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Monthly Archives October 2009

Unnecessary Carnage and Fanmail

Thank you
October 3, 2009
I just submitted a question for you, and forgot to tell you how much myself and my boys enjoy your site. I have two boys, 8 & 3, who are fascinated by bugs. While I am not squeamish of bugs, and don’t believe in unnecessary carnage, I am not an expert or even a student of insects.
I also homeschool my boys. Your site, and bugguide.net have helped me immensely in identifying various specimens that they find. Both sites have also helped me turn their curiousity into a teaching moment. Your unecessary carnage comments have helped me make the same points to them, (it isn’t just momma’s opinion anymore) and my oldest has gained an understanding of each creature having a place in the cycle of life.
Thank you for your labors!!
The Koelbls of Noth Alabama

Posted 03 October 2009 § Uncategorized ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: ,
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Leaf Footed Bugs

What is this bug found lounging on tomato
September 30, 2009
What is this bug? Beneficial or harmful? The “mother” is present on two of the attached photos.
Lori
Los Angeles

leptoglossus generations tomato lori 295x300 Leaf Footed Bugs

Immature Leaf Footed Bugs

Hi Lori,
We are thrilled that your photo illustrates a multi-generational grouping of Leaf Footed Bugs in the genus Leptoglossus.  There are no adults in your photos.  Rather, these represent at least three different instars, the term used for a metamorphosis stage.  After each molt, the nymph grows and changes.  It is not until the reproductive adult stage is reached that the insect will grow wings that are fully functional.  We believe they are probably Leptoglossus zonatus which may be viewed on BugGuide.  We often find this species on our own tomatoes in our Mount Washington, Los Angeles garden, and on pomegranates growing in Elyria Canyon Park.  Here is the information posted to BugGuide on this sucking insect:  “Identification  Two yellowish spots on the forward part of the pronotum are distinctive. Also has a zigzagging white band across the wings (like some other species). Expansions of the hind tibiae are also much larger and more jagged than most other species.  Range  Primarily a southwestern species (including CA, AZ, TX) but now also spreading into southeastern states. First LA report 1990s. First FL report 2005.  Food  Feeds on flowers and fruits of many plants, including many crops such as citrus, tomatoes, and various members of the squash family.  Remarks  Considered a pest not only for the feeding damage on various crops but also as a transmitter of plant pathogens.“

Hi Daniel,
Yes, that’s them! Thank you for the quick reply and identification.  I’m the only one I know that actually thinks they’re adorable.  I’m always fascinated by the critters that decide that my backyard is a hospitable place to take residence.   While they are considered pests, they have become members of the family the past week, so I’ll let them stay.  Unless you advise otherwise.
Question, if there are no adults, is that NOT the mother that’s been brooding over the kids?   OR is it possible that immature leaf-footed bugs can reproduce?
Regards,
Lori

Hi Lori,
Earlier today, we posted an adult of the species found in Long Beach.  The immature nymphs cannot reproduce.  The behavior that you have labeled brooding is simply an aggregating tendency found in many True Bugs.  Since tomato plants only last one season, any pathogens spread to the plant would not affect next year’s crop of tomatoes.  We often let Tomato Hornworms and Katydids feed off of our plants. We also do not disturb the Leaf Footed Bugs as they are never plentiful. We do mercilessly remove aphids, and the new African Painted Stink Bugs from our plants, and we try to keep our citrus clear of Citrus Leaf Miners.

Posted 03 October 2009 § Leaf Footed Bugs ‡ Comments (0) °

Boris and Media Luna Spawn again. So have Lefty and Digitalis.

October 2, 2009
Yesterday Boris and Media Luna spawned again.  The last three batches of young all had extremely high mortality rates.  Only one of the most recent spawning lived, and two lived long enough to be moved to the grow out aquarium on the previous spawning.  Prior to that, 13 youngsters were raised.  Hopefully, there will be better luck with this new spawn.

media luna eggs 20091002 300x231 Boris and Media Luna Spawn again. So have Lefty and Digitalis.

Media Luna with yesterday's spawning

October 3, 2009
Boris and Media Luna’s eggs hatched and they moved the brood.  Some fry have strayed from the leaf and been eaten by the Cardinal Tetras.  Last night, Lefty and Digitalis also laid eggs, or perhaps it was early this morning.  This batch of eggs seems viable.

Posted 03 October 2009 § aquarium ‡ Comments (0) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Giant Katydid Hatchlings and Fall Webworm Damage

I’ve seen these brown leaves on Sideroxylon salicifolium and wonder what could be causing it.
October 1, 2009
Hello dear bug people. I keep seeing webbing and dead leaf clusters on Willow Bustic and wonder if the attached bugs/larvae that I saw today are the cause.

brown leaves sideroxylon salicifolium linda 300x206 Giant Katydid Hatchlings and Fall Webworm Damage

Fall Webworm Leaf Damage

Would you know what they are by these not so great pictures?
Thank you so much, Susan
North Key Largo, Florida

unknown insect florida linda 300x173 Giant Katydid Hatchlings and Fall Webworm Damage

Giant Katydid Hatchlings

Dear Susan,
WE are really puzzled by these hatching insects, but the webbing they are constructing does appear to be on the brown clusters of leaves.  We are calling in the big guns and are requesting assistance from Eric Eaton.

unknown insect florida linda 2 253x300 Giant Katydid Hatchlings and Fall Webworm Damage

