Monthly Archives April 2010

Iron Cross Blister Beetle

Red-headed bug with yellow spotted wings found in AZ desert
April 15, 2010
There were a whole bunch of these clinging to low plants in the parking lot at Phoenix Int’l Raceway. They were not very aggressive, but a couple did try to crawl on people, and they didn’t seem to fly. They were all gone when we returned to the truck in the dark about 10 hours later.
Paula
AZ Desert – SW Valley

iron cross blister beetle paula 300x224 Iron Cross Blister Beetle

Iron Cross Blister Beetle

Dear Paula,
Your Iron Cross Blister Beetle is found in Arizona and California in desert areas.

What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Unidentified Flying Objects

Ed. Note: We couldn’t really decide if this was a joke or a serious identification request, but nonetheless, we find it most amusing.

picture of unidentiifed flying bug
April 16, 2010
I have lots of these photos in about the same quality. Usually they are stills taken from movies (digital camera).
I have tried enlarging them but they are so fuzzy I can’t make them out. I got your name from rzapolin.
Can you clear up the image(s)?
Thanks for any help!
Jim Ruff
Salt Lake City, Utah and Sacramento, CA

ufo jim 300x190 Unidentified Flying Objects

UFO

Dear Jim,
Insects generally have six legs and four wings.  Your Unidentified Flying Objects are more cigar and saucer shaped without appendages.  We hope these images are not classified.

ufo 2 jim 300x183 Unidentified Flying Objects

UFO

Amazing service – thank you! Here is more info, and another question
Howdy Daniel,
Wow, thanks for the great customer service!  Prompt, professional, courteous.
I have dozens of these pictures – usually taken from videos of about 1 minute in duration or less.  The pictures were taken in my backyard, in a friend’s backyard, or on a public trail.
I have one in particular which is posted on Youtube, but I was told they are raindrops hitting the lens.
You are the only one who has said flat out that these are saucers.  Everyone else has said they are insects of some type.   May I ask how you are able to make that distinction?  I happen to know you are correct, but I am most curious as to how you arrived at that conclusion when supposedly ‘professional’ investigators from very well-known organizations said they are simply bugs.
Is there any way to clear up these images to be able to see the saucer or cigar shape?
Thanks again for your great service – I truly appreciate it.  Feel free to call me directly if you are so inclined.
Jim

Dear Jim,
We would never be so presumptuous to claim that life, possibly even intelligent life, could not exist somewhere in the vastness of space, but we are really not qualified to analyze your imagery as to authenticity or proof of an extraterrestrial visitation.  We are competent enough at photography to know that photographs can be staged, and since we are enormous fans of the Antonioni film Blow-Up, we also know that it is possible to see what one wants to see in an image.  With that stated, we would also like to take the opportunity to share our own sighting with our readership.  The image here was taken in 1996 when we worked at the Griffith Observatory, and it is printed directly from an original negative with no darkroom manipulation or any postproduction alterations.  Enjoy.

ufo sighting casual observer 300x232 Unidentified Flying Objects

Casual Observer staff sights UFO at Griffith Observatory

At the time this image was reproduced in the 1997 Casual Observer calendar, subtitled 13 months of casually observing, it ran with the caption:  “The photo staff is captured on film as they attempt to capture on film an event nonpareil, the coming of aliens to the Hall of Science.  Later, the L.G.M. were apprehended after breaking into the Table of Elements and brought down to the ranger station for questioning and torture.”  Limited editions of the monthly publication The Casual Observer as well as the commemorative calendar are considered highly collectible in some circles.

Red Headed Ash Borer

A Beautiful Beetle that I can’t Identify
April 16, 2010
First spotted this beautiful ‘beetle’ (I think) on the outside of my patio door. He flew away before I got a picture! Hand sketched from memory and searched this website and others for his name but no match was found.
After mowing today (4/16/2010) happened to see another one on my garbage can behind my garage. Captured (him) into a plastic jar and took several close-ups before releasing him UNHARMED. As I let him go near the garbage can I saw another one there at the same place that I captured him (feremones?). Pictures are of the captured one in the plastic jar and the free one on top of (blue) garbage can.
farmer don
Southeast Missouri, Mississippi County

redheaded ash borer don 300x238 Red Headed Ash Borer

Res Headed Ash Borer

Dear Farmer Don,
You are our kind of guy.  Your beautiful beetle is a Red Headed Ash Borer, Neoclytus acuminatus.  According to BugGuide:  “Larvae feed on the sapwood of ash and other hardwoods, and even occasionally on vines and shrubs. Larvae are commonly found feeding in downed timber with the bark left on.
“  The adults are often attracted to UV lights.

Mr. Marlos,
Thank you so very much for your assistance. It was a tedious process to attempt identification using my dial-up internet connection. Hundreds of pictures of bugs sometimes took hours to load…. so you’ve saved me a lot of time!
Hardly a week goes by on my rural, wooded 2.5 acres without my seeing some new and unusual bug. I often carry a 10x hand lens to take a closer look at their tiny features. Several days ago I discovered evidence of burying beetles in my backyard.. they had almost completely buried a black bird in the soft sand. (The black bird was raiding the nests of ‘my’ songbirds when a .177 caliber pellet ended his nefarious deed!)
Thanks again for your service!
Regards,
Don Laughlin (Not really a farmer!)

