From the monthly archives: "June 2007"
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Mating Lime Hawkmoths from Switzerland

On · Category: Hummingbird Moths, Sphinx Moths or Hawk Moths · Add Comment

Moth ID
Hi guys, My daughter Rosie and son Sam saw these moths on our door today…initially we thought they were leaves. We have tried to find a similar image on your site, and although it looks a little like a Pandora Sphinx moth we are not sure. This photo is from Duillier in Switzerland. We hope you can help with the ID. Thanks
Duncan, Switzerland

Hi Duncan,
The Pandora Sphinx does not range into Europe. These mating Sphinxes are Mimas tiliae commonly called Lime Hawk-moths. More information and images can be found on Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa and the UK Moths page. Lime refers to a favored larval food plant, the Linden Tree which is commonly called a Lime Tree.

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Mating Lime Hawkmoths from Switzerland lime_hawkmoth_tomLime Hawkmoth lime_hawkmoth_davidLime Hawkmoth from England lime_hawkmoth_martijn_netherlandsLime Hawkmoth from The Netherlands
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Hellgrammite

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please identify this bug
Please identify this bug. We saw it on a bike path next to the New River in Virginia today.
Ashby Hopkins

Here are more pictures. I thought it might be a Coach Beetle at first, but it did not have long antenae. Thank you,
Jim Hopkins

Hi Ashby and Jim,
This is a Hellgrammite, the aquatic larva of the Dobsonfly. The winged adult males have frighteningly large mandibles, but they are docile and harmless. The females, on the other hand, will use their smaller mandibles to bite, but a harmless pinch is all that will result.

Related posts:

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Two Florida Wasps

On · Category: Paper Wasps, Potter and Mason Wasps Tagged With: · Add Comment

Wasp eating Monarch caterpillar
I finally found out what was killing my Monarch caterpillars, can you please identify him, I think it is a type of paper wasp. I just moved to southwest Florida and am on my 3d generation of Monarchs in a little garden planted just for them. This little caterpillar was getting ready to form into a Chrysalis on the fence when the Wasp got him. I have found the remnants of them before, but have not caught the culprit. While I love my little caterpillar farm, I won’t get rid of the wasps because I don’t think I can support all of the caterpillars the Monarchs lay on my milkweed. We have a population of Monarchs here year round. I will let nature take its course in my garden. Great site, I love it and have learned quite a bit! Also enclosed is a Potter wasp that changed the color of his pots based on his foundation. Great site, I love it and have learned quite a bit!
Terry
Fort Myers Florida

Hi Terry,
Good call on the Paper Wasp. It looks like Polistes annularis as pictured on BugGuide. Regarding the Potter Wasp, we doubt that this was a designer choice based on reading Martha Stewart. More likely the mud that was available at the time had a different coloration. This might be Zeta argillaceum, also pictured on BugGuide, but your photo isn’t detailed enough to be certain.

Related posts:

Potter Wasp stocks up on provisions Mating Potter Wasps Potter Wasp Pots Larval Paper Wasps
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Flower Spider captures Fly

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White Crab Spider
Hope you like this Crab spider, this was the closest i could get without spooking him/her. Location – Midlands: UK
Kevin

Hi Kevin,
Stateside, Crab Spiders are sometimes called Flower Spiders since they wait in flowers for pollinating insects to arrive just in time for lunch.

Related posts:

Flower Spider Flower Spider Misumena vatia: Flower Spider Flower Spider with Fly
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Mating Crane Flies

On · Category: Crane Fly · Add Comment

Bug Love
These seem to be Mosquito Hawks in love
Barb

Hi Barb,
Over the years, we have received numerous images of mating Crane Flies, sometimes called Mosquito Hawks even though they do not eat mosquitos. Your photo stands out from the crowd since the shallow depth of field and subtle backlighting nicely isolate the pair from their surroundings.

Related posts:

Mating Crane Flies Mating Crane Flies giant_crane_flies_mating_danMating Giant Crane Flies crane_flies_mating_india_maheshMating Crane Flies from India and Mating relatives from Taiwan
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Newly Metamorphosed Cicada

On · Category: Cicadas · Add Comment

Unknown Bug
Evening,
We live on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. A few weeks ago we were camping along side a local river not to far out of town. Around 7:30 that evening I noticed this insect attached to a line on the tent. The insect had attached itself to the back of a wasp and was in the process of sucking the insides of the wasp out. The wasp was minus its wings. In the morning the hungry insect had departed and left the empty carcass of the wasp still attached to the tent line. Nothing left but a hollowed out shell. I unfortunately did not get a shot of what was left but I did get the one attached to this email. Any help in the identity of this bug would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks,
Chris Deakin
Victoria, BC, Canada

Hi Chris,
While your story is interesting, your observation of the occurance is not quite accurate. The pictured insect is a newly metamorphosed Cicada, and what you have mistaken for a meal is not a wasp but the shed skin of the larval Cicada. The photo is quite gorgeous.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Rosemary Beetle

On · Category: Beetles · Add Comment

Whats This one?
I enclose two pictures of a beetle which we found 4-5 of in a Russian Sage (Perovskia). They were iridescent gold with green stripes. Any Idea what they were? Regards
Thok

Hi Thok,
In addition to Russian Sage, the Rosemary Beetle feeds on its namesake rosemary as well as lavendar, thyme and sage. The beetle, though its scientific name is Chrysolina americana, is native to southern Europe and has extended its range to Britain, but we do not know from where you are writing. Here is a link with more information.

Related posts:

Rosemary Beetle: Introduced to UK Rosemary Leaf Beetle leaf_beetle_chrysolina_allisonLeaf Beetle st_johnswort_beetle_jimSt. Johnswort Beetle
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Carrion Beetles feeding on Stinkhorn Fungus

On · Category: Beetles · Add Comment

Carrion beetles on Stinkhorn
Hello, bugman. I hope my email gets through the flood! I recently found an awesome fungus, an elegant stinkhorn, that was absolutely crawling with carrion beetles. There were quite a few flies, too. Unfortunately, when I approached to take a picture, the flies flew away, and many of the beetles dropped to the ground! I can certainly see why they would like the fungus, though… it reeked like rotting flesh! Best regards,
Emily

Hi Emily,
Thanks for sending us your photo of American Carrion Beetles, Necrophila americana.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination