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

Lacewing Eggs

On · Category: Eggs · Add Comment

Unknown Eggs…
Hi,
Just like to ask if anyone can provide me with the information on what egg are these? Thank you very much.
With regards
Adrian Lee Kian Tat

Hi Adrian,
Stalked eggs are typical of Lacewings. The larvae are so ferocious and hungry, that the first to hatch would devour its siblings, so the stalk is a way to ensure a higher birth rate. The newly hatched larvae have to climb down the stalks, and the theory is they will wander away while siblings are climbing down.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Sow Bug Killer

On · Category: Spiders · Add Comment

We believe we have a Sow Bug Killer
My sons were exploring under paving stones in our yard and ran across this guy. We immediately jumped on your site to help us identify our newest member. Based on searching your photos, we believe that it is a Sow Bug Killer. Can you confirm?
Thanks
Melinda

Hi Melinda,
Yes, this is a Sow Bug Killer, Dysdera crocota.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Eastern Boxelder Bug Nymph

On · Category: True Bugs · Add Comment

Red eyed Bug
Hi bugman,
I have bookmarked your site, as living in Florida presents many different bugs, most of which I hadn’t been able to identify. I expect that will change with the help of your site. I have a bug around the outside of my home that I haven’t seen before. It’s kind of shaped like a stink bug, likely a beetle, but after searching your site, I couldn’t find anything. I have attached a picture, the "grid" is a standard household screen so that may provide a size estimate seven squares = approx 1cm. I have many of this little critters around from about 1/2 this ones size, to a little larger. I’d love to know what this odd bug with the bright red eyes actually is.
Thank you,
Randy Baker
Spring Hill, FL

Hi there Randy,
This is an Eastern Boxelder Bug, Leptocoris trivittatus, in its immature form. Adults have wings. In the fall, nymphs and adults form large aggregations. They feed on juice in the foilage of boxelder, maple and deciduous fruit trees.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Underwing Moth

On · Category: Underwing Moths and Fruit Piercing Moths · Add Comment

Underwing moth
Hello,
We found this moth in our backyard in Austin, Texas. We think it is an underwing moth but aren’t sure which one. Can you help?
Thanks!
The Stences

Hi Stences,
You are correct. This is an Underwing Moth in the genus Catocala. There are so many similar looking species it would take an expert to give you a definitive species identification, and even then, it might require the specimen. We will ask around for a second opinion. We were directed to contact Edward Knudson, an expert in this genus and here is his response: “The Underwing moth from Austin, TX is Catocala ilia, one of the most common of the 60 or so species in Texas. The larvae feed on Oaks. Ed”

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Central American Cockroach

On · Category: Cockroaches · 4 Comments

Unknown cockroach species
Hi, Bugman!
I love your site! Fascinating and one of my most frequent references. I wish there were a Bug Guide type site for Central America because that’s where I live and find my little beauties. I did send you one photo of a strange new cockroach, but haven’t heard anything from you. Is this because cockroaches are just too boring (not to me!) or because you can’t find a reference. Because of the transparent shield (part of the oddly shaped pronotum) over the head of the cockroad, the creature reminds me of a space man or astronaut. If you can’t ID it, can you suggest some reference sites on the web? I live in an isolated area and there are no libraries or book stores or universities within at least a day’s travel, so I
depend on the Internet. Thanks for any help. I’m attaching several more photos of this roach just in case the first one got lost.
Mary Thorman

Hi Mary,
Sorry to have been negligent. We can’t even recall seeing your previous images, so they might be in the jumble of letters that is clogging up our in box. Sadly, we cannot recommend any good sources online for your question, nor do we recognize your species. It is difficult enough to identify “flashy” exotic species like butterflies in less traveled parts of the world. Your Cockroach is indeed fascinating. Good luck putting a name to it. Eric Eaton quickly wrote in with this information: ” The cockroach is something in the Blaberinae, maybe even a Blaberus sp, but probably a related genus.”

