|
|
Longhorn Beetle
(02/18/2008) Want to know what this is...
What kind of insect is this?
David P. Summers, SETI Institute
NASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, CA
Hi David,
You have told us much more about yourself than you did about
the Cerambycid Beetle in your photo. We do not want to assume
that because you are in California, that your Longhorn Beetle
is also from California. We would really like to try to identify
the species and would appreciate confirmation that the beetle
was photographed in California. It really is a strikingly
beautiful specimen. We will check if Eric Eaton recognizes
it.
Hi, Daniel:
Yes, the longhorn beetle is Crossidius coralinus, a common species in arid
lands of the western U.S. Adult beetles in the genus Crossidius in general
can be abundant on late summer composite flowers, especially rabbitbrush. I
believe the larve feed in the roots of sagebrush, but don't quote me
there.
Eric
It wasn't photographed in California. The photo was taken in Zion National Park, Utah, on the Paarus Trail (in the early afternoon?). The Paarus trail winds long the Virgin river at the bottom of the canyon. If it matters, it was bright and sunny but there had been a brief but heavy shower a couple hours before.
David
End Band Netwing Beetles Mating
(02/17/2008) Bug with orange and metallic blue wings
Dear Bugman,
I have another strange insect we can't identify.
My husband took this picture in Sept 2006 of this bug on the
leaf of an iris. I tired to find this one on the
web and did not have much luck. I figured with such
beautiful and distinctive wings that it would be easy, but
I don't even what basic type of bug this is. Thank you for
your help.
Peggi Wolfe
Natchez, MS
Hi Peggi,
Judging by the number of visible wings, there is a second
End
Band Netwing Beetle, Calopteron terminale, hidden behind
the visible one. We can only deduce that they are in the process
of mating, or attempting to mate. You shouldn't feel badly
that you couldn't identify them, since Netwing Beetles resemble
moths more than typical beetles.
Rhinoceros Beetle from Ecuador: Comes with a dozen
roses!!!
(02/12/2008) what is this
We’re in the flower business and we recieve imports
from all over the world. Most of our products are inspected
with a magnifying glass by USDA inspectors for every possible
insect or mollusk. Somehow this guy came in under the radar,
he was found inside a rose box from Ecuador. What’s
that bug? regards,
Heather Cook
Hi Heather,
That is some impressive stowaway you've got there. This is
one of the Rhinoceros Beetles in the genus Golofa, but we
are not entirely sure of the species. It might be Golofa
pizarro, but we don't think so because the shape of the
upper horn is convex, not concave. Golofa
eacus is another possibility. Golofa
claviger seems to be a better match. We located a website
selling specimens from this genus that has images of other
species including Golofa gaugoni. Finally, we located a wonderful
webpage
with images of Rhinoceros Beetles on stamps, including several
Golofa species that are called Corn Beetles. Our money is
on Golofa claviger, but we will try to get Eric Eaton's opinion.
Our big question is "Are you are going to include this lovely
gentleman in some lucky lady's St. Valentine's Day bouquet?"
Giant
Stag Beetle
(02/11/2008) "YOU'VE GOT TO SEE THIS!" - Stag Beetle
in Illinois
Hello and congratulations on such an informative website.
We live in a wooded area with a small pond in South-Central Illinois,
a suburb of St. Louis, MO. In June 2007, my husband encountered
this enormous bug on a decorative wagon wheel while cutting
grass. He ran into the house to get me and the kids saying,
"YOU'VE GOT TO SEE THIS!" My husband grew
up on a dairy farm and has seen lots of bugs in his day but
never came across anything like this. At first we thought
it was an escapee from the insect house at the zoo. After
searching the internet, we came across your wonderful site
and quickly identified it as a Stag Beetle. We've enjoyed
watching bugs for a while now but it is one of the biggest
we've ever seen - it measured 3 inches long. We were afraid
to get too close so as not to get surprised. However, we did
get close enough to see the dew on its back! Do
they fly? Are they common? Any information on this elegant
insect would be appreciated.
Denise & John
Illinois
Hi Denise and John,
Your Giant Stag Beetle, Lucanus elaphus, is a beautiful specimen.
They do fly. According to BugGuide,
they are more common in the southeast, and "There is some
conservation concern about this species. The related Lucanus
cervus , of Europe, is threatened."
Jewel
Beetle from Australia: Temognatha goryi
(02/06/2008) Black and Yellow Beetle
Hi
Could you please identify the attached picture of a beetle
for me? I photographed it in the Lamington National Park Qld.
Regards
Fran Jenkin
Hi Fran,
This is a Jewel Beetle in the family Buprestidae. We believe
it may be in the genus Themognatha as evidenced by this website.
The Global
Insects site has even more photos. Perhaps our faithful
reader Grev can add to this.
Update: (03/30/2008) ID's
Hi Daniel,
Corrected ID’s follow. Readers, and in particular the contributors of the pics below, are welcome and invited to contact me re ID’s for any Australian Buprestidae, which I have been studying and surveying their distributions etc since 1978. I am always interested in new distributional data especially from remote areas.
This beetle is Temognatha goryi:
Cheers
Allen
Red Headed Ash Borer
(02/06/2008) Yellow / black stripes , cricket legs, no wings,
2 segments
I live in Florida panhandle. It doesn't appear to have
wings. Oddly this is the second bug I found in the same
exact location (both flushed). It is on a window blind
making it maybe 1/2 inch long. Mainly want to make sure my
kids are safe. Thank you.
Chris
Hi Chris,
This Red Headed Ash Borer, Neoclytus acuminatus, will not
harm your children.
