Gustavus Adolphus College

The following is a guide to some of the insects that may be encountered in the Linnaeus Arboretum.

Key to species accounts:

Species name: common name with scientific (Latin) name in parentheses; “L.” following scientific name designates a species named by Linnaeus circa. 1760 A.D.

1. Status at Gustavus, when and how often it is seen on campus
2. Habitat: where it can be found in southern Minnesota
3. Most commonly heard vocalizations, if applicable
4. Size
5. Additional pertinent information

* All photos taken at Gustavus by Bob Dunlap, Arboretum Naturalist unless otherwise noted.

Butterflies and Moths

Monarch (Danaus plexippus)

• Status: commonly seen in prairies and gardens of Arb and rest of campus mid-May to early October
• Habitat: prairies and grasslands, especially where milkweed (host plant) is plentiful
• Wingspan up to 4 inches
• State Butterfly of Minnesota

Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)

• Status: infrequently seen in prairies and gardens of Arb and rest of campus late May to early October
• Habitat: open areas near willows and poplars (host plants)
• Wingspan up to 3 inches
• Mimics the monarch in appearance; while the monarch is poisonous to predators, the viceroy is not

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) L.

• Status: infrequently seen in gardens and wooded areas of Arb and rest of campus mid-May to late September
• Habitat: semi-open to dense woodlands, open areas near trees, especially where poplars (host plants) are present
• Wingspan up to 5 inches
• Males are yellow, but females can be either yellow morph or dark morph

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) L.

• Status: infrequently seen in prairies and gardens of Arb and rest of campus early May to early October
• Habitat: prairies and grasslands, especially where asters and thistles (host plants) are present
• Wingspan up to 3 inches
• Found on every continent except Antarctica

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) L.

• Status: infrequently seen in gardens of Arb and rest of campus early May to early October
• Habitat: woodlands, wet grasslands, suburban areas where nettles (host plants) are present
• Wingspan up to 3 inches
• Unable to survive cold winters, the northern populations of this species are usually replenished by emigrants from southern populations

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) L.

• Status: commonly seen across campus early May to early October
• Habitat: open woodlands, grasslands, open rural and urban areas where mustards (host plants) are present
• Wingspan up to 2 inches
• Introduced in North America (native to Europe, Africa, and Asia)

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)

• Status: commonly seen in prairies and gardens of Arb and rest of campus early May to early October
• Habitat: prairies, pastures, semi-open woodlands, especially where asters (host plants) are present
• Wingspan up to 1 inch

White-lined Sphinx (Hyles lineate)

• Status: infrequently seen in gardens of Arb and rest of campus late May to late September, most often near dusk
• Habitat: wide variety of habitats, gardens
• Wingspan up to 4 inches
• Often mistaken for hummingbirds

Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe)

• Status: very rarely seen in gardens and prairies of Arb, only observations from early August 2009
• Habitat: wide variety of habitats, gardens
• Wingspan up to 2 inches
• Mimics bumblebees

Dragonflies and Damselflies

Green Darner (Anax junius)

• Status: commonly seen in Arb near wetlands early May to early October, large numbers seen migrating in May and September
• Habitat: prairies, wetlands, areas near water
• Wingspan up to 4 inches
• One of only two North American insects that truly migrates (other is monarch butterfly)

Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens)

• Status: commonly seen in Arb near prairies and wetlands late May to late September
• Habitat: prairies, wetlands, areas near water
• Wingspan up to 3 inches

Meadowhawk (Sympetrum sp.)

• Status: commonly seen in Arb near prairies and wetlands late May to late September
• Habitat: prairies, grassy areas near water
• Wingspan up to 3 inches

Cicadas

Annual Cicada (Tibicen canicularis)

• Status: heard daily in Arb and across campus late June to early October, most often around midday, exoskeletons frequently found on tree trunks and wooden structures
• Habitat: woodlands, forested areas, open areas with trees
• Voice is a loud, monotonous buzz lasting up to 10 seconds (made with its abdomen)
• Length up to 2 inches
• Usually begins buzzing once temperature reaches 70°F

Scissors-grinder Cicada (Tibicen auletes)

• Status: infrequently heard in Arb and across campus late June to late September, most often around midday, exoskeletons frequently found on tree trunks and wooden structures
• Habitat: woodlands, forested areas, open areas with trees
• Voice is a loud buzz that alternates up and down in pitch such that it sounds like a saw grinding, lasts up to 5 minutes
• Length up to 2 inches
• Usually begins buzzing once temperature reaches 80°F

Crickets, Grasshoppers, and Katydids

Bush Katydid (Scudderia sp.)

• Status: infrequently seen on plants in Arb and elsewhere across campus, frequently heard at night
• Habitat: gardens, shrubby areas
• Voice is a loud series of short click-like buzzes repeated several times
• Length up to 3 inches
• Similar to grasshoppers in appearance, katydids are more closely related to crickets

Carolina Grasshopper (Dissosteira carolina) L.

• Status: commonly seen in Arb along trails and in open areas
• Habitat: grasslands, open areas, disturbed areas
• Length up to 3 inches
• Cryptically colored at rest, this species reveals dark blue wings outlined in yellow when in flight

Bees and Wasps

Western Honeybee (Apis mellifera) L.

• Status: commonly seen nectaring in gardens of Interpretive Center early May to mid-October
• Habitat: gardens, suburban areas, anywhere near flowers
• Length up to ½ inch
• Originally native to Europe, Asia, and Africa

Bumblebee (Bombus sp.)

• Status: commonly seen nectaring in gardens of Interpretive Center early May to mid-October
• Habitat: gardens, suburban areas, anywhere near flowers
• Length up to ¾ inch
• Both bumblebees and honeybees are important pollinators of crops and wildflowers

Downy Yellowjacket (Vespula flavopilosa)

• Status: infrequently seen in gardens of Interpretive Center early May to early October
• Habitat: gardens, suburban areas, anywhere near flowers
• Length up to ½ inch
• Like all yellowjackets, this species is a classic “picnic pest,” attracted to both sweets and meaty foods

Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus)

• Status: seen in small numbers around gardens of Interpretive Center early May to early October
• Habitat: gardens, suburban areas, anywhere near flowers
• Length up to 2 inches
• A solitary rather than colonial wasp, this species feeds on crickets, grasshoppers, and katydids

Great Black Wasp (Sphex pennsylvanicus)

• Status: commonly seen nectaring in gardens of Interpretive Center early May to mid-October
• Habitat: gardens, suburban areas, anywhere near flowers
• Length up to 2 inches
• While other wasps generally nest up high and in trees, this species nests in holes in the ground