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Monthly Archives July 2009

Virginia Creeper Sphinx

New For Me
July 23, 2009
I saw this on a plant that my sister bought. It was there for the better part of a day. I never saw this before. I think it is a moth, but that’s all I can figure, and I can’t find its likeness anywhere.
Buzz
Warwick, NY

virginia creeper sphinx buzz 300x270 Virginia Creeper Sphinx

Virginia Creeper Sphinx

Hi Buzz,
We have been getting numerous images of Sphinx Moths this summer, as we do every summer, but this is the first image of a Virginia Creeper Sphinx, Darapsa myron, this year.  You may read more on Bill Oehlke’s awesome website.

Posted 24 July 2009 § Hummingbird Moths, Sphinx Moths or Hawk Moths ‡ Comments (0) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Scaly Bee Fly

what’s this pollinator?
July 23, 2009
I was walking in downtown Nashville Indiana a couple of weeks ago (7/10/09) and saw this critter. I’d never seen one before and, being interested in all sorts of pollinating insects, decided to take a snapshot. Later I saw a few more and so I asked my aunt, a gardener, if she knew. She didn’t, in fact, she’d never noticed one either. So what is it?
McKenzie
Brown County, IN

scaly beefly mckenzie 300x259 Scaly Bee Fly

Scaly Bee Fly

Hi McKenzie,
High quality images like your photograph of a Scaly Bee Fly, Lepidophora lepidocera, are a tremendous contribution to our website.  BugGuide indicates:  “Adults are seen on flowers, presumably taking nectar. Insects of Cedar Creek reports they like to visit a Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum). Another reference from Minnesota lists Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) as a nectar source. Seen on goldenrod (Solidago spp.) and Bushy Aster (Symphyotrichum dumosum) in the Piedmont of North Carolina.“

Posted 23 July 2009 § Bee Flies ‡ Comments (0) °

Unknown Thing is Impatiens Seedpod

Weird bright green swirly-curly-backed worm(?)
July 22, 2009
Hi, there, Bugman! Love this site… it’s been quite helpful in the past, but I have been unable to find this on here. I’m in Western PA (Pittsburgh) and found this on my potted Impatients. Last week (mid July) when I was dead-heading them, I didn’t notice it and it pulled back! -Totally freaked me-out! So I pulled it off and took some pics. Unfortunately, the plumbers came right then and I didn’t have the presence of mind to keep the little bugger, just tossed him off the porch. Never seen another since. Any ideas? Are they going to override my plants eventually? Destructive? How do I get rid of them should I see more? Thanks for any help on this!
Theresa Jones
Pittsburgh, PA, USA

unknown pittsburgh 200x300 Unknown Thing is Impatiens Seedpod

seed pod

Hi Theresa,
We haven’t a clue as to what this is.  Readership, help us.

unknown pittsburgh 2 271x300 Unknown Thing is Impatiens Seedpod

seed pod

Holey Moley!  didn’t think the Bugman could be stumped… At least all my friends who were also clueless won’t feel so stupid. icon smile Unknown Thing is Impatiens Seedpod
I’ll keep checking in on the site, but if possible, I’d appreciate an email if some info comes to light.  (if that’s not possible, I understand, though)
Thanks again for your efforts!
Best Regards,
Theresa Jones

Karl solves the Mystery
Ripe impatiens seed pods explode rather violently, on their own or when they are touched. The green curly thing is what’s left behind. Regards. K

Thanks Karl,
We aren’t even entomologists, much less botanists, but we were relatively certain this was not animalian.

Um, yeah,
That’s a seedpod from an Impatients plant (oddly enough, where it was found.)  My mother used to have them in a basket on the porch and those pods would pop when the conditions were right, spreading the seeds by a little ol’ spring action.  I always thought they were pretty cool, because when they were ripe you could set them off with a touch, which is probably what startled Ms. Jones.  So in the end… flora not fauna.  The fact that this is the first one she’s seen though, means she is probably really good at keeping up with dead-heading.
Weston Tulloch
Bay City, MI

Posted 23 July 2009 § Uncategorized ‡ Comments (2) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Female California Root Borer

Huge Moth is northern California
July 23, 2009
I live in Northern California, and i found this insect at the place i work today, it’s huge and can fit in my palm and it the size of a small mouse. It somewhat looks like a giant moth – hornet hybrid.
random
Northern California – Tahoe

california prionus female random 300x211 Female California Root Borer

Female California Root Borer

Dear random,
Your female California Root Borer, Prionus californicus, is actually a beetle, and more about the genus can be read on BugGuide.

Posted 23 July 2009 § Longhorn Beetles ‡ Comments (0) °

Sugar Maple Borer

Smiley Face Beetle – Adirondacks
July 22, 2009
Hello Bugman,
This past week we discovered this interesting looking beetle. We were in the Western Adirondacks. Can you identify it for us? What a cool bug!! Do you see the smiley face?
Sincerely, The Kings Girl
Adirondack Park – Cranberry Lake, NY

sugar maple borer 300x296 Sugar Maple Borer

Sugar Maple Borer

Dear Kings Girls,
This is the third image we received in the past few weeks of a Sugar Maple Borer, Glycobius speciosus.

Posted 23 July 2009 § Longhorn Beetles ‡ Comments (0) °

A Monarch Metamorphosis

monarch metamorphosis 1 terry 208x300 A Monarch Metamorphosis

Monarch Chrysalis

Danaus plexippus
July 22, 2009
Last year my granddaughter wanted to keep a monarch caterpillar. I told her it was OK but she had to let it go when it was ready. Here are the photos. Hope you enjoy them as much as I. Not looking for a reply.
Terry Sincheff
Mound, MN

monarch metamorphosis 2 terry 196x300 A Monarch Metamorphosis

Monarch Chrysalis Hatching

Hi Terry,
We are positively thrilled to post your images of a Monarch Butterfly metamorphosing.

monarch metamorphosis 3 terry 200x300 A Monarch Metamorphosis

Monarch Emerged

Posted 23 July 2009 § Brush Footed Butterflies ‡ Comments (0) °

Toe-Biter

What is this? It looks like a cross between a roach, a moth, and a scorpion
July 22, 2009
Hi, in all my 29 years in Florida I have never seen a bug like this. We live in a wooded area with cypress and marsh behind us. I walked out of my house this morning to find this bug on the porch. I’d be so grateful if you could identify it. I left it alone and this afternoon it was gone.
Bugged out.
Florida

toebiter fla 278x300 Toe Biter

Toe-Biter

Dear Bugged Out,
This is one of the most beautiful images of a Toe-Biter, or Electric Light Bug, or Giant Water Bug we have ever seen.  We have numerous letters with numerous photos and lots of information already posted on our website regarding this amazing insect.

Posted 23 July 2009 § Toe Biters and other Aquatic True Bugs ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged:

Blue Orchard Bees Nesting

blue orchard bee
July 22, 2009
In the west it’s known as the orchard bee. Last year I read about them and decided to build some nest blocks for them. Here is the results of my efforts. In May they are busy gathering pollin for their young. Now the holes are filled, and the young are pupating.
 Terry Sincheff
Mound, MN

blue orchard bees nesting terry 300x212 Blue Orchard Bees Nesting
Blue Orchard Bees Nesting

Dear Terry,
Thanks for sending us this wonderful documentation of nesting Blue Orchard Bees, Osmia lignaria.  According to BugGuide:  “It is being managed and developed for use as fruit trees pollinator.“

Posted 22 July 2009 § Bees ‡ Comments (0) °

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