembles a Gray-green Clubtail (Arigomphus pallidus). It fits for habitat and range also. The intensity of green in the eyes are what made me realize this is not a teneral, it's just not as boldly patterned of an adult as some others. March 2023. Largo, Florida, USA.

Like a miniature harrier jet coming in for a landing, this Paper Wasp (Polistes) alit on the relative safety of a lily p...
06/08/2026

Like a miniature harrier jet coming in for a landing, this Paper Wasp (Polistes) alit on the relative safety of a lily pad to get a bit of a drink. This looks like a Horse Paper Wasp (P. major) to me as she was on the larger end of the size spectrum and coloration (all variability aside) seems to point here as well. The only explanation I could find on the common name was that "avispa de caballo" is translated from Spanish, which is what it is called in the Dominican Republic. Whether they thought it was as big as a horse compared to other wasps or for some other reason affiliated with horses, I could find no information. March 2023. Largo, Florida, USA.

Despite this guys being on some Goldenrod (Solidago), it's almost certainly not the Goldenrod Soldier Beetle (Chauliogna...
06/06/2026

Despite this guys being on some Goldenrod (Solidago), it's almost certainly not the Goldenrod Soldier Beetle (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus). The almost identical Margined Leatherwing (C. marginatus) can be differentiated by the dark spot on the dorsal plate of the thorax (pronotum), visible in the fourth photo. In this specimen it is elongated from front to back instead of from side to side, which would have indicated the other guy. March 2023. Largo, Florida, USA.

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