From the monthly archives: "January 2006"
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Genista Caterpillar from Florida

On · Category: Snout Moth Caterpillars · 1 Comment

Genista Caterpillar
Hi,
I found your website checking on the Genista caterpillar. I’ve attached two pictures of them on the Lupinus diffusus in Polk County, Florida. I had sent the pictures to an Entomology Dept. at University of Florida for an ID. I read with interest your posting of the caterpillar on another plant.
Paul Eisenbrown

Hi Paul,
Thanks for sending the photos. Genista Caterpillars are not very common online.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Spider Beetle: a type of Blister Beetle

On · Category: Beetles · Add Comment

Cysteodemis armatus
Your wonderful site has helped me id this beautiful spider beetle, Cysteodemis armatus. I’m curious if the coloring is inherent or if it’s pollen laden? I didn’t want to disturb it to find out. Thanks for the great resource!
Adriano

Hi Adriano,
Your photo is stunning. We aren’t sure about the pollen theory, so we will check with Eric Eaton to get his opinion. Though the genus seems accurate, the possibility exists this is a different species. Please write back and tell us where this photo was taken.

The photo was taken at the base of the Ship Mountains in the Mojave Desert.

Eric Eaton wrote back: ” I guess my response to the blister beetle never reached you….I agree on Cystedemus, but it is probably the “other” of the two U.S. species. I don’t have a reference that lists both names, sorry.”

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Aquatic Springtails

On · Category: Springtails! Tagged With: · 1 Comment

Sprintails in Aquarium?
I believe I may have spring tails. I have white microscopic things jumping on the surface of the water in on of my breeder baskets in a fish tank. At first I thought it was daphnia of some sort (water fleas) but somebody mentionned it might be spring tails. Is there a way to get rid of them without harming my fish? The room is not a damp location but of course the aquarium is. >From the pictures on your site I’m not 100% sure they are sprintails. They are about the size of the end of a sowin needle (the point so a few 100 microns) and jump about 1″ high or so. when spooked. They seem to be able to float on the water. I had one dead fry in the basket could the spring tails kill my young fish?
Dominique Duval
Winnipeg, MB

Hi Dominique,
This is a new one for us, but entirely possible. The Springtails will not harm the fish. Sorry, we don’t know how to get rid of them without harming the fish, except manual removal.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Net Casting Spider and Huntsman Spider

On · Category: Huntsman Spiders and Giant Crab Spiders, Net-Casting Spiders Tagged With: · Add Comment

Oddities from around the globe
Hi,
I just stumbled across your site and it looks like a useful resource. In fact at the moment I’m aiming to create my own site with species lists, photos and profiles for species from parts of the world I’ve visited. I’m particularly keen on finding information on species I haven’t been able to track down on the internet, since there’s a good chance others will have the same difficulty and my site could prove helpful to them. I’ve collected a fair few photos of unidentifiable insects and arachnids over the years, so I’m afraid this could take several e-mails. First up: An unusual net-casting spider from Mt Spec, Paluma Range National Park, in the Australian Wet Tropics. I’m afraid it’s not the world’s best photo, but the rounded body is unlike any net caster I’ve been able to find information on. Next: A brown huntsman spider (genus Heteropoda), also from the Wet Tropics (further north, in Babinda). Is this photo good enough to allow identification to species level? 3. A dragonfly from Queensland, near the Basalt River. There are more dragonflies to come, I’m afraid – this is the group I’ve had most trouble identifying. More to come. Thanks for bearing with me!
Phil Bowles

Hi Phil,
You have overwhelmed us with the quantity of critters you want us to identify. Sadly, our identification capabilities do not extend into exotic tropical locations. We are thrilled to post your Net Casting Spider photo as we have one on our site, sans net. Dragonflies often give us problems as well. We encourage you to set up your own site and we will gladly provide a link when you do.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Dolomedes Fishing Spider

On · Category: Nursery Web Spiders · Add Comment

another spider
Hello, Mr. Bugman!
I have checked your site (a great place!) but I haven’t seen anything about the image I sent. (I probably missed it. I can feel myself getting embarrassed already!) Anyway, I will rely on your patience and understanding and ask again, what kind of spider is this? (I’m getting a lot of questions–still!–about this photo! It’s my background on my computer.)
Best,
Karin
Ed. Note Originally Sent: (10/25/2005) another spider
Thank you for your very interesting site. I find it very easy to use and I enjoyed reading about the spiders that were identified. I, too, found a spider that came in with the wood for the stove in the cottage. After much squealing, I persuaded the spider to get into a glass and placed it outside. I’ve attached a photo of the spider outside. The cottage is about half a mile from Georgian Bay, in Ontario, Canada. I’m sure it’s just an ordinary spider, but it caused a lot of excitement when I showed the photo at the office. I heard theories from wolf to wood to dock spider. Could you tell me what it is? (I think I may have just emailed you — in error — without the image. My apologies! The image, I promise, is now attached.)
Best,
Karin

