Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly
June 24, 2010
Hi Daniel, I ran across this handsome fellow beside a country road about three weeks ago. I know you have several photos of these already on your website. When I was a kid everyone in this area called them “snake doctors” (I always walked very wary when I saw one for fear a snake was around) They are so beautiful I wanted to share it, but with all of the images you have already you may not want to use the webspace. It appears this is a male since he doesn’t have a white spot on his wing tips. Thanks and have a wonderful day..
Richard
North Middle Tennessee
Ebony Jewelwing
Hi again Richard,
What a lovely photo of a lovely Ebony Jewelwing. We saw several in Mill Creek Park during our recent visit to our hometown in Ohio.
It has wings, but files slowly with legs out.
June 17, 2010
I live in north Louisiana, I have seen this bug flying several summers. This is the first time I was about to get a photo. It flies in a wave motion with legs out and slowly. I thought it was some kind of misquito, but after I saw my photo I do not think that anymore. Seems to be in damselfly family maybe, except for the short wings and only one set. Any info appreciated.
Sandy Rabb
Ruston, Louisiana
Phantom Crane Fly
Hi Sandy,
This is a Phantom Crane Fly in the genus Bittacomorpha. We have read that its coloration and method of flight allows it to seem to disappear as it floats from sun to shadow.
ID please
June 17, 2010
Took pics of this bug last week. Lake Tinaroo up on the Atherton Tablelands above Cairns, Far North Queensland. I seems to have moth like antennae but a mosquito like body.
Thanks
Andy MacDougall
atherton highlands, tropical north queensland
Midge
Hi Andy,
This is a Midge in the family Chironomidae, and it is a male judging by his feathery antennae. We do not have the necessary skills to further classify this Midge to the genus or species level, but we have linked to a similar image on BugGuide for reference.
Bot Fly?
June 15, 2010
Hi. I believe I’ve caught a Bot Fly in my house. It buzzes loudly. It’s approximately 3/4″ long. I’m curious!!!
Thanks, Barb
Orange, VA
Bot Fly
Hi Barb,
Your identification of a Bot Fly in the genus Cuterebra is correct. We must congratulate you on the time and effort you put into trying to identify this unusual creature that has such an interesting life cycle. We just utilized a similar catch and photograph (and hopefully release) technique with a Flesh Fly found in our own offices. The best way to remove an insect from the home without handling it directly and without harming it is to use a glass to capture it, and then slipping a postcard under the glass. The creature may then be photographed and released, or just released.
Bot Fly
Beetle on Oak Debris
June 20, 2010
Hi. I found a bunch of these guys skittering around on the stump and debris of an oak tree my parents had cut down in their yard. At first I thought they were some sort of crickets; they were moving rather quickly and it was hard to get a good look let alone a picture. But I finally succeeded. I’m not so practiced at IDs for beetles, but I think I am correct that they are one of the wood borer beetles: neoclytus scutellaris (no common name that I could find). I was unsurprised, though, when I read that they like dead and dying oaks; they’d found this one less than 24hrs after it had been cut down. I’m hoping to have some pictures soon from the cocoons I rescued from the cut down branches.
Karen H.
Belleview, FL
Neoclytus scutellaris
Hi Karen,
We agree with your identification of Neoclytus scutellaris, a Longhorned Borer Beetle whose larvae, according to BugGuide: “feed in sapwood of (dead?) oaks, hickories, also grape.”
June 23, 2010
We left the front and back doors open for more than an hour this morning and found we had let two large flies into the house. We trapped one in a drinking glass and took it outside before eating lunch. Later in the afternoon we took some photos.
Flesh Fly
We quickly identified this Flesh Fly in the subfamily Sarcophaginae on BugGuide. According to Charles Hogue in Insects of the Los Angeles Basin: “Flesh flies have rather broad pads on the feet; males of many species have a red-tipped abdomen.” Our specimen has a red tipped abdomen indicating he is a male. Hogue also indicates: “Most of the members of this family are wild flies, but many species accidentally enter dwellings that are near their breeding sites. The larvae live in fish and animal carcasses and other decomposing organic matter, particularly discarded meat.” After taking photos inside the glass, we released the Flesh Fly who stuck around long enough to have a nice photo taken on the outside rim of the glass.
Mt. Washington, Los Angeles, CA
Flesh Fly
Amazing green beetle in Illinois
June 16, 2010
I found this beetle hiding under my daughter’s plastic playset. I captured it and took photos, while attempting to keep the cat from snatching it. To be honest, it was so huge and had such prominent pinchers, I was more worried for the cat than the beetle.
It’s June and sunny out – about 80 degrees. We have a lush garden.
It seemed to be at least .75″ wide by 1″ long…
Even though I turned him loose (after shooing away the Cat), I’ve been wondering all day if I found something Amazing….
TolerantOfBugs
Near Chicago Illinois
Fiery Searcher
Dear TolerantOfBugs,
This spectacular Ground Beetle is a Caterpillar Hunter known as a Fiery Searcher, Calosoma scrutator. It may give a painful nip if carelessly handled. The Fiery Searcher is an important predator that helps keeping the population of caterpillars in check.
Fiery Searcher
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