Green winged fuzzy bug
March 19, 2010
I found this bug on my porch today and I have never seen anything like this!
Susan
Houston, TX
Luna Moth
Hi Susan,
We are positively thrilled that you have sent in the first Luna Moth image of the year. Late in the winter, we start to get reports from the southern portions of its range, and as warm weather spreads north, so do the Luna Moth sightings. By mid may, we start to get reports from Maine and Canada.
Black insect with raised, red sides; four ridges on top of abdomen
March 19, 2010
Last spring I found this insect while out exploring and I am curious as to what it is. I tried my insect field guide but could not identify it. It was found on a rock midmorning in April in Riley County, Kansas.
Danielle
Riley County, Kansas
Black Corsair
Hi Danielle,
This is an immature True Bug, and guide books rarely depict immature specimens in photographs. We wish your photograph showed the face of the bug. At first we thought this was an Assassin Bug, possibly an immature Bee Assassin in the genus Apiomeris as depicted on BugGuide, but its legs are rather hefty, so we would not discount that it might be a Big Legged Bug in the family Coreidae.
Correction Courtesy of Eric Eaton
March 28, 2010
Hi, Daniel:
Here are a couple of other corrections:
The”Immature coreid bug? Or immature assassin bug?” is actually an adult female assassin bug called the “black corsair,” Melanolestes picipes. Adult females have only the vestigial wingpads shown in the nice image. Males are slightly more slender, fully winged, and fly well. The males are often attracted to lights at night. These bugs can deliver a very painful bite if handled or swatted, so brush them off gently if one alights on you.
Keep up the great work, Carlos…I mean Daniel:-) LOL! I loved that post from Lisa….
Eric
P.S. Hey, next year, when your book is out, we should go in on a table at the Bug Fair and do signings!
Aquarium Larva
March 19, 2010
I know it’s not your usual fare, but I’m hoping you could help identify this larva. I found this specimen living in the filter of my tropical aquarium.
It is about 12mm long, and was not present a month ago. The water is hard, with a pH or 8.0 exactly, at around 25.5 degrees Celcius.
There were three specimens in the filter, all around the same size, but no evidence of any others anywhere else.
Thanks in advance.
Nik
Reading, UK
Damselfly Naiad
Hi Nik,
This immature Damselfly is known as a Naiad. It was probably introduced to the aquarium on plants.
Praying mantis
March 18, 2010
Need help in correct identification of this species of praying mantis. They open their arm only when they walk, otherwise the look like you see in picture.
birdy
Pakistan
Unknown Preying Mantis
Hi Birdy,
We are posting your Preying Mantis, though we are unsure of the species. Perhaps one of our readers will be able to assist in the identification.
We wonder, perhaps, it it might be a Dead Leaf Mantis, Deroplatys Dessicata, which is profiled on the Insect Store website. We wish you had provided additional photos. Websites with numerous mantis images include Mantis and Dragons and MantisUSA.
Valley Carpenter Bee?
March 18, 2010
Found this beautiful carpenter bee pillaging my flower garden. I’m pretty sure it’s a valley carpenter bee, but thought you might like the pics…
David
Los Angeles, CA
Valley Carpenter Bee
Hi David,
You are correct in your identification of this female Valley Carpenter Bee. We currently have several gathering nectar from our wisteria, and when the sweet peas bloom, they gather nectar from them as well. We have yet to see a golden male this year.
Valley Carpenter Bee
Very fast strange spider
March 18, 2010
Hi i was in the mountains of costa rica a few mounths ago, in a village near Atenas, while there we saw a couple of these spiders. it appeared to have “pinchers” instead of fangs which you would expect on a spider, i have searched all over the internet and cannot find another picture like it can you help?
not sure what you mean here
Costa Rica, Atenas
Tailless Whipscorpion
Dear not sure,
This is a harmless Tailless Whipscorpion.
ALL I KNOW THAT IT’S A MOTH
March 18, 2010
i found this beautiful and cute moth,just 1 meter from my front door.she was shaking and did not fly away as i held it.
i noticed the beautiful orange hidden wings…
i wanted to know what is it…so you are the best ones to ask buggy buddy..!!
BTW , we see these moth in coastern cities of syria,but i found this one in a dry area.
WAEL
ALEPPO,SYRIA,MIDDLE EAST
Striped Hawkmoth
Hi WAEL,
Your moth is a Striped Hawkmoth, Hyles livornica, and it very closely resembles a North American species, the Striped Morning Sphinx, Hyles lineata. Both species occasionally have population explosions. Just over a year ago, we received a letter from Iraq with a photo showing hundreds of Striped Hawkmoths that had been attracted to the lights on an oil drilling rig.
Striped Hawkmoth
spotted flying insect with red legs
March 18, 2010
On a visit to Hanauma Bay on Oahu last summer, I took a picture of a bug I havent seen before. This was my first and last time seeing this creature. I think the bug was about 2-3cm long.
curious
hawaii
Kiawe Round Headed Borer
Dear curious,
Two months ago we received a letter with a photo, and we identified a pair of mating Kiawe Round Headed Borers, Placosternus crinicornis, the same species depicted in your photograph. Like many creatures on Hawaii, the Kiawe Round Headed Borer is not native, and it can be found on the Invasive Species website.
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