Vietnam Beetle
January 5, 2010
Hi,
My friend Emma found this beetle on a street in Ho Chi Minh city, outside of Saigon. She took this picture in early July 2008. I’m very much an amateur entomologist, and I’m not sure about the identification. Any help you could offer would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Kai
Vietnam
Longicorn: Pachyteria dimidiata
Hello Kai,
This is some species of Longicorn in the family Cerambycidae, though we need to research the species. Perhaps one of our readers will beat us to the correct identification.
Update from Karl
This looks like Pachyteria dimidiata (Cerambycinae: Callichromatini), found throughout tropical and sub-tropical Asia from Iran to Borneo. In Thailand it is considered a wood boring pest on fruit and ornamental trees, particularly the Iron Wood Tree (Mimusops elengi); in fact the common name there appears to be the Mimusop Stem Borer. You can find another photo of this beetle (also from Vietnam) on WTB at: http://www.whatsthatbug.com/2009/08/01/longicorn-from-viet-nam-pachyteria-dimidiata/
Thanks Karl,
We knew it looked vaguely familiar, but we didn’t have time to research the matter earlier today.
worm or grub?
January 4, 2010
This bug was found while cutting down an oak tree in Pasco County in Florida. The cicle is the head and sections I guess the tail. From the photo it looks like it may have a stinger of sorts, but I was assured it did not. Any ideas?
Shaune
Pasco County, Fl.
- Flatheaded Borer Larva
Dear Shaune,
The larva in your photo is a Flatheaded Borer in the family Buprestidae, known as the Metallic Wood Borers or Jewel Beetles. We were uncertain of the species so we tried to search BugGuide for members of the family that bore in oaks, and we found your photo posted there, though there was no conclusive species identification. We continued to search the web for potential species and on the Texas Beetle Information website, we found that the Red Legged Buprestis, Buprestis rufipes, bores in oaks. According to BugGuide, it is found in Florida, so that might be your species, though BugGuide lists maple and birch as the host plants. The positive identification of larvae is quite difficult.
Black & Red Water Bug?
January 4, 2010
These guys only seem to surface at this time of year (Summer). They fly (rather poorly) and seem to be seriously attracted to water. Pretty much always find their way to the sink, shower floor or cats water bowl. Also only seem to see them at night. Heaps of them in the house at the moment. Fairly small, about the size of a 5 cent coin.
Jason
Burnie, Tasmania, Australia
Unknown Scarab Beetle from Tasmania
Dear Jason,
This is not a Water Bug, but rather, some species of Scarab Beetle. We do not believe the beetles are being attracted to the water. We believe they are accidentally flying into the water and cannot get out. We wish your photo was of a higher quality, but as it is, the markings on your beetle seem rather distinctive. We have had no luck matching it to anything online, including the Scarabaeidae Insect Gallery page on the LifeUnseen website.
Can you identify this bug?
January 3, 2010
Hello,
Can you help me identify this bug?
Sighting (possibly two times):
* I recently found this bug on my bed after a friend’s visit. She arrived by plane from DC.
* There is a slight possibility that this is the same bug as another one i found on my clothes months ago while on public transit in Chicago.
Details:
* The bug is easily visible and is about 2mm in length.
* It moves fairly slow, mush slower than common small household ants.
Other facts:
* Extremely resilient. I found it about three weeks ago and put it in a small glass jar for later identification. I forgot about the jar until today and I was shocked to see it is still alive with no food, or water in a small air tight jar.
* It does not like sunlight. It took a while taking a frontal shot of it as it always tries to face away from direct light.
Ben
Chicago, IL
Spider Beetle
Hi Ben,
We rarely receive letters with so many bullet points. This is a Smooth Spider Beetle, Gibbium aequinoctiale, a pest of stored foods.
