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Monthly Archives October 2010

Tip Wilter from South Africa

HornedBug
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
October 22, 2010 7:47 am
I found this guy in my garden on a rose bush. There were two of them close to one another, I moved this one to get a pic and then when I wanted to return it (to it’s mate) it flew away. It was probably just over an inch in length.
Signature: Rudi

Hi,
I just sent in a request earlier, but have found the answer.
The “orange antennae” is how I got to the identification.  Should probably add that key to my pic if you’d like to add it.
It is a leaf footed bug,
Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Leaf-footed Bugs (Coreidae) » Acanthocephala
Regards
Rudi

coreid south africa rudi 300x252 Tip Wilter from South Africa

Tip Wilter

Hi Rudi,
True Bugs in the family Coreidae are often called Leaf Footed Bugs or Flag Footed Bugs, though a third common name, Big Legged Bug, seems most appropriate in your case.  Those thoracic protuberances are quite impressive.  We haven’t the time to research a species name at the moment, but there are some unmistakable similarities to the genus Acanthocephala from North America, including the Acanthocephala confraterna pictured on BugGuide.  Just before hitting post, we did a quick search and found images of a Tip Wilter, Anoplocnemis curvipes, on the Biodiversity Explorer website that closely resembles your insect.
P.S.  We didn’t notice your second email until we began to research this posting.

coried south africa rudi 2 300x220 Tip Wilter from South Africa

Tip Wilter

Posted 22 October 2010 § Leaf Footed Bugs ‡ Comments (1) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Huntsman Spider from Vietnam

Vietnamese bathroom spider
Location: Hue, Central Vietnam
October 21, 2010 6:26 pm
I have often seen this guy (or gal) and others like him in damp locations inside houses, in Hue, Vietnam. Legspan included, the largest ones are about 4 inches across.The legs, at the thickest section, can be up to 3/8 inch diameter, maybe more. I haven’t ever seen them in the bedroom or living room, so I take it they like moisture. I tried to post 2 photos, but kept getting a ”failed to send message, please try later” warning. The second photo showed that the spider’s legspan matches the length of a soapdish.
Signature: curious traveller

huntsman spider vietnam 300x254 Huntsman Spider from Vietnam

Huntsman Spider

Dear Curious Traveller [sic],
Your spider appears to be one of the Hunstman Spiders, most probably Heteropoda venatoria, a species found in warm ports around the world that was introduced to many new habitats because of the importation of bananas.  They are nocturnal predators that feed upon cockroaches.

Posted 22 October 2010 § Huntsman Spiders ‡ Comments (0) °

March Fly from Australia

Black winged, orange bodied flying insect
Location: Downtown Sydney, Australia
October 22, 2010 3:33 am
I can’t find a photo that quite corresponds to this bug. It, and others similar, were apparently supping nectar from the same bush as lots of bees, hover flies and the like.
Seems to have a disproportionally small head. Attached photo shows 6 live views and three post mortem.
Signature: Mike Gordon

Bibionidae australia mike 300x223 March Fly from Australia

March Fly

Hi again Mike,
Upon seeing your new photos, we now believe the letter you sent last week contained a misidentification.  This is not a Sawfly, but rather, we believe, a March Fly in the family Bibionidae.  Unfortunately, the Brisbane Insect Website only contains images of a species that is not your insect.  Female March Flies often have significantly smaller heads and eyes than males.  Some confusion may arise as the name March Fly refers to Horse Flies in Australia.

Bibionidae australia mike 2 300x287 March Fly from Australia

Unknown March Fly from Australia

The new photos you have sent to us should enable a conclusive identification from an expert, but we are not having much luck finding any matches in our internet searching.  Perhaps one of our readers will provide an identification.

Bibionidae australia mike 3 300x249 March Fly from Australia

Unknown March Fly from Australia

Thanks, again, Daniel,
Following the lead that you have given me I think that I may have found it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bibio_hortulanus01.jpg
What do you think?
Mike.

Daniel,
Another link: http://www.diptera.info/photogallery.php?photo_id=910
Further defines the bug as female, as your email had suggested.
Mike.

Hello again Mike,
Biblio hortulanus appears to be a European species as indicated on this UK Insect website and it may have been introduced to Australia, or your insect may be a similar looking but distinct Australian species.

Don’t think I’ll worry about that!
Mike.

