black & yellow striped bug
September 29, 2009
Hi Bugman, I submitted this last week, but I think it might not have gone through. These black and white striped bugs are all over our Globe Locust trees, and I would love to know what they are, are they beneficial or something to be concerned about. Any danger in handling them?
Neal Schuster
Overland Park, KS (Kansas City area)

Locust Borer

Hi Neal,
It was observant of you to associate the Locust Borer with your Globe Locust Trees.  The Locust Borer is a native insect.  Here is what BugGuide has to say:  “Life Cycle  Eggs are laid in locust trees in the fall. Newly emerged larvae spend several months in tree trunks, first hibernating through the winter under the bark, then tunneling into trees in spring, eventually making tunnels about 4″ long and .25″ inch wide. They pupate late July/early August. Adult beetles emerge late August to September (click on the Data tab for a graphic confirmation of that fact).  Remarks  Considered a serious pest of Black Locust trees; previously weakened or damaged trees are often killed by an infestation of the larvae. Previously confined to the native range of Black Locust in the northeast, it has spread with the trees throughout the US. Unfortunately Black Locust is used for reclamation and similar projects where trees are likely to be stressed out and thus more vulnerable to insect damage.“ Adults feed on pollen and they are generally associated with Goldenrod.

Locust Borer

Borer?
September 12, 2009
Shortly after you identified my photos of the amorpha borer (or locust borer) I came across this one. It appears to be similar to the amorpha borer, but perhaps a different species. Can you identify it, please? Thanks!
Doug
near Omaha NE

Locust Borer

Hi Doug,
This time your insect is a Locust Borer.  They appear in the autumn and they are often associated with goldenrod.

Laughing Brown Beetle
September 8, 2009
This brown beetle is speckled white and makes a laughing sound while bobbing its head if provoked. All the images are of the same bug. IT doesn’t seem to move around much. I left it on my desk and it was still in the same spot when I came back about 45 minutes later. The antennae are about as long as the body and it rotates them in opposite circles from time to time. The legs end in hook-like “feet” and it is capable of clinging to things very well. Has no problem hanging upside down. Has two ant-like mandibles jutting downward from the base of the head. The white spots on the back appear to be arranged into loose chevrons pointing towards the posterior, there are three in all. There are two symmetric orange/tan spots on the back of the head. Antennae are ro ughly 1.5in in length. Body appox. 7/8th of an inch long 1/4in wide. Head is narrower then the body and about 1/3 of the total length.
Hissing Harry
Lexington, Virginia, USA

Possibly Southern Pine Sawyer

Dear Hissing Harry,
Your photos lack clarity, but we believe this is one of the Pine Sawyers in the genus Monochamus, possibly the Southern Pine Sawyer, Monochamus titillator.  You can compare your individual to images posted to BugGuide.

Possibly Southern Pine Sawyer

I need to know the name of this beetle ASAP
September 3, 2009
Hi bugman, my name is Adam, I found this bug while doing bio-inventories, and have to submit my findings on september 8th and this is the one I can’t Id. it was about 3 cm long X 1 cm wide. found near a wetland on a beaver chewed tree stump. taken 24 Aug, 2009, mid-day
How you want your letter signed    Name and title
Geographic Location of Bug    UTM 17T271051 5135443

Possibly Banded Ash Borer

Dear Adam,
The location you indicated for this sighting, UTM 17T271051 5135443 did not produce any matches in our web search.  For all purposes, you did not provide us with a location that we can use to assist you.  The desperation in the tone of your letter would indicate that this is important, yet you failed to assist us.  The best we are able to do with limited information is to say this specimen somewhat resembles the Banded Ash Borer, Neoclytus caprea, which can be viewed on BugGuide.  If the species is not correct, we are guessing it is a relative in the same genus Neoclytus, or at least in the tribe Clytini.  These clues should enable you to conclusively identify this specimen based on information you have that you have not provided for us.

Hey, Daniel.
I thought it was an interesting challenge, so I figured out how to convert UTM to GPS coordinates. Here is the location of the mysterious beetle! Daniel To view your map, click on this link or cut and paste this link into your browser’s location bar. http://atlas.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?email=1&mapd MapQuest.com is the Web’s leading provider of free Maps and Driving Directions. Visit us today at www.mapquest.com.
Daniel

Update from Eric Eaton
September 6, 2009
Daniel:
I agree with all three of your identifications.  Nice work.  Neoclytus longhorned beetles are also a bear to ID to species.
Eric

Hi bugman, This beetle was found approximately 500 meters south of highway 17 E, in Desbarats, Ontario, Canada. I hope that this will help determine the species. if you need more information, please contact me.
Adam

Strange bug on my Porch in AZ
August 26, 2009
Hello, I live in south eastern Arizona, and we recently bought this house. We have these strange bugs coming around the back porch when we turn the light on. I have no idea what they are and thought you might be able to help. We are wondering if there is anything to worry about with these. Thanks, Chris
Chris in AZ
Sierra Vista Arizona

Mesquite Girdler

Hi Chris,
We absolutely love our new server which we just started using this week.  It was a fine investment.  It enabled us to quickly search our own archive to identify your Mesquite Girdler, Oncideres rhodosticta.  We recall spending quite a bit of time in the past trying to identify this beetle, and we eventually requested assistance from Eric Eaton. We quickly located our September 2007 posting, and now that we have the scientific name, we can link to the BugGuide page as well.  Here is the information Eric Eaton provided us in the past:  “Females climb out on a mesquite twig and chew a deep groove around the diameter. Each female then lays an egg beyond the scar. The girdling kills the twig beyond the scar and the larval offspring bores in that dying wood. This, and other species of longhorned beetles, effectively prune trees and shrubs in this manner, literally shaping the forests and woodlands where they live. Eric“

Thanks Daniel!
I hope I can catch a midge in action. By the way, the root borer you posted is a Palo Verde beetle (Derobrachus geminatus). We have lot’s of them in Tucson- they’re HUGE, and they’re really active right now, during the monsoon. I like their fancy spiked collars! Here’s another!
Emily

Palo Verde Root Borer

Hi Emily,
Thanks for the suggestion on the Mexican Beetle.  An expert in the genus might be able to say for sure if it is a different species, but we are taking to the opportunity to post your Palo Verde Root Borer, Derobracus hoverei as its own posting.