Silken Fungus Beetle engaging in Phoresy with a Bumble
Bee in Sweden
(02/01/2008) Question
Hello,
I heard about your site in German TV and so I remembered a
photo I'd taken in 2006 in Sweden. That little bug is "torturing"
a bumble-bee by pinching its proboscis. Can you tell me what
's happening there? Kind regards
H.Koslowski
Hi H,
You are the second letter we received today that mentioned
seeing our site on television. Our first job is to identify
your beetle. This appears to be a Flea Beetle in the tribe
Alticini,
but we would like verification. Hopefully, Eric Eaton can
substantiate that. This diminutive beetle cannot possibly
think the bee is food, but it might be hitching a ride, a
phenomenon known as Phoresy. We hope to get clarification
on that from Eric Eaton as well.
Hi, Daniel:
That is a really remarkable shot of the beetle clamped onto
the bumble bee! It is not a flea beetle, or any other type
of Chrysomelidae leaf beetle as far as I can tell (flea beetles
get their name from their ability to jump, not because they
are parasitic). I suspect it is some kind of sap beetle (family
Nitidulidae), some of which can be abundant inside flowers.
Eric
Update: (02/08/2008)
Hello Daniel,
I think I have a proper guess what sort of a beetle this might
be! It belongs to the genus Antherophagus (fam. Cryptophagidae,
silken fungus beetles), which has three species in Sweden,
all developing in nests of bumble bees. I think this one is
A. pallens (Linnaeus, 1758) (~4 mm), which is the most common
species of the genus. All species visit flowers to clamp onto
bumble bees to hitch a ride and infest their nests. But the
larvae are supposed to be harmless to their hosts, feeding
on the bees' faeces. So this is a perfect example of a picture
showing the start of a Phoresy! Best,
Bengt Andersson Sweden
Bug
of the Month: February 2008
Longhorned Borer Beetle: Tragidion peninsularum
(01/31/2008) I have a strange bug
I found him in my backyard, in Murrieta California. Do
you know who he is?
Linda
Hi Linda,
My is this photo positively gorgeous, and the beetle itself
is equally stunning. We finally located a matching image on
BugGuide from Arizona, Tragidion
annulatum. Margarethe Brummermann posted the following
comment: "If I read the source correctly annulatum was the
original name and is still used for the Southwest population,
whereas peninsulare is a later split-off for the California
and Baja populations." We then followed a link to an image
of Tragidion
peninsularum. We are happy identifying your specimen as
Trigidion peninsularum unless we are proven wrong. It is also
the end of the month and time to select a Bug of the Month
for February. We like to post timely sightings for that honor
that will help readers with seasonal identifications. This
species is a first for our site, and perhaps there will be
additional sightings in California this year, so we are thrilled
to make your Tragidion peninsularum the Bug of the Month for
February 2008. We will write to Eric Eaton in the hopes that
he will confirm this identification, and perhaps add some
relevant information.
Hi, Daniel:
I can't make a call on the longhorned beetle, other than to
say the genus and gender are both correct....
Eric
Earth Boring Dung Beetle
(01/29/2008) Please help Identify
My seven year old found this in the driveway behind a car
and saved it from being squashed, so he says. He is
currently looking for a new home for it, but wanted to know
what it was. I sifted through pictures on the internet
and found nothing. Can you help, picture attached.
david for Samuel
round rock texas
Hi Samuel and David,
This is an Earth Boring Dung Beetle in the family Geotrupidae,
and the genus Bolbocerosoma. BugGuide
has not gotten any submissions from Texas, but they have received
images from nearby louisiana and Oklahoma. Let Samuel know
that we are very excited to receive a new species to our site.
Eyed
Elater, not Blind Click Beetle
(01/28/2008) What bug is this?
Thank you in advance for taking a look at this bug. We found
this bug in the base of our tree. The tree is at least 70
years old. What do you think? Thank you so very much,
Kathy Miller
Hi Kathy,
This looks to us to be a Blind Elater, Alaus myops, also called
the Blind Click Beetle or Small Eyed Click Beetle. We generally
get many images of the closely related Eyed Elater, Alaus
oculatus, in the summer. According to BugGuide,
the Blind Elater is: "Similar to the more popularly known
A. oculatus, but smaller, especially, narrower, and the eyespots
on the pronotum much smaller. More mottled, less glossy black.
Elytra finely striated (coarse striations in oculatus). Flies
earlier in year (spring) than A. myops (summer)." The larvae
of the Blind Elater preys on wood boring beetle grubs in pine
trees.
Hi, Daniel:
The click beetle appears to me to be the "regular" eyed-elater.
They can pass the winter as adults. The specimen shown has
sawdust on it which compromises its markings a bit, but in
my experience the "blind elater" has very vague rings around
the eyespots, whereas this one has very bold rings.
Eric
Grapevine Beetles: Eating and Mating
(01/27/2008) identify beatles
Please help us identify these beatles. They landed on our
grape vine this summer and consumed it rapidly. We never
saw them again. They were very large - an inch or so. This
is the best photo we have of them. We live in Teaneck, NJ.
Thank you,
Ivy
Hi Ivy,
Believe it or not, these are called Grapevine Beetles, Pelidnota
punctata. The pair in the lower right is mating.
Locust Borer??? or Hickory Borer???: Emerging from
stored firewood
(01/26/2008) mystery bug in New York
Hello,
I found this feller lying dead near my oven this evening.
It was about 1.25" inches long, maybe. I am not
sure what it is. It looks like a cockroach in "layout",
yet the markings seem very unusual for a roach. Do you
know what it is? If so, should I call an exterminator,
or is it probably just a bug that came in and didn't bring
his whole family? Thanks very much!
Bradley in NYC
Hi Bradley,
This is one of two species in the genus Megacyllene. It is
either the Locust
Borer, Megacyllene robiniae, or the Hickory
Borer, Megacyllene caryae. The Locust Borer is generally
found in the fall when the goldenrod blooms, while the Hickory
Borer is most common in the spring. It is possible that this
specimen has been dead in your house for some time, or it
is possible that it was hibernating in the pupal form inside
some cut firewood, and emerged in the warm house.
Thanks so much for your response. I wondered how such a bug
could have gotten in here, but we do have a lot of cut firewood
in our basement, which is right below my kitchen. Now it
makes sense. My only other question is: can these things
infest my place, or should I not really worry? There might
be a few more, but there won't be thousands, right? Thanks
again for your kind help!
Bradley Price
Hi again Bradley,
Individuals may continue to emerge from the firewood, but
they will not infest your home.
Kern's Flower Scarabs
(01/18/2008) mystery cactus beetles
I took the attached photo in west Texas in May of last year.
As you can see, there are several beetles, tan and black and
about 1/2 inch apiece, and one slightly larger one, with what
appears to be slightly lighter coloring (to the right of center
in the photo). These were in a prickly pear cactus flower.
All the flowers on that cactus had a similar set of beetles.
Flowers on other nearby prickly pears sometimes had them,
sometimes not. I did see them in some non- prickly pear flowers
as well. Someone on flickr suggested the Harlequin Flower
Beetle, but it looks different to me. Also these are smaller
than the Harlequin, I think, and were definitely in groups.
I didn't see any loners, and as far as I can tell the Harlequins
are usually seen singly? I'm curious not only about the species,
but also the relationship between the smaller bugs and the
larger one. Parent? Prey? Mate? Thanks! I love your site,
as always.
Christina Holland
Hi Christina,
Though the coloration is similar to the Harlequin
Flower Beetle, we agree that you have a smaller, different
species. After much searching, we believe we have positively
identified your beetles as Kern's Flower Scarab, Euphoria
kerni, thanks to images on BugGuide.
"This species is extremely variable in its color and pattern
ranging from all black to nearly all yellow with all stages
in between" according to BugGuide,
which should answer your question about the light beetle in
your wonderful photo.
Pleasing Fungus Beetle
(01/15/2008) Wow, doing some research
I have found bugs with the exact shape but nothing simular
to the pattern. Seen at the Aiken Canyon Preserve near
Colorado Springs. Ever seen one of these? I thought
it was a carrion beetle just because the shell looks like
it is decaying. Platyphora haroldi. Could it be some sort
of flat footed beetle?
Steven Phend
Hi Steven,
This little gem is a Pleasing Fungus Beetle, Gibbifer californicus.
According to BugGuide,
it is found in "Southwestern United States: Kansas, Wyoming,
Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, south into Mexico." Additionally:
"Adults feed on nectar, pollen, and some fungi. Larvae feed
on fungi that are attacking wood."
Gold Bug: Golden Tortoise Beetle
(01/13/2008) bug
Hello
This pretty lady came in with some black locust firewood this
past xmas. Seems to more or less be a ladybug dipped
in gold. Thanks
Elk Park N.C.
Dear Elk Park,
This is a Golden Tortoise Beetle, Charidotella sexpunctata,
sometimes called a Gold Bug. Larvae and adults eat the leaves
of Morning Glories.
Banded
Cucumber Beetle
(01/12/2008) Please help identify spectacular picture
Hi,
I recently took this photo at a local nursery where I was
photographing different flowers. This bug was so colorful
and cute, I justhad to snap some pics of it. But I'm having
trouble identifying it. Can you help? I live in Southern California
near the ocean. Thanks,
Jessica Straw
Hi Jessica,
What a gorgeous image of a Banded Cucumber Beetle, Diabrotica
balteata. According to BugGuide:
"Larva eat roots, and adults eat the rest of the plant parts."
Spotted Flower Chafer
(01/12/2007) Spotted Flower Chafer from AUs
Hi guys,
Hope you like this Spotted Flower Chafer, Neorrhina punctatum,
from the Gold Coast, Queensland. Note the little flies hiding
out on the bush. Taken December 2007. regards,
Trevor Jinks
Hi Trevor,
We are thrilled to get your photo of a Spotted Flower Chafer.
It is a gorgeous specimen.
Unknown
South African Longhorned Borer Beetle
(01/09/2008) 2nd contribution
Dear Bugman,
I stumbled across your website last week and I love it!
Well done for creating such a website – I spent most
of my weekend going through your archives. I am so happy to
see that there are many other bug lovers out there! I am going
to send you a collection of bug photos that I have taken over
the years – I love bugs, but I don’t know enough
about them to identify them so here are some bugs for you
from South Africa to identify J. I’ll send them to you
separately: 2. Beetle Some kind of a colourful beetle we found
– also quite big, approx 6cm long Cheers,
Steph
Hi Steph,
First we must say that we are warmed by your enthusiasm. Second,
we are impressed that you actually thought to send each of
your requests as a separate email, which makes our posting
much easier. Trying to keep What's That Bug? even marginally
organized is a daunting task, especially since the staff is
organizationally challenged. You should see our office. Also,
finding the time it takes for us to post even one letter with
all the "real" obligations we have is not easy. With that
said, we can only broadly identify your beetle. This is a
Longhorned Borer Beetle in the family Cerambycidae, but we
are not sure of the genus or species. Larvae of the Cerambycids,
or Bycids for short, are wood boring grubs. Researching insects
from many parts of the world, including South Africa, is not
always easy, and there is a noticeable dearth of identification
websites for many locations. Our request is that after about
a week, any letters that we did not post, please resend them
with any helpful information, and please don't send them all
at once.
Pleasing Fungus Beetles
(01/05/2008)
Dear Bugman,
First of all, i think this is the single most fascinating
website I have ever seen. Whenever I visit, I sit and read
for hours (much longer than i should). Anyway, last spring
my red maple failed to produce a single bud or leaf (I supposed
it had died during the winter). No explanation of this tragedy
presented itself. This afternoon, however, I was looking
around for some foliage for my pets, when I saw that
the bark was starting to fall off of the red maple's trunk.
Being extremely curious, I pulled some bark from the tree
and found these beetles overwintering underneath. Could you
identify them for me? And could they be responsible for
my young tree's demise? Thank you so much,
Annie Baker, Maryland
Hi Annie,
Thank you so much for your very kind letter. Your beetles
are Pleasing Fungus Beetles, probably in the genus Megalodacne.
We believe they are Megalodacne fasciata though it is difficult
to be certain in a photo. According to our Field Guide to
the Insects of America North of Mexico by Borror and White:
Pleasing Fungus Beetles "are usually found on fungi or in
rotten wood; some are fairly common. Adults hibernate under
bark, often in groups." The beetles are not responsible for
the demise of your tree, but they are feeding on the fungus
that is assisting in its decomposition.
Red Headed Ash Borers
(01/05/2008) jon krugers bugs
hey i was wondering if you can tell me what kind of bugs are
these? they are living in my friends house and she wants them
gone but has never seen them befor and wants to know what
they are first and what they do if any damage to a house can
be done... i know they have 6 legs, they have wings, have
what look like pinchers on the front of their faces ,and the
rear legs are hinged like a cricket. they dont seem to like
the cold as they curle up when put into the snow and they
like it warm as they move pretty fast when next to a heater
vent.... any clues would be greatly appreciated... thanks
jon kruege
Hi Jon,
These are Red Headed Ash Borers, Neoclytus
acuminatus. The beetle larvae bore in the wood of ash
and other hardwoods. It is our guess that perhaps they emerged
from firewood or some new piece of furniture made from infested
wood. They will not harm your friend's home. The larvae were
living in the wood at the time the tree was cut.
Pleasing
Fungus Beetle from Panama
(01/03/2008) Leaf Beetle from Panama
Bugman,
Since I've sent you two unknown spiders and a caterpillar
from Panama, I thought I'd send you one that I believe I have
identified. I believe this is Platyphora
boucardi, in the family Chrysomelidae, and has been featured
on a Panamanian stamp.
Allen Chartier
http://www.amazilia.net/
Hi Allen,
Though the color and markings are similar, the legs and clubbed
antennae of your beetle are different from the Platyphora
boucardi images we located online. We aren't even convinced
your beetle is in the same family. It might be a Pleasing
Fungus Beetle in the family Erotylidae. Perhaps one of our
readers can supply additional information.
Daniel:
You are absolutely correct: the beetle is one of the pleasing
fungus beetles in the family Erotylidae. Great job, I always
get those two families of fungus beetles confused:-)
Eric
Creechie: Rove Beetle from Cameroon
(01/02/2007) Rove Beetle
Dear Bugman,
Just wanted to send in a picture of a Paederus Rove Beetle.
We are missionaries living in Cameroon West Africa and these
little critters attack us at the end of every rainy season.
I also included a picture of the burn that these guys can
inflict on someone, usually while they sleep. We have
been so curious about them since our move here four years
ago. We have done much research to find out what they
are, but the only name we had for them was what the local
people called them - the creechie bug. It wasn't until
we looked at your website and found pictures of the devils
coachhorse that we got an idea that it was a beetle at all. We
thought it was some kind of ant. The coloring is different than
the devils coach horse, but the body shape was so similar
we started doing a search on Cameroon Rove beetle and that
is how we found our answer. We absoluely LOVE your site.
It is in our favorites and we pull it up once a day to see
your new postings. We thought you might be able to post
this under your rove beetle section as I am sure other people
out there would love to know what this insect is. Thanks
for all your work!
Becca
 
Hi Becca,
Well, we didn't know anything about the Paederus Rove Beetle,
so we had to google it. Sure enough, we found a site with
photos of both the red and black beetles and the dermatitis
it causes. Thanks for sending in your fascinating letter.
We love the name Creechie.
Florida
Blister Beetle
(12/28/2007) Beetle?
Love your site! Took your advice and purchased Kaufman Field
Guide to Insects of North America to aid in identifying the
interesting insects I often photograph. However, after searching
the book and through all your pages of beetles, I couldn’t
identify this guy (or gall). It appears to be a beetle, but
can’t determine for sure. The photo was taken in Florida on
April 18, 2002. Any ideas?
Shane
Hi Shane,
This is a Blister Beetle in the family Meloidae. We believe
it is the Florida Blister Beetle, Epicauta floridensis, based
on images posted to BugGuide.
We will consult Eric Eaton, who authored the Kaufman Guide,
to see if he agrees.
Confirmation: (12/31/2007)
Hi, Daniel:
I agree the blister beetle is in the genus Epicauta. Beyond
that, I can't say. Epicauta is probably decades overdue for
a revision, and I dare say that molecular studies will reveal
many more species than are presently described. Sometimes,
identification to only genus level (or even family in some
cases) is quite an accomplishment all by itself:-) Good work.
Eric
Sculptured Pine Borer
(12/28/2007) Bug on Pine Tree
Hi,
I have at least four of these on my pine tree about four feet
up the trunk. They are at least an inch long.
The tree also is infested with what I believe to be Southern
Pine Beetles. I live in Florida. Is this bug related
to the beetle infestation in any way? Is it beneficial,
pest, or neutral? Thank you,
Susan
Hi Susan,
There are many beetles that feed on pine trees, and this is
one. It is the Sculptured Pine Borer or Virginia Pine Borer,
Chalcophora virginiensis. The adults feed on pine needles,
but it is the larvae that are most damaging to the trees.
According to BugGuide:
"Female lays eggs on scars in bark of living pines. Also sometimes
feeds on downed logs. Larvae feed under bark over several
years before maturing, may reduce much of tree to sawdust.
Life cycle is two or more years."
Rainbow
Scarab
(12/23/2007)
found bug in my yard port orange florida
what kind of bug is it?
This is a male Rainbow Scarab.
Oil
Beetle
(12/23/2007) big guy in the kitchen
Hi.
I found this guy on the kitchen floor in the middle of the
night last night. He was already on his last legs, apparently
(pun intended, and lame). I thought it was a beautiful bug,
matte black with a huge abdomen (ready to lay eggs?). Anyway,
I've browsed your site and others, and am still not sure what
I'm looking at. Any ideas? We're in Northern Kentucky, and
it has been pretty warm for this time of year. Thanks.
Matt
Hi Matt,
This Short Winged Blister Beetle in the genus Meloe is also
known as an Oil Beetle because of the oily substance that
it exudes from its joints. The oily substance may cause blisters.
Tomentose
Burying Beetle with hitch-hiking Mites (Phoresy)
(12/20/2007) Photos of Burying Beetle with Mites
Hey there,
I'm from Nova Scotia and took a couple of photos of this burrying
beetle back in late August on the Eastern Shore in Jeddore.
I wasn't sure what it was at the time (looked like an unusual
bee to me) but did recognize that it seemed odd and worth
photographing. I posted these photos on a local message board
this evening asking if anyone happened to see this insect
before and someone came back with a link to your site saying
they thought it resembled the Burying Beetle. After a quick
look myself, I concured. I was also told that apparently,
they're rare in this region. Thought you might appreciate
the photos for your site. Sincerely,
Elizabeth Gaudreau, Nova Scotia
Hi Elizabeth,
The beetle is a Tomentose Burying Beetle, Nicrophorus tomentosus,
and the Mites are hitching a ride to a new food source, a
phenomenon known as Phoresy. The Mites feed on fly eggs and
maggots, and as flies are competitors for carrion, having
the mites feeding on the maggots is beneficial to the young
Burying Beetles as it leaves more food for them.
Unknown
Beautiful Jewel Beetle from Australia: Temognatha vitticollis
(12/18/2007) Joseph's Beetle
Hi Bugman,
My 8 year old son found this beetle in our backyard, and we
would love to know what type of bug it is? Hope you can help
us on our quest. Regards,
The Hardy Family
Dear Hardy Family,
This beauty is a Metallic Wood Boring Beetle in the family
Buprestidae. In Australia, they are known as Jewel
Beetles. We beleive your query might have originated in
Australia. Perhaps it was the posting date in the wee hours
of the night, or perhaps it was the "au" in your email address.
Please write back and provide us with additional information.
Hi Bugman,
we are in Australia, in western queensland. Thanks,
The Hardy Family
Hello again Hardy Family,
Now that we are certain of your whereabouts, we will try a
bit harder to properly identify this species. We could not
locate it on Allan
Sundholm's Buprestidae Home Page though Castiarina
rolle is somewhat similar. The closest we can find is
Castiarina
gibbicollis.
Hullo Daniel,
The WA site http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/ento/icdb/imagelist.IDC
has hundreds of pictures of Jewel Beetles! Quite an amazing
array. What do you reckon about this one? Themognatha
pictipes
Kind regards,
Grev
Hi Grev,
It looks as though Themognatha pictipes might be correct,
but the original photo sent to us is quite blurry. Castiarina
gibbicollis looks quite different on this site. Thanks
for the awesome links. We were going to pull this submission
from the homepage and archive, but decided to give it a bit
more time thanks to your response.
Update: (03/30/2008) ID's
Hi Daniel,
Corrected ID’s follow. Readers, and in particular the contributors of the pics below, are welcome and invited to contact me re ID’s for any Australian Buprestidae, which I have been studying and surveying their distributions etc since 1978. I am always interested in new distributional data especially from remote areas. This beetle is Temognatha vitticollis:
Cheers
Allen
Female Rainbow Scarab with Mites
(12/15/2007) Dung Beetle?
I think this is a female Rainbow Scarab, Phanaues vindex.
I live in Naples, FL, the extreme SW corner of Florida.
I was working outside when she flew or crashed into my forehead.
The shot of her belly appears to show something, fungus, other
insects, parasites...I don’t know.
Bob
 
Hi Bob,
You are correct, sort of. This is a female Rainbow Scarab,
but the Mites are not parasites. We believe they are hitching
a ride (phoresy) on the Dung Beetle as it flies to a fresh
pile of dung. Dung also attracts flies and we believe the
mites probably prey on Maggots, the larvae of the flies. We
hope Eric Eaton can confirm this. There is a wonderful macro
photo of the Mites identified as the order Mesostigmata on
BugGuide.
Fiddler Beetle from Australia
(12/13/2007)
Dear Bugman,
I live in a small town called Milton on the south coast of
NSW Australia and today which is a nice summer day, not hot
or to windy, just a nice breeze.After a busy morning my children
were relaxing watching TV in our lounge room when this bug
fell down the chimney. I have lived in the area all my life
and have never seen anything like this before. It can fly
but is not at all graceful, quite heavy in fact like it does
not fly often. I am sure you can solve the mystery as your
website and resources of information is incredible. Thank
you,
Kelly.
 
Hi Kelly,
This is actually an easy ID for us. The first time we tried
to identify the Australian Fiddler Beetle, Eupoecila australasiae,
we had to spend a bit of time on the internet. We selected
it as our Bug of the Month in February 2007. It is one of
the colorful Scarab Beetles that appear around Christmastime
in Australia.
Male Harlequin Beetle from Brazil
(12/10/2007) Help...
What is this insect ?? Thanks for your help ! I do Brasil
Eduardo Miguel Simon
 
Hi Eduardo,
This strikingly gorgeous beetle is known as the Harlequin
Beetle, Acrocinus longimanus. It is one of the wood boring
beetles in the family Cerambycidae. The God
of Insects site selected this species as the Bug of the
Month in June 2006 and writes: "A fantastic Neotropical longhorn
beetle, conspicuous for it's large size, beautiful colors
and the amazing length of the front legs on the male. These
elongated limbs (much reduced in the female) are a secondary
sex characteristic, used in mating. It should also be noted
that it aids them in traversing the tree trunks on which they
can be found. Females seek out old trees, such as Ficus, that
are infested with bracket fungi. An incision is made in the
bark and an egg deposited. Larvae bore into the timber for
7-8 months and then pupate for the remainder of the year,
to emerge and start the cycle anew."
Red
Legged Buprestis
(12/06/2007) bug
Hello Bugman,
Here is a very colorful bug my friend Mark McCarthy photographed
for me in West Virginia, USA. We are wondering if you could
help us identify it and post it on whatsthatbug.com
. Thank you.
Troy D
Hi Troy,
This is one of the Metallic Wood Boring Beetles, Buprestis
rufipes, the Red Legged Buprestis. According to BugGuide,
it feeds on maple and birch.
Male Rainbow Scarabs
(12/04/2007) What kind of beetle is this?
Hello Bug people,
My wife and I found these beetles yesterday while hiking in
the Myakka River State Park in Sarasota County Florida and
I would love to know what they are?? When scared they
curled up and tried to imitate an acorn!! Very cool!
Any help with identification of this species would be much
appreciated. Thanks!
Bob Finck
Hi Bob,
These are male Rainbow Scarabs, probably North America's prettiest
Dung Beetles.
Ornate Checkered Beetle
(12/02/2007) Burying beetle?
Hi Bugman. So, I was watching this crab spider (under
petal) on a Sego lily in the badlands near Douglas, WY when
the flower was briefly visited by this guy. Is it a
Burying beetle? You guys rock!
Dwaine
Hi again Dwaine,
We believe this is an Ornate Checkered Beetle, Trichodes ornatus,
which seems to be the closest match on BugGuide.
Some species in the family feed on pollen, which would explain
its appearance on the blossom.
Mating
Fireflies
(12/01/2007) sparks fly for lightning bug lovers
hi!
Love love love your site!! Provides daily education
and entertainment & has helped me id many insects
in my little Brooklyn NY garden. Who knew so many interesting
and cool bugs exist in urbania!? Anyway, wanted to contribute
to your "Bug Love" page with these mating fireflies
captured a couple nights ago
Patrice
Hi Patrice,
Oddly, though your email arrived today, it was dated July
8. July is the more appropriate time of year to see Fireflies.
At any rate, we are thrilled to have your photo of mating
Fireflies.
Picnic Beetle
(11/25/2007) Beetle
This beetle-like insect was found in a rotting osage orange
in a riparian corridor of Brown County, OH on 11-04-07. As
you can see in comparison to the fruit it is very small. My
first thought was Carrion or Dung Beetle but they are much
larger & almost endangered in this area. I’ve
looked in all the most recent books & googled images &
the only other similar looking sort of is the Pleasing Fungus
Beetle. Attached are 3 images. What’s that bug?
Mary Jo White
Hi Mary Jo,
Your photo is lacking in detail, but it appears the abdomen
of your specimen is protruding beyond the elytra or wing covers.
This exposed abdomen signals it might be a Sap Feeding Beetle
in the family Nitidulidae. There is a very close match on
BugGuide,
Glischrochilus fasciatus, commonly called the Picnic Beetle.
According to BugGuide: "Adults found under bark of injured
or dying trees, also come to sap, decaying fruit." That is
good enough for us to put our money on the ID.
Rove Beetle
(11/17/2007) no idea- coppery, fuzzy, borer??
Dear Bug people-
as always, love your site. I searched your beetle pages, but
can't find a match. This bug was on the railing of our house
in Nottingham, PA., for a little while. It has southern exposrue,
so it was quite warm in the sun, on an otherwise cooler day
(high 40s). I have no idea what it is. It was about 1 inch
long, coppery colored, with some yellow on the back end. It
did keep its eyes on me, and at one point raised it's back
up a little (maybe a warning posture?) I have more pictures
from other angles if you're interested. thanks
Lee Weber
 
Hi Lee,
This is a Rove Beetle in the family Staphylinidae. This is
a very complicated family with numerous species. We believe
this might be Platydracus maculosus since it resembles an
image on BugGuide.
This beetle is often found on carrion.
I finally found this in the 9th beetle page! This bug was
out on my porch, near the gardens, about a week ago. It was
warm that day, and lots of insects were active. There is a
garden right below the railing, with leaf litter and probably
dead things (which I understand the rove beetle feeds on).
I live in Nottingham, Pa. I have a few other pictures, if
you'd like. Enjoy!!
Lee Weber
Cottonwood Borer
(11/16/2007) Cottonwood Borer?
Hello from Wichita, KS Is this a Cottonwood Borer? Thanks
Carrie
 
Hi Carrie,
You are correct. This is a Cottonwood Borer. Thanks for providing
the interesting view of the underside as well as the more
typical dorsal view.
Tumblebug
(11/13/2007) Dung beetle in Georgia?
While I was taking my dog for a walk around my yard, he stopped
and was sniffing at the ground for a while. So I moved him
away and took a look for my self and found this little beetle.
I am almost positive that it is a Dung Beetle or as I like
to refer to them, a Scarab. Not too sure that there is a difference
between the two. The odd thing is that I didn't know that
we had these kind of beetles in Georgia. Is this a Dung Beetle/Scarab?
And Do we have them in Georgia? Thanks,
Justin R. Robertson
 
Hi Justin,
Yes, there are Dung Beetles in Georgia, and yes this is a
Dung Beetle. Scarab is a more general term for the family
of beetles that includes Dung Beetles. We believe this is
Canthon
vigilans, commonly called a Tumblebug.
Golden Winged Elder Borer
(11/13/2007) What is it?
Hi and great website! Can you identify this beetle for me?
It was in Northern Montana and the black part on the back
was very iridescent. Thanks in advance.
Bob
Hi Bob,
We are very excited to get your photo. We identified it on
BugGuide
as the Golden Winged Alder Borer, Desmocerus aureipennis,
and there was but a single image on BugGuide. Your specimen
sure is a beauty, and there is no indication as to why it
is called the Golden Winged Alder Borer. The food is obviously
alder, but the golden winged is a mystery.
Thanks for your answer!!
Thank you, Daniel for answering my husbands query about the
Golden-Winged Elder Borer. About the Golden-Winged description,
the picture did not capture it but when the sun hit it just
right it sparkled with different colors. We thought we remembered
greens and purples but maybe there was yellows in there too!
Have really enjoyed browsing your site and have another query
for you if you have time. ... Kind Regards,
Joelle
Update: from Eric Eaton
Daniel: Cool! There is another species (or subspecies) in
California that is highly endangered (Valley elder borer).
Desmocerus are seldom found away from the elderberry host
plant.
Eric
Hardwood
Stump Borer from Mexico: Callipogon barbatus
(11/11/2007) Myan Beetle
Found this guy just south of Cancun, Mexico
Doug
Hi Doug,
This is a Hardwood Stump Borer. We expect to hear from David
Gracer that the large grubs are edible and were eaten by the
Mayans. Those mandibles look like they can do some damage
and we are curious why the Mexican tourism board does not
picture this magnificent Beetle in their brochures. Eric Eaton
wrote in with this information: "Daniel: The "hardwood stump
borer" from Mexico is actually Callipogon barbatus. It is
a male, as females do not have such enlarged jaws. I've never
seen an image of a live one before! Very cool. Eric"
Beetle from Paraguay: Click Beetle
(11/01/2007) Paraguay bugs
Hi
Ive attached a pair of photos of Paraguayan bugs. The Mbaracayu
one I am not even convinced is a heteropteran at all, but
do you know what it is and what family it belongs to? If you
have time could you please quickly check out our page www.faunaparaguay.com/heteroptera.html
and make sure that our images are correctly classified! I
am a bit unsure especially about the Pyrrhocorids! By the
way we have tonnes of unclassified Coleopteran images too
if you fancy turning your hand to them www.faunaparaguay.com/coleoptera.html
and orthopterans www.faunaparaguay.com/orthoptera.html
Great site by the way and please feel free to use any of the
photos from the website for yours! Best wishes
Paul
Hi Paul,
We are linking back to the pages you indicated as well as
the Fauna
of Paraguay home page. What a marvelous website. Of the
two images you sent to us, only one is a True Bug, and it
is not distinctive enough for us to even attempt a proper
identification. The Mbaracayu image is a beetle. It is our
best guess that it is a Metallic Wood Boring Beetle in the
family Buprestidae, though it may be a Click Beetle in the
family Elateridae.
Update: (11/05/2007)
Daniel:
Congrats on the outcome of the journalism conferences! Nice
to hear good news. The beetle from Paraguay is a click beetle
(Elateridae), though I'm not sure which genus. Keep up the
great work.
Eric
Rainbow Scarab
(10/30/2007) Dung Beetle
This beetle hit my wife in the head while she was letting
our dog in. I learned from your site that it is a dung beetle.
I have lived in Southeastern Indiana all my life, and
I have never seen one around here before. Are they common,
or is this rare? Thanks,
Ed Scholle
Milan, IN
Hi Ed,
This is not an uncommon beetle, but perhaps the Rainbow Scarab
is more common in isolated populations.
Water
Tiger: Predaceous Diving Beetle Larva (and you can eat it!!!)
(10/29/2007) Killer bug!
Hi all,
I caught this little guy while trolling ditches for inverts
for my naturalized tank at work. He was about 2.5" long
and particularily vicious. He killed virtually ever other
invert in the tank, stole food from the 9 shiners and 1 "wild-caught"
koi and the small frog and generally made a demon of himself.
I think it's a hellgrammite? Or some kind of stone nymph.
Anyhow, the tank overheated one weekend during a power failure
and i lost killer bug and my frog. :( Keep up the good work!
Cheers,
alicia,
Vancouver, BC
Hi Alicia,
This is a Water Tiger, the larva of a Predaceous Diving Beetle.
There is an interesting description on a website known as
Findarticles.
We are sorry to hear about you stewing your local fauna tank.
It sounds like a refreshing change for the usual jobsite aquarium.
We once kept a Los Angeles River aquarium going for five years.
Though the winged insects flew away, the three mosquito fish
produced many generations until they finally succumbed to
a rogue raccoon. We kept the aquarium outside on the patio.
Update: (11/04/2007) edible: water tigers
Hi Daniel and Lisa Anne,
I hope you both had a good trip to D.C. Both larval and adult predatory/scavenging
water beetles are eaten in China and Southeastern Asia. A
batch of adult Water Beetles were collected for me in Louisiana
this past summer; I hope to receive them soon. They were
gathered with light traps that some insect-hunters used; swarms
of various insects came. I'm wondering if any of your readers
know of people who collect insects this way, and if anyone
has tried putting lights over the shallows of a pond to attract larvae
and other water insects. If so I'd love to learn about their
experiences. Best,
Dave Gracer
www.slshrimp.com/
Double-Banded
Bycid
(10/27/2007) Unknown Beetle
Hi Bug Guy,
Love your site! I look up everything I'm not sure of and
find wonderfully interesting bugs in my searches! Thank you
for this great website. Here is a beetle I came across recently
on my walk in the desert in Cochise County, Oct 01 2007.
I was unable to find an exact match at whatsthatbug and hope
you can help me with the ID. Thanks again,
Carol Breton
Cochise County, Arizona
Hi Carol,
The reason you were unable to identify your Double-Banded
Bycid, Sphaenothecus bivittatus, on our site is because until
now, it was not represented. We matched your image to a photo
on BugGuide,
and that specimen was also in Arizona. We will check with
Eric Eaton to ensure that our identification is correct.
Citheronia
splendens and Bombardier Beetle
(10/26/2007) Unknowns - moth and bug.
What are these? Thank you very much for your consideration.
Jon......
This is a very large moth, approximately 4 to 4 1/2 inches
in length and was found on the exterior wall of our home one
evening when the outside lights were left on. The time
of year was August, during our monsoon season. We are
at the 4,700 ft. elevation in the oak- grassland habitat of
the Madrean Archipelago (Sky Island Country) of southeastern
Arizona, 15 miles north of the Mexican border. This bug is
found beneath rocks, lumber, buckets - wherever there is a
covered and moist area. Unfortunately, they have found
a way into our home, and they are active mainly at night.
They can be flushed from the concrete patio edge at
the patio/lawn interface by hosing down the concrete and they
come swarming out of the wet ground and grass. They
are constantly in motion and it is a rare moment when they
are stationary. This one was feeding on the dead carcass
of its own species. Occasionally, they will fly short
distances. When they think you are too close, they will
release a visible vapor puff from the distal tip of their
abdomen with an audible "pop." Harmful? Dangerous?
Jon
 |
 |
| Citheronia
splendens |
Bombardier
Beetle |
Hi
Jon,
We are thrilled to receive both of your photos. The moth is
Citheronia
splendens, a species found in upper elevations in Arizona
and Mexico. The beetle is a Bombardier Beetle in the genus
Brachius, and your description of its defense is very accurate.
They are predators, so beneficial, and harmless to you. According
to BugGuide:
"Adults have impressive chemical defenses, ejecting toxic,
foul-smelling gases from their abdomen with a loud popping
sound. The explosive brew is composed of hydrogen peroxide,
hydroquinone, and catalytic enzymes. "
Two
Maggots: Rat Tailed Maggot and Leatherback, a Caddisfly Nymph
and a Burying Beetle all from Alaska
(10/21/2007) Alaskan Backyard 'Bugs'
Hi! You guys are my new heros! I love the site and I don't
know how I've missed it before! I am going to be a regular
viewer from now on! Without going through ALL your pix I thought
you might like these to do with what you will. I am an amateur
bug enthusiast (with only a BFA) that has been fortunate enough
to periodically get gigs designing exhibits revolving around
arthropods. (LA Zoo's 'Spider City' is one of my designs,
as is Santa Barbara Zoo's 'EEW' (not my title)). Another exhibit
that you may find amusing (it's my personal favorite) can
be found at www.drentomo.com . It's cool (in more ways than
one) to be able to design from my little studio on the bluffs
overlooking Kachemak bay here in Homer, Alaska, then head
down to the float plane pond to look for fresh water invertebrates
then cruise over to the beach to check out the intertidal
inverts. With a tidal range of 27 feet there is some cool
stuff there for sure. The ones I find most interesting are
the terrestrial inverts (collembolids, rove beetles and pseudoscorpions
etc) that make their home at around the mean tide line so
that they are submered in salt water (albeit in airbubbles
in cracks and old barnacle shells) for 6 hours or more a day!
But I ramble on... Anyway, keep up the amazing work! Cheers!
DeWaine Tollefsrud
www.arcticstarstudios.net
Tipulid "Crane fly", Nicrophorus sp., Caddis Fly,
Rat-Tail Maggot" Such an ugly common name for Syrphid
young
 |
 |
| Rat
Tailed Maggot |
Leatherback |
Hi
DeWaine,
Thanks for the awesome letter. We don't normally like posting
so many different kinds of insects with one letter as it complicates
our archiving process, but we are making an exception in your
case. We are fond of the common name for Cranefly Larvae,
which is Leatherbacks. The Caddisfly Nymph, both in and out
if its case, is a nice addition to our site.
 |
 |
| Caddisfly
Nymph |
Burying
Beetle |
|
|
