September 2005 - What's That Bug?

From the monthly archives: "September 2005"

Wheel Bug

On September 30, 2005 · Category: Assassin Bugs · Add Comment

Wheel bug found
Hi bugman,
Just wanted to let you know that I found this cool little bug in the flowers around my pond. Didn’t know what it was but came on your site and found it within a matter of minutes. Great site. I found this in Northeast PA.
E K
Catasauqua, PA

Hi E K,
It always makes us so happy when people use the site as a research tool instead of just firing off a letter with an out of focus photo before even looking at any of the possibilities we have to offer. your image is great and we are happy to have it.

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Scorpion Chicago Native? WE DON'T THINK SO!!!

On September 30, 2005 · Category: Scorpions, Whipscorpions and Vinegaroons · Add Comment

Scorpion Pictures
we found this scorpion yesterday here at work. We get alot of stuff from Asia, but not tropical regions. We are in Chicago Illinois, so I know that this would die here right? Do you know what this one is or where it would come from? Is he venemous? Anything would be nice, cuz right now we have him in a tupperware container with a hole in the top not knowing what to do with him…did someone plant him as a joke, or is he really from Asia? He is about 3 – 4 inches long….totally black from what I can see….hope you can determine something from this…
Heidi

Hi Heidi,
This is most assuredly not a Chicago native. We believe this to be an African Black Scorpion in the genus Pandinus. We found this information on a scorpion collector’s website: “African Emperor Scorpion (Pandinus imperator) WC adults 4″, $15 each These beautiful jet black scorpions are also, pound for pound one of the largest. Gentile in nature for the most part making them ideal pet specimans that rarely sting, and posseses mild venom. These have been a staple scorpion hobby species for many years, and a must for beginners looking for a great start in keeping scorpions. Very cool scorpion! ” In answer to your question about it being planted as a joke: WE THINK SO.

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Autumn Meadowhawk, maybe

On September 30, 2005 · Category: Dragonflies and Damselflies · Add Comment

What type of dragonfly (or damselfly) is this?
Dear Bugman,
This type of a dragonfly (or red damselfly?) has landed on me twice this month in our yard. What type is it? We live in Southern New Hampshire, and the picture was taken today, September 30th. Thanks so much,
Maria

Hi Maria,
We believe this is an Autumn Meadowhawk, Sympetrum vicinum, a male. This Skimmer is small and often found in late summer. It is usually the last species found in a given area.

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Fireweed Borer

On September 30, 2005 · Category: Clearwings · 1 Comment

Hi -
What a great site, funny and very informative! I think this is a clearwing moth – I took the photo over Labor Day weekend at about 10,000 feet in the Eastern Sierra. What is it? Thanks,
Allison

Hi Allison,
We are so thrilled you appreciate our humor. We just posted a letter from an irate reader who called us rude. This is definitely one of the Wasp Mimicing Clearwing Moths in the Family Sesiidae, but the species is unknown to us.

Update:
January 19, 2009
We just approved a comment that identified this as a Fireweed Borer, Albuna pyramidalis.

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Mantis Headshot

On September 30, 2005 · Category: Preying Mantis · Add Comment

Photogenic Mantis!
Hi gang! I just wanted to share these pictures with you of this great little Praying Mantis that popped by for a visit. He was about as friendly as could be and loved to play with my two boys for about 30 minutes. He would fly from one to the other like he was purposely sharing his time with each of them, it was great. I was able to snap a few photos of him and he just seemed to know what I was doing. As you can see in the photos, he looked right at me as if he was posing. If he had teeth, I’m sure I would have seen a smile! I hope you will post these on you web site for others to enjoy. Thanks a bunch.
Mike from So. Cal Orange County

Hi Mike,
We hope you don’t mind that we took your awesome photo and cropped it to a tight headshot.

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Large Bee Fly

On September 30, 2005 · Category: Bee Flies · Add Comment

What’s this fly?
Hi,
I have sent you a couple of pics a while back and I believe I have found the names of two of the three unknown; a yellow jacket and a bald face hornet. I have not found the name of this little fly yet. I am sending three pictures of this little creature that let me observe it while it was collecting pollen from Aster flowers. It let me get real close; my macro gear needs to be 8-9 inches from the subject for a picture like the face shot. I landed on your site while I was searching for names of insects I observed; it’s now in my favorites and I visit it on a daily basis to see the new posts. I hope you can identify this little fly.
Guy Côté
Montréal, Qc.

Hi Guy,
Sorry to have not answered your first letter. On busy days we get as many as 50 letters and can only answer about four or five. We choose at random. This is a Large Bee Fly in the genus Bombylius. Adults drink nectar and larva is a parasite in the nest of solitary bees.

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Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar: Bird's Eye View

On September 29, 2005 · Category: swallowtail caterpillars · Add Comment

Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar
Hi guys, great site you have, I’ve really enjoyed it! I thought you might like this pic of a Tiger Swallowtail cat taken from the predator’s perspective!!!
Peace and Blessings to All!!!
Cliff
Montreat , NC

Hi Cliff,
Awesome image. It is clearly understood how these eyespots, which are not real eyes, work as a protective device. The innocuous caterpillar take on the appearance of a large predatory reptile, easily startling and repelling any hungry bird that stumbles upon the tasty morsel.

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Bagworm

On September 29, 2005 · Category: Bagworm · Add Comment

Dear Bug man,
Hello my name is Justin Holohan. I teach 2nd grade at West Amwell School. One of my students brought in this cocoon thing as asked me what it is. I TEACH MATH AND READING NOT INSECTS!!! So hopefully you can help! They found it on their house and it looks as if something has nested inside the branch. (It looks like a juniper branch) I also saw something very similar in central Jersey. But they were attached to a pine tree. We live in the wooded area outside of the city of Lambertville. Which is just 20 minutes north of Trenton NJ. Thanks for any help you can provide!!
Justin Holohan
West Amwell School
Lambertville NJ

Hi Justin,
In the interest of education, we are pleased to help. This is a Bagworm, Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis. This is a moth. The caterpillars form the bags as a camoflauge and protection and never leave the bags, dragging them along as they eat. They are fond of juniper, arborvitae, other conifers and some deciduous trees. The caterpillars also pupate in the bags. You have a pupa. The bags are sometimes found in such numbers they appear on branches all over the trees. The pupa are often found on the siding of homes. The female moth is flightless, wingless and legless but manages to leave the bag when she emerges. Males will mate with her and she crawls back into the bag to lay her eggs. We have an entire page devoted to this insect and you can show your student the response by visiting our site where it is prominently featured on the homepage.

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Translate This

Wheel Bug

Scorpion Chicago Native? WE DON'T THINK SO!!!

Autumn Meadowhawk, maybe

Fireweed Borer

Mantis Headshot

Large Bee Fly

Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar: Bird's Eye View

Bagworm

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