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Common Crow Caterpillar from Australia

On · Category: brush footed butterfly caterpillars Tagged With: · Add Comment

Caterpillar ID
I was hoping you could help me identify these two caterpillars. The brown and green coloured ones (I assume two colour variations of the same species) are on a Taro plant. The tiny caterpillar with the egg is a freshly hatched caterpillar of the same species. The second caterpillar is on a small fig tree. I was thinking perhaps it could be related to a Monarch as they were the most similar pictures i could find. I am located in the Brisbane area, Queensland. By the way, love your site. Do you know of any good Australian caterpillar/butterfly Id sites? I have done lot’s of searching but haven’t come across anything anywhere near as good as this site. Thanks for your help!
Rebecca

Hi Rebecca,
The brown and green Sphinx Moth caterpillars will be very difficult for us to get a species identification, and we cannot spend the hours of online searching it will take. You will have to be satisfied with just the family Sphingidae. The gloriously beautiful Danainae caterpillar is related to the Monarch. It is the Common Australian Crow, Euploea core corinna. Your caterpillar photo is stunning. Regarding a good site for Australian Butterflies, try http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_butters/index.html though we here at What’s That Bug? are seriously thinking of applying for grant money to set up What’s That Australian Bug? or What’s That Bug Down Under? since we get so many fabulous letters from Australia with wonderful photos. Sadly, right now it is just a thought.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Red-Spotted Purple Catepillar

On · Category: brush footed butterfly caterpillars · Add Comment

Caterpillar
I found your website while searching for a caterpillar ID, and just spent 2 hours enjoying all your wonderful photos and comments! I found this bird-dropping mimic on a weed in my garden which *might* be a wild cherry since I have a large one in my yard. I am not sure though because the plant is only 10 inches tall! Sadly the next day the caterpillar was gone. I live in Northern Virginia. I think it is a red-spotted purple, what do you think? Thanks for looking at my critter and for having such an awesome site!
Rebecca

Hi Rebecca,
The Red-Spotted Purple, Limenitis arthemis astyanax, and the White Admiral, Limenitis arthemis arthemis, are subspecies with different ranges that overlap. According to BugGuide: “White Admiral ( Limentis arthemis form arthemis ) – the northern form, basically black and white in the east, In the west specimens tend to have red spots on the hind wing and are called Western White Admirals ( Limentis arthemis form rubrofasciata ). In the SE USA and as far north as extreme southern Ontario this species is black and purple (no white band)and is called Red-Spotted Purple ( Limentis arthemis form astyanax ). As there 3 forms are regarded as being the same species, intergrades between them are quite common.” Since you have graciously provided us with a location, we can presume you do have the southern Red-Spotted Purple. Thank you for sending in a new caterpillar for our site.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Red-Tailed Bumble Bees move into Bird House!!!

On · Category: Bumble Bees, Nests · 1 Comment

Help identify this nest of bees
Hi Bugman!
I am so grateful I found this site and I am hoping you can identify this nest of bees which have decided to take over a bird house in our back yard. Are they dangerous? Are they endangered? I hope you can help, they make me a little nervous!
Thanx a lot!
Linda Robb

Hi Linda,
Because we are feeling cantankerous, we must begin by yelling at you. Where are you???????? Insect identification is difficult enough when location is known. If we didn’t love your photo, which is awesome, we would have simply hit the delete key and moved to a letter with more substance. If you are in the eastern U.S. or Canada, these are Red-Tailed Bumble Bees, Bombus ternarius. According to our Audubon Guide: “In early spring queen enters opening in soil to build honeypots and brood cells. Small workers develop first, visit flowers for nectar, and construct new brood cells. With warmer weather, larger adults develop. Only young mated females overwinter.” With the current state of the world, all living things are endangered but your native bees are not rare. They are not aggressive, but you should not disturb their nest or they will sting repeatedly. Please let them live in their awesome new home.

Sorry Bugman,
I live in Portland, Oregon. Thanks for identifing our bees. I have a few more awesome photos of them if you want me to send them to you. I have never seen a bee that looked like that before. They swarm around the front of the bird house in the middle of the afternoon when it is hot. It looks like they have some kind of a cone just inside the opening of the house. So sorry I didn’t give you more information in the beginning, it is the first time I wrote to someone about them! Best Regards,
Linda Robb

Update (05/01/2006)
Eric Eaton provided us with some assistance on this one: ” Ok, the bumblebees should be Bombus melanopygus, if my memory serves. We called them red-tailed bumblebees when I lived in Portland. That is a neat shot, one we could use on Bugguide because we don’t have that species yet.”

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination