Moths breeding
Location: Dallas Fort Worth Texas
July 18, 2010 2:40 pm
These moths were breeding on a piece of wood on my driveway. Date was April 21, 2010. Dallas, Fort Worth area of Texas.
Sarah Goodrich
Mating Pink Striped Oakworm Moths
Hi Sarah,
Your moths are Oakworm Moths in the genus Anisota, most probably the Pink Striped Oakworm Moths, Anisota virginiensis, though there are other members in the genus that look quite similar.
Dearest Bugman
Location: Delaware Water Gap, PA (Along the riverside)
July 18, 2010 5:45 pm
I saw this along the delaware river about a month ago. Ive been showing everyone the photograph i sent you and no one can figure out even what type of bug it is! (If you can see in the photo it was also mating at the same time, female belly up it looked like) so its not alone and must be full grown. I truly hope you can clear this up, if not, im convinced it is an alien.
Your Friend, Christoph
Newly metamorphosed female Dobsonfly
Hi Christoph,
This is a newly metamorphosed female Dobsonfly, and she is still grasping on to her pupal exuvia, the sloughed off skin that is left behind after metamorphosis. This is a wonderful documentation for our website. You should check out some of the numerous images we have posted over the years of Dobsonflies. Males with their disproportionately large mandibles are truly frightening looking, but perfectly harmless creatures.
July 17, 2010
We were sitting on the front porch when we saw this Underwing Moth in the genus Catocala alight on the carob tree during the afternoon. We are uncertain what species it is. There are many possibilities picture on BugGuide, many of which look the same to our untrained eyes. Exactly one year ago, we posted an image of an Underwing Moth that was attracted to the porch light.
Underwing Moth
all white grub? Request
Location: Mid-Peninsula SF Bay Area, CA
July 18, 2010 12:02 pm
Hello,
This is an update to my ID request from 7/14. I took the bug to our local county Agriculture Dept. and they thought it was a Mole Cricket. I’m doubtful though since it doesn’t look like any picture of a Mole Cricket online and doesn’t have wings. It most resembles a picture you have of the Cottonwood Borer Pupae but my bug was found in the dirt rather than in wood. Anxiously waiting your diagnosis – thanks in advance!
AW
Unknown Beetle Pupa
Dear AW,
We regret that we are unable to classify your creature beyond saying that it is a Beetle Pupa. Perhaps one of our readers can provide a family classification.
Thank you so much for your response!
Andrea
Eric Eaton poses a some possibilities.
Daniel:
I can’t be positive from one image alone, but I’m leaning toward either a net-winged beetle (family Lycidae) or a firefly (family Lampyridae).
Eric
Wooley Booleys
Jul 16, 2010
Hi,
I spotted these in a marsh in Colorado & photographed them. They were on red willow, which was infested with aphids. They suck an aphid dry, then move on to the next aphid. I could not find any ID for these guys.
Thanks for considering my ID request!
Michelle
Dusky Lady Beetle Larvae eat Aphids
Hi Michelle,
At first we believed these might be the larvae of a Lady Beetle known as the Mealy Bug Destroyer, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, a species introduced from Australia in 1891 to control Mealy Bugs on citrus in California according to BugGuide. We now believe they are probably a related species because they are not feeding on Mealy Bugs and also because they are further north than the range indicated on Bugguide. There are other species in the tribe Scymnini, the Dusky Lady Beetles, with similar looking larvae, including those in the genus Scymnus. The larva of a Scymnus species is pictured on BugGuide. The white projections are actually waxy outgrowths.
Hey, thanks! Cool! Do you want to use my photos for that section? If so, you are welcome to.
large moth
July 17, 2010
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Hello Bugman,
This large moth was found on a neighbor’s driveway. giant silk moth perhaps?
Execut1ve
Black Witch
Dear Executive,
This magnificent male Black Witch, Ascalapha odorata, is a subtropical and tropical species that has been reported to migrate north for well over a century for unknown reasons. These migrations were once seasonal, occurring in the fall, but more and more frequently, sightings north of the Mexican border are being reported. There is some indication that the species is now breeding in the southern parts of the U.S. There are many interesting myths associated with the Black Witch. Females of the species are identified by diagonal lighter markings on the wings. The Black Witch is not a Giant Silkmoth, but rather a member of the enormous superfamily Noctuoidea.
hawk moth?
July 17, 2010
Location: Fleetwood, PA (Berks County)
this moth was hanging on my barn door most of the day yesterday. it looks a bit like a hawk moth, but they do not appear to be native to southeastern PA (Berks County). is it a hawk moth?
Dan
Pandora Sphinx
Hi Dan,
Sightings of Pandora Sphinx Moths, Eumorpha pandorus, like the one in your photo have been reported to us numerous times this year. Hawkmoth tends to be a term used more for European species, though Sphinx Moths and Hawkmoths are both common synonyms for moths in the family Sphingidae.
Pacific Northwest backyard visitor
July 17, 2010
Location: Pacific Northwest – North Seattle
Love your site.
Found this guest hanging on my doorjamb when I took the trash out the night before. When disturbed, he hissed. Came out the next morning and he was still there. I browsed your and other sites, but couldn’t come up with anything that quite resembled him. I also can’t seem to find any antennae – perhaps that’s why he’s still hanging around?
What is he?
JohnM
Ten Lined June Beetle
Dear John,
Your beetle is a Ten Lined June Beetle, Polyphylla decemlineata, or a closely related species in the same genus. The antennae of this species are actually quite spectacular, though the individual in your photograph has not unfurled its antennae to their full extent. You can see a nice photo on BugGuide of a Ten Lined June Beetle displaying its antennae.
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