Top 20 Most Common Insects in Concord

The pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) is an insect that is protected globally but is considered a species of special concern in the northern part of their range in Michigan. The name pipevine Swallowtail comes from the common plants that they are hosts of. They are also known as the blue swallowtail due to their brilliant, blue color.

The yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia) is an arachnid that connects itself to its web to feel vibrations that signal to him prey has been caught. Its venom is harmless to humans but perfect for catching smaller insects that might cause harm to your garden. Yellow garden spiders web construction process includes bridge construction and scaffolding, making it among the more complicated web patterns.

The name Pachydiplax longipennis implies that the blue dasher has long wings due to the "longipennis" section literally translating to it. But this would be misleading, as the insect does not have particularly long wings. Instead, they stick out with vibrant blue colors. The dasher part of their name may be in reference to their voracious diet, as they can eat up to 10 percent of their body weight daily.

The pearl crescent (Phyciodes tharos) is an orange butterfly that lives in open areas that are generally moist and sunny. These butterflies are attracted to puddles, and the males will often fight with other male butterflies that land near the same puddle. However, females are not as aggressive and prefer to stay in groups.

The fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus) is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae and is approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. The males are orange or yellow with black spots while the females are dark brown with orange or yellow spots. The caterpillars are greenish pink with a black head. The caterpillars are often considered pests and can feed on Bermudagrass, creeping bentgrass, and St. Augustine grass. Fiery skippers, along with all other species of skippers and skipperlings, can hold their wings in a "triangle" shape. The forewings are held upright, and the hindwings are folded flat. This position is thought to better absorb the sun's rays. The fiery skipper lives in North and South America, from Canada to Argentina. It is a migratory species.

The luna Moth (Actias luna) is a beautiful moth with lime-green wings and a white body. It warns away those who approach with clicking noises. If this fails, it will expel the contents of its intestines, which will deter most predators. Its long tail is also thought to confuse bats by messing with their echolocation.

The eastern pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) has much in common with American fishermen, they love living near the sides of ponds. They are a beautiful insect that is easy to distinguish when it comes to different genders. Females are bright green with bands around the abdomen and the males are bright blue with a green face.

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.

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.

The american Lady is a very unique-looking butterfly. From above, the pattern appears to be similar to a monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), but underneath the color is very different, almost like a moth's pattern. They even look different in different seasons — they have brighter colors early in the year and dull colors later. There are only a few populations of american Lady left in the world, which you can find along the coasts of North America.