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Monthly Archives November 2010

Bird House Mystery Solved: Green Orchid Bee

bug nest?
Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
November 12, 2010 8:45 pm
I haven’t seen the bug yet, but something completely covered the hole in a decorative birdhouse on my porch with a thick, shiny, sticky substance that looks like it has dried bits of stuff embedded in it. It’s been closed over for about a week and today I noticed the hole was open and I saw a glimpse of an insect head, but it ducked back into the birdhouse. What in the world can this be?
Signature: Linda G

bird house mystery linda 300x206 Bird House Mystery Solved: Green Orchid Bee

Bird House Mystery: Dripping Honey Perhaps???

Dear Linda,
Bumble Bees frequently nest in empty bird houses and Bumble Bees provision the nest with honey.  We have an awesome image in our archives of a Red Tailed Bumble Bee nest in a birdhouse and another image from earlier this year of a Bumble Bee nest in a bird house in Oklahoma.  According to the Bee Man Exterminators website (which does not condone the removal or extermination of Bumble Bee nests):  “They often nest in bird houses using the old bird nest from a past year to nest in.“  Our best guess is that this might somehow be related to a nest of Bumble Bees and the oozing may be honey.  We would be thrilled to post any additional images of the insect should you be able to secure any, and we would love to be able to assist in clearing up this mystery.

bird house mystery linda cu 300x206 Bird House Mystery Solved: Green Orchid Bee

What's That in the Bird House???

Dan,
Thanks for the reply.  I had put the whole birdhouse in a big plastic bin on Friday evening and during the day on Saturday the “bee” came out….not very lively, but crawling around on the bottom of the bin.  Earlier today I put in some wildflower weeds from my yard for him and he went right to them and started crawling around from flower to flower.  When I checked again at dinner, he was latched onto a flower and not moving at all, so I went for the camera.  I picked the whole stem out and took a couple of pictures thinking he was dead since he hadn’t moved at all and poof!…off he flew!  I’m attaching the 3 pictures I did get.  When I googled iridescent green bee, I checked out a couple sites….could he be a “sweat bee”?  And why would there only be 1?  In 2 days, there was nothing else coming out of the birdhouse.  And the stuff gooking down from the hole is black, almost like tar!  So WEIRD!  But I guess a lot is weird in the bug world.  If you can give me any other info, I’d love it!
Thank you so much for the interest and the reply!
Linda G

orchid bee linda 300x212 Bird House Mystery Solved: Green Orchid Bee

Orchid Bee

Hi Linda,
Your bee is an Orchid Bee Euglossa viridissima, a recent immigrant to Florida first reported to What’s That Bug in 2003 or 2005, or somewhere in between.

orchid bee linda 2 300x206 Bird House Mystery Solved: Green Orchid Bee

Orchid Bee

Dan,
Thank You, Thank You!!!!!  After I googled Orchid Bee and checked out several sites with pictures, I’m sure that’s what he (she) was!  I’m glad it wasn’t something nasty like the African Killer bees!  I’ll be on the lookout for more hanging around my porterweed…it really was very pretty!
I love watching butterflies, caterpillars and such and try to make my yard welcoming to all sorts of wildlife…it was very exciting to see something so unusual and thanks to you it’s been identified!
Thanks again!
Linda G

UPDATE:  November 17, 2010
Just a quick follow-up on my orchid bee that you identified….I hung my birdhouse back up on my porch without cleaning off the black resin goop and when I came home last evening, it was closed up again! Totally!  After being completely open since last Friday.  And just a little while ago, I went out for mail and there is a hole about the size of a tack, so I’m guessing the bee came back, more were inside and just never appeared over the weekend when it was inside the big bin, or another 1 or more have taken over the nest!?  Whatever, it sure is fascinating!  Funny I’ve  never see any activity in over a month of watching the resin get bigger, close over completely and then the holes during the day.  Should I report my orchid bee to anyone?  If so, who or where should I look to find it….guess I can google it like I did to find you!
Thanks again,
Linda G

Thanks for the update Linda.  We don’t think you need to report your Green Orchid Bee as it is already known they are well established in Florida.

