Surprised while on a tadpole rescue!
Wed, May 20, 2009 at 3:35 PM
My children, husband and I are avid nature lovers. One May night at the local ballpark my children showed my husband a drying up “creek” bed with hundreds of tadpoles and frog eggs in it. My daughter and I had already been performing tadpole rescue on a water catch next to our drvieway that day. Needless to say the next day the kids and I went to rescue those tadpoles. While driving my son said the worm in his container was freaking him out. I thought he was talking about the tadpoles. When I began pouring them into their new home this worm took off chewing through the eggs. I quickly scooped it out. We watched it and noticed that it has six legs, large pincers, and appears to breathe through an orifice in its tail. I thought it might be a juvenile dragonfly, I checked your site (which we use frequently) and have found noth ing like it. Thanks for your help.
Jodie
Atlanta, TX
Water Tiger
Dear Jodie,
It was in our budding fascination with aquaria in our youth that we first heard the name Water Tiger to describe the larvae of the Predacious Water Beetles in the genus Dytiscus, though according to BugGuide, Predacious Water Beetle and Water Tiger apply to the entire family Dytiscidae. Here is what William T. Innes wrote in 1935 in Exotic Aquarium Fishes: “Water Tiger This sleek, spindle-shaped creature is the larval form of a large Water Beetle (Dytiscus), which itself is also a powerful enemy of fishes. There are several species, but in effect, as far as the aquarist is concerned, they are all one. … The pincers, or mandibles, are hollow, and through these they rapidly suck the blood of their victims. Growth is rapid and they soon attain a size where they attack tadpoles, fishes or any living thing into which they can bury their strong bloodsuckers. Theirs is one of those appetites which ‘grows by what it feeds upon,’ and they move steadily from victim to victim. … What helps make these larvae so deadly is that they are good swimmers. … The Water Tiger breathes air through its rear end and, therefore, must occasionally come to the surