Ernest H. Williams, Jr.

William R. Kenan Professor of Biology Emeritus

The Nature HandbookThe Nature Handbook

Chapter 7, Insects

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  • Fitzgerald, T.D. 1995. The Tent Caterpillars. Cornell Univ. Press, Ithaca.
  • Frank, K.D. 1988. Impact of outdoor lighting on moths: an assessment. J. Lepid. Soc. 42:63-93.
  • Gibo, D.L., & J.A. McCurdy. 1993. Lipid accumulation by migrating monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus L.). Canad. J. Zool. 71:76-82.
  • Green, E.S., A.R. Zangerl, & M.R. Berenbaum. 1998. Reduced aggressive behavior: A benefit of silk-spinning in the parsnip webworm, Depressaria pastinacella (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae). J. Insect Behav. 11:761-772.
  • Hansell, M.H. 1989. Wasp paper-mache. Nat Hist. (Aug 1989):52-61.
  • Hazel, W.N. 2002. The environmental and genetic control of seasonal polyphenism in larval color and its adaptive significance in a swallowtail butterfly. Evolution 56:342-348.
  • Herman, W.S., & M. Tatar. 2001. Juvenile hormone regulation of longevity in the migratory monarch butterfly. Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. B 268:2509-2514.
  • Himmelman, J. 2002. A bug-stalking adventure that begins at the porch light. Natural New England 13:20-26.
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  • Lewis, S. 2001. Flashes in the night. Mass. Audubon Soc. (Jul/Aug 2001):6-8
  • Lewis, J.P., E.A. Franceschi, & S.L. Stofella. 1991. Effect of ant hills on the floristic richness of plant communities of a large depression in the Great Chaco. Revista de Biologia Tropical 39:31-39.
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  • Lloyd, J.E. 1966. Studies on the flash communication system in Photinus fireflies. Misc. Publ. Mus. Zool., Univ. Mich. No. 130.
  • Lloyd, J.E. 1969. Flashes and behavior of some American fireflies. (NYS Conserv. (Jun-Jul 1969):8-12.
  • Manley, D.G., & W.C. Sherbrooke. 2001. Predation on velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) by Texas horned lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum). Southwest. Nat. 46:221-222.
  • Marchand, P.J. 2002. Jamming cicadas. Natural Hist. (June, 200):36-39.
  • Meyer, G.A. 1993. A comparison of the impacts of leaf- and sap-feeding insects on growth and allocation of goldenrod. Ecology 74:1101-1116.
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  • Opler, P.A., & G.O. Krizek. 1984. Butterflies East of the Great Plains. Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore, MD.
  • Powell, J.A. 2001. Longest insect dormancy: Yucca moth larvae (Lepidoptera: Prodoxidae) metamorphose after 20, 25, and 30 years in diapause. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 94:677-680.
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Photo Information

Fig. 7.1. Mating insects:

  1. greenish blue butterflies, Plebejus saepiolus; Beartooth Mtns, WY; 30 Jul 1978; EHW
  2. forktail damselflies, Ischnura ramburii; David Liebman

Fig. 7.2. An evening swarm of midges (CA); Edward Ross

Fig. 7.3. Butterflies:

  1. Empress Leila butterfly, Asterocampa leila; Ronald Rutowski
  2. Eastern tiger swallowtail, Papilio glaucus; Michael Leski

Fig. 7.4. Pipevine swallowtail, Battus philenor; AZ; John Alcock

Fig. 7.5. Sulphur butterflies, Colias philodice; Oneida Co., NY; 25 Aug 2002; EHW

Fig. 7.6. Puddle clubs:

  1. Palamedes swallowtails, Papilio palamedes; Francis Marion Nat’l Forest, SC; 16 Jun 2002; EHW
  2. white admiral butterflies, Limenitis arthemis arthemis; Powley Rd., Hamilton Co., NY; 7 Jul 2003; EHW
  3. Colorado alpines, Erebia callias; Beartooth Mtns. WY; 27 Jul 1979; EHW
  4. arctic blue butterflies, Agriades glandon; Beartooth Mtns, WY; 20 Jul 1980; EHW

Fig. 7.7. Overwintering monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus; CA; David Liebman

Fig. 7.8. First butterflies:

  1. mourning cloak, Nymphalis antiopa; Clinton, NY; 17 Apr 2002; EHW
  2. spring azure, Celastrina ladon; John Himmelman

Fig. 7.9. Juvenile insects:

  1. nymph of grasshopper; John Himmelman
  2. larva of black swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes; Clinton, NY; 1990; EHW

Fig. 7.10. Inchworms:

  1. large maple spanworm, Prochoerodes transversata; David Liebman
  2. unidentified inchworm; David Liebman

Fig. 7.11. Cocoons and pupas:

  1. cocoon of cecropia moth, Hyalophora cecropia; John Himmelman
  2. pupa of Gillett’s checkerspot, Euphydryas gillettii; Beartooth Mtns, WY; Jul 1982; EHW
  3. pupa of black swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes. Clinton, NY; 2001; EHW

Fig. 7.12. Shed insect exoskeletons:

  1. cicada; David Liebman
  2. stonefly; Allen Blake Sheldon

Fig. 7.13. Caterpillar webs:

  1. fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea, on pin cherry; Rome Sand Plains, NY; 27 Aug 2002; EHW
  2. brown-tail moth, Euproctis chrysorrhoea, on shadbush; Monhegan Is., ME; 28 May 2002; EHW
  3. Baltimore checkerspot, Euphydryas phaeton; Three Mile Bay, Oswego Co., NY; 20 Aug 1992; EHW

Fig. 7.14. woolly bear; _____________; EHW

Fig. 7.15. Polyphemus moths, Antheraea polyphemus; David Liebman

Fig. 7.16. Fireflies:

  1. fireflies over a field; James Lloyd
  2. a flashing individual; David Liebman

Fig. 7.17. Aphid feeding on fireweed, Epilobium angustifolium; Beartooth Mtns, WY; 17 Aug 2001; EHW

Fig. 7.18. Ant hills:

  1. small crater; Green Swamp, NC; 17 Jun 2002; EHW
  2. large mound of a prairie ant; Cody-Northfork Rd, WY; 13 Aug 2003; EHW
  3. ant trails; Rome Sand Plains, NY; ca. 10 May 2002; EHW

Fig. 7.19. Red velvet ant, the cowkiller Dasymutilla occidentalis; David Liebman

Fig. 7.20. Wasp and hornet nests:

  1. paper nest of the bald-faced hornet, Vespula maculata; Clinton, NY; 25 Aug 2002; EHW
  2. paper comb of paper wasp, Polistes sp.; Clinton, NY; Oct 2003; EHW
  3. wasp, Vespula sp.; Edward Ross
  4. nest of mud dauber, Chalybion sp.; NY; Aug 2002; EHW

Fig. 7.21. stridulating cricket; Dennis Sheridan

Fig. 7.22. Female insects:

  1. Mormon cricket, Anabrus simplex; Park Co., WY; 12 Aug 2003; EHW
  2. Old World paper wasp, Polistes dominulus; Clinton, NY; Oct 2003; EHW
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