Posted 14 November 2010 § Orchid Bees ‡ Comments (2) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Carpet Beetle Larva: Can it be Related to Asthma flare???

Am I allergic to this hairy bug
Location: Boston MA
November 13, 2010 3:22 pm
Hi Daniel,
Great website! I love learning from what you’ve put together. You’ve made me very curious about bugs.
In particular, I have a bug that I am having trouble identifying. I’ve found them in my home, in the bedroom and a few other places.
Bugs I have observed are 1/8th inch to almost 1/4 inch long. The one in the attached pictures is 3/16ths inch long (just short of 1/4 inch). It’s the biggest one I’ve found. It has hair tufts along its body.
My best guess is a Carpet Beatle / wooly bear, but I am not sure that is right. Is this the larva of Anthrenus verbasci beetle? Or what do you think it is?
What can I expect from this bug living in my home? I have asthma, and have noticed I have been having more irritation with my lungs since I noted these insects, especially after spending a night in the bedroom where I found them. Could I have some allergy to their presence / fur?
If I need to remove them from my home, can you recommend a method?
Thanks so much, Daniel!
Signature: Justin Molloy

carpet beetle larva justin 300x224 Carpet Beetle Larva: Can it be Related to Asthma flare???

Carpet Beetle Larva

Hi Justin,
We are not medical professionals and we feel very reluctant to provide any opinion regarding the possibility of Carpet Beetle Larvae being connected to a complex syndrome like asthma that can be triggered by stress as well as the physical environment.  We will try to address you letter as best we can.  We agree that this larva is in the genus Anthrenus (see BugGuide), however we are very reluctant to provide an exact species identification, though Anthrenus verbasci is a strong possibility.  According to BugGuide, the habitat of Carpet Beetles is:  “An abundant household ‘stored product pest.’ In nature they inhabit the abandoned nests of birds and mammals, as well as old wasp nests where the larvae scavenge on accumulated fur, feathers, skin flakes, and dead insects” and additional comments include:  “Controlling carpet beetles can be achieved by keeping your home free of accumulated hair and dust (dust is mostly shed skin flakes of people and pets), discarding infested items and properly storing vulnerable items. Store dry foods (including dry pet food) in glass or metal containers with tight-fitting lids. Store woolens, furs, silks in a cedar chest. Forget mothballs and moth crystals. They are ineffective and carcinogenic respectively.“  Because the larvae may feed upon fur, hair and skin flakes, it is possible that environmental factors are contributing to your asthma and that the presence of the Carpet Beetle Larvae is a symptom of an underlying problem that might be corrected by more frequent vacuuming and cleaning of accumulated debris.

Hi Daniel,
Thank so much.  This info is very helpful, and is the link to your site on Anthrenus.
Really appreciate your guidance!  Have a great day.
Justin

Posted 14 November 2010 § Diseases: Real and Imagined § Pantry Beetles, Grain Weevils, Spider Beetles, Meal Worms and Carpet Beetles ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged:

Hangingflies: Mating Ritual

Scorpionfly mating ritual
Hi Daniel,
after sending of the last email I got to thinking whether the image may still be in a sent mail folder, guess what, I found it.
So attached is the full frame just resized down 50% so you can crop as desired.
regards,
Trevor

hangingflies mating ritual australia trevor 300x254 Hangingflies: Mating Ritual

Hangingflies: Mating Ritual

Hi again Trevor,
Thank you so much for contributing this wonderful image to our site.  The male Scorpionfly in the family Bittacidae, the Hangingflies, often present the females with a nuptial gift of a captured insect to entice her into mating.  The male Hangingfly in your photograph has such a gift.  Again, thanks so much for responding to our earlier request and for contributing so many wonderful images of Australian Hangingflies to our site.

Posted 14 November 2010 § Scorpionflies ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged: ,
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Earwig from South Korea

Can’t identify
Location: Camp Casey, South Korea
November 12, 2010 6:47 am
I am sure you will know this one immediately since I see you have several of them on your page as part of the art. I found this in my room earlier, it was very small around 1 inch.
Signature: Mini Man

earwig korea 300x239 Earwig from South Korea

Earwig

Dear Mini Man,
This is an Earwig, and it has several very distinctive features that should make it relatively easy to identify to the species level, however it is not one of the five species pictured on the Earwigs of Korea webpage we located.  The unique features on your specimen include the very lengthy forceps and the narrow neck between the head and thorax.

1

Posted 13 November 2010 § Earwigs ‡ Comments (0) °

Leaf Footed Bug

What kind of insect is this
Location: Stuart, Florida
November 13, 2010 10:43 am
This was on the back window of my car in Stuart, FL. Have never seen anything like it.
Signature: Thank you, M

coreid chondrocera florida 300x245 Leaf Footed Bug

Leaf Footed Bug

Dear M,
Even though your photo is blurry, it represents a new species of Leaf Footed Bug in the family Coreidae for our website, so we are very happy to post your letter and photo.  We have identified this Leaf Footed Bug as Chondrocera laticornis, and BugGuide only reports it from Florida.

Posted 13 November 2010 § Leaf Footed Bugs ‡ Comments (0) °

Sumac Flea Beetle

beetle to i.d/
Location: North Dallas, outdoors, dry weedy area
November 12, 2010 3:47 pm
I found this pretty beetle, smaller than a ladybird beetle, on
November 12, outdoors in dry weedy area — actually discovered crawling up my pants leg.
He/she is new to me, and I’d like to know the name.
Signature: r thomas

leaf beetle thomas 300x230 Sumac Flea Beetle

Sumac Flea Beetle

Dear r,
It took us a bit of searching before we were able to identify your Leaf Beetle as a Sumac Flea Beetle, Blepharida rhois, a species that BugGuide indicates is a variable species.

Posted 13 November 2010 § Leaf Beetles ‡ Comments (0) °

Planthopper Nymph

White bug with extended growths
Location: Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia
November 12, 2010 6:30 pm
Hi, We saw this bug in Sabah, Borneo in October. It was about 1” long and wide.
It seemed to have grown silk-like filaments that have bound together (rastafari-style), perhaps as protection to make it look too big to eat.
Thanks Frank D
www.delargy.com
Signature: Frank D.

fulgorid nymph malaysia frank 300x210 Planthopper Nymph

Fulgorid Planthopper Nymph

Dear Frank,
Though we are uncertain of the exact species, this is a Planthopper in the family Fulgoridae, and it is an immature nymph.  This family is often characterized by nymphs that secrete a waxy substance that often forms long filaments, presumably for protection.

Thanks!
I have updated the description on my web page to reflect your ID.
Frank

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Posted 13 November 2010 § Aphids, Scale Insects, Leafhoppers, and Tree Hoppers ‡ Comments (2) ° Tagged:

Springtails

Miniscule (nearly microscopic) ant-like bugs?
Location: Midtown Manhattan, New York City
November 13, 2010 2:43 am
My kitchen countertop near the faucets has become home to miniscule – nearly microscopic – ant-like creatures. They are so teeny that my camera on the most powerful setting couldn’t capture them. I had to catch some with tape and then scan the tape. The attached photo is the best I could get – it appears to be two of them, one larger than the other.
I found thousands of these entities amassed under a small marble slat that I had sitting on the countertop. The marble was removed and thrown out but these creatures continue to habitate the countertop particularly near an faucet area.
PLEASE – WHAT ARE THEY????
Signature: Mystified

springtails nyc 300x148 Springtails

Springtails

Dear Mystified,
You have Springtails, generally regarded as the most common hexapods on the planet.  They are important in soil as they help to break down organic matter, creating humus which increases the fertility of the earth.  In the home, they are often attracted to damp and dark places, generally in the kitchen and bathroom, where they are thought to feed upon mold.  Though they might be considered a nuisance if they appear in large numbers, they are benign creatures.

Dear Daniel,
THANK YOU for taking your valuable time to identify and explain these creatures.
I really appreciate it!
You have a fabulous and helpful site.
Mia

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Posted 13 November 2010 § Springtails! ‡ Comments (0) °

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