Grasshopper from the Amazon
May 26, 2010
This was commonly seen in our hikes in the Manu Jungle, upper Amazon Basin, Peru.
Don Brown
Manu National Park, Amazon Basin, Peru
Monkey Grasshopper
Hi Don,
We don’t recognize your Grasshopper, but perhaps one of our readers can assist.
Karl Supplies an identification
Hi Daniel and Don:
The small size, short antennae and particularly the splayed out hind legs are all characteristic of the family Eumastacidae. The common name for the family is Monkey Grasshoppesr or Monkey Hoppers; sometimes Airplane Grasshoppesr. This is a fairly large family of hoppers with many species throughout the Americas, particularly in the tropics. This one looks very much like Paramastax nigra. If that’s not the exact species, it is most likely the correct genus. It’s a very nice photo. Regards.
Karl
May 26, 2010
We arrived home from a tough day teaching at LACC today to find that the Designed Manuscript was back from the layout artist. Now begins the difficult task of the final proof reading. We are making minor changes, like word substitutions and we want to add the following theory on Dragonfly names: “One might imagine that the Ear Cutter is the evil version, and the Ear Sewer might then stitch up the damage in the manner of a surgeon.“ Please forgive us if for the next few weeks (curiously corresponding to final examinations, graduation, student learning outcome assessments and committee meetings) we only respond to and post a few letters a day. The volume of mail is increasing with the approach of summer, and we still don’t have a staff.
This was on my front step. Big moth.
May 25, 2010
This is a pretty large moth and I’ve never seen one this big or this colorful in my yard. It was just on my front step this morning and it stayed there all day, moving a little up and down my front wall.
Don’t understand the question.
Altamont, NY near Albany.
Cecropia Moth
Your moth is a Cecropia Moth.
Butterfly
May 25, 2010
Hello Daniel,
I haven’t been able to ID this little butterfly after looking through 35 pages of butterflies on your website. (What a treat, butterflies are my favorite) Can you help with its ID? Sorry I couldn’t get a photo with open wings, which may have made IDing a bit easier. Thank you for everything.
Richard
North Middle Tennessee
Hairstreak
Hi Richard,
It is a Hairstreak, but since we are late for work, we can’t look up species right now.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/383/bgimage
Thank you Daniel, for taking the time to answer my butterfly request. Hairstreak narrows it down close enough for me, please don’t go to a lot of trouble searching for the sub species for me. I know you are busy and I don’t want to take up any of your valuable time. Thanks again and have a wonderful day.
Richard
remarkable big insect
May 25, 2010
spring photo in a little village near the sea
what is this???
greece
Shieldback Katydid, we believe
We believe this is a Shieldback Katydid in the subfamily Tettigoniinae. We will contact an expert in Orthopterans, Piotr Naskrecki, to see if he is able to provide a species name or correction.
Piotr Naskrecki provides an answer
Hi Daniel,
This beauty is called Callimenus macrogaster (Tettigoniidae: Bradyporinae.) Whether it is a shield-back is still a matter of discussion, although recent molecular data indicate that Bradyporinae may indeed by closely related to shield-backs (Tettigoniinae.) This species has an interesting defense mechanism, and if perturbed squirts hemolymph at its attacker.
Piotr
Black and white close to 2″ long
May 25, 2010
Found this specimen in this condition, all legs and antenna folded into the body like a puzzle. Thought it was dead. Transported it, poked it and nothing happened. Suddenly there were antenna and shortly legs
Tracey Kasper
Bloomingdale New Jersey
Eyed Elater
Hi Tracey,
This large Click Beetle is known as an Eyed Elater. They do “play opossum” and if caught on their backs, they are able to snap their bodies and flip into the air while making a clicking sound, which allows them to land on their feet.
Big Baby Butterfly
May 25, 2010
I saw this guy when I was watering the flowers, he was so big and I could tell he just became a butterfly his wings were still drying. Hence why I was able to get a decent pic, since he couldnt fly that well/far. I was wondering what kind of butterfly this is, if I held him with wings spread he would be about the size of my hand. Plus I was able to take a good pic of a great specimen and thought I would share with ya’ll.
Caitlyn in Austin
Leander, Tx
Giant Swallowtail
Hi Caitlyn,
This beauty is a Giant Swallowtail, and the caterpillars, which feed upon the leaves of citrus trees and resemble bird droppings, are called Orange Dogs. The Giant Swallowtail is a native species and citrus is not. Prior to the introduction of citrus trees to North America, the caterpillars of the Giant Swallowtail fed upon native trees including Common Pricklyash and Common Hoptree. With the introduction of citrus, the range of the Giant Swallowtail has greatly increased to include Arizona and California.
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