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Monthly Archives September 2009

Unknown Cockroach Nymph from Costa Rica

“Stitch”-like bug, cockroach nymph?
September 10, 2009
Hi Bugman-
First I have to say that the buzz my weevil picture generated is pretty cool. Costa Rica really has some amazing bugs!
I’ve been searching like crazy since my Costa Rican honeymoon for the identification of this prehistoric/alien looking bug. As far as I can tell, it’s a cockroach nymph of some sort. With three months of searching, I’ve found nothing.
We found him in our hotel room, the same night I saw the green glitter and wood carved weevil. He was crawling across the floor minding his own business. His antennae were rather odd in that they had a white section from which protruded an extension. It looked as though he was using one antennae to “smell” the air and the other to feel the ground. I picked him up with some paper to place him on the patio, and he was super fast…and stubborn. He got in one more time…and then stayed out…I think. His markings are beautiful, and if I could have kept him as a pet I would have. Do you have any idea what he might be? If he is a cockroach, I hope his grown up version is as pretty as the nymph version.
bug fan (djrianna)
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

cockroach costa rica djrianna 300x194 Unknown Cockroach Nymph from Costa Rica

Cockroach Nymph from Costa Rica

Dear bug fan,
We agree that this is an immature Cockroach, but we would add that it is one of the most attractive Cockroaches we have ever seen.  We will post your photo and try to research the species at a later date, but perhaps a reader will write in with an identification.

Assistance from Karl
September 16, 2009
Hi Daniel:
This really is a handsome cockroach. I believe it is in the Family Blattellidae; Subfamily Nyctiborinae. Based on the shape of the antennae (thickened at the base and bristle-like at the tip) I would further suggest that it is in the Genus Nyctibora, of which there are at least three species in Costa Rica. I had little luck finding any useful descriptions or illustrations of the Costa Rican species, but it looks very similar to a Nyctibora nymph from Bolivia pictured on the Blattodea Culture Group website. Regards.
Karl

Posted 10 September 2009 § Cockroaches ‡ Comments (0) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Arrowshaped Micrathena

Spider with reddish brown legs and yellow & black pointy back
September 8, 2009
I was sitting on my backyard swing and my 18 mos old brought my attention to this spider, she thought it was a bee. I put it in a bug jar and took a couple pictures of it. It is between 1/4-1/4 inches long. We live in SW Pennsylvania And it’s nearly fall here. I’m just wondering what kind of spider it is, I’ve never seen anything like it around here before ! I am petrified of spiders, so I can’t believe I actually got this in a jar.. haha Any information you have would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
Momma of Three
South Western PA

arrowshaped micrathena 300x247 Arrowshaped Micrathena

Arrowshaped Micrathena

Dear Momma of Three,
Suddenly we have gotten quite behind in our responses.  The new semester with budget cuts has brought added responsibility to our already busy lives.  This is an Arrowshaped Micrathena, Micrathena sagittata, a harmless Orbweaver.  You can read about the species on BugGuide.

Posted 10 September 2009 § Orb Weavers ‡ Comments (0) °

Leaf Footed Bug hatchlings

Red spiders and red egg strip
September 8, 2009
I spotted a blob of something on the back wall of my yard in the shade of my palm tree. It was a 2″ long, vertical reddish strip, and clustered around it was a group of tiny reddish bugs or spiders. The bugs appear to have hatched from the strip. Later in the day I spotted similar reddish egg strips on our North facing (shaded) patio screen, but nothing had hatched from them at the time. Any ideas what these can be and if I should be concerned?
Carmie in Lakewood, CA
Shaded south-facing wall in Lakewood, CA

leptoglossus hatchlings carmie 271x300 Leaf Footed Bug hatchlings

Leaf Footed Bug hatchlings

HI Carmie,
These are not spiders.  They are Leaf Footed Bug hatchlings, probably in the genus Leptoglossus.  We believe they are most likely Leptoglossus zonatus.

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Posted 09 September 2009 § Eggs § Leaf Footed Bugs ‡ Comments (0) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Fishing Spider with Spiderlings

Spider, nursery web, egg sack
September 7, 2009
I photographed this spider near a creek in Maple Grove, MN – at the Maple Grove Arboretum.
Michelle Whitney
Maple Grove MN

dolomedes eggsac spiderlings michelle 300x236 Fishing Spider with Spiderlings

Fishing Spider with Egg Sac

Hi Michelle,
Your spider is a Fishing Spider, Dolomedes tenebrosus.  Her eggs have hatched and it appears that some of the spiderlings may have already molted.

Posted 09 September 2009 § Nursery Web Spiders ‡ Comments (0) °

Immature Preying Mantis

Weird bug in backyard
September 9, 2009
Bugman, this bug flipped out my 9-yr-old daughter because it was right next to the door handle of our backdoor. First photo shows door lock for perspective, second is enlarged closeup.
So … what’s that bug?
Curious Dad
La Crescenta, Calif

mantis nymph la crencenta 300x295 Immature Preying Mantis

Immature Preying Mantis

Dear Curious Dad,
The immature Preying Mantis in your photo is a harmless beneficial predator.  We are uncertain of the exact species, but it looks to be a native species and not an introduced species.

Posted 09 September 2009 § Preying Mantis ‡ Comments (1) °

Mexican Swallowtail Caterpillar

What’s That Bug?
September 8, 2009
in the back yard under a ovacado tree
not sure
from jalisco mexico

swallowtail pyrrhosticta cat mexico 300x201 Mexican Swallowtail Caterpillar

Swallowtail Caterpillar

Dear not sure,
This is a Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillar “in the ‘ Pyrrhosticta ‘ group of Papilio swallowtails — P. cleotas ,P. garamas ,P. victorinus , etc.” as previously identified on our site by Keith Wolfe.  The red horns are a defense organ known as the osmetrium that releases an odor some predators find offensive.

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Posted 09 September 2009 § swallowtail caterpillars ‡ Comments (1) °

Fanmail and Nostalgia

Love the site! Made me feel like a kid again!
September 9, 2009
I just wanted to say what a pleasure it has been to peruse your site this evening…er, morning I guess it is now. I grew up on my grandparents’ truck-farm (purple-hull peas, okra, tomatoes, the whole nine yards) so I was naturally turned toward biology at an early age.

We had neither air-conditioning or cable TV so I spent most of my waking hours outside getting scratched, poisoned, and bitten by anything I could find to study in the woods, in the fields, in the barn, and around the two creeks that cut through the property.

I just wanted to say that it was nice to dig around your site and finally find out the true names of some of the “critters” that fascinated my grandfather and myself for so many years. Growing up the way I did led to a deep-seated love of nature and a longing to learn everything I could about it. By the time I was ten this had turned into a full blown obsession with biology….well, marine biology. I loved fish…sorry, bug-people. icon smile Fanmail and Nostalgia

Unfortunately life usually doesn’t work the way we’d like and I chose to give up the studies I had longed for in order to pursue a career I could actually pay bills and support a family with. Believe me, what I wanted to do as a MARBie is friendly to neither family or finances.

But I’ve allowed myself to get off track…so in the interest of limiting how much of your time I waste I’ll try to wrap this up. Long story short: I love your site. It allows me to step back into the days of laying in the grass, getting itchy from God-knows-what, watching bugs do their thing. My life has taken a more…normal turn than I would have ever thought and I’m afraid I have made myself forget most of the science I once loved in the interest of “making it” in everyday life. As hard as I try, however, I can’t seem to completely push out the memories of my first love.

I know now that I will never get that degree in marine biology that I can remember dreaming about before I even knew what it was called, but visiting this wonderful site gives this overweight soon-to-be cop a window into his past and a chance to interact with those of you who are lucky enough to be living the dream.

I salute you, bug people, and I hope you will receive the thanks of this former fish guy for taking time out of your lives to put together this site. I know there are more urgent things out there you could be doing.

I’m sorry this ran so long, despite my best efforts it appears I got into quite a babbling spree. I appreciate it if you’ve stuck with me this long. I just wanted to express how I felt about finding your site. Thank you again for putting it together. icon smile Fanmail and Nostalgia

—Kris
Vidor, TX

ps: I’m currently between jobs thanks to this great economy of ours and an exceedingly long application process at my next place of employment, so since my schedule is open I think I might take tomorrow to go roll around in some poisonous plants and try to take some pictures of some cool bugs. If I get anything good I might just throw them your way.

Posted 09 September 2009 § Uncategorized ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Possibly Southern Pine Sawyer

Laughing Brown Beetle
September 8, 2009
This brown beetle is speckled white and makes a laughing sound while bobbing its head if provoked. All the images are of the same bug. IT doesn’t seem to move around much. I left it on my desk and it was still in the same spot when I came back about 45 minutes later. The antennae are about as long as the body and it rotates them in opposite circles from time to time. The legs end in hook-like “feet” and it is capable of clinging to things very well. Has no problem hanging upside down. Has two ant-like mandibles jutting downward from the base of the head. The white spots on the back appear to be arranged into loose chevrons pointing towards the posterior, there are three in all. There are two symmetric orange/tan spots on the back of the head. Antennae are ro ughly 1.5in in length. Body appox. 7/8th of an inch long 1/4in wide. Head is narrower then the body and about 1/3 of the total length.
Hissing Harry
Lexington, Virginia, USA

monochamus harry 300x225 Possibly Southern Pine Sawyer

Possibly Southern Pine Sawyer

Dear Hissing Harry,
Your photos lack clarity, but we believe this is one of the Pine Sawyers in the genus Monochamus, possibly the Southern Pine Sawyer, Monochamus titillator.  You can compare your individual to images posted to BugGuide.

monochamus harry 2 300x225 Possibly Southern Pine Sawyer

Possibly Southern Pine Sawyer

Posted 09 September 2009 § Longhorn Beetles ‡ Comments (0) °

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