February Photos

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Ostrinia Nubilalis and Green Lacewing

 Ostrinia nubilalis - European corn borer, also known as the European high-flyer.  A pest of grain, particularly maize.  Native to Europe, originally infesting varieties of millet, including broom corn.  The European corn borer was first reported in North America in 1917 in Massachusetts.  Since then, the insect has spread into Canada and westward across the United States to the Rocky Mountains.  

European corn borer caterpillars damage the ears of corn, as well as the stalks, by chewing tunnels, which cause the plants to fall over.












Chrysopa perla -- green lacewing.

Adult green lacewings have tympanal organs at the forewings' base, enabling them to hear well.  Thus, when they hear a bat's ultrasound calls, they evade:  when in flight, they close their wings, making them small enough that the bat's echolocational sounds do not detect them, and then they drop to the ground.

Different species of lacewings have different 'songs'.  Individuals of one species will not react to the other's vibrations.







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