Top 20 Most Common Insects in Canandaigua

Common whitetail skimmer has black bands on its translucent wings which make it easy to identify. The common whitetail skimmer is found throughout North America and serves a vital ecological purpose. The dragonfly’s compound eyes provide it with a 360-degree field of vision, allowing it to spot prey like spiders and other nuisance insects.

The state insect of Montana, mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) owes its name to a visual comparison with a girl who, disliking mourning, allows a few inches of color to show from under her mourning garb. Among the longest-lived butterflies, individuals may persist for as long as eleven to twelve months. It is a powerful flier, with vagrants often found many miles from the usual migration paths.

The common woodlouse is one of the largest native woodlice in Britain, at up to 16 mm (0.63 in) long. It is relatively flat, and is a shiny brown/grey in colour, although juveniles are rougher. Pale patches are often visible on the back of Oniscus asellus; these are areas that store calcium, which is then used to reinforce the exoskeleton after a moult. Moulting occurs in two halves, with the rear half moulting before the front half. The exuvia (the thing that is being moulted) is often consumed by the animal after moulting.

Ischnura verticalis can reach a body length of 2 - 3 cm. These small green, black and blue damselflies have a slender body with four wings folding over the back. The thorax of the males is black above, with pale green sides and green shoulder stripes. Eyes are dark above, greenish below. Abdomen is mainly black, with thin pale rings. The top of the abdomen (eighth and ninth abdominal segments) is blue, with black markings on sides. The males' abdomens shows tiny projections off the tip (hence the common name verticalis of this species). Females are usually grayish-blue, with greyish markings on the abdomen. In the immature female thorax is bright orange with black dorsal and shoulder stripes. The abdomen is black above and orange below. Eyes are dark above, orange below. The pterostigma is white to light brown. The females may be less commonly yellow-green like the male.

The eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica) is considered a pest and a benefit in the same body. It has earned its pest status from its ability to tunnel into human-made structures and weaken them. They can also stain their excrement on the building as they leave the tunnel. Their benefits as pollinators heavily outweigh any damage they do to structures. 

The northern Paper Wasp (Polistes fuscatus) has a complex society that is dominated by one queen. The first children that a queen gives birth to are infertile females, giving them the regular job of maintaining the nest. Much like human societies, northern Paper Wasps pamper their youth. There are no nursing homes for the elderly.

The ebony jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) is a member of a family called the broad-winged damselflies. This one distinguishes itself by being bright green and metallic, which makes it a unique and beautiful creature. Females are brown and lack the same color as males. They typically hang out around the shaded riverside, giving them something in common with most fishermen.

The hickory tussock moth caterpillars look cute. Its body is completely covered by long and soft hair, which is mainly white with a thick black line along the middle of the back, and four longer black hair bundles at either end. You had better not to touch them, because these little ones may cause itchy rashes (contact dermatitis). By the way, this species is widely distributed in the eastern half of North America.

The common Pill-Bug is a nocturnal woodlouse species that's fairly popular among hobbyists and sometimes kept as a pet. When disturbed, this small bug rolls into a ball, resembling a pill or armadillo, hence both its Latin and common English names. Compared to other Armadillidium species, this one is able to withstand drought more than any other.

As evidenced by its name, brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) is most recognizable for its ability to exude a nasty, foul-smelling odor if disturbed. Capable of subsisting on over one hundred species of plant, it has become an enormous pest for many farmers in the U.S., costing over $30 million annually in apple crop losses alone. It often invades homes in autumn, as soon as the weather begins to chill.