Beetle identification
Location: Jamaica
February 5, 2012 12:12 pm
Any chance I can get a definition and information about this type of beetle?
Photo taken in Jamaica, December 2011.
I am guessing but it is quite large, probably around 2 inches long.
Signature: Merrowain
Scarab Beetle from Jamaica
Dear Merrowain,
This is some species of Scarab Beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. Our initial search has not produced a species match, but we will keep trying.
Karl tracks down the identification
Hi Daniel and Merrowain:
This scarab is one of the Fruit and Flower Chafers (Cetoniinae), specifically Gymnetis lanius. As far as I can tell the species is endemic to Jamaica, although there are four closely related sub-species found on other Caribbean islands (Cuba, Haiti, St. Lucia and Guadeloupe). The four black spots on the thorax are diagnostic for the species. I found out little else about the species, but here is a link to another online image.
Thank you both very much for the information. Greatly appreciated.
ladybug’ish with stripes
Location: Houma, Louisiana, USA
February 1, 2012 1:57 pm
I found this bug on my back door and I have never seen one like it before. We have warmer weather than usual so I thought maybe that is the reason for the unusual bug. It looked like a ladybug in shape and size, but its color was kind of reddish brown with gold stripes. Any ideas?
Signature: Karla
Leaf Beetle
Hi Karla,
We thought this resembled a Leaf Beetle in the genus Calligrapha, and our suspicions proved correct when we matched your individual to images posted to BugGuide of Calligrapha (subgenus Bidensomela) bidenticola.
Jumping beetle
Location: Nicaragua, Managua, El Crucero ( 12° 3’45.68”N – 86°18’51.68”W)
January 30, 2012 5:49 pm
Dear Bugman,
This beetle emits a click sound when movin violently its head, the movement makes the beetle to jump a few centimeters high.
Signature: Sergiortc
Click Beetle
Dear Sergiotc,
The audible clicking sound this beetle makes has given rise to the common name Click Beetles for the members of the family Elateridae. Click Beetles are able to flex their bodies at the joint between the thorax and abdomen if they ever find themselves on their backs. The action propels them into the air and they generally land on their feet after the first attempt.
Garden Visitor
Location: Puerto Rico
January 31, 2012 1:30 am
All creepy crawlies are welcomed in my little garden, saw this little guy today and found him so bright and cute that I had to take a pic, would be great to know it’s name.
Signature: Nana JoGoFe
Unknown Longicorn
Dear Nana JoGoFe,
We can tell you that this is some species of Longicorn or Longhorned Borer Beetle in the family Cerambycidae, however, our initial internet search has not turned up any matching images from Puerto Rico. Perhaps one of our readers will be able to assist in a species identification. For now, a family will have to suffice. The coloration is quite distinctive, and we don’t believe a proper identification will prove entirely elusive.
Unknown Longicorn
Identification courtesy of Karl
February 5, 2012
Hi Daniel and Nana JoGoFe:
It appears to be a longicorn in the genus Chlorida, probably C. festiva. It is a very wide-ranging species found from southern Florida to Argentina, including much of the Caribbean. Regards. Karl
Thanks Karl,
We suppose the genus name Chlorida refers to the green coloration. We also found a nice image on American Insects.
moth ID
Location: Termeil,NSW….state forest
January 30, 2012 8:18 am
translucent bug,2.5” long,turned up before rain not long after sunset,temp 30C plenty other bugs around,attracted to light…and there’s another moth and a Longhorn Beetle all in the one night.
Signature: Bugger
Ghost Moth
Dear Bugger,
Taxonomically, your three creatures are in three different insect orders, which screws around with our method of archiving postings, however, they are significant in that all three appeared in one night, so we are making an exception and keeping the posting intact. Your moth that is on the shoe is a Ghost Moth in the family Cossidae, and they are also called Goat Moths, Carpenter Moths or Wood Moths according to the Butterfly House website. The larvae are called Witchety Grubs. We just posted a letter yesterday with seven awesome images of a mating pair of Ghost Moths, so it would seem they are currently in season in Australia.
Poinciana Longicorn
We are nearly certain that your beetle is a Poinciana Longicorn, Agrianome spinicollis, and the larva is another wood boring grub. The photo from the Agriculture of Western Australia website is a match. The Queensland Museum website states: “This species is found in rainforest and open forest in eastern Australia. It is common in Queensland and New South Wales and also occurs on Lord Howe Island. The larvae are huge white grubs found in rotten wood, especially dead Poinciana or fig trees. It is an important pest of pecan trees. The large adults sometimes blunder into house lights. Identification Length 60 mm. This is a very large, broad longhorned beetle with khaki wing-covers and a reddish-brown thorax edged with a row of pointed ‘teeth’. The antennae are a little longer than the body.”
Your final insect is some species of Antlion in the family Myrmeleontidae and you can see some examples on the Brisbane Insect website. We believe it is most likely Heoclisis fundata which is pictured on Dave’s Garden.
Antlion
Identification request
Location: Moapa, Nevada
January 28, 2012 8:43 pm
I’m after an identification confirmation or other options. Images of Paracotalpa deserta are the hardest to find of the four species. That said, this matches Field Guide to Beetles of California description for a ”Little Bear” scarab beetle with January thru March time of appearance, creosote-bursage desert habitat, and general description as ”black”. These were 9mm long.
Signature: Bruce Lund
Darkling Beetle: Edrotes ventricosus
Dear Bruce,
The antennae on these beetles are wrong for a Scarab. We believe we have correctly identified it as a Darkling Beetle, Edrotes ventricosus, by matching to photos posted to BugGuide. The species has been reported in California and Nevada.
Darkling Beetles: Edrotes ventricosus
THANK YOU for the identification AND especially for the antennae comment.
The latter sent me back to field guides and websites to look at what I
missed and OF COURSE the antennae are not correct for a scarab beetle and
are correct for the Tenebrionidae. I’m just starting to work in the
insects and my learing curve is nearly vertical.
Bruce
You are most welcome Bruce. It always helps to have more than one set of eyes when doing unusual or difficult identifications.
Wondering what this is?
Location: Bemidji, MN (Northern MN)
January 27, 2012 6:34 am
Hello,
My little 4 year old and I were trying to Google and identify this tonight. We were unsuccessfull so I’m writing to you for help. We took these pictures on 4/25/2011 at 10pm. It was outside our side door of the garage. We lived in the woods, thick with almost 40 year old red pines (planted as a tree farm, and then a couple homes were built within). Within a quarter mile is a small stream and wet land area. Hope this helps.
Signature: Thank you! Krissy H.
Predaceous Diving Beetle
Dear Krissy,
This is a Predaceous Diving Beetle, and as its name indicates, it is an aquatic insect, however, it is also capable of flight if its pond dries out, runs out of food, or it seeks a mate. It is in the family Dytiscidae (See BugGuide) and we cannot provide you with an exact species name, but perhaps Markikavana will write in with an identification. The predatory larvae of Predaceous Diving Beetles are sometimes called Water Tigers.
Daniel,
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it! I think I made a donation to your site the day you sent me this email, now I can’t find a receipt. Can you tell if I indeed made the donation, sometimes I sit down to do something and can finish it due to my 4 year old–he doesn’t like it when I’m on the phone or computer.
Thanks again!
Krissy Hughes
Thanks for your kind intentions Krissy. We will copy our webmaster who keeps track of website finances to see if he can verify the donation.
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Beatle of some sort?
Location: San Antonio, Tx
January 23, 2012 7:55 pm
I sell wood for fireplaces, bbqs, etc. Recently I split some mesquite to let dry out and there are a million of these guys everywhere. I just leave them be not knowing what they are. They seem harmless. They run extremely slow and sometimes will just sit still when I move the wood pile around like they are trying to blend in. just wondering what they could be as I have a 2 yr old curious little boy and don’t want him harmed in anyway if they are dangerous.
Signature: Thank you for your input, Mike
Mesquite Borers
Hi Mike,
You have Mesquite Borers, Placosternus difficilis, a native species that BugGuide reports from Arizona and Texas. Mesquite Borers are Longhorned Borer Beetles in the family Cerambycidae. The larvae are wood borers. You should advise your customers to keep their firewood outside until they are ready to use it or they might find their homes invaded during an emergence of the adults from the wood. Often warm indoor temperatures trigger an emergence in the home. Since this is a native species, transporting the firewood shouldn’t be a problem, but with many invasive, exotic borer insects showing up in North America, people are warned about transporting firewood as this helps to spread an invasion..
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