The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #111924 Message #2736103
Posted By: Skivee
01-Oct-09 - 04:34 PM
Thread Name: BS: New or startling bugs in your area
Subject: RE: BS: New or startling bugs in your area
Donuel
If you contact the University of Maryland Department of Entymology with your photos, they will be glad to tell you if you buggies are invasive or unusual species.
I've seen insect matching every one your descriptions for the decades that I've lived in MD. The only ones that are actually new to the area are the Asian Tiger mosquito and the emerald ash borer. The Tiger a mostly black body, but with white marking on it's legs. Unlike native mosquitos, the tiger feeds at any time of day or night.
The emerald ash borer is lomger than your 3/4 beetle. It can be found in log piles and fallen trees.
The scarabs are very common here in a wide variety. The most striking is the Fig-eater. It's pretty, metallic, and eats most fruit on the tree.
The 4 1/2 inch flying ghost was probably a dobson fly.
In other words. Don't Panic. You are not seeing a sign of the end days; just noticing nature that you have missed before.