Black insect with red stripes
July 16, 2009
Found this bug east of flagstaff in an abandon trading post. It was moving quickly but seemed to be dragging that red striped sack.
Willis
30 miles east of flagstaff arizona
Blister Beetle: genus Megetra
Hi Willis,
This is a Blister Beetle in the genus Megetra. You can see more images and get information on BugGuide. We love your photo with its alarming color palette. The Blister Beetle does have warning colors for a good reason. It can exude a blistering agent called cantharidin.
Brazilian bug from semiarid region
July 16, 2009
Hi Bugman! I was found this bug in Brazil, state Pernambuco. Looks a Cerambycinae but I can not identify. Can be an unknown species?
Balazs
Brazil, state Pernambuco
Longicorn from Brazil
Dear Balazs,
We are a bit pressed for time this morning, and have not had any luck identifying your longicorn. We believe it is one of the Prionids and the feathered antennae are quite distinctive. We have seen similar antennae on an Australian Longicorn, Piesarthrius marginellus, but that is obviously a different species. Hopefully, one of our readers will write in with a correct identification and link.
Longicorn from Brazil
Update: From Eric Eaton
Daniel:
Realized I hadn’t been to the WTB for too long. Shame on me:-) I’ll get to the longhorn, but meanwhile….
Eric
Update: From Eric Eaton
Daniel:
Congratulations to Tina for coming to the same conclusion I would have for the wonderful Brazilian longhorn: Psygmatocerus wagleri. I hope she knew which subfamily to look under! LOL! Still would have exhausted my lunch hour hunting for that one when I ‘do’ know where to look!
Eric
Another Stag Beetle!
July 15, 2009
THANK YOU for choosing to make the stag beetle your “Beetle of the Month”. Why? Because my wife found one in the bathroom late last night (!), and I had to figure out what it was before either of us could go to bed. Posting an image on your home page made it quick and easy to get back to sleep knowing we didn’t have a martian invader in our home.
Based on some more research, it seems that maybe it’s unusual to find such a creature in NJ–only 12 miles from Manhattan.
Anyway, I didn’t kill the creature. But here is a picture of him trapped in a glass before I let him outside. (Well, first I checked that it wasn’t a poisonous monster.)
Thanks for your hard work on the site. It really was appreciated last night.
Russell Kahn
Montclair, NJ
Reddish Brown Stag Beetle
Hi Russell,
Based on the number of letters we have received with images of the Reddish Brown Stag Beetle, we chose the wrong species as our Bug of the Month. The Giant Stag Beetle has much more impressive mandibles, but there doesn’t seem to be as many sightings. We are happy that you were able to identify this close relative based on the image on our homepage.
Beautiful Red Beetle
July 15, 2009
I’ve seen these small active red beetles in Oklahoma woodlands all of my life, over 50 years, but never have identified them. They are very showy and run or fly readily to escape. They are active in the hottest times of the summer in the daytime. I found this one in mid-July in central Oklahoma on a 105 F degree-day. I’ve never seen them in groups only as singles. It’s about a third of an inch long.
K. Hopkins
Oklahoma, USA
Checkered Beetle
Dear K.,
We didn’t realize we were answering two of your letters back to back. This is a Checkered Beetle, Enoclerus ichneumoneus. You may find matching images on BugGuide. After opening five different large files for your photographs, the photo instructor in us feels compelled to tell you that you have a lot of visual noise. Try changing the sensitivity to light (ISO) or some other resolution factor which is causing your otherwise marvelous images to be degraded.
elm sawfly and grapevine beetle
July 14, 2009
Hi Bugman!
Just used your site to identify this Elm Sawfly I saw while hiking in the mountains of North Carolina. Thought you might like the photo.
I also was able to identify the cute little Grapevine Beetle that was sadly squished on the grill of my car. Sorry little guy!
Carrie
North Carolina
Roadkill: Grapevine Beetle
Dear Carrie,
Though it saddens us, we are struck by the beauty of this graphic image of accidental insecticide. The poor Grapevine Beetle was in the wrong place at the wrong time and became collateral damage. It will not be appearing on our unnecessary carnage page which is reserved for malicious and premeditated killings and not involuntary roadkill.
What’s the name of the beetle in my photo
July 14, 2009
I’ve had this bug body for years but dont know it’s name
beetle bailey
kentucky
Eastern Hercules Beetle
Dear Beetle Bailey,
This is an Eastern Hercules Beetle, Dynastes tityus.
Daniel, your site is new to me, and it’s really a great site.
Just wanted to say that I didn’t murder this beetle. I found it’s body on my deck one morning, and was facinated by it and kept it. That was twenty years ago, and I still have it. I have never seen another since. Hope it died of natural causes. There were no visible injuries, and I don’t have pesticides around.
Thanks for identifying it.
Strange looking beetle
July 14, 2009
I have lived in Oklahoma all my life and have never seen one of these bugs in my 30 years in this state. They are about and inch and half long with a striped abdomen. They hiss quite loudly when disturbed. And the antler like formations on the head are very interesting. Is this a native species to Oklahoma.
David Gerlach
Oklahoma City, Ok. USA
Lined June Beetle
Hi David,
This is one of the Lined June Beetles, probably Polyphylla occidentalis. You can see some matching images on BugGuide. He has some pretty impressive antennae.
Black and light blue striped-antaennaed flying beetle-looking bugger
July 14, 2009
It can be said we already attract an odd assortment of characters, but this week a friendly beetle-looking bug befriended *us*. My roommates and I live in Anaheim, CA (about 20 min. south of Los Angeles), and the bug seems to have taken to our little corner, hanging out in our trees, rose bushes, and carport for several days now. The belly is a light baby blue, the back is predominantly black, and the antennae is striped with the two colors. Any ideas? Thanks!
Friends of the friendly bug
Southern California
Banded Laurel Borer
Dear Friends,
This beautiful beetle is known as a Banded Laurel Borer and it is found throughout western North America.
Thank you! Keep up the good work on your fun website, and good luck with the book!
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