Grapevine Epimenis

On · Category: Owlet Moths · Add Comment

Subject: Moth
Location: Minneapolis, MN
May 24, 2013 2:33 pm
I found this rather attractive black & white moth hanging out on a footpath on my way to work.
This is near the University of MN in Minneapolis. We’re having a cool/cold/late spring this year and this particular day was cold and overcast.
My limited-skill attempts to identify it have led me nowhere.
Signature: Darren Abbey

Grapevine Epimenis

Grapevine Epimenis

Hi Darren,
This is an exciting submission for us as it is a new species for our site.  We quickly identified this distinctive Owlet Moth as a Grapevine Epimenis, Psychomorpha epimenis, thanks to BugGuide where we learned:  “The common name is unusual in that it contains the species epithet; the normal practice is to use the genus name, as in ‘Grapevine Psychomorpha.’”  There is only a hint of red showing on the underwings, but some of the photos on BugGuide show a striking large red patch that is hidden in your image.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Pine Processionary Moth Caterpillars

On · Category: Processionary Caterpillars · 1 Comment

Subject: Caterpillar Procession
Location: Monte Verità, Ascona, Switzerland
May 24, 2013 1:57 am
Hi,
I photographed these caterpillars in mid-April at Monte Verita, in the hills above Ascona, Switzerland. The length of the caterpillar procession was around 6 feet. They were moving pretty quickly, clearing the path in under 10 minutes. It was a warm day, between 75 and 80 degrees, and one of the first warm days of the season in the area from what I was told.
Thought you might be interested. We love your site- thank you for all you do!!
Signature: Jennifer P.

Pine Processionary Moth Caterpillars

Pine Processionary Moth Caterpillars

Hi Jennifer,
Thanks so much for sending us your photos of the Pine Processionary Moth Caterpillars, Thaumetopoea pityocampa.  According to the Wildlife in France website:  “In the spring, anytime from February until May, the caterpillars leave the trees and go down to the ground, this is when we will see them forming their long nose to tail processions as they make their way to find a place in the soil to pupate, the period of pupation can last a couple of months or several years. They actually touch each other to make a long chain, hence the common name of Pine processionary moth.”  The Pine Processionary Moth Caterpillars should not be handled because, according to the UK Forestry Commission website:  “caterpillars represent a public health hazard because they have thousands of hairs which contain an urticating, or irritating, protein called thaumetopoein. These hairs can be blown by the wind into contact with people and animals, resulting in painful skin irritations and rashes and, in some cases, allergic reactions in some people and animals.”

Pine Processionary Caterpillars

Pine Processionary Caterpillars

This must have been a very impressive procession to watch.

Pine Processionary Moth Caterpillars

Pine Processionary Moth Caterpillars


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Spotted Cucumber Beetle

On · Category: Leaf Beetles · Add Comment

Subject: Beetle ID?
Location: San Jose CA
May 23, 2013 6:38 pm
Hi,
curious what this beetle is!
Photographed 5/23/13, they spend time between rose petals and inside rose blossom.
Thanks!
Signature: Frank

Spotted Cucumber Beetle

Spotted Cucumber Beetle

Hi Frank,
These are excellent images of a Spotted Cucumber Beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata.  According to BugGuide:  “Larvae feed on roots of a wide range of plants, including many field crops” and “Considered a major pest of many field crops including cucumbers and other squashes, corn, soy. Beetles also transmit crop diseases such as bacterial wilt. Adults also reported damaging to garden plants including hibiscus, roses.”  Since you have adults in the roses, perhaps you also grow vegetables that serve as the larval food plant.

Spotted Cucumber Beetle

Spotted Cucumber Beetle


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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Injured Tiger Beetle

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

Subject: Soldier/Futuristic Robot Bug! Crazy moulter??
Location: Evanston, IL lakefront
May 23, 2013 7:13 am
Chicago suburb: Evanston, IL
Lakefront (Lake Michigan)
Dog beach
Small, I would say an inch or less than one inch long
Crazy looking!
Camouflage warrior hard shell on the outside & metallic green robo-bug on the inside (with wings) but did NOT seem to be a bug inside a bug, but rather one single bug that was alive.
Would love to know what this thing is!!
Thanks!
Signature: Izumi

Unidentified Tiger Beetle

Unidentified Tiger Beetle

Dear Izumi,
It might take us some time to identify this Tiger Beetle  in the subfamily Cicindelinae that is missing an elytra.

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Tree Cattle

On · Category: Booklice and Barklice · Add Comment

Subject: True Bug Colony?
Location: Coastal San Diego County
May 22, 2013 6:24 pm
Found these in my neighbors back yard…
Signature: SJD

Tree Cattle

Tree Cattle

Dear SJD,
Though this resembles a Hemipteran aggregation, it is actually a colony of Barklice or Tree Cattle.  The look to us like Cerastipsocus venosus which BugGuide identifies as an eastern species, though the genus is reported from Arizona.  We have not been able to substantiate any California sightings in our quick search, so they might have been accidentally introduced to your area.  Barklice are benign creatures that feed on lichens and they will not harm trees and plants.  Adults are winged and nymphs are boldly striped.

Tree Cattle

Tree Cattle

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Mantis Oothica Hatches

On · Category: Preying Mantis · Add Comment

Subject: Preying Mantis Oothica hatched
Location: Ypsilanti, MI
May 22, 2013 2:03 pm
Hi there bug guys,
A few months ago I submitted a pic and you kindly replied that it was a Preying Mantis Oothica. I kept checking the one surviving Oothica and I was lucky enough to catch them hatching. I have some other shots w my cameras ( this is one from my iphone) but wanted to pass this along  Many many babies, yay!
Thank you again and I love your site
RR
Signature: Rachel

Mantis Oothica Hatches

Mantis Oothica Hatches

Hi again Rachel,
How nice to hear your oothica has hatched.  Just this past weekend we saw a tiny Mantis hatchling scuttling across the carob tree.  We have never found an Oothica in the yard, but we find several California Mantids each year.  We are so happy our garden is home to native Mantids and not an invasive species.  Though organic gardeners often purchase commercially available Oothica so that they can grow foods organically without pesticides, we feel that the larger and more aggressive species like the Chinese Mantids and European Mantids might displace smaller, less aggressive, native species.

 

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Giant Snowball Mealybug from Australia

On · Category: Aphids, Scale Insects, Leafhoppers, and Tree Hoppers Tagged With: · Add Comment

Subject: Found at work
Location: Victoria, Melbourne
May 22, 2013 8:39 pm
Hi, just wondering if anyone knows what this is please?
Signature: Kim

Snowball Large Mealybug

Giant Snowball Mealybug

Hi Kim,
The first time we received a photo of a Snowball Large Mealybug in the genus Monophlebulus, we had no idea what it was as it looked so very primitive, and Eric Eaton eventually identified it as a Giant Scale Insect.  Several years later when we received another photo, we learned that the Snow Ball Large Mealybug in the genus Monophlebulus at which time Karl who frequently contributes to our site did some wonderful research.  There is a nice photo on Life Unseen and the Brisbane Insect Website has some marvelous photo of members of this genus with the white cottony covering found on so immature Hemipterans.  We have taken the liberty of making the grammatically confusing common name more acceptable by using the compound word and moving the adjective in front of the noun:  Giant Snowball Mealybug has a much better ring to it.  As Karl noted in the previous posting, Ground Pearl is a name for the encysted nymph that is noted on the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Department of Entomology Ornamentals and Turf page.  

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Exemplary Photo of St. Anthony Dune Tiger Beetle

On · Category: Tiger Beetles · 1 Comment

Subject: St. Anthony Dune Tiger Beetle (Cicindela arenicola)
Location: St. Anthony Dunes, Fremont County, Idaho
May 22, 2013 7:59 pm
I thought that you guys might enjoy a picture of this guy.
Signature: Dune Crawler

St Anthony Dune Tiger Beetle

St. Anthony Dune Tiger Beetle

Dear Dune Crawler,
This piebald beetle is a lovely species and your photograph is exemplary.  Thank you for providing us with our first photo of a St. Anthony Dune Tiger Beetle.
P.S.  We rotated your image a quarter of a turn counterclockwise so it would fit better on our site.

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