Acrobat Beetle

On · Category: Darkling and Ironclad Beetles · Add Comment

Subject: Black beetle in Santa Fe does a fearsome handstand
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
May 18, 2013 12:45 pm
I found this beetle, which was about the size of my thumb, outside my dormitory. When I poked it, it did a little handstand and stuck out its hind legs, presumably to dissuade me from eating it. I wasn’t actually hungry, but I was intimidated all the same.
Signature: Mendez

Acrobat Beetle

Acrobat Beetle

Dear Mendez,
We love your photo of an Acrobat Beetle or Desert Stink Beetle in the genus Eleodes.  When disturbed, the Acrobat Beetle sticks its butt up in the air and releases a foul odor to dissuade predators.  We often see Desert Stink Beetles in Los Angeles parks and open spaces and at Joshua Tree National Park.  You can browse BugGuide to try to identify your Acrobat Beetle to the species level based on the appearance of its fused elytra or wing covers and your location in New Mexico. 

IMG_0181

Desert Stink Beetle: Eleodes species

 

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Burrowing Wolf Spider

On · Category: Wolf Spiders · Add Comment

Subject: shy spider strikes a pose!
Location: West central Texas
May 18, 2013 7:09 am
This little lady was playing peek-a-boo with me as the sun came up this morning. From what I’ve found online, she has to be a scrub burrowing wolf spider, but I couldn’t find any pics online that looked quite like her. As far as I could tell, her body was smooth, legs hairy, dark brown except for some of the top of her abdomen which was cream colored.
I managed to fend off my cat and get a series of pics as she came out of hiding. Made my day!
Signature: DeeJay, the bug nerd

Burrowing Wolf Spider

Burrowing Wolf Spider

Dear DeeJay,
Thanks for sending us your photos of a Burrowing Wolf Spider, most likely a member of the genus Geolycosa.  Your photos really illustrate the burrowing habits.

Burrowing Wolf Spider

Burrowing Wolf Spider

Burrowing Wolf Spider

Burrowing Wolf Spider

 

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Burying Beetle

On · Category: Carrion Beetles Tagged With: · Add Comment

Subject: Big huge bug!!
Location: Outside @ Walgreens
May 17, 2013 4:01 pm
I saw this big ol’ bug outside of Walgreens in Minnesota. I’ve never seen one before! It was huge! Probably a little more than an inch long, and moving pretty slowly. I took a picture with my foot for size comparison but I didn’t want to get too close in case it decided to crawl on me…
Signature: Leslie

Sexton Beetle

Sexton Beetle

Hi Leslie,
This is a Burying Beetle or Sexton Beetle in the genus Nicrophorus, but we cannot say for certain which species it is.  Perhaps one of our readers can provide some suggestions.  Sexton Beetles often work in pairs to bury small, dead animals.  Eggs are laid on the putrifying flesh and the adults help to guard the growing brood.  More information on Sexton Beetles as well as photos of many North American species are posted on BugGuide.  We actually think this Sexton Beetle would look lovely crawling on your stylish footwear.  Because we occasionally get images of insects that contribute to fashion statements, we created a Buggy Accessories tag that we hope our readers find amusing.  Though we would have to imagine this Sexton Beetle accessorizing your fashionable running shoes, it isn’t too difficult as our staff has such vivid imaginations, so we are taking the liberty of tagging your post as a Buggy Accessory.

Sexton Beetle

Sexton Beetle

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Luna Moth

On · Category: Luna Moth - Rare Specimen · Add Comment

Subject: Please ID This Insect
Location: Arlington, VA 22204
May 17, 2013 11:05 am
We found a Luna Moth is Arlington, VA 20850 on May 17, 2013.
This insect, thought to be just a leaf at first, was seen on May 17, 2013 in Arlington, VA adjacent to Washington, DC. It was lying on a parking lot floor which is open to the surrounding area. This is an urban area of businesse and residences. Reasonable density of trees, bushes.
It was alive when the attached picture was taken. The wingspan is about 4-5 inches.
Light green in color, obvious antenae upon close inspection. Large spots positioned symetrically on the wings look like eyes. Probably great example of use of both camouflage and threatening appearance at the same time.
Signature: Harold Cypress

Luna Moth

Luna Moth

Hi Harold,
Thanks for sending us your photo of this lovely Luna Moth.  It is nice to know they are found in urban Arlington.