A Few More Things About my Bug/Fly/Beetle
November 4, 2009
My bugs have very distinct personalities. If they are fruit flies or drain flies, they don’t fly around fruit or the drain. They’re very lazy and just sit there. If I try to capture them, they do squirm away – but of course I’m faster. If they’re some kind of pantry beetle/saw tooth beetle, they don’t match the profile. I have yet to find them in food. Like a lunatic I’ve been going through every box, carton or bag, examing them and then throwing them out. I haven’t found these creatures in any food source. They now seem to take the occasionally holiday from the kitchen for an excursion the the dining room. There is no food or moisture in the dining room. I can’t figure out what they are afte other than a dark place to huddle. I may have get up in the middl e of the night with a miners cap to figure out what they are. Please save me this embarssment. It’s nearly halloween, so I think I’m safe from being reported to the asylum for wearing my bug tracking costume. People will think I dressed as an exterminator – I hope. All my food is now solely in the fridge. This is horrible.
Pest-ered Still and Exhausted
NE US- PA
Merchant Grain Beetle
Dear Pest-ered Still and Exhausted,
We are posting some old letters today, and we are not certain if you have eradicated your beetle infestation. These are Sawtoothed Grain Beetles or Merchant Grain Beetles in the genus Oryzaephilus which is represented on BugGuide which states: “larvae and adults feed on damaged kernels of stored grains: barley, oats, rice, sunflower seeds, and wheat, plus flour, pasta, breakfast cereals, cake mixes, and various other processed foods used for human consumption.”
Mystery Ladybug?
November 5, 2009
Hi. I found this insect hanging out on the leaf of a tall Conyza canadensis growing in my back yard in Denton, Texas at the end of October. It looks to me like a member of Coccinellidae, but I can’t find it on any lists.
GTony
Denton, Texas, USA
Swamp Milkweed Beetle
Hi GTony,
We were a bit busy when your letter originally arrived, and we are posting it two months late. Though it appears to be a Lady Beetle, this is not a Ladybug, but rather, a Swamp Milkweed Beetle, Labidomera clivicollis. You may verify this on BugGuide.
November 5, 2009
A co-worker of mine knows a little bit about my fascination with beetles, bugs, spiders and insects. The other day, he was arriving for day shift as I left from my night shift, and said “Wait, I found you something!” It turns out it was this guy, a black shiny hard shelled beetle almost an inch-and-a-half long.
He was found early Halloween morning, on the street in Norwich, CT, pretty far from any water, but shortly after some heavy overnight rains. Perhaps he was washed out of a pond or creek.
It appears to be a Dyticid – Cybister fimbriolatus
according to Bug Guide: http://bugguide.net/node/view/59505
I put him in a large shallow container of water that was in my yard, neglected most of the fall and looked like it had some other small critters in it. He was a strong swimmer, head down and tail up the whole time. The back legs are hairy and very long, and seem to be used much in the way a frog swims. The hairs act a bit like a frog’s webbed feet. He was never aggressive and appears to have very small mouth parts, and large bluish eyes.
I placed a quarter with him so you can get a sense of his size. In Connecticut, we don’t see a lot of bugs this late in the year, so I hope he has found a good place to spend the winter. We haven’t had a hard frost yet being near the coast so hopefully he will locate a good hiding spot.
Rob Bareiss,
New London, CT
Giant Diving Beetle
Hi Rob,
We were a bit busy when your letter arrived, and it was overlooked. We agree that this is a Predaceous Diving Beetle in the family Dytiscidae and we are posting your wonderful letter and photo a few months late.
Hey that’s cool! I’m glad you guys liked the pictures and that I was
right with the identification. I’m still new to this but your site has sparked
a revival of an interest that I have had for over 35 years!
Take care and Happy New Year,
Robert
What beetle is this?
December 30, 2009
I caught this huge beetle flying around outside my classroom window in Mesa, Arizona in the middle of April. On a warm sunny day.
My class thought it was a “flying spider”! What is it? any ideas? It’s not in any of my bug books. I enclosed two photos. Thanks in advanced for any help! 
Lisa
Mesa, Arizona
Hardwood Stump Borer
Hi Lisa,
Your beetle is a Hardwood Stump Borer, Mallodon dasystomus. You can find additional images and information on BugGuide.
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