2

Posted 22 October 2010 § March Flies and Lovebugs ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged:
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Striped Morning Sphinx Caterpillar: Dark Form

Unidentified catepillar
Location: Pennsylvania
October 20, 2010 7:32 pm
Wondering what this is? I got to page 23 and didn’t find it.
Signature: John Stella

hyles lineata cat dark john 300x192 Striped Morning Sphinx Caterpillar: Dark Form

Striped Morning Sphinx Caterpillar

Hi John,
This is the caterpillar of the White Lined Sphinx or Striped Morning Sphinx, Hyles lineata, a species that is found in all 48 of the continental United States as well as Mexico and Canada.  It has a highly variable caterpillar, a trait that might contribute to its range and frequency since it is so adaptable.  If you scroll down the species page on the Sphingidae of the Americas website, you will find a matching example of this unusual dark variation.

hyles lineata cat dark john 2 300x206 Striped Morning Sphinx Caterpillar: Dark Form

Striped Morning Sphinx Caterpillar

1

Posted 21 October 2010 § Hornworms ‡ Comments (0) °

Spider from Zambia, possibly Wolf Spider

Spider (Huntsman?) in Lusaka, Zambia
Location: Lusaka, Zambia
October 21, 2010 4:11 am
Dear Bugman,
last night (around 8pm., 2 hours after sunset) I almost stepped on this spider (body size appr. 3.5 cm / 1.4 inches), which was sitting on the grass in our garden. We are located in the city of Lusaka, Zambia (Southern Africa). Currently it is dry season with the rainy season approaching.
The spider did not move for the entire time I took from discovering it to fetching the camera and taking some photos (with flash). Also placing my slipper next to it for size comparison did not make it move.
Any hints are greatly appreciated. Thank you very much in advance!
Signature: Spider-Illiterate

spider lusaka zambia 300x207 Spider from Zambia, possibly Wolf Spider

Possibly Wolf Spider

Dear Spider-Illiterate,
In our opinion, this appears to be a Wolf Spider, but we are not certain.

Posted 21 October 2010 § Ground Spiders and Ant Mimics ‡ Comments (0) °

Dot Lined White Moth

What moth is this?
Location:  Brownsville, Kentucky
October 20, 2010 11:56 am
I took this picture on 10/17/10 in Kentucky and was wondering what type of moth this is. I found them on this leaf and both of them had their wings closed until I picked it up to get a picture in the sun and the one opened it’s wings. Also, is image #2 a chrysalis for this moth?
Signature:  Susan

dot lined white moth susan 300x206 Dot Lined White Moth

Dot Lined White Moths

Hi Susan,
We were amazed at the speed with which we identified your Dot Lined White Moths, Artace cribraria.  We observed a similarity to the genus Tolype, so we searched the Tent Caterpillars and Lappet Moths on BugGuide, and quickly found a match in the Dot Lined White.  According to BugGuide:  “adults fly from June to October (1), or as early as March in the south  Food  Larvae feed on leaves of oak (Quercus), cherry (Prunus), and rose (Rosa).“  It is highly likely that the cocoon is also that of a Dot Lined White.

dot line white cocoon susan 300x245 Dot Lined White Moth

Dot Lined White Cocoon

Posted 21 October 2010 § Lappet Moths ‡ Comments (0) °

Brush Footed Trapdoor Spider from Australia

Male Brush Footed Trapdoor
Location: Queensland Au
October 21, 2010 12:22 am
Hi Guys,
We have been having heaps of rain down here and it bought this stunning male Brush Footed Trapdoor (Idiommata iridescens) to my back verandah. I didn’t find out till I got an ID that it is highly venomous in the same sort of toxicity as our infamous Sydney Funnel Web.
Signature: aussietrev

trapdoor australia trevor 300x199 Brush Footed Trapdoor Spider from Australia

Brush Footed Trapdoor Spider

Hi Trevor,
Thanks for sending us another excellent photo of an unusual Australian species.  We had not heard of any highly venomous Trapdoor Spiders, so we decided to do a bit of internet sleuthing to find some information.  Our first hit, the Find A Spider Guide for the Spiders of Southern Queensland, produced your very photograph.  Not much else of any use turned up.

Posted 21 October 2010 § Ground Spiders and Ant Mimics ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged:

Tiger Beetle Larva

Bug Name
Location: South East
October 20, 2010 6:56 pm
My dad taught me how to take a piece of grass and put it in the hole, and when the worm started to push the grass out, you YANK out the worm. I have looked everywhere and cannot find the name of the worm/bug/ant/whatever. They live in hard ground in holes. They eat small bugs and are great fish bait. So what is this bug?
Signature: Alesha

tiger beetle hole alesha 300x243 Tiger Beetle Larva

Tiger Beetle Hole

Dear Alesha,
We are perfectly charmed by your story of luring a Tiger Beetle Larva in the family Cicindelinae out of its hole with a blade of grass.  You can see a clearer image on BugGuide, but the accompanying text pales in comparison to your own personal story.

tiger beetle larva alesha 300x215 Tiger Beetle Larva

Tiger Beetle Larva

Thank you so much, you have no idea the arguments caused by this worm.  And if you think this story is charming, you should hear the others.  The excitment of living in the south, we have to entertain ourselves somehow.  Thanks again!!!
Alesha

Posted 20 October 2010 § Beetles ‡ Comments (0) °

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