A Flying Beetle?
Fri, Jul 3, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Dear Bugman,
This lovely creature buzzed my face twice right in my eyes before flying slowly over to the wild grapevine and landing. It then waited for me to get a camera, but this was the best pic I could manage before it took off again. It’s about 1.5″ long, irridescent black-blue-green with an orange upper back. In the same backyard visit I saw a gorgeous dark-orange butterfly I’ve never seen before, but she wouldn’t land to pose for a pic.
Thanks, Elizabeth
Western Massachusetts, a backyard not far from a marshy thicketed area.

Elderberry Borer

Hi Elizabeth,
Earlier today, we posted another photo of mating Elderberry Borers, Desmocerus palliatus, the same species as your photo.

What is this beetle?
Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 5:43 PM
This insect was seen crossing blacktop in in early July. Help me identify it please!
Jason
Lebanon, Pa

Purplescent Longhorn

Dear Jason,
It took a short time for us to properly identify this striking Cerambycid on BugGuide, but we have identified it as Purpuricenus humeralis.  The species has no common name, but the genus is known collectively as Purplescent Longhorns.  This is a new species for our website and we are very thrilled to post your photo.

Large green beetle, orange legs, long antennae?
Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 1:52 PM
I found this large green metallic beetle in my oak tree. I have never seen a beetle like this one before, and was wondering if you could tell me what it is! The body itself was about 3-3.5″ long, and the antennae nearly doubled its length. The legs are also very long and a verigated orange color. Any info would be very appreciated!
Amy G.
Seminole, Oklahoma

Bumelia Borer

Hi Amy,
There are many beautiful Long Horned Borer Beetles in the family Cerambycidae, but the Bumelia Borer, Plinthocoelium suaveolens, is one of the more beautiful North American species. According to BugGuide: “Larvae are trunk and root borers of Tupelo ( Nyssa ), Bumelia , and Mulberry ( Morus ). Adults are attracted to UV lights and bait.”

Thank you very much for your reply!  It was a very beautiful bug.  I darn near killed myself trying to get away from it when it flew towards me, LOL! By the way, it’s near impossible to pull your head/neck down inside your body to avoid a bug flight path!
Amy G.

yellow striped long horned beetle
Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 5:02 PM
i found this in Northern VT it is a long horned beetle of some kind, but its yellow striped pattern doesn’t look like any i know.
Ryan
Northern VT

Sugar Maple Borer

Dear Ryan,
We have countless chores to do today, like painting window frames and cleaning the garage, but we succumbed to the temptation to post just one more letter this morning.  We are thrilled that we chose to open your letter as this is only the second image of a Sugar Maple Borer, Glycobius speciosus, we have posted in the 9 years we have been taking identification requests online.  That image, submitted in July 2005 was of a smashed specimen.  BugGuide has very little specific information other than:  “Range Northeastern North America Habitat Deciduous forests with hostplant (sugar maples). Season June-August
Life Cycle Larvae mine under bark of Sugar Maple, Acer saccharum .”  BugGuide also has six photos representing four different sightings.  This would indicate that the Sugar Maple Borer is not a common insect.  Because the host tree is of economic importance, the USDA has a web page devoted to the control of the Sugar Maple Borer.  The USDA describes the life history of the Sugar Maple Borer as “The sugar maple borer has a two-year life cycle. Most eggs are laid in midsummer in roughened bark locations-in cracks, under bark scales, or around wounds. Upon hatching, the larva makes a meandering mine beneath the bark. Mining continues until early fall when it excavates a shallow cell in the sapwood. Here it spends the winter. The following spring, the larva resumes mining, etching a deep groove in the sapwood. The mine partially encircles the bole or branch as it spirals upward. With the coming of winter, the second-year larva bores a J-shaped tunnel deep into the wood (Figure 1). In the tunnel’s far end, the larva forms a chamber for overwintering. Before spring pupation, the larva chews a hole to the outside through which it will emerge as an adult in June or July. “  We are also quite happy that the website indicates that control has to do with eliminating unhealthy trees and proper tree pruning and watering when the trees are decorative and NOT pesticides.  Kudos to the USDA on that. ForestPests.org indicates:  “Eggs are deposited in bark crevices, under bark scales, or around wounds, usually during July and August. The larvae feed beneath the bark. The insect spends the winter as a larvae in a chamber formed in the sapwood. The following spring, it resumes feeding. As the second winter approaches, the mature larvae bores deep into the wood and constructs a pupal cell. Before entering the cell, the larvae cuts an exit hole through which it will emerge as an adult in the spring. The adult is a robust, velvety-black beetle about an inch long. Its head is covered with fine, yellow hairs. Its back is marked with several yellow bands, those near the front forming a characteristic w-shaped design. The life cycle requires 2 years. “  Here at What’s That Bug? we have major issues with the classification of “pest” when in fact this beautiful native insect has survived for 1000s of years, and it has an important niche in the health of a forest, which includes the necessary removal of old growth.  Congratulations of your wonderful sighting and thanks so much for sending your photos to our humble website.

Sugar Maple Borer

Beetle? Super long antennae and huge paws!
Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Hi WTB! I’ve attached several photos of what I think may be a kind of Longhorn Beetle. We found it hanging out on our screenroom one very hot day. He was just as curious of us as we were of him, watching us and moving as we did. I have wetlands and woods behind my house.
Allyson in Florida
Pensacola, FL

Southern Pine Sawyer

Hi Allyson,
This is one of the Pine Sawyers in the genus Monochamus, most likely Monochamus titillator, the Southern Pine Sawyer based on photos and information posted to Bugguide which states:  “larvae bore in sapwood of pine logs held in storage or pines killed by natural or manmade causes.”

Southern Pine Sawyer

Black beetle found in SE PEnnsylvania
Sat, Jun 27, 2009 at 3:35 PM
Can you please help us identify this beetle we found in our gravel driveway in Bucks County, PA? It’s 2″ long from front to back and appears to have wings.
Hannah
Bucks County, Pennsylvania (SE PA)

Broad Necked Root Borer

Hi Hannah,
Your beetle is a Broad Necked Root Borer, Prionus laticollis.  According to BugGuide:  “Adults eat foliage, sometimes damage fruit trees, grape vines. Life Cycle Eggs are inserted into ground (or under litter) in groups. Larvae tunnel downward to feed on living roots of a variety of trees and shrubs. At first they may feed on bark, but then proceed to hollow out small roots. Pupation occurs in spring, about 10 cm under the ground. Life cycle probably three years. “

Beetle
Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 2:05 PM
A friend found this in her backyard this morning and I went over to evacuate it. It hisses a little and has an earthy oder to it. What kind of beetle is it?
Thanks!
Carla
Florence, AZ

Palo Verde Root Borer

Hi Carla,
Your friend’s beetle is a Palo Verde Root Borer, Derobrachus hovorei.  BugGuide has this information to explain the taxonomy change to the scientific name:  “Synonyms and other taxonomic changes This common and widely distributed species has been called “Derobrachus geminatus”, but examination of type specimens revealed that the true geminatus refers to a much less common species we have called “Derobrachus forreri” (Santos-Silva, 2007, Arquivos de Zoologia, 38:1-94). Rules of nomenclature require that the name geminatus be applied to the less common species (with forreri as a synonym), leaving the common species without a name. Derobrachus hovorei is the new name given to this species, which can be distinguished from true D. geminatus (formerly D. forreri) by its more weakly striolate antennae.
Ted MacRae “  Though the Palo Verde Root Borer is not dangerous to humans, the adult beetle has very strong mandibles for chewing its way out of it pupal chamber in the woody palo verde tree.  Those mandibles can also give a painful pinch if the beetle is carelessly handled.

Palo Verde Root Borer

Big black beetle
Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 7:45 AM
Dear Bugman,
I found this guy last night on my front porch during an intense thunderstorm. He was two to three inches long. I’ve never seen anything like this, can you identify it?
C. Conner
Central North Carolina

Tile Horned Prionus

Dear C. Conner,
This magnificent specimen is a male Tile Horned Prionus, Prionus imbricornis.  According to BugGuide:  “On mid-summer nights, these hit lighted windows so hard at my house in Durham, North Carolina, that I fear the glass will break. Seems that mostly males come to lights. “

Crimson bug love!
Tue, May 19, 2009 at 10:50 PM
I was tempted to put “Beetle porn” in the subject. Here’s why:
I saw this guy (I know this is a male, for sure) during my hike last weekend in the Upper Galilee. At first I thought “Cool, beautiful beetle I can identify later”, but then, with no thought to his surroundings, and completely at ease with my camera, he found a mate. You could almost hear the lousy dialog and the cheap porn-clip music in the background! The ants peeking in on the action didn’t bother the amorous couple either.
I did identify them later as Purpuricenus desfontainei. It’s Hebrew name, loosely translated, is the Crimson Longhorn. Apt, don’t you think?
BenS
Upper Galilee, Israel

Crimson Longhorn

Dear BenS,
Thank you so much for contributing your wonderful images of mating Israeli Longicorns to our website.  We are even more thrilled that you have identified them as Purpuricenus desfontainei.

Crimson Longhorns Mating

Bug Identification
Mon, May 4, 2009 at 8:18 AM
This little gem was spotted in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago 1st May 2009. It is located on the side a bank headquarters approx 5ft from a grass lawn.
From tip of head to tail of body it measured approx 3inches. The photograph provides greater detail. It was stationary for about 2hrs and then when i returned it had gone. I am therefore unable to proivde details of flight/movement.
I would be grateful for classification/name etc etc if available
Simon Ward
Trinidad, Port of Spain

Harlequin Beetle

Dear Simon,
The Harlequin Beetle, Acrocinus longimanus, really is a spectacular Longhorned Borer Beetle from Central and South America as well as come of the Caribbean Islands.  Thanks so much for sending us your great photograph.