French’s Longicorns
January 21, 2010
I just discovered your site today – being a keen bug fiend, I cant believe that I had not come across it before!
I searched through your site to find more information on French’s Longicorn beetle (Batocera frenchi) – but couldnt find any!
We came across these beautiful, large longicorns on a hike through the Wooroonooran National Park in North Queensland in November – They were in a recently broken hollowed tree (probably had something to do with it breaking!!) and appear to be in the midst of a courtship. This is the first time I have seen these amazing beetles – even though they are described as having a geographical area from Mid New South Wales to North Queensland.
Hopefully someone will be able to let me know if they are rare? In which case, I am completely and utterly chuffed to have met them personally 
The Dreaded Bug Queen
Wooroonooran NP -Palmerston, North Queensland, Australia
Mating French's Longicorns
Dear Dreaded Bug Queen,
Though we are based in Los Angeles, we here at What’s That Bug? have had a long history of posting letters of Australian insects, most notably during your summer because our readership does not submit as many identification requests during our winter months. We have posted several letters from locations including India and Israel containing images of the related Mango Stem Borer, Batocera rufomaculata, and once we even posted a letter of a Chinese species we believe to be Batocera rubus, but your wonderful image of mating French’s Longicorns is a first for Batocerus frenchi for us. An image of a French’s Longicorn is posted on the Csiro website, but there is not much information. We have been unable to find out much information on your beetle, though a specimen of French’s Longicorn is listed as rare and is currently for sale on the Insects & More website is listed at 52 Euros, which is approximately $75 US, a hefty price indeed. A female on the same website is selling for 65 Euros. Another website lists it as very rare. We believe your sighting is significant and we are thankful you sent us your marvelous image. Just prior to posting, we decided to search by the common name French’s Longicorn rather than the scientific name. We found a wonderful website of Shell Picture Card series on Cerambycidae that contains this information: “Card no. 339 – French’s Longicorn Beetle, Batocera frenchi (Van de Poll) [as Batocera frenchi Blkb.] Card data: ‘This is one of the finest Longicorn Beetles in Australia. It is found in the rain forests from northern New South Wales to north Queensland. It measures 2” or more in length and is found in certain native fig trees, in the branches and trunks of which its grubs feed. This beetle is a common species of the family Cerambycidae.’ Comments: The biology and host plants of Batocera boisduvali (Hope)(often regarded by entomologists as the same species as B. frenchi) have been reviewed by Hawkeswood (1987a) & Hawkeswood & Dauber (1990, 1993).“
What the heck is this thing??
January 20, 2010
Hello a friend of mine who lives in Costa Rica took this photo while seeing a patient. He said it kept tapping the window cause it was trying to get in. He also said he could sense evil from it…
Alex Anico
Costa Rica
Dobsonfly
Hi Alex,
Despite looking diabolical, this male Dobsonfly is perfectly harmless. The female with her smaller mandibles, on the other hand, might deliver a painful pinch if carelessly handled.
Small black spider, huge pedipalps
January 19, 2010
Hello. I’ve been going crazy trying to figure out what type of spider this is. I’ve seen two inside my house and one outside. Most notable are the pedipalps (at least I think they’re pedipalps — I’m no expert) that are actually longer than the rest of the spider’s body. Also, it walked very robotically and slow instead of the typical spider “scurry.” It had four pairs of legs.
I wish my photos were better. Both spiders I was able to photograph were already dead. The first photo is a profile view of the spider. The last one is a top view. Thanks for your time.
Lisa
Cascade foothills of Washington State
Harvestman
Hi Lisa,
We have had a few misidentifications in the past few days, so the possibility exists that we may not be correct. We don’t believe this is a spider, but rather a Harvestman in the suborder Laniatores. There are some photos on BugGuide that look similar, but alas, your photos don’t show some of the details we would like to see.
Harvestman
Hi, Daniel,
Thanks so much for responding — and so quickly at that! After some internet research, I suspected it was some kind of huntsman. I just got a sweet new camera, so if I see another and can get quality photos, I’ll be sure to submit them.
