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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Flower Longhorn: properly identified as Lion Beetle

winged nonflying long antennaed, solitary
August 3, 2009
This creature appeared by itself just beyond the edge of a wooden porch deck. It wasn’t looking very chipper–moving slowly, stumbling, crawling on leaves–so I offered it water and then honeywater in a saucer (which I feed troubled bees). It drank a little and then lost balance in the water and fell to the ground.
Not to worry, though, it went under the deck and emerged on the other side–twice–walking, not flying. This would be a total of around 16 feet of wandering.
I found it again about an hour after first spotting it, and it was on the steps kinda floundering, not totally upright and seemingly waving a few legs to get my attention, so I offered my finger and it rode on my hand while I got the camera.

Deformed Cosmosalia chrysocoma?

Lion Beetle

This all happened yesterday, I haven’t spotted it today.
I hope the photos show it well. What really got our attention were the exceptionally long articulated antennae, long body and tail that the insect curved up from time to time, and short wings.
In one picture, you can see the second set of legs up in the air like a surrender or a show of ferocity.
Juliette Sterner
Olympic Peninsula Washington

Deformed Cosmosalia chrysocoma?

Lion Beetle

Hi Juliette,
We have a guess for you, and we are going to request assistance from Eric Eaton to confirm or deny.  This is a Long Horned Borer Beetle or Longicorn in the family Cerambycidae.  Additionally, we believe it is one of the Flower Longhorns in the subfamily Lepturinae.  We believe we have identified it as Cosmosalia chrysocoma, a species with no common name.  According to BugGuide it can be identified by:  “The very dense, appressed, metallic golden pubescence is quite distinctive.“ The puzzling component of your photo is what appears to be a deformation of the elytra or wing covers.  We aren’t sure if it is a natural deformation, or caused by trauma, or if perhaps they haven’t fully expanded due to recent metamorphosis.  We hope Eric Eaton can shed some light on this.

Deformed Cosmosalia chrysocoma?

Lion Beetle

Comment with Correction
I don’t know North America longhorns but I’m sure that you identified it wrong because if the second par of wings is unharmed so I tried to identify it myself and I found that it might be a Lion Beetle – Ulochaetes leoninus at least according to bugguide http://bugguide.net/node/view/65020/bgimage.
mardikavana

Thanks mardikavana,
We appreciate the correction.  Seems it must not be such a common beetle if there is only one image on Bugguide.  We decided to do a bit more web snooping and Answers.com indicates:  “DISTRIBUTION  Pacific coast, from British Columbia to southern California.
HABITAT  Pine forests.
BEHAVIOR  Look, sound, and behave like bumble bees.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET  Larvae bore into sapwood of conifers.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY  Eggs are laid at the base of standing dead trees and stumps.
CONSERVATION STATUS  Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS  Interesting example of physical and behavioral mimicry.“

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

Posted 03 August 2009 § Longhorn Beetles ‡ Comments (1) °

Longicorn from U.K.

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

Unknown Longicorn from U.K.

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.

Posted 03 August 2009 § Longhorn Beetles ‡ Comments (1) °

Three Lined Lema Beetle: imago, larva and eggs

yellow black striped bug
August 2, 2009
Hi,
I e-mailed you yesterday (August 1st) about a tiny yellow black striped bug I found on my plant. I found out it’s a striped cucumber beetle.
However, the tiny eggs and larvae I found on the same plant might not be from the cucumber beetle. Can you help me figuring out what the eggs/larvae are?
Thanks!
A. Smith
Sanford, NC

Striped Cucumber Beetle

Three Lined Lema Beetle

small yellow/black bug and larva
August 1, 2009
Hi Bugman!
August 1st, NC
I just found this tiny yellow/black striped bug (about 1/4 inch) on my plants (it can fly and two of them were mating) and also these tiny yellow eggs and little worms (larva?). They seem to have poop on their back. They are eating my plant. Can you tell me what bug and what kind of larva this is? Pest or not?
Thank you!
A. Smith
Sanford, NC

Striped Cucumber Beetle Larvae

Three Lined Lema Beetle Larvae

Dear A.,
We are very excited to get your photo documentation of the life stages of a Three Lined Lema Beetle, Lema trivittata.  BugGuide has numerous images of the adult, but no photos of a larva.  The larvae of the Skeletonizing Leaf Beetles have general similarities, and since the adults, eggs and larvae were all found on the same plant, circumstantial evidence indicates that they are all the same species.  Another species in the genus, Lema daturaphila, is called the Three Lined Potato Beetle, and it looks very similar.  Here is how BugGuide identifies the differences:  “Identification  Adults virtually of same appearance as L. daturaphila, but may be discriminated as follows (according to White&Day):
- median yellow band on elytra paler at sides in living specimens (of one colour in daturaphila; seems not to work with bugguide images);
- lateral black band covering 2 1/2 intervals at most (more than 2 1/2 in daturaphila);
(following characters of +/- gradual nature)
- tibiae usually yellow for more than half of their length (nearly always dark to more than 1/2 in daturaphila);
- femora often dark apically (rarely so in daturaphila)
- sternal pieces often broadly black (sometimes narrowly black in daturaphila)
The eggs of trivittata are said to have blackish tips, while those of daturaphila are dark yellow throughout.“ The fact that your eggs have black tips satisfies us that you have the Three Lined Lema Beetle, Lema trivittata, living on your plant.  We wish you had provided a name for the plant.

Three Lined Potato Beetle Eggs

Three Lined Lema Beetle Eggs

August 2, 2009
Thank you so much for identifying my mystery bug and pointing out the difference between the trivittata and daturaphila!
I guess I was wrong about the cucumber beetle :)
In my submission I actually wanted to tell you the name of the plant but I forgot what it’s called. I did a little bit of research and found the name: Iochroma cyanea ‘Purple Queen’
Unfortunately, the larvae is eating the leaves :( .
Thanks again!
Astrid Smith

Hi Again Astrid,
Iachroma cyanea is in the family Solanacea, which is consistent with the food source of the Three Lined Lema Beetle.

Posted 02 August 2009 § Eggs § Leaf Beetles ‡ Comments (0) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Hairy Necked Tige Beetle, Pacific Coast Tiger Beetle, or other species???

2 pollinators 1 fuzzy-legged jumper
July 31, 2009
1 green pollinator, 1 brown pollinator, 1 maybe cricket with fuzzy grayish fizz on legs…all at coast in San Luis Obispo County, CA
Denise
San Luis Obispo County, CA coast

probably Hairy Necked Tiger Beetle

probably Hairy Necked Tiger Beetle

Dear Denise,
It is impossible for us to respond to every email we receive, so we must select which letters get responses and further cull from those for posting.  It is very difficult for us to deal with three different species in one letter.  With that clarified, your “1 maybe cricket with fuzzy grayish fiss on legs” is actually a  Tiger Beetle, in the genus Cicindela which has numerous species continent wide that resemble your individual.  You may scan the possibilities on BugGuide as we have done in an attempt to properly identify your individual. We believe the Hairy-Necked Tiger Beetle, Cicindela hirticollis, it a strong candidate for the proper identification.  According to BugGuide, it is found in California, and there is a photograph of a specimen collected in Marin County.  There is also a set of photos of a live specimen in Ventura County.  It also resembles the Pacific Coast Tiger Beetle, Cicindela bellissima, though the range of that species, according to BugGuide, is more north, though the range map might not be comprehensive.  If you resubmit your other requests with more a more detailed letter, we may be able to provide an identification if time permits.

Posted 01 August 2009 § Tiger Beetles ‡ Comments (0) °

Ponderous Borer

Look at this big fella
August 1, 2009
I’m figuring it is a borer beetle. It was found at a cabin in Big Bear Lake, California.
Mark
BigBear, CA

Ponderous Borer

Ponderous Borer

Hi Mark,
You are correct.  This giant is a Ponderous Borer, Ergates spiculatus and you may find information on the species on older posts on our website as well as viewing the information page on BugGuide.

Posted 01 August 2009 § Longhorn Beetles ‡ Comments (0) °

Longicorn from Viet Nam: Pachyteria dimidiata

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

Unknown Longicorn from Viet Nam

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.

Posted 01 August 2009 § Longhorn Beetles ‡ Comments (1) °

BUG OF THE MONTH AUGUST 2009: EYED ELATER

Black Beetle
July 26, 2009
I’m wondering if you can help me identify this. It was probably a little over an inch long. It was in my driveway, I live in Southern New Jersey not too far from the coast.
Suzann
New Jersey

Eyed Elater

Eyed Elater

Dear Suzann,
Congratulations on being selected Bug of the Month for August 2009, though your letter will not be posted live until August 1.  This is an Eyed Elater, Alaus oculatus, a large distinctive species of Click Beetle.  Click Beetles get their name from their ability, when they find themselves on their back, to snap their body at the joint, propelling themselves into the air sometimes for quite a distance, and flipping around to land on their feet.  According to BugGuide, the Eyed Elater is found in “Eastern and central North America–widespread. South Dakota east to Quebec, south to Texas, Florida.“  BugGuide also indicates that “Adults may take some nectar and plant juices. Larvae are predatory, eating grubs of wood-boring beetles like cerambycids (longhorns)” and “Eggs are laid in soil. Larvae predators of beetle larvae in decaying wood, especially hardwoods. Pupation is in unlined cell underground or in rotting wood. Adults come to lights.“  The eyespots of the Eyed Elater act as a protection against predators like birds which may think the beetle is actually a snake.  We have been getting numerous requests for the identification of Eyed Elaters this summer.

Posted 01 August 2009 § Click Beetles ‡ Comments (3) ° Tagged:

Cottonwood Borer

BIG BLACK AND WHITE BUG
July 31, 2009
I wrote yesterday, but have not received a copy of my email, so thought it did not go through. This bug was about 2″ long. It was thick with dark black legs and feelers that were thick. Its back legs were tipped at the foot area with black and white like its body. I don’t remember if the other legs were. I didn’t see wings, but it disappeared quick suddenly when I brushed it into the leaves with the broom. I’ve never seen one before.
Curious
Northeast Texas

Cottonwood Borer

Cottonwood Borer

Dear Curious,
Your spectacular Longicorn Beetle is the Cottonwood Borer.

Posted 31 July 2009 § Longhorn Beetles ‡ Comments (0) °

Unknown Tortoise Beetle from Nicaragua identified by Karl

Metallic Green Beetle with a really cool plastic coat
July 31, 2009
I found these beetles congregated in a wooden window frame in an abandoned building on the shoreline of the Pacific in Nicaragua. I was attracted by the bright green metallic color but then noticed the really cool “plastic coat” each was wearing. Looks like they’ve been recylcling the many discarded water bottles littering the shoreline. Any idea what this guy is?
Dean Campbell
Las Salinas Nicaragua

Unknown Tortoise Beetle from Nicaragua

Tortoise Beetle from Nicaragua

Hi Dean,
This is some species of Tortoise Beetle in the Leaf Beetle subfamily Cassidinae, but we haven’t the time to research the exact species just now.  Perhaps one of our readers can provide the answer.

Identification from Karl
August 4, 2009
Hi Daniel:
I am fairly certain that Dean’s tortoise beetles belong in the genus Physonota. Of the several species occurring in Nicaragua, Physonota attenuate appears to be the closest match. Unfortunately, all of the reference photos I could find of this species are of preserved museum specimens, and tortoise beetles don’t preserve their color or clarity when they are dried. A live specimen would look much like the related North American species, P. helianthi, which can be viewed at the Bugguide site. Regards.
Karl

Posted 31 July 2009 § Leaf Beetles ‡ Comments (0) °

Bee-Like Robber Fly eats Japanese Beetle

Giant bee eating Japanese beetle
July 30, 2009
Hello!
While working in my garden, i came across what appeared to be a giant bumblebee eating a Japanese beetle. The bee had a fuzzy abdomen that was striped yellow and black. It was between 1 3/4 ” and 2 ” long. The Japanese beetle was 1/2 ” long. The bee was flying around holding the beetle in it’s mouth. It was huge! Any ideas on what it is?
tree
Floyd county, VA

Bee-Like Robber Fly eats Japanese Beetle

Bee-Like Robber Fly eats Japanese Beetle

Hi tree,
About a week ago we receive a question if Robber Flies ate Japanese Beetles.  We wish your photo had arrived before we answered.  Since Japanese Beetles are an invasive exotic species that does considerable damage to ornamental plants, many gardeners would welcome these Robber Flies into their yards, including our own mother in Ohio.   This is a Bee-Like Robber Fly in the genus Laphria, which can be distinguished from the genus Mallophora by the antennae.  This is explained on BugGuide on the Mallophora genus page thus:  “Resemble Laphria, another genus of robbers that mimic bumblebees, but is even hairier and has antennae with a very thin terminal final segment, whereas Laphria has thick antennae.“  Based on images posted to BugGuide, we believe your specimen most closely resembles Laphria grossa, but we would like an expert confirmation on the species.

Bee-Like Robber Fly eats Japanese Beetle

Bee-Like Robber Fly eats Japanese Beetle

Posted 30 July 2009 § Robber Flies § Scarab Beetles ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged: ,

Giant Stag Beetle

Giant Stag Beetle
July 29, 2009
I was trying to identify this huge beetle that was on my porch June 11th. I found it here and am very greatful. I was scared to walk past it!
Stefanie
Midland NC

Giant Stag Beetle

Giant Stag Beetle

Hi Stefanie,
When we made the Giant Stag Beetle, Lucanus elaphus, our Bug of the Month, we thought we would get several more submissions.  Yours is the only one we received, though we got many images of a close relative, the Reddish Brown Stag Beetle.

Posted 29 July 2009 § Stag Beetles ‡ Comments (0) °

Eastern Hercules Beetle

(Believed) female Eastern Hercules Beetle, second photo turned out very good
July 26, 2009
Hi,
I believe this is a female Eastern Hercules Beetle, but I’m not totally sure. It was found on the side of my house in the evening. I live in middle Tennessee. I know you have posted some of these already, but I think the second picture turned out really well.
Matthew Martin
Springfield, TN

Eastern Hercules Beetle
Eastern Hercules Beetle

Hi Matthew,
You are correct.  This is a female Eastern Hercules Beetle, Dynastes tityus.  The close-up is an interesting angle.

Eastern Hercules Beetle
Eastern Hercules Beetle

Posted 27 July 2009 § Scarab Beetles ‡ Comments (0) °

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