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Female Eastern Hercules Beetle

On · Category: Scarab Beetles · Add Comment

Subject: yellow with black spotted beetle
Location: North West GA
May 17, 2013 11:50 am
This bug was on our back porch and we are curious what it was. The image was taken in June 2012. The bug came and hung out for a while and was gone the next day.
Signature: Thanks, Bunny

Female Eastern Hercules Beetle

Female Eastern Hercules Beetle

Hi Bunny,
This is a female Eastern Hercules Beetle.  Males are horned.  This is the heaviest North American beetle and we generally get reports in June and July, so posting your image from last year should act as a nice preview of this year’s sightings.

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Giant Western Crane Fly

On · Category: Crane Fly · Add Comment

Subject: What is this bug!!!???
Location: Portland, Oregon
May 16, 2013 12:26 pm
Hi Bugman..
My friend took a pic of this in Portland, Oregon. People are saying it’s a spider, but it has 6 legs! Looks like it has wings and a snout~
Signature: Thanks, Clancy

Crane Fly

Giant Western Crane Fly

Hi Clancy,
This is a Crane Fly.  Those black “knees” look distinctive, so we attempted a web search to determine a species identity and we found a similar photo on the Fontenelle Nature Association Nature Search website that is identified as Tipula dorsimacula.  Though the images on BugGuide also have black knees, we are not certain of the species being correct for your Crane Fly, so we are contacting Chen Young, a Crane Fly expert for his opinion.

Dr. Chen Young responds
Daniel,
This one is Holorusia haspera, the largest crane fly species in the western states.
Chen

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Buck Moth Caterpillar

On · Category: Silkworms · 1 Comment

Subject: Caterpillar in utah
Location: Hwy 95, south of Hite
May 16, 2013 10:40 am
We found a strange caterpillar in the desert of southern Utah on Hwy 95 south of the town of Hite on the Colorado river. We looked in the books and on line and could not find the little guy! He was about 3 inches long hiding in some Mormon Tea plant.
Signature: Chris

Buckmoth Caterpillar

Buck Moth Caterpillar

Hi Chris,
This spiny guy is a Buck Moth caterpillar in the genus Hemileuca.  Here is a similar looking individual from BugGuide that is identified as Hemileuca griffini and Bugguide only has sightings from Utah.  According to the Butterflies and Moths of North America:  “Habitat: High desert scrub.  Range: Southern Utah south to central Arizona, west to southern Nevada.”  The site also notes:  “Populations should be inventoried and monitored to determine conservation status and impact of grazing on habitat.”  BugGuide also has these remarks:  “This species is considered to be threatened, due to its restricted range, and possible threats to its habitat from grazing of livestock. (4)  Like other species in this genus, H. griffini caterpillars have venomous spines that cause a painful sting.”

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Copper Underwing Caterpillar

On · Category: Cutworms and Owlet Caterpillars · Add Comment

Subject: Mystery Chubby Yellow and Green Caterpillar on Oak
Location: Southern Illinois
May 16, 2013 4:39 pm
I’m usually pretty good at larger and cuter caterpillar identification, but I’m stuck on this one. It is pretty early in the season, only been decent caterpillar-growing weather for the last two weeks or so. About an inch long on an oak tree. Suspect he has some more growing to do.
Signature: -Bert

Copper Underwing Caterpillar

Copper Underwing Caterpillar

Hi Bert,
We found a nearly identical image posted to BugGuide where this is identified as a Copper Underwing Caterpillar, Amphipyra pyramidoides.  The caterpillar is also called a Humped Green Fruitworm or Pyramidal Fruitworm, and BugGuide indicates:  “larvae are general feeders on leaves of many broadleaf trees and shrubs, including apple, basswood, hawthorn, maple, oak, walnut, raspberry, grape, greenbrier.”  Despite the name, this is not a true Underwing Moth which are in the genus Catocala.

Thanks very much. I thought it was much younger than it was, turns out they overwinter as eggs, so they get quite a jump on spring, and that one was nearly full-sized. Somewhat disappointed to see the adults are not very eye catching.

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