Identify this Indonesian Spider!
July 25, 2009
This spider was hanging on a web between a tree and a powerline. It was pretty far away, so I couldn’t tell how large it was. It seemed to be much larger than my palm though.
Steph K.
Suryabaya, Indonesia
Golden Silk Spider
Dear Steph,
This is a Golden Silk Spider in the genus Nephila. We believe, based on an Indonesian Website we located, that this is Nephila pilipes. The website indicates: “Nephila pilipes is a species of golden orb-web spider. It can be found in Japan, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, Papua New Guinea, and Northern Australia. It is commonly found in primary and secondary forests and gardens. Females are large and grow to a body size of 30-50mm, with males growing to 5–6 mm.” Your specimen is a female.
Banded Longhorn
July 26, 2009
Here is a Banded longhorn, Typocerus velutinus. It was eating pollen and, or nectar. This is the first one of these I’ve seen.
Terry
Mound, MN
Banded Longhorn
Hello again Terry,
WE really appreciate receiving your image of a Banded Longhorn. IT is not well represented on our website. According to BugGuide: “Larvae feed on decaying hardwoods such as oak, hickory. Adults usually found in daytime, but do come to lights, so probably somewhat nocturnal.“
Banded Longhorn
Bug love (Boxelder style)
July 26, 2009
I belive these to be, Boisea trivitata. Having a little fun on my screen. Just outside, is a boxelder tree, where there are thousands more. Can’t tell which is male, and which is female. Can you help?
Terry
Mound, MN
Mating Boxelder Bugs
Hi Terry,
Thanks for sending us your photo of mating Eastern Boxelder Bugs. We almost never get submissions from people who know what they are, but rather they want the large congregations of insects in their yards identified. We are especially fond of some of the alternative names for Eastern Boxelder Bugs, including Democrat Bug, Populist Bug, Politician Bug. According to BugGuide: “Apparently these political terms are primarily used in the Central Plains states as I’ve seen references to such from KAN, NEB, & IOWA. “
Identify this bug
July 26, 2009
This is a tiny bug that has been running along the edge of my house and garage for a week or so. There are zillions of them. The largest is about 1/2cm long. I live in central FL and it’s late July. The colorful one appears to be a juvenile.
Bug in FL
Central Florida
Chinch Bug
Dear Bug in FL,
This is a Chinch Bug in the genus Blissus. According to BugGuide: “nymphs and adults feed on forage, lawn, and wild grasses plus crop plants, including wheat, corn, sorghum, oats” and we have also read that they are very fond of St Augustine Grass.
Chinch Bug
destructive worm/caterpillar…moving fast…help!
July 26, 2009
Please help me identify this alien army that has shown up and destroyed my evergreen bush in less than three days….will they move on to my other flowers and trees??
Laurie
Southeastern Massachusetts (Plymouth County)
Redheaded Pine Sawfly Larvae
Dear Laurie,
We identified your Red Headed Pine Sawfly, Neodiprion lecontei, on BugGuide, and now that you know what it is, you should be able to find much information posted online. You do not need to worry about these larvae that are related to wasps moving to other plants in the garden.
Redheaded Pine Sawfly
They feed on “Preferred hosts are red, Scots and jack pines. Also attacked are shortleaf, loblolly, slash, pitch, Swiss mountain, Japanese black, mugho pines, white pine, larch, deodar cedar, and Norway spruce” according to the Forest Pests website. The Forest Pests website also indicates: “Larvae may defoliate an entire tree from the top downward (b). Young or stressed trees are preferred, and small ornamental pines may be completely defoliated and killed in heavy infestations. Trees that are growing in poor sites or under stress are attacked more readily than healthy trees. Damage can sometimes be reduced by getting rid of competing vegetation, planting in high-quality sites, and promoting early closure by close plantings. If infestations are light, manual removal of larvae may effectively control the pest.” The Discover Life website also has much valuable information and control suggestions.
Damage caused by Redheaded Pine Sawfly
Striped insect found in swarms
July 26, 2009
We have just recently found these little bugs in swarms on all of our trees, especially the cedar trees. We don’t see any specific damage being done by them. These are located in Syracuse NY. Please advise if these should be of concern?
Jamie
Syracuse NY 13209
Barklice
Hi Jamie,
Thanks so much for writing to us before you decided to take drastic measures to exterminate these benign Cerastipsocus venosus, Barklice in the family Psocidae. Generally when a large group of insects congregate on plants in this manner, they are feeding on the plant and potentially causing damage. These Barklice are feeding on lichens, not on your tree. They are immature and adult Barklice are winged. You may find images of adult Barklice on BugGuide.
cicadas are my new best friend
July 24, 2009
i’ve never seen such a small cicada around here before, but i found this little neocicada hieroglyphica last night under the light by my garage, cornered by two toads who were trying to catch it. it crawled onto my hand and hung on tight for about an hour, any port in a storm i guess. it was a little less than an inch long, and crawled enthusiastically toward the clicking sound of my camera’s focus. i assume it thought my camera was hitting on it. cicadas have a one track mind.
rebekah
summerville, sc
Hieroglyphic Cicada
Dear Rebekah,
Thanks so much for sending us your wonderful images of a Hieroglyphic Cicada and for providing such an entertaining narrative. We are linking to the BugGuide information page on Neocicada hieroglyphica.
Hieroglyphic Cicada
¶ Posted 26 July 2009 § Cicadas ‡ ° Possible plot for a horror movie? I think not.
July 24, 2009
It was like a horror movie gone wrong. Margaret, our volunteer receptionist, came into my office to give me a postage stamp she’d saved for my Mum. At 80, Margaret has a few mobility problems and she’s really not walking too well at the moment. As she turned slowly to go back out to reception, she yelled, “What’s that? Oh my god, kill it, kill it!”
I turned and saw she was looking at the floor. I jumped up, expecting to see some monster ready to attack. At the same time, my survival instinct kicked in and I prepared myself to push Margaret out of the way and escape if I had to – compassion only goes so far, you know.
And then I saw it – the monster. In Margaret’s eyes it was so fat it looked pregnant. It was hideous, as far as she was concerned, and it had to die or it would kill us.
No, I told her, I wasn’t going to kill it. I had an empty plastic cup on my desk so I used that to scoop it up, though I did have to chase it to get it.
“Don’t let it come near me!” screamed Margaret.
With my head held high, hero fashion, I took my captive out to the scrubby area near the old warehouse along the street and set it free to live another day, thinking that if it wanted to, it would find its way into the warehouse soon enough.
Such are the everyday dramas at the Oswego NY Branch of the American Red Cross.
Susan, house centipede rescuer
Dear Susan,
Thanks so much for sending us your gripping account of an Unnecessary Carnage intervention.
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