additional bot fly pics
Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 12:02 PM
I saw that you posted some bot fly pics, but they were a little fuzzy. Here are a few I took that are a little more detailed. Perhaps not the exact same kind of bot fly, but pretty similar. There appear to be three tiny eyes between its two big compound eyes.
Vince
Northern Indiana
Bot Fly
Hi Vince,
Thanks for sending us your Bot Fly images. Now people can understand why the Interested Mountain Girl thought it looked like a mutant.
red striped moth or beetle?
Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 2:29 PM
We saw these on our oak tree Easter morning. There are probably about 50 or so on this little branch (the branch is about as big around as a pencil). They look like some type of beetle or moth and are pretty slow moving. None of them flew off and only repositioned themselved when I touched them with a leaf. Do you know what they are?
Angie
Jacksonville, FL
Oak Treehoppers
Hi Angie,
You have Oak Treehoppers. Platycotis vittata. This is a variable species. Some are striped and some not. Some have a horn and some do not. The species, according to BugGuide, does almost no damage to trees, and “Females seem to exhibit protective behavior, keeping predators away from the young. “
WInged Ant-Like Insect
Sun, Apr 12, 2009 at 12:20 PM
This morning (April12) I was planting my garden when I saw three our four small areas in my backyard covered in hundreds of winged insects that looked exactly like black queen ants, and even had wings. They were about a centimeter (or maybe a little less) in length and seemed to be coming from the ground but I couldn’t tell exactly from where. Slowly the clumps of insects would fly into the air. What I am pretty sure about is that they’re not ants, because I don’t think this many winged ants all of a sudden come out of the Earth and gather the way I witnessed. Do you know what they are?
G. Spieler
Birmingham, AL, USA
Flying Termite
Dear G.,
This is a Winged Termite, either a male or female reproductive individual. When conditions are right, the future kings and queens leave the subterranean nest and embark on their nuptial flight. They will then mate and start a new colony.
Bug identification (New Delhi, India)
Sun, Apr 12, 2009 at 1:53 PM
I saw this really weird and unusual bug in my room about an hour ago.
I stay on the outskirts of the city, quite a few open fields here.
What do you call this bug? Is it harmful in any way?
regards
Mohit
hun? By hand I guess.
New Delhi, India
Unknown Longicorn from India
Hello Mohit,
This is a Longhorned Borer Beetle or Longicorn in the family Cerambycidae. We haven’t the time to try to research the species at the moment, but perhaps one of our readers will be able to provide a species identification.
Beautiful leaf looking bug
Sun, Apr 12, 2009 at 6:54 PM
Dear bugman,
I have just moved to North Georgia from Omaha, Nebraska, and I am very excited to explore and find new insects that I have never seen before. My first new discovery is of this beautiful leaf looking bud. I am thinking it is some sort of moth but not sure? Any help in identifying this amazing insect would be much appreciated. Thank you for this awesome site that you provide!
Diana
North Georgia
Luna Moth
Hi Diana,
Congratulations on your Luna Moth sighting. This male is a lovely specimen. As warmer spring weather begins to move to the northern latitudes, we will be expecting our Luna Moth reports to be coming from further north as well. The Luna Moth’s range is the eastern U.S. and Canada. By mid May, we should be getting reports from Maine.
Ladybug with 12 white spots?
Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 2:27 AM
Hi
I found this in my house.
Can you tell me what kind of bug it is?
Kind regards
Vamdrup, Denmark
Cream Spot Ladybird
Dear Reader,
Though your letter specifies 12 spots, we believe this is a Cream Spot Ladybird, Calvia quatuordecimguttata, which is reported to have 14 spots. We count 14 spots including the two on the pronotum. It is a common European species according to Ladybirds of Western Europe website. We also located a pdf that has images of European Ladybirds: ladybird-descriptiona22d8d.
Cream Spot Ladybird
flying insect with lace wings.
Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 4:43 AM
I would like to identify this flying insect. I am hoping it is not a termite. Found flying around our house. Light tan or light green in color. Wings are see through / lace looking.
Thanks, Cara
Romania
Lacewing
Hi Cara,
Interestingly, in English, this harmless predatory Neuropteran is called a Lacewing. Adults are attracted to lights, which probably explains why you found it in the house.
Butterfly Love
Sun, Apr 12, 2009 at 6:29 PM
My wife and I just got back from Wild Animal Park in Escondido, CA where they have the “Butterfly Jungle” exhibit. We got tons of pictures, but I wanted to get this to you as quick as possible. I forgot to take a picture of the butterfly “legend” so I don’t know what kind of butterfly this is. You can see that the male and female have different wing markings. Enjoy!
Bob K – Bug shooter
Wild Animal Park in Escondido, CA
Mating Small Postman Butterflies
Hi Bob,
We believe this is Heliconius erato based on images submitted to BugGuide from various butterfly exhibits from around the country. There are relatively strict guidelines on species selection for butterfly pavilions in order to prevent the introduction of exotic species to new habitats. We believe that either local species or those that can pose no threat if they accidentally escape are the only acceptable species. According to Wikipedia, this butterfly is also known as the Red Postman, the Small Postman, the Red Passion Flower Butterfly, or the Crimson-Patched Longwing. It is native to Central and South America and there are occasional strays to Texas according to BugGuide. We also located a nice webpage devoted to Heliconius erato that shows numerous color variations. Since the caterpillars feed on passion flower vine, it is probably an easy species to raise in warmer states where the food plant is an invasive species.
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