Giant Katydids hatching in Webworm Nest

Update from Eric Eaton
October 3, 2009
Daniel:
I’m at a friend’s computer right now, but my quick answer is that those are most likely katydid nymphs hatching from eggs.  Probably giant katydids (Stilpnochlora couloniana).  They would not be the cause of the leaf damage, and certainly not the cause of the webbing, which may be a product of the Fall Webworm or a related caterpillar.
Hope this helps.
Eric

Posted 03 October 2009 § Eggs § Katydids § Tent Caterpillars and Kin ‡ Comments (0) °

Unknown Cockroach from Hawaii is Harlequin Cockroach

tasty looking cockroach
October 2, 2009
i have a cockroach that sort of resembles an oriental cockroach, but the pattern on its back differs from an oriental cockroach. it is a bit smaller than 1 1/2 inches. I got this cockroach from Ewa Beach, Hawaii.
curious
Ewa Beach, Hawaii

cockroach hawaii 300x225 Unknown Cockroach from Hawaii is Harlequin Cockroach

Harlequin Cockroach

Hi curious,
Hawaii is the home of numerous introduced species that are crowding out the endemic wildlife.  We are posting your image in the hopes that someone will write in with a species identification.  Unless it is a wingless species, it is an immature individual.

Update
October 3, 2009
A special thanks to Karl who identified this Harlequin Cockroach, Neostylopyga rhombifolia, a Southeast Asian species that has become established elsewhere in the world, including Hawaii.  For more information read Karl’s comment and check out this website:  http://www.gotroaches.com/blog/2006/05/25/harlequin-roach-neostylopyga-rhombifolia/

2

Posted 03 October 2009 § Cockroaches ‡ Comments (2) °

Immature Florida Predatory Stink Bugs

Beetles (?) on grapevine
October 2, 2009
I noticed these colorful guys piled up on the leaf of our wild grape vine this morning (Oct. 2), and would be interested to know what they are and what they might be doing (there’s not a lot of obvious activity). As you can see, they are cherry red on the back with twin black markings. The head and segment closest to the head are glossy black, with black antennae. They are roughly half an inch end-to-end. I don’t recall seeing insects with these markings in the area (Accomack County, Eastern Shore of Virginia) before, and certainly not in a cluster like this. Thanks for your help.
Linda Cuttone
Accomack County, VA (Eastern Shore)

florida stinkbug aggregation linda 300x216 Immature Florida Predatory Stink Bugs

Florida Predatory Stink Bug Nymphs

Hi Linda,
Despite you writing from Virginia, your bugs are Florida Predatory Stink Bugs, Euthrhynchus floridanus.  BugGuide indicates:  “Predatory on other insects, including caterpillars, beetle. Nymphs, and to some extent, adults, are gregarious, and may attack large prey in groups.“  The orange and black adults are sometimes called Halloween Bugs since they appear near the end of October.

Posted 02 October 2009 § Stink Bugs and Shield Bugs ‡ Comments (0) °

Mottled Tortoise Beetle from Mexico

Plastic Coated Beetle
October 2, 2009
I found this Beetle in August 2005 in Alamos Sonora, there are many unusual insects around at that time of the year because of the monsoon rains. This was the only time I ever saw this species. I’ve researched it a few times since but with no luck in finding out what it was.
Mark Nixon
Alamos, Sonora, Mexico

tortoise beetle sonora mexico 290x300 Mottled Tortoise Beetle from Mexico

Mottled Tortoise Beetle

Dear Mark,
We matched your photo to that of the Mottled Tortoise Beetle, Deloyala guttata, which is pictured on BugGuide.

Posted 02 October 2009 § Leaf Beetles ‡ Comments (0) °

The Asteroid

Red caterpillar
September 30, 2009
Hi Bugman!
I found this in my field in north central Ohio this afternoon on a weed (goldenrod I think). It was a chilly day and it wasn’t moving at all. I’ve looked through my insect guides and on the web to try to identify it, but no luck. Do you know what it is?
Kirsten
Mt. Gilead Ohio

asteroid kirsten 300x195 The Asteroid

The Asteroid

Hi Kirsten,
WE just love it when caterpillars have poetically descriptive common names, like the Monkey Slug, the Hickory Horned Devil, or the Orange Dog.  Your caterpillar is a first for us.  We thought it resembled the Brown Hooded Owlet Moth Caterpillar, so we searched the genus Cucullia on BugGuide.  We quickly located The Asteroid, Cucullia asteroides, more commonly called the Goldenrod Hooded Owlet.  The caterpillars are highly variable, and there are no images posted to BugGuide that exactly match your specimen, but the coloration is represented in several images from New Hampshire.  The caterpillars are described on BugGuide as:  “Caterpillar: ‘Usually bright green or brown with yellow, black and white striping, but exceedingly variable…mid-dorsal stripe yellow, often narrowly edged with white, occasionally flanked by variously developed black subdorsal stripe. If subdorsal is absent, then five or six black pinstripes above level of spiracles.’ – Wagner p. 388(1) Base color may also be tan, or purple and brown, especially in later instars.”  Your lovely red specimen lacks the dorsal stripe, and has that awesome yellow racing stripe up the side.  BugGuide also indicates:  “There has been significant discussion whether all these are the same species of Cucullia or not. Seems as though there may be several species that look very similar as larvae.  See Also  Cucullia postera, C.omissa, C. florea are likely to have similar caterpillars, according to Wagner.”

Thank you so much for taking the time to identify my caterpillar.  When I took the picture I thought it was so distinctive that it would be easy to identify.  Ha!  I’ve spent a lot of time on your site in the past few days and it’s awesome!  Thanks again!

Posted 02 October 2009 § Cutworms and Owlet Caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °

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