Insect from Belize…
Location: Mountain Pine Ridge in Cayo, Belize
July 28, 2010 10:21 am
We think it’s a sort of locust, what do you think? We were fascinated with this bug! I took this picture on Thursday, July 22, 2010. Thanks for your help!
Sandie Young
Crayola Katydid from Belize
Hi Sandie,
This appears to be a Katydid, though we sometimes mistake other Long Horned Orthopterans in the suborder Ensifera for Katydids. We are going to check with international Katydid expert Piotr Naskrecki to see if he recognizes your species.
That is wonderful, thank you so much. Will you please let me know what you find out? I’ve never seen such a beautiful colorful bug ! 
Hi Daniel,
This is a female of the Crayola katydid, Moncheca pretiosa (Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae), one of the few katydids that probably uses chemical defenses. Although this species has not yet been tested, its closest relative, a similarly colored genus Vestria, produces volatile pyrazines that are known to act as repellants to monkeys and birds.
Cheers,
Piotr
Wow Piotr,
That is wonderful. The Crayola Katydid sure has a fitting name for such a colorful Katydid, and those of us who grew up with the 64 pack of crayons appreciate the significance.
How cool is that!! I love his name. We were calling him the disco bug Thanks for the info ! What a great website you have !
Sandie
3
Robber Fly Feeding
Location: North Middle Tennessee
July 28, 2010 9:38 am
Hi Daniel,
This big guy buzzed by this morning and landed in a nearby bush. I went inside to get the camera, thankfully it was still there when I returned. I thought you might like it for your food chain section. At first I thought it was feeding on a bumblebee but now I believe it may be a ”bee mimic robber fly”, not really sure. I was photographing a couple of robber flies yesterday that looked like this one except this one is maybe twice as large. So maybe this one is the Giant version. Thanks for all you do and have a great day.
Richard
Bee Killer eats Bumble Bee
Hi Richard,
You really are contributing some wonderful images to our website. It would seem you are well on your way to producing a guide book of insects from your area in Tennessee. We believe this is a Bee Killer, one of the Giant Robber Flies in the genus Promachus, based on images posted to BugGuide. The tiger stripe pattern on the abdomen is an identifying feature. Also, we are inclined to agree with your first impression that the prey is a Bumble Bee because it appears to have two wings on each side as opposed to a single pair of wings, a characteristic of the bee mimic Flies.
Ed Note: August 2, 2010
Today we identified a Red Footed Cannibalfly, and we realized that we now had a species identification on this beauty: Promachus rufipes.
Cicada Killer in Mass
July 28, 2010 7:22 pm
I have a Cicada Killer in SE Mass, the time table and territory shows Cicadas not here, and not due around this year. Am I wrong or are they sustained on nectar in the off years (and shes lost)?
Colby Crossman
Hi Colby,
There are cicadas in your area every year. Do not confuse the special appearance of the Periodical Cicada or 17 Year Locust that appear on a periodic schedule with the Annual Cicadas that appear each year. The Periodical Cicadas, when they do appear, are about a month earlier than the appearance of Cicada Killers, so the Periodical Cicadas do not contribute to the diet of Cicada Killers which tend to feed on the Annual Cicadas that appear in mid to late summer. It is also worth noting that only the larval Cicada Killers feed on the Cicadas which are paralyzed by the female Cicada Killer to provision her nest with food for her brood. Adults take nectar.
A black soldier fly?
Location: South Pasadena, CA
July 29, 2010 12:34 am
I would have thought this was a wasp, but it showed up around the same time the larva appeared in the composter. I saw you didn’t have a picture of a mature one.
Barbara
Black Soldier Fly
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for sending us your photo of a Black Soldier Fly or Window Fly, Hermetia illucens. You can see BugGuide for more information. Interestingly, one was on our front porch screen door two mornings ago, but we have two very active compost piles.
¶ Posted 29 July 2010 § Flies ‡ ° Leaf Beetles » Chrysomelinae » Calligrapha » Calligrapha vicina
Location: Gananoque, Ontario, Canada
July 27, 2010 8:54 pm
I stumbled across this lovely site tonight, and was very please to finally figure out what little bug I found in my backyard. I thought it was a variation of a ladybug I had never seen before, but between your site and bugguide.net that was referenced in an article here, I have narrowed it down to being a Leaf Beetle in the Calligrapha Vicina category. Although it is not great quality, I thought I would pass along the picture I was able to take with my phone before the beetle took off. I found this in SouthEastern Ontario in mid July 2010.
Debra
Leaf Beetle
Hi Debra,
Congratulations on your being successful in the identification of this Leaf Beetle in the genus Calligrapha.
¶ Posted 28 July 2010 § Beetles ‡ ° French mystery moth.
Location: Montpelier, southern France
July 27, 2010 12:21 pm
My sister recently found this moth in her garden. She lives near Montpelier in southern France. Could you identify it please,as it is not listed in any of my moth reference books.
Thankyou.
Nigel Harland
Possibly Fruit Piercing Moth
Hi Nigel,
We believe you may have photographed a Fruit Piercing Moth based on its appearance, though we are not certain if Fruit Piercing Moths are found in France. Here is a link to an Australian species. We are posting your letter and photos in the hope that one of our readers can supply any supporting or contradicting information.
Possibly Fruit Piercing Moth
Karl researches the Answer
Hi Daniel and Nigel:
This was very tricky one because it does look like an Underwing or Fruit-piercing Moth – and it is in the wrong hemisphere! I was able to track it down only because it reminded me of a species of Castnia that I photographed in Costa Rica last winter. It is actually a Castniid moth (Castniidae), a small and mostly neotropical family of day-flying moths (a few species in Australia and Asia). They are also called Butterfly Moths and are often mistaken for butterflies. The species is Paysandisia archon and according to Wikipedia: “It is native to Uruguay and central Argentina and has been accidentally introduced to Europe, where it is spreading rapidly. It is considered the only member of the genus Paysandisia.” The larvae are palm borers and are considered a serious pest. The spread of this species is being closely tracked in France and several other Mediterranean countries and it is likely that someone may be interested in this sighting. Regards. Karl
Hello Daniel and Karl,
Thankyou both so much for getting a positive identification on this moth, it appears to be quite a rarity.
Thanks again,
Nigel Harland.
Water Strider
Location: North Middle Tennessee
July 27, 2010 4:33 pm
Hi Daniel,
Took a trek down to the creek today here are some water striders from the trip. They are very common around here but have always caught my interest. From my childhood memories they are very difficult to catch, from today they are difficult to photograph. Thank You for all that you do and have a wonderful day.
Richard
Water Strider
Hi Richard,
Thanks for sending us your images of Water Striders so we can provide them for our readership. They are fascinating to watch as they skate across the surface of ponds and streams while waiting for luckless insects to fall in, providing them with a meal.
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