― Richie Norton
I went to the Sauk City Canoe Launch a couple of days ago to check for Sandy Stream Tiger Beetles, but found none. A little disappointing, but there's still plenty of time. There were were several Bronzed Tiger Beetles, but I didn't bother to photograph them. Still, even without getting a target species, the Wisconsin River is always a nice place to visit and decompress for awhile.
There are a few other places I can look for Sandy Stream, like the sandbars at Arena or the beaches at Bender Bluff. Given the hot and dry forecast for the coming week, more shoreline should become exposed near Sauk City, so I'll likely try there again next weekend.
Part I: Ogres and Bison
For yesterday's Nature adventure, I decided to search the Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor for Gnat Ogres. I found one within a few minutes only to find my camera malfunctioned, reporting a lens error when I turned it on. Ugh! I attempted to troubleshoot the issue in the field, but ended up returning home to see if it was the camera, lens adapter, or the macro lens itself.
Believe it or not, I'm still using an antiquated Nikon Mirroless 1 V1 with a Tamron 60mm 1:1 macro lens for my insect and wildflower photography. Because Nikon's mirrorless cameras don't have a Nikon F mount, an adapter (Nikon FT1) is necessary to make the connection. I also have a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G ED macro lens, gifted to me by Mark Johnson, but have yet to put it into field use. I prefer mirrorless cameras, so I'm considering a DX model like the Z50 II as a replacement.
Once I got home, I eventually discovered the FT1's aperture control lever was the cause of the lens error —it was jammed. I was able to free it, applied a little lubricant to the lever which got it working again. Having said that, I'm leery how long the repair job will last. To be sure, I'm way overdue for a camera upgrade, so I'll probably go ahead with it.
Lori recently informed me that gnat ogres (a type of robber fly) in the genus Holcocephala are now being called goggle-eyes on BugGuide but "goggle-eye" on iNaturalist. Personally, I lean toward the singular form—it has a nice ornithological ring to it, reminiscent of Common Goldeneye. Either name suits these adorable, tiny creatures, and I may refer to them as both. Or why not put the two together and call them "goggle-eyed gnat ogres"? That might denote there are others that don't have the big eyes, but there are only three species in the genus in North America, all being nearly identical in appearance.
They are:
Holcocephala abdominalis (Golden Goggle Eye)
Holcocephala calva (Gray Goggle Eye)
Holcocephala fusca (Dusky Goggle Eye)
Holcocephala calva (Gray Goggle Eye)
Holcocephala fusca (Dusky Goggle Eye)
H. abdominalis is apparently the most common in Wisconsin.
They'll tolerate close approach so long as you don't make any sudden movements.
Satisfied with my photos, I began searching Cup Plant for Buffalo Treehopppers.
While Gnat Ogres—or Goggle-eye—are relatively cooperative subjects on their exposed perches, Buffalo Treehoppers (Stictocephala bisonia) present a much greater photographic challenge. They have a frustrating predilection for tapping cup plant stems deep down within the large, enveloping leaf bases, completely shielding themselves from a clean line of sight. Getting the right angle usually requires a two-handed effort just to hold the plant lower to clear the view for photography.
Here's a Wide-footed Treehopper ...
Cardinal Flower ...
Great St. John's Wort ...
Swamp Milkweed ...
No matter the season or the mission, the Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor rarely disappoints. It remains my primary spot for birding during spring and fall migration, and it's always reliable for insects during the summer months.
Part II: The Last Ghosts
Since Sue and Dottie had yet to see Ghost Tiger Beetles this season, we made a final effort to seek them out at Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area. This time they weren't confined to the sandy slope that bisects the parcel; I managed to find several more in other areas while searching for Punctured Tiger Beetles. This might mean they've finally reached peak numbers, which also means they do not have much more time left, perhaps a just few more weeks.
The one above showed nice coppery color on its head and pronotum.
I caught this one working on a meal. The prey appeared to be a tiny green aphid, but it was already pretty well mangled by the time I found it.
Look how wide their mandibles can flex out ...
Rather than a custom setting or auto white balance, I used a preset for full sunlight. To me this more closely resembles them in the field, so I'll likely stick with it in the future.
So, once again, is this the parting shot for Ghosties for the season?
We'll see!
Above is another portrait of Efferia albibarbis, now known as the Sand Hammertail. I love that robber flies are finally earning enough mainstream respect to be given proper common names; to me, it's a sure sign that more people are gaining an interest in observing them. To be sure, that's really only among amateur entomologists—most people do not know they even exist.
Red Milkweed Beetles in copulo ...
And since they were there, why not snap a few more photos of the tolerable Deptford Pink?
Summertime rolls on. We're already well into July, and by the end of next week, we'll be more than halfway through it. There's still plenty of season left, but the rapid shift in the insect activity around us is a constant reminder to appreciate these peak summer days while they last.
All images © 2026 Mike McDowell