Insects to keep an eye out for in winter?

[GiantVinegaroon]

I'm trying to collect some bugs here in PA for my bug collection for my entomology class. Anybody have some recommendations for some bugs I can find in the winter time in PA? Are there any that can only be found at this time of year? I've looked through some bark and found some brown click beetles and an old woodlouse hunter exuvia.

Also, what kid of aquatic insects can I expect to find in ponds at this time of year?

 

[lucanidae]

Winter scorpionflies, Boreidae, can be found on and around moss clumps in the snow.

Winter stoneflies, Capniidae, should be around most large lakes/ponds walking on the snow in large numbers.

Flightless Tipulidae, somewhat rare, can be found in disturbed habitats, especially around rodent dens.

Moth flies, Psychodidae, can often be found in dorm room bathrooms, especially girls bathroom. Hair clogs drains and grows bacteria which these flies feed on.

Winter Craneflies, Trichoceridae, can be found around lights.

Most aquatic families can still be found, as well as a decent number of Carabidae and Elateridae adults and other assorted Coleoptera larvae under bark.

Hopefully this is a good start.

 

[GiantVinegaroon]

Winter scorpionflies, Boreidae, can be found on and around moss clumps in the snow.

Winter stoneflies, Capniidae, should be around most large lakes/ponds walking on the snow in large numbers.

Flightless Tipulidae, somewhat rare, can be found in disturbed habitats, especially around rodent dens.

Moth flies, Psychodidae, can often be found in dorm room bathrooms, especially girls bathroom. Hair clogs drains and grows bacteria which these flies feed on.

Winter Craneflies, Trichoceridae, can be found around lights.

Most aquatic families can still be found, as well as a decent number of Carabidae and Elateridae adults and other assorted Coleoptera larvae under bark.

Hopefully this is a good start.

Thanks alot! I was doing some reading on scorpionflies last night. They look kinda cool but idk how big they get and I forget if I pin them or preserve in fluid lol

 

[lucanidae]

Boreidae are really small, only a few millimeters in length. You can point them or preserve them in alcohol.

 

[GiantVinegaroon]

Boreidae are really small, only a few millimeters in length. You can point them or preserve them in alcohol.

thanks a bunch!

 

[Dark Raptor]

I can only add that you should check rottening wood (fallen logs, tree hollows ect.). In my area I often find adult Tenebrionidae, Cerambycidae, Elateridae, Cucujidae, Carabidae, Curculionidae beetles and many other insects groups, like parasitic hymenopterans, flies ect. You can also find other arthropodes, especially spiders.

 

[GiantVinegaroon]

I can only add that you should check rottening wood (fallen logs, tree hollows ect.). In my area I often find adult Tenebrionidae, Cerambycidae, Elateridae, Cucujidae, Carabidae, Curculionidae beetles and many other insects groups, like parasitic hymenopterans, flies ect. You can also find other arthropodes, especially spiders.

right now i've only found some larvae of....something, click beetles, and spiders. Still hoping for a Dysdera crocata :drool:

What order/orders are the ones you mentioned in? Besides the spiders of course. My collection has to have insects representing at least 10 orders, and now i have Coleoptrata, Hemiptera, and Diptera.

 

[Vulgaris]

You are in PA?

Same here. I know one bug that is around right now in PA. Stink bugs. They are all over in the chemistry lab at school.

Try looking around in buildings for them.

EDIT: never mind. I see you have already said you have a Hemiptera

 

[GiantVinegaroon]

You are in PA?

Same here. I know one bug that is around right now in PA. Stink bugs. They are all over in the chemistry lab at school.

Try looking around in buildings for them.

EDIT: never mind. I see you have already said you have a Hemiptera

I can still use more Hemiptera! I know box elder bugs are out as well, and I just acquired a leafhopper too. I need 65 bugs and 10 spiders.