Hi Karin,
Please forgive us. Your original letter probably got lost in transition. Our old webhost was not dependable, and often we lost service at the end of the month. This is a Dolomedes Fishing Spider. Dock Spider is probably a local name.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Haitian Toe-Biter

On · Category: Toe Biters and other Aquatic True Bugs Tagged With: · Add Comment

what is this bug i found in the mountains of Haiti
Hello,
I found this bug in our garage. I live in port-au-prince, haiti at about 3000 feet above sea level.
Thanks,
Joel Trimble

Hi Joel,
This is a Giant Water Bug, also known as a Toe-Biter. They are aquatic insects that can also fly. While flying they are attracted to electric lights, owing to another common name, Electric Light Bug. Perhaps the garage light attracted it.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Florida Caterpillar: Yellow Collared Scape Moth

On · Category: Moths · Add Comment

Mystery caterpillar
Hello!
Alex’s Mom here again! We love your website!!! Alex found this caterpillar performing tricks at the circus. Actually, it was climbing the chain link fence outside of Cirque du Solieu in Miami. We took him home and tried to research what kind of caterpillar it was so we could scrounge up some food for it. No luck on finding what this is, could you help? It has already formed a chrysalis within 12 hours of our bringing it home. We’re assuming that is why it was up on the chain link fence. Thanks for your help!!!
Alex and his Mom

Hi Alex and Mom,
Sorry to fail you, but we don’t recognize your little critter. It might be a Noctuid Caterpillar, and superficially resembles The Laugher, but it is a different species. We will continue to research.

Metamorphosis
(02/22/2006) mystery caterpillar emerges as mystery moth
Hi there.
We sent you a picture of a caterpillar not long ago (see attached) and we actually stumped you. So now that the moth emerged today, we wanted to send you pics to see if you could figure out what it is. My son thinks it’s the Ctenucha Virginica. Is he close?? Thank you!
Alex and his Mom

Hi Alex and his Mom,
Though your moth bears a striking resemblance to a Virginia Ctenucha, the caterpillar is very different. We believe to be a Yellow Collared Scape Moth, Cisseps fulvicollis, a much closer caterpillar match.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Photos cosidered Unofficial in siting tabulation

On · Category: Uncategorized Tagged With: · Add Comment

a question abt the value of photos..
Hi bugman,
I have a question about the role of photos in "official records". I just read an article in a local (Chicago) environmental newsletter. There was a nice dragonfly photo and the gist of the accompanying story was that photos can’t be used to document sightings in the "official record". Only specimens. The photographer is opposed to "collecting" in that manner, so her sightings are not being used. Her point (and a review of your website would support her) is that citizen scientists have a valuable role in learning more abt these species and should be considered. Incidentally, the photo was of a possible black-tipped darner, which has never been recorded in IL. The author also had an (unofficial) state first in 2004 with a photo of a "russet-tipped clubtail". Unfortunately (for us) she is a professional photographer, so I doubt she’d share her photos with the rest of us. But… what IF one of your followers sent you a photo that shook the bug world? My primary passion is birding, and thankfully, photos are accepted to confirm rarities (although we have a lot of ruckus going on about the Ivory billed woodpecker right now… DID Cornell see what they say they saw? Of course, if they shot the bird, they wouldnt be getting flak over ID right now. But the collateral flak would be enough to close down the Cornell Lab of Ornithology). Is what she claims true?
Jill Anderson

Hi Jill,
Thanks for bringing up a potentially hot topic. First, we should begin by stating that we are unaware of the Official policy regarding insect sitings. There are government sites with official sitings and unconfirmed sitings indicated. In defense of the scientists, many insect identifications can only be confirmed through physical inspection of the specimen. Official is acceptable by the scientific community which demands facts. Photos, and we speak as photographers, do not tell the truth. Even if a species is identified by the photo, the location cannot be pin-pointed. The possiblitiy of a hoax always exists. Remember the Bigfoot video? Sadly, in today’s world, the only real proof is the thing itself, and often that is debateable. Remember Piltdown Man? I suppose our advice is to celebrate the unofficial sitings.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination