big shiny beetle
November 1, 2009
I found this guy wandering across my office floor this morning (November 1st). I live in Hampton Bays, NY (East End of Long Island). It’s been steadily cooler weather, but we haven’t seen a frost (or been close) yet. He’s about an inch & a half long – the nail in the photo is a good reference. I scooped him up and put him outside for the photo shoot. Thoughts?
Dawn L
Hampton Bays, NY
Forest Caterpillar Hunter
Hi Dawn,
What a positively gorgeous specimen of the Caterpillar Hunter commonly called a Fiery Searcher, Calosoma scrutator. The reds and golds on your specimen are much more pronounced than in most individuals. They are known to climb trees in search of caterpillars, and though the typical life cycle is one year, adults may overwinter and are reported to survive as long as three years. You may get additional information on BugGuide. The Fiery Searcher is one of the predators we plan to profile in the book we are attempting to complete.
Forest Caterpillar Hunter
How interesting!! Let me know if you want to use the photos for the book – I have others of her, as well as an AMAZING set of photos of a black widow with her egg sac! You have a wonderful website, and I rely on it all the time for bug id. It somehow makes them less scary when you know what they are and learn about them…
Thanks!
Dawn
Thanks for the offer Dawn, but since our book is not an identification guide, we will not be using photographs which will make the publication cost prohibitive. We will be using old entomological drawings as a more decorative means of illustrating the book.
Update
WE received a comment that corrected this identification as the imported Forest Caterpillar Hunter, Calosoma sycophanta.
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Posted 02 November 2009
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Caterpillar Eater
October 29, 2009
We found these bugs all over the place. They seem to be foraging for caterpillars that are also very heavy this year. They look like caterpillars, but only have six legs. Also, they will dig a hole in the ground and leave their back end lying outside of the hole. Any ideas on what this is? We’ve lived here for four years and have never seen anything like it.
Shaune Martinez
Sandia, TX
Caterpillar Hunter Larva eats Cutworm
Hi Shaune,
This is a beetle larva in the genus Calosoma, commonly called Caterpillar Hunters. There are several species of Calosoma in Texas, and it is impossible for us to determine your exact species. The Fiery Searcher, Calosoma scrutator, is one possibility.
Mountain Bug love
October 16, 2009
Found these two love-bugs while hiking a mountain in the Hudson Valley region of New York state during late spring. I’m not sure what they are, but I think they’re in love 
.
Tori
Hudson Valley, New York
Mating Purple Tiger Beetles
Hi Tori,
These are mating Tiger Beetles in the genus Cicindela. There are numerous species illustrated on BugGuide. We believe they may be Purple Tiger Beetles, Cicindela purpurea, though we would prefer to have an actual expert confirm the species ID. You can check out the photos and description of the Purple Tiger Beetle on BugGuide.
Dave Gracer’s comment
What’s cool about this pic is that the female has got some food, most likely supplied by the male as a token. In other words, sex for food. Other kinds of animals do this — I don’t know how many, but I know that roadrunners to it. Pretty fascinating, when you consider the possibility that there are some vague analogies in our species.
Big black beetle
October 13, 2009
Saw this big black beetle in September 2009 crawling in the leaf litter of the forest floor just north of Mendocino, California. It was approximately 1.75 inches long from the tip of its head to the rear of its carapace. When I discovered it and started taking photos, it didn’t scurry away; it slowly and methodically crawled away and hid under forest floor detritus.
Thanks for any help info you may have,
Mendocino California
Snail Eater
This is some species of Snail Eater, a Ground Beetle in the genus Scaphinotus. We don’t feel qualified to take the identification to the species level with the information provided on BugGuide, especially since some species are represented by a single photograph from California. We might suggest that you also submit your photo to bugGuide in the hopes that you can get a species identification.
Update from Eric Eaton
Daniel:
I’d need to see the specimen of the snail-eater to key it out to species….
Eric
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Posted 14 October 2009
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Large Green Beetle
August 25, 2009
Hello again. Thank you for your help identifying the interesting insects I find. I love your web page and have managed to identify most of my finds using it and bug guide. This large green beetle almost got squashed as it was sitting on the cement step. I found quite a few green beetles here and on bug guide but none seem to quite match this one. It’s about 1.25 -1.5 inches long. It crawled surprisingly fast up and down my arm as I was trying to take it’s picture. It was also flighted, though it seemed to prefer to walk. The second pic is just for size, my watchband is 1 inch wide where the logo is.
Jess
Rhode Island
Fiery Searcher
Hi Jess,
Your impressive beetle is a Ground Beetle in the genus Calosoma, the Caterpillar Hunters. The species is Calosoma scrutator, the Fiery Searcher. You can read more about the Fiery Searcher on BugGuide which states: “Life cycle is one year, but adults long-lived, reported to live for up to three years. Adults attracted to lights. Eggs are laid singly in soil. Larvae pupate in earthen cells. Adults can overwinter.“
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Posted 25 August 2009
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what is this called?
August 9, 2009
I don’t see these very often, but this one got inside or I wouldn’t have had to kill it. It is a gorgeous bug, with irridescent colours and moves really fast. and i’m just curious what it’s called.
thanks, Kelli
Griffin, Georgia
Carolina Tiger Beetle
Dear Kelli,
This is a harmless predatory Carolina Tiger Beetle, Tetracha carolina, also known as the Pan American Big Headed Tiger Beetle. Tiger Beetles are no threat to you, your family or your home. It probably was attracted to lights which is why it left its typical habitat of, according to BugGuide: “Sandbanks of rivers, pastures, open, disturbed areas. Often found near water. Nocturnal, found under boards, rocks, trash, etc. during day” and entered your home.
Unnecessary Carnage Comment
August 9, 2009
RE: unnecessary carnage
I love your site, and visit it several times a day. Many thanks for posting such lovely images and so much information (you helped me ID a one-eyed Sphinx moth here in Seattle)! I also love the fact that you tell folks when they have committed an act of unnecessary carnage, but sadly, you have been very hesitant to do so lately… Please don’t let one or two unhinged people keep you from providing a vital service- letting humans know that insects are innocent until proven guilty!
Leah S.
2 pollinators 1 fuzzy-legged jumper
July 31, 2009
1 green pollinator, 1 brown pollinator, 1 maybe cricket with fuzzy grayish fizz on legs…all at coast in San Luis Obispo County, CA
Denise
San Luis Obispo County, CA coast
probably Hairy Necked Tiger Beetle
Dear Denise,
It is impossible for us to respond to every email we receive, so we must select which letters get responses and further cull from those for posting. It is very difficult for us to deal with three different species in one letter. With that clarified, your “1 maybe cricket with fuzzy grayish fiss on legs” is actually a Tiger Beetle, in the genus Cicindela which has numerous species continent wide that resemble your individual. You may scan the possibilities on BugGuide as we have done in an attempt to properly identify your individual. We believe the Hairy-Necked Tiger Beetle, Cicindela hirticollis, it a strong candidate for the proper identification. According to BugGuide, it is found in California, and there is a photograph of a specimen collected in Marin County. There is also a set of photos of a live specimen in Ventura County. It also resembles the Pacific Coast Tiger Beetle, Cicindela bellissima, though the range of that species, according to BugGuide, is more north, though the range map might not be comprehensive. If you resubmit your other requests with more a more detailed letter, we may be able to provide an identification if time permits.
Very small insect – identified
July 20, 2009
After looking at it more closely and determining that it is a beetle, and after browsing about 130 pages at BugGuide, I think I have identified these as Mioptachys flavicauda. Thanks for your great site!
Duff Means
Sterling, VA
Mioptachys flavicauda
Dear Duff,
We know how ponderous it can be sifting through countless pages on BugGuide (the most awesome North American insect and arthropod identification website) in an attempt to identify an unknown submission. There is a real sense of accomplishment when we finally arrive at the end of an identification quest. We don’t want your work to go unrewarded, and though we cannot offer you any tangible compensation, we do want to post the fruits of your labor on our site. Thanks for contributing a new species to What’s That Bug?, Miotachys flavicauda, a minute Yellow Tailed Ground Beetle.
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Posted 21 July 2009
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Rainbow Bug
July 20, 2009
this is a bug we found wandering on the ground while playing with my son. Its colors were so brilliant in the sunlight that i captured it to get a better look. I think it is some kind of beetle because of its jaw…but its coloring is unlike anything ive ever seen. We live in east texas. Is this a common insect in this area? Thanks!
Intrigued in texas
East Texas
Carolina Tiger Beetle
Dear Intrigued,
We believe your gorgeous beetle is a Carolina Tiger Beetle, Tetracha carolina, based on photos posted to BugGuide. It is also called a Pan-American Big-headed Tiger Beetle. BugGuide also indicates: “Range Southern United States. In southeast: Virginia to Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana. Perhaps absent from Appalachians, though Brimley (1) reports it from Asheville, North Carolina. Also found in southwest, west to California. Habitat Sandbanks of rivers, pastures, open, disturbed areas. Often found near water. Nocturnal, found under boards, rocks, trash, etc. during day.”
Huge Mandibles!
July 20, 2009
This bug was found in my house on my tile floor. I did not want to kill it but was not sure if it was harmful. Its huge mandibles are very intimidating. Right now the temperature gets up to around 100 degrees during day and cools to about around 80 degrees. Weather has been mostly dry recently. I have never seen this type of insect in or around my home.
C.Z.
Odessa, Texas
Ground Beetle: genus Scarites
Dear C.Z.,
This is a Ground Beetle in the genus Scarites. According to BugGuide “adults are nocturnal predators on other insects.” Like other Ground Beetles, members of the genus Scarites are beneficial insects and should not be harmed if they are found indoors.
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Posted 20 July 2009
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What kind of bug is this?!
July 13, 2009
Ok, we’ve been catching these things since i can remember and we’ve always called them doodlebugs, but after researching on the internet it seems that my family must be the only ones who call these doodlebugs! So, i’m just curious as to what they really are called. We always would catch these by sticking a long blade of grass or pine needle (anything long and slender) and wait for it to start moving and pushing back up and then just pull it up real fast and they would come flying out!
Also, when you touch them with something they will arch their backs real fast as if they try to stick you with whatever that hump towards the end of their body is. Is this some kind of stinger or something??
Thanks alot for your help!
Tim D.
Bastrop, LA
Tiger Beetle Larva
Hi Tim,
This is a Tiger Beetle Larva in the subfamily Cicindelinae. There is another insect commonly called a Doodlebug, and that is the larva of the Antlion. The method you describe for catching your Tiger Beetle Larva is almost identical to the method used by children to catch a true Doodlebug.
Tiger Beetle Larva Hole
Green metallic beetle (?) love
Sat, May 30, 2009 at 4:40 PM
Hi Bugman, we found this handsome green couple on a sunny rock at Great Falls Park in MD (they were so preoccupied that they failed to even notice the garter snake we were watching mere inches away). I’m wondering if they’re borers of some kind since a large dead tree was nearby. Before they became engaged they moved very quickly and even ran over the snake’s back once or twice.Can you tell us what they are?–didn’t have any luck searching “iridescent green” and “metallic green” on the site. (Photo taken by Elizabeth Bouras)
Love the site and the new design. Thanks for your help!
Paula O’Keefe
Great Falls, MD, USA
Mating Six Spotted Tiger Beetles
Hi Paula,
This is a pair of Six Spotted Tiger Beetles, Cicindela sexguttata, a species with a relatively extensive range. According to BugGuide: “In the United States, found over much of the eastern and Great Plains states. Absent from the Gulf Coast area. Range continues into southeastern Canada.”
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