What is the bugs name?
November 24, 2009
Hello,
We are a daycare centre for preschoolers in Sydney, and some of our children were very curious as to what this bug was. Perhaps you could help us figure it out! 
SDN Linthorpe Street
Newtown, Sydney NSW
Immature Eucalyptus Tip Bug
Dear SDN,
This is an immature Eucalyptus Tip Bug in the genus Amorbus. We believe it looks closest to Amorbus rhombifer based on photos on the Brisbane Insect Website.
Saw this (possible) mating ritual…
November 24, 2009
Although I saw the two bugs interacting for some time, I have no idea what they are after having looked here and there for an answer.
Stingrey
Big Bend National Park
Robber Flies
Hi Stingrey,
These courting Robber Flies are gorgeous. The male is flying. We believe they are in the genus Laphria, but we cannot find an exact match on Bugguide. The closest is Laphria trux but it has black legs, not red ones like the individuals in your photo. Last week we got assistance from an expert in Robber Flies, Dr. Robert A. Cannings, Curator of Entomology from the Royal British Columbia Museum. We are writing to him again for assistance.
Hi Daniel: I’m sure this is a Heteropogon. There are a number of
species in Texas (and I’m not familiar with them) but this may be H.
patruelis, which is relatively big and has a red abdomen. I’ve sent the
photo to Eric Fisher to see if he can help.
Rob
Update from Robert A. Cannings and Eric Fisher
November 30, 2009
Hi Daniel: Here is Eric Fisher’s reply about the Heteropogon. There’s no one better at identifying most NA asilids, so I doubt if you’ll get a better answer.
Cheers,
Rob
Hi Rob,
Yes, this courting pair do look like Heteropogon patruelis — especially in overall coloration. Only puzzling thing is I can’t really see signs of the patches of erect black & white hairs on the midlegs of the male (I assume the extended legs are the fore pair, and the dangling ones are the midlegs; hard to tell because the leg-base area is so dark).
… Cheers,
Eric
Not a Lady Bug, but a ???
November 23, 2009, 5:52 PM
Found this beetle bug dying in our house today. I have noticed several of these beetles on the vinyl siding of our house, but this is the first one I have seen inside. We recently treated our carpets with pyrethrins as the kitty brought flees in with her. The pics were taken as the beetle was dying and penny added for scale.
A bit more info about our location. We are in central Kentucky and recently bought a house that backs up to a farm that has planted soy beans for the past two years.
Any help ID’ing this critter would be greatly appreciated as I want to make sure it is not a destructive type of pest.
Worried in KY
Central KY
Checkered Beetle
Found it!
6:04 PMNovember 23, 2009
Found the info about the beetle that came inside and died. It is a checkered beetle and I am assuming that since we had an ice storm last year they are feeding on the wood borers that are chewing on the dead wood in the tree line between our house and the soybean field. Thank you for your help!
Not Worried in KY
Central KY
Checkered Beetle
Dear Not Worried in KY, formerly Worried in KY,
We are thrilled to see that within 12 minutes, you correctly identified your Checkered Beetle on our website. More information on the Checkered Beetle family Cleridae can be found on BugGuide.
More Water Striders
November 24, 2009
Hi Bugman,
I saw your comment about the dearth of water striders on WTB, so I thought I’d send these your way. The first one I’m pretty sure is Aquarius remigis based on images on BugGuide and its large size. According to BugGuide this is one of the largest and most common water striders in North America. The second one looks like something different though, based on the white markings on the thorax and abdomen. My best guess is something in the genus Gerris but there’s only one image on BugGuide that looks close. Both of these were found in August 2008, running around on Cascade Creek, Minnesota in large groups.
Joel Gardner (clickbeetle)
Cascade Creek (near Grand Marais, MN)
Water Strider: Aquarius remigis
Hi Joel,
Thanks so much for your wonderful contribution of additional Water Strider images for our website.
Water Strider: Gerris species
pregnant phidippus mystaceus jumping spider
November 23, 2009
Hi,
I was out in my backyard a few days ago when I came across this female /Phidippus mystaceus/. Her abdomen was huge, and looked like she was carrying eggs. Enjoy the pictures.
Josh Kouri
Female Jumping Spider: Phidippus mystaceus
Hi Josh,
Thanks for sending us your wonderful photos of a female Phidippus mystaceus.
Female Jumping Spider: Phidippus mystaceus
November 20, 2009
The following water bug pix were taken at Hans Botel Cottage, Cape Coast, Ghana.
AJ
Water Striders from Ghana
Dear AJ,
The spareness of your words is amusing. Our readership tends to be hungry for information, and your succinct entries just leaves them salivating for more. These are Water Striders, aquatic True Bugs that skate on the surface of ponds and other bodies of water, waiting for insects to fall in which they feed upon. Though Water Striders in the family Gerridae are quite common in North America and other places around the world, this posting represents a brand new category for our site that previously experienced a noticeable dearth of Water Strider images.
Water Striders
Spider on our lavender bush
November 22, 2009
We first noticed this spider on our lavender bush sometime in the spring. It was very green. Now it is brown and is holding what looks to be a ball of yarn, but we think it’s an egg sack. Is this spider dangerous? We have 3 small children who like to play outside.
A.A.
Southern California
Green Lynx
Hi A.A.,
This beauty is our favorite spider, a Green Lynx. It is harmless, though she will act aggressively if her egg sac is threatened. Your children are perfectly safe.
Giant moth?
November 22, 2009
This guy was resting on a wall in some woods I frequent for work in South Jersey. It was alive and did’nt seem to mind me taking photos of it. It was a decent six inches across and it was just impressive to see.
Tom Weightman
Haddonfield NJ
Imperial Moth
Hi Tom,
This gal is a female Imperial Moth, and she sure is a big specimen.
Imperial Moth
I like This