What bug is this please?
August 12, 2009
From Tobago, West Indies. I have another image without my hand in the picture if you would like it. The hand is for scale.
Mr. Sticks
Tobago, West Indies

Callipogon armillatus from Tobago

Dear Mr. Sticks,
This is a Root Borer Beetle in the subfamily Prioninae.  It resembles the North American beetles in the genus Derobrachus, but we have been unable to quickly unearth any possible species matches in Tobago.  Perhaps one of our readers will have better luck in the species identification.

Callipogon armillatus from Tobago

Daniel:
This looks like Callopogon (=Enoplocerus) armillatus. The common name appears to be Giant Longhorn Beetle; appropriate for one of the largest Cerambycids (up to 12 cm!). It ranges from Panama to northern Argentina, including Trinidad and Tobago. As you say, it is a root borer (Cerambycidae: Prioninae). Regards.
Karl

Large cranky beetle
August 3, 2009
I found this guy in a new house I’m building in the fron yard, I grabbed him to get a better picture, with a better sun exposition, but it got really mad at me, so that when I let it free, it was chasing me really fast and it was very difficult to get the camera to focus and I guess it most be still looking for me somewhere.
Do you know what type of beetle it is?, it was around 4 in long.
Jorge Farias
Jalisco Mexico

Root Borer from Mexico

Hola Jorge,
This is a Root Borer in the subfamily Prioninae, but we are not certain of the species.  Hopefully, one of our readers will be able to supply an exact species for us.

Unknown Mexican Prionid

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

Hi Emily,
Thanks for the suggestion on the Mexican Prionid.  We agree that it is a Derobrachus, but there are other species of Derobrachus in Mexico and we are just not certain that this is a Palo Verde Root Borer or perhaps one of the  others, like possibly Derobrachus sulcicornis.  Jalisco is in central Mexico which supports our theory that this may be a different species.  Since insects do not respect international borders, if this submission had been from Sonora or Chihuahua, we would say the Palo Verde Root Borer would be a more certain possibility.

Update from Eric Eaton
August 4, 2009
Hi, Daniel:
I agree with the identifications for both of the beetles:  A species of Derobrachus, and an example of the “lion beetle” as offered by others.  See what a great community you have created?:-)  I tell you, I learn as much from WTB as I contribute….
… Keep up the great job, Daniel:-)
Eric

Beetle identification
August 3, 2009
Dear Bugman
I found this beetle out side of my workplace, in Winsford (UK).
I have looked around and think it is a fur less Ornate Checkered Beetle .
It was very lethargic, it’s hard shell contained wings, that were jet Black
Can you confirm this please?
Richard Lock
Winsford, UK

Longicorn from U.K.

Dear Richard,
While we cannot confirm the species at this point in time, we can tell you that this is not a Checkered Beetle, but is a Longhorned Borer Beetle or Longicorn in the family Cerambycidae.  We found one Longhorn Beetle page on the Garden Safari website devoted to U.K. Beetles, but your individual is not represented.  We also found a comprehensive Cerambycidae site without thumbnails and our cursory search did not turn up a match.  We believe your beetle must be represented on that site.  If you feel so inspired, and you find your beetle, please let us know.  Meanwhile, perhaps one of our readers will supply an answer.

Comment with identification
This is a Leptura quadrifasciata L. 1758. Formerly known as Strangalia quadrifasciata. By the looks of it it is a male because the tip of female antennae is yellow (last three segments). Males have black antennae. It is a widespreaded and common longhorn, at least in the Northern Europe. You can find them on flowers. In that site what you mentioned that guy is on page
http://www.cerambyx.uochb.cz//lquadri.htm .
By the way sorry for my bad grammar.

Help to identify a Black/yellow, Beetle looking Bug
August 1, 2009
Recently (July 31st), a friend of mine took the photo below of a six legged insect, body about 6 cm long, shiny blue-black exosketon, big yellow square flag on its back, and the most amazing feature: the yellow-hooked antennae. Any clue as to what it is?
Harley
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Pachyteria dimidiata from Viet Nam

Hi Harley,
This is a Longicorn Beetle in the family Cerambycidae, but we are uncertain of its exact identification.  It resembles, both in structure and coloration, a species from North America, the Elderberry Borer, Desmocerus palliatus, in the tribe Desmocerini and the subfamily Lepturinae, the Flower Longhorns, and it is quite possible that the two beetles are closely related.  The Elderberry Borer, which lacks the striking yellow antennae, may be viewed on BugGuide.  Hopefully, one of our readers will be able to assist us in the correct identification.  Just before hitting publish, we decided to check a lovely coffee table book, Living Jewels, given to us by our dear friend Monika Bielser from Basel Switzerland.  Low and behold, we found Pachyteria dimidiata from Malaysia on plate 29 and then found a photo posted online on God of Insects.  It is also represented on the Beetles of Thailand website.

fiber optic penis?
July 26, 2009
I knew that subject line would get your attention. I recently took some pics worthy of your BUG LOVE page, but I didn’t know what kind of beetles they were. Then today I checked your site and there it is- a banded longhorn. If you care to zoom in a bit you’ll understand the subject line.
Vince
Northern Indiana

Mating Longhorns

Dear Vince,
These mating beetles may be the Banded Longhorn, Typocerus velutinus, or they may be one of the 15 other members of the genus identified on BugGuide.  According to BugGuide:  “Prominent genus of flower longhorns. Many, if not most, have a zebra-like or spotted pattern. This is probably mimicry of hymenoptera. Several are distinctively marked on elytra: T. velutina, zebra, lunulatus. However there is some variability, some T. velutina, in particular, are weakly marked. Other species must be identified under magnification or from very high-quality photographs. These include T. acuticauda and T. deceptus.“  Thanks for sending your graphic photo of a mating pair.

Beetle like with big jaws red/copper color and 3-4 inches in size
July 23, 2009
Was camping in Northern california last weekend. Mendocino national forrest to be exact and we found this scurrying on the ground. It was huge and vicious. I would love to know what kind of bug this is? and how common these are? Thanks for your time.
Max Weisman
Mendocino county northern california

California Root Borer

Dear Max,
This is a female California Root Borer, Priunus californicus, and common is a relative term.  The species is not uncommon, but populations may fluctuate from location to location.  We just returned from camping in the Mendocino woodlands and we were not fortunate enough to see a California Root Borer.