Dear Not Really a Farmer Don,
Thanks for the update.  We do not nostalgically remember the days when we had to update our website using dial-up, and we are thankful that we now have high speed cable internet connectivity.  We wish you had sent photos of the Burying Beetles.

What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Striped Morning Sphinx

a large moth in Mesquite, NV
April 15, 2010
Dear Bugman,
I spotted this large moth this morning (4/15) around 8am in Mesquite. The temperature was around 60. It just hung out on the pump while I gassed up my Corolla. What kind of moth is it?
Thanks!
Andrea
Mesquite, Nevada, USA

hyles gas station andrea 300x214 Striped Morning Sphinx

Striped Morning Sphinx

Dear Andrea,
This lovely moth is a Striped Morning Sphinx or White Lined Sphinx, Hyles lineata, arguably the most common large moth in North America.  It ranges in all 48 of the continental states as well as Mexico and Canada.  Gas Stations can be magnets for large moths and other insects that are attracted to lights, like Toe-Biters and Prionid Beetles.

Hi Daniel,
Thanks so much! icon smile Striped Morning Sphinx
Andrea

Fanmail from a Faithful Fan

April 16, 2010
It IS wonderful to see how the site has grown but it’s darn near impossible to get a message through to Dan and Lisa, let alone a photo.  But I still love these guys!  I know they’re as busy as bees!
Joannne
Now in Romeoville IL, not Darien IL

Hi Joannne,
We see you have added an n to your name since the last time we wrote back to you.  We haven’t noticed any mail from you, but we don’t always read names in an effort to be more impartial when reading our mail.  Though much more would get answered if we hired staff, we like maintaining a personal touch with our responses.
Dear, dear Joannne,
We will never forget that “hornet’s nest” you stirred up a few years back with your wry comments.  As always, we love being a bit edgy and controversial, and even adult in our humor, but we strive to maintain public decorum and we always refrain from posting obscenities and foul language to our humble site, either from our own keyboards or those of the public.  Try resending that photo Joanne.

Thanks so much for remembering me, Dan!  I have left my partner of 18 years and am now living on my own in Romeoville, IL.  It’s for the best so don’t worry!
My best friend lives in Sheridan, IL and whilst staying with her the weekend I left my partner, I found this beautiful garden spider and her husband….sperm donor….whatever.  I will send three images on a separate email.
I am looking forward to a summer of new bugs in Sheridan, IL.  My friend out there and I have been buddies since 1977 so I know I’m welcome out there any time!
Much love,
Joanne (still 2 “n”s I think I was drinking…)

Eastern Lubber Grasshopper

Black Bug with Red Stripe down back
April 14, 2010
I have found these bugs outside my house and I was wondering what they were and if I should be wary of them. Any ideas??
Karen
Winter Springs, FL

lubber nymphs karen 300x225 Eastern Lubber Grasshopper

Eastern Lubber Nymphs

Hi Karen,
These are Eastern Lubber Grasshopper nymphs.  They may get numerous, but they are no cause for concern.

Mating Hickory Borers

Worlds largest yellow jackets?
April 15, 2010
These insects are swarming my woodpile. You really cannot see their wings but they can fly. Some are nearly an inch long and others are small like a honey bee. They also seem to be mating. Note the long antennas.
your call
northern indiana

hickory borers mating 300x229 Mating Hickory Borers

Hickory Borers Mating

Dear your call,
These are not Yellow Jackets, but rather, Yellow Jacket mimics.  They are beetles known as Hickory Borers.  The immature grubs live in wood, and these adults have emerged from the wood pile and now they are mating.

Midge in Amber

Unusual Midge – In Copal
April 15, 2010
Hello,
Found this in Madagascar Copal, around 5,000 years old, wings are 10mm, body about 8 mm, wings have symetrical patternation, very long striped legs ( like porcupine needles!) Huge head for the body…I have around 3,000 inclusion specimens but have never seen this type before. Richard
BadJakey
Madagascar

amber midge jake 299x283 Midge in Amber

Midge in Amber

Dear Jake,
We are jealous of your fossilized insect in amber collection.  We would love some amber cufflinks with insects.

amber midge 2 jake 160x300 Midge in Amber

Midge in Amber

Hi Daniel,
Do not be jealous…
goto www.BadJakeyArt.com – which is my ebay shop.
Menu on left – Unusual Fossils…
and you can find 300 of my copal & amber pieces, some of whcih I have probably miss-identified.
Was my submission some kind of MayFly?
Richard

Hi Richard,
It is not a Mayfly.  We agree it is probably a midge.

More Insects in Amber
April 20, 2010
Hi Daniel, I stumbled across this today.
http://news.discovery.com/animals/amber-cretaceous-africa-slides.html
take care!
Lisa


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