What’s also interesting is that I’ve seen two tiny pseudoscorpions in my bathroom.
Thanks again!
Lisa
Comment
January 21, 2010
Hello,
I was looking at the pictures of the arachnid in the “Huntsman, we think” posting and to me it looks a bit more like a whip scorpion or tailless whip scorpion than a huntsman. This could explain the huge pedipalps.
John v.
bug identification
January 19, 2010
Hello! I found this bug on my patio on July 30, 2009 in Swiftwater, PA. I haven’t found anyone who can help me identify it yet. Do you know what it is? He’s pretty cool looking! He was about an inch and a half long (body, that is).
Susan
Swiftwater, PA
Purplescent Longhorn Beetle
Hi Susan,
This is sure a handsome beetle. It is a Purplescent Longhorn in the genus Purpuricenus, which is well represented on BugGuide. Our choice for the species is Purpuricenus humeralis, which is found in the Eastern states according to BugGuide.
what is this bug?
January 19, 2010
this is a florida find. we have no idea what it is other than a moth.
plaes and thank you
florida
Oakworm Moth newly metamorphosed
This is a newly metamorphosed Oakworm Moth in the genus Anisota. The wings have not yet expanded to their full size. Sometimes, this fails to happen and the adult moth will never be capable of flight. BugGuide has a nearly identical photo, and there is also considerable information on the genus posted to BugGuide.
Oakworm Moth
Flying At or Wasp?
January 19, 2010
Hi,
I live in St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. The other night I woke up and found several large bites on my chest. I was thinking bedbugs but my girlfriend has no bites. Its happened to me several times. The difference is I sleep on top of the covers and she usually is bundled up under. So Im thinking that might rule out bedbugs. Then this morning we found this bug in the bedroom. What is it and can it be the culprit thats biting me? The bites first feel like acid on my skin and stings real bad then they becomes very itchy. Thanks for your help.
Eric Stone
Crown Mountain, St. Thomas, USVI
Stilt Legged Fly, a victim of mistaken identity
Hi Eric,
It is not our mission to demonize our readership, but rather to educate, which is why we are tagging your letter as Unnecessary Carnage. This is a Harmless Stilt Legged Fly in the family Micropezidae. It did not bite you, so that culprit is still awaiting identification. Stilt Legged Flies are noteworthy for the manner in which they wave about their prominently marked front legs as though they were trying to signal something.
Thanks Daniel,
I appreciate the info. I will let my friends know on Facebook what the fly is and tell them to be kind to it. I will also add a link to my website to yours and let people know that you guys have the answers. Mahalo!
Thanks, Eric Stone
what’s that bug? is it benefitial?
January 19, 2010
I was sawing a bush that is called here (in Hawaii) Holy Coa. suddenly these bugs apeared out of nowhere. Here are 2 photos of them.
v.
Kauai Hawaii USA
Kiawe Round Headed Borer
Dear v.,
We thought your beetle bore an uncanny resemblance to the Mesquite Borer, Placosternus difficilis, a species BugGuide reports from Texas and the “Southern tier of U.S. states, south to Honduras; Cuba, Bahamas.“ We then did a web search to see if the Mesquite Borer was introduced to Hawaii, and we were immediately led to another BugGuide page of an insect found in Hawaii and placed in the same genus, but with the disclaimer: “Placosternus crinicornis (Chevrolat) has been recorded from Hawaii but not P. difficilis.“ We followed that thread and were led to the Insects of Hawaii page on Placosternus crinicornis, the Kiawe or Prosopis Round Headed Borer which is listed as non-native. It may also be found on an Invasive Species website. According to Wikipedia, Kiawe or Prosopis limensis is a species of mesquite native to South America. Since neither the insect nor its host are native to Hawaii, it is fair to say that neither are beneficial to helping to maintain the indigenous biodiversity of Kauai.
Mating Kiawe Round Headed Borers
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