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Monthly Archives November 2011

Wheel Bug

The Kaiser’s Bug
Location: 38.552246,-77.926088
November 16, 2011 9:00 am
Dear Sir,
My wife and I are purchasing a new home in Brandy Station, Virginia. During the home inspection, I noticed this critter crawling up the siding, and was blown away. I’ve never seen anything like it. I thought the ridge on its back looked like an old German helmet, so I’m calling it a Kaiser Bug for now.
Signature: -Will K.

wheel bug will 300x192 Wheel Bug

Wheel Bug

Hi Will,
While Kaiser’s Bug is a nice name, the Wheel Bug did receive its name from the coglike ridge on its back.

Posted 16 November 2011 § Assassin Bugs ‡ Comments (0) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Golden Silk Spider from Namibia

Namibian arthropods
Location: Namibia (see above)
November 15, 2011 12:44 pm
Can you please name these.All pictures were taken in April 2011 in Namibia.
The cricket was taken in the Etendeke Mountain camp close to Palmwag. The other 2 images were taken at Durstenbruck farm north of Windhoek.
Signature: Roger Pinkney

nephila senegalense roger 300x220 Golden Silk Spider from Namibia

Banded-Legged Golden Orb-Web Spider

Dear Roger,
Your photos are beautiful, but this is a tall order.  We identified this Golden Silk Spider in the genus Nephila quite quickly, however, we expect your other arthropods will take more time.  We have always called spiders in the genus Nephila Golden Silk Spiders because their very strong webs are spun of golden silk.  We have a single new world species, Nephila clavipes.  We found Nephila senegalense pictured on the Spider Club of Southern Africa website, and armed with that name, we found this beautiful stamp on the Stamp Collectors Catalogue.  We will attend to your other identification requests in the morning.

stamp tchad nephila senegalense 199x300 Golden Silk Spider from Namibia

Tchad Stamp with Nephila senegalense

Dear Daniel, Many thanks for your 3 messages and all the details they contain. I’m not e-maiing from Namibia but from the U.K. but the delay in responding is because we don’t have the computer on daily. I’ve attached to this message 2 more photos not for identification as I believe they are of a Death’s Head Hawkmoth Caterpiller but I hoped you  might like to see them or use them.
I wonder however if I may submit 2 further pictures for identification, again both taken in Namibia.
Kind regards, Roger.

Hi again Roger,
We will try our best to identify anything you send to us if time allows.  Our readership enjoys reading about details surrounding particular sightings, and that is what your original email was lacking because you attached three completely different and unrelated (except for being from Namibia) creatures.  In the future, please limit the attached photos to a single species per email and please use our standard form.  If you can recall the time of year, time of day or any other relevant details, that would be wonderful.  You may also add details regarding the three previous photos by attaching comments to the postings we have already made.

Posted 16 November 2011 § Orb Weavers ‡ Comments (0) °

Wheel Bug

Big brown spooky looking bug with spiked midsection
Location: Maryland
November 15, 2011 6:35 pm
Hello. We found this 2 inch brown and black bug on our deck in Maryland. He appears to have wings, but will not fly. He has two reddish antennae, a ridge on his mid section, and what looks like a proboscis. What is it! Thank you!
Signature: The Karas family

wheel bug karas 300x218 Wheel Bug

Wheel Bug

Dear Karas Family,
Your description of a Wheel Bug is spot on.

Posted 16 November 2011 § Assassin Bugs ‡ Comments (1) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Unknown Orbweaver

orb spider?
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
November 14, 2011 12:33 am
I’m having trouble identifying this guy. it appears to be an orb spider, but I’m hoping you can pinpoint it.
Signature: -Brian A.

araneus brian 300x208 Unknown Orbweaver

Unknown Orbweaver

Hi Brian,
Many Orbweavers are highly variable.  We are uncertain of the exact species but we are confident that this is a member of the genus Araneus.  See BugGuide for the possibilities.

Posted 15 November 2011 § Orb Weavers ‡ Comments (0) °

Preying Mantis, Dispelling Fears and Inspiring Spiritual Promises

Identification Request: No question, just sharing some bug love.
Location: Warren, MI
November 14, 2011 1:07 pm
We found this little girl on our fence the other day. 2 of my girls ran screaming, but then came up to hold it after I held it. My other daughter wasn’t afraid at all. It kept trying to climb on top of my head, and I don’t mind bugs, but I have my limits. Hope you enjoy them like we did. Oh, and afterwards, my oldest says let’s go on that creepy bug site to look up if it’s a male or female.
Signature: Trying hard to love all God’s creatures.

mantis impressionist 300x226 Preying Mantis, Dispelling Fears and Inspiring Spiritual Promises

Impressionistic Photo of Preying Mantis

Dear ThtlaGc,
The creepy bug site wishes your photo was of higher resolution, but it appears your daughter has a female Preying Mantis in hand.  The bug appears to be fecund.

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Posted 15 November 2011 § Preying Mantis ‡ Comments (2) °

Stump Stabber

Megarhyssa nortoni
Website:
November 14, 2011 10:42 pm
thank you for the photos that match my insect in question  it was very helpful to know what it is – we are in central pa have never seen these before in our area
thanks again
Signature: kathleen

hornet thing 257x300 Stump Stabber

Megarhyssa nortoni by Sandy Mallet

Thanks for your sweet comment Kathleen.  Since you did not submit a photo, we found a beautiful image of Megarhyssa nortoni, one of the Stump Stabbers, that was taken by Sandy Mallet and posted to BugGuide in 2007.  It became a question of plagiarism when it was submitted to What’s That Bug? in 2010 by Leona Garrett.

Posted 15 November 2011 § Ichneumons ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Tarantula from the Sierra Nevada Foothills

Tarantula, I believe
Location: Sierra Nevada foothills, northern California, at 2400 ft.
November 14, 2011 9:51 am
I found this approximately 1” spider in my bathroom last week (early November). I believe it is a Tarantula, but was amazed, as I am not sure how he got in, and we do get wet weather and occasional winter snow. I thought they were only found in hot, dry climates in California. Can you identify?
Signature: Rhonda L.

tarantula rhonda 300x214 Tarantula from the Sierra Nevada Foothills

California Tarantula

Dear Rhonda,
Even at high altitudes, much of California is arid.  It is our understanding that North American Tarantulas are in the genus Aphonopelma.  According to BugGuide:  “The Aphonopelma of North American are poorly known. Although many species have been described few specimens can be properly identified either by using available keys or by wading through species descriptions . Most identifiable specimens belong to species found in Mexico or Central America that are easily recognized by unique color patterns, such as that of A. seemanni . Correct identification of specimens collected within the United States is often suspect since determinations must be based on the process of elimination using collection dates and locality data in combination with coloration, coxal setation, and metatarsal scopulation .”

tarantula rhonda 2 300x206 Tarantula from the Sierra Nevada Foothills

Tarantula

So, you agree this is a Tarantula (not a Trapdoor?).  Thank you.     R. Lawrence

Yes we do, but we would always defer to a true expert.

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Posted 15 November 2011 § Tarantulas and Trapdoor Spiders ‡ Comments (0) °

Benefit for Brown Bats: Silver Cicada Jewelry

Silver Cicada
Location: Upstate NY
Website: http://www.kskjewelrydesigns.etsy.com
November 14, 2011 7:36 pm
First let me start off by saying I love your site. I frequently use it to identify insects and ’bugs’ in attempt to educate my neighbourhood.
Now to the meat. My wife makes fine silver jewelry and often moulds dead insects we find exploring our world, creating some stunning pieces if I do say so myself icon smile Benefit for Brown Bats: Silver Cicada Jewelry I thought you might be interested in her work and if you liked it maybe you’d consider some free advertising in the form of a post!
If the subject seemed misleading, I aplogize. Thanks for all you do.
Signature: Chris, husband in charge of marketing

cicada jewelry 300x300 Benefit for Brown Bats: Silver Cicada Jewelry

Cicada Jewelry

OK Chris,
WE cannot resist the urge to be a bit catty, but it is all in good fun.  Does the jeweler have a name, or is she just your wife?  Do prospective buyers rub their cellular telephones over our posting to order a necklace or do you have a web site?  Daniel would love a Toe-Biter belt buckle.

Oh dear… Sorry ’bout that, (insert space-case excuse here). My wife’s name is Kim Kaye. She’s been making jewelry for a long time and recently decided to make a go at it. She mixes silver with insects, bones (found only) and semi-precious stones to make some pretty nifty things. Her website is http://www.etsy.com/shop/kskjewelrydesigns . A portion of her sales go towards fighting white nose syndrome, which has devastated New York’s small brown bat population.
And now I’m off to go check the air pressure in my head (I may be bald, but I’m still blonde icon smile Benefit for Brown Bats: Silver Cicada Jewelry )
Thanks again for everything you guys do!

We fully endorse the Bat Benefit.

Update
Silver Cicada Feature -Thank You
Website: http://www.kskjewelrydesigns.etsy.com
November 23, 2011 5:36 pm
Hello! Last week, my husband Chris submitted a photo of my Silver Cicada Necklace, and you very kindly featured it with a link to my shop as well as the information about my bat donations. I just want to thank you for the wonderful exposure, both for my jewelry and for the struggle against White-nose Syndrome. I’ve received many visits directly from WTB, and it’s nice knowing that others who appreciate insects and maybe bats too are taking a peek!
I also thought you might like to know that the cicada necklace has sold, but I do have a few other insect pieces and hope to continue adding more. One very ambitious plan will involve molding a praying mantis we found, a natural death as always. I have no experience making belt buckles, but if Daniel is serious about the Toe-Biter, I’m certainly willing to give it a shot provided we come across one! icon smile Benefit for Brown Bats: Silver Cicada Jewelry
Thanks so much again,
Kim
Signature: Kimberley Kaye

Hi Kimberley,
Thanks for the update and additional information.  We don’t know how long we will be able to keep your advertisement as a feature, but we also have it archived on our Giftshop tag, though we really don’t have anything else in the Giftshop.  We keep thinking we need T-Shirts or something there, but there never seems to be enough time to embark on such endeavors.  We apologize for neglecting to make your website notice a live link.  We just noticed that on this update.  Hopefully you will get even more traffic from What’s That Bug? now that there is a live link.  If that Toe-Biter belt buckle becomes available, please let us know.

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Posted 15 November 2011 § Gift Shop ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

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