Fly on Little Ladies Tresses
Location: Sayville, NY
August 25, 2011 9:02 am
Greetings,
I located a small stand of Spiranthes tuberosa in Sayville, New York. I noticed this beautiful little fly sucking nectar from the the orchids. The fly didn’t seem to favor any of the other flowering plants in the area. What is this fly? There were several of these flys on the orhids. Thanks!
Signature: Derek
Bee Fly
Hi Derek,
We recognized this individual as a Bee Fly in the family Bombyliidae, but we did not recognize the species. We quickly browsed through the possibilities and identified it as Peocilognathus unmaculatus on BugGuide.
Bee Fly
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Look what flew into our kitchen this evening…
Location: Louisville, CO
August 26, 2011 11:32 pm
Hi, Daniel.
We had a visitor this evening. The wing span was about 5”. It settled down long enough for me to take a picture with my camera phone, and then Lisa put it back outside safely.
Our next door neighbor has been gifting us with their overflowing bounty of incredibly delicious tomatoes. Lisa suspects that the caterpillar it came from was one that feeds on tomatoes and that it is a hawk moth of some sort.
Signature: Daniel
Carolina Sphinx
Good Morning Daniel,
Lisa is correct. This is Manduca sexta, and its common name, Carolina Sphinx, is deceptive because it ranges well beyond the Carolinas. To further add to the confusion, the larva of the Carolina Sphinx is commonly called the Tobacco Hornworm, though it is found on tomato plants and other native solanaceous plants like Jimsonweed and Nightshade outside of tobacco country. You can read more about the Carolina Sphinx on the Sphingidae of the Americas website. Another similar looking member of the genus is Manduca quinquemaculata, and its caterpillar is known as the Tomato Hornworm. They are so similar in both appearance and habits to the Tobacco Hornworm that many home gardeners do not distinguish between the two species.
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What’s this bug?
Location: Central Texas – HIll Country
August 25, 2011 8:49 am
I work at TPWD at a State Park and found this one close to our headquarters. At first I though it might be locus but looking at locus online I couldn’t fit one that look like it. Thanks
Signature: Sara
Cicada
Hi Sara,
This is a Cicada, though in some parts of the country they are called Locusts. We believe your Cicada is in the genus Tibicen, and in our opinion, the closest match is to Tibicen resh which may be viewed on BugGuide.
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¶ Posted 27 August 2011 § Cicadas ‡ ° mydas vs. hornet
Location: Northern Indiana
August 25, 2011 10:21 am
This is not an ID request, but thought that other WTB addicts might appreciate it. This picture is not great quality, but here’s a link to the full video of a hornet attacking and decapitating a golden-legged mydas fly:
http://www.facebook.com/rumvillage#!/video/video.php?v=207796845940579&oid=116718851680137&comments
Signature: Vince
Bald Faced Hornet decapitates Gold Legged Mydas Fly
Hi Vince,
We were unsuccessful in locating a Golden Legged Mydas Fly online, but we did find Mydas tibialis on BugGuide. It is a species with no common name listed and it has been reported from Indiana. Your Food Chain image is wonderful. We wonder if the best Hornet hunters decapitate large and dangerous prey like Dragonflies, and then they communicate to the hive where to find the kill.
Just Thanks
August 26, 2011 11:41 am
Since discovering your website (just a few days ago, when you identified and Elm Sawfly for my son and I) I have spent (I would hate to say wasted) way too much time perusing your site. I tell myself I am researching things, but really, I know I am mostly just enjoying myself, and learning a few things along the way. Anyway, thank you very much.
Signature: Sarah
Hi Sarah,
Thanks so much for taking the time to write and evaluate our website. We try to be bright, witty and charming as well as informative, and it is good to hear that you have been both entertained and educated.
That scared life of me!
Location: Sliema, Malta
August 21, 2011 4:23 pm
Hi,
Could you please let me know what creature it is on the attached photo?
Since the photo has limited capabilities let me give you few more details.
It entered our apartment at night time (no lights, just an open window)
It had a wings span of approximately 15-20cm, length: 7-8cm, and when flying it was very fast and moving in a very chaotic motion.
Your help would be very much appreciated 
Thank you in advance, John
Signature: John
Unknown Hawkmoth Carnage
Dear Staff,
Please help me with identifying the bug I sent you. I have tried to do my reaserch in the Internet but without success.
My wife wants to sleep with closed windows in this 32°C heat here in Malta, because she is scared that this creature will come again. So I need to figure this bug out soon.
I appreciate your time. THANK YOU!!!
Best regards,
John
Hi John,
This harmless Hawkmoth in the family Sphingidae looks perfectly dead, and your wife need not fear its resurrection. In our opinion, this death was preventable, and we are tagging this posting as Unnecessary Carnage.
1
Aqua/Black Caterpillar
Location: Walhalla, MI
August 25, 2011 11:40 am
I can’t seem to find this little guy on-line anywhere. He is about an inch long and was close to a tree with moss similar in color.
We were camping in Walhalla, MI. That is close to Ludington, MI. It was the 19th of August 2011. Any leads would be fantastic!
Signature: Edelynn
Stinging Slug Caterpillar
Hi Edelynn,
According to BugGuide, this is a Stinging Slug Caterpillar in the genus Euclea, and it might be a Spiny Oak Slug Caterpillar, Euclea delphinii, a species reported to be quite variable. Caterpillars in the family Limacodidae often have stinging spines and they should be handled with caution.
1
Smelly Beetle ??
Location: Whitehorse, Yukon
August 25, 2011 4:53 pm
Hello Bugman!
A co-worker of mine found this beetle in his boot. Never seen one like this before up here. He had a bad smell to him. I caught him in a cup and took him home, then release him on a Sunflower in the yard and took some pictures. I hope my pictures are clear enough to help!
Maybe you can help Identify him for me ?
Signature: -Kla
Sexton Beetle
Dear Kayla,
This is a Burying Beetle or Sexton Beetle in the genus Nicrophorus. A sexton, a somewhat obsolete profession, was a church custodian who cared for the church grounds, including the cemetery, and who was frequently charged with digging graves. Sexton Beetles bury small dead animals that the beetle larvae feed upon. Sometimes a pair of Burying Beetles will guard a small animal corpse after burying it, guarding it against other carrion feeders and caring for the young in the process. Perhaps the Burying Beetle your co-worker encountered had just finished burying a corpse. You can compare your individual to the species of Burying Beetles that are represented on BugGuide.
Thank you so much Daniel. Its nice to finally know what he is.
thanks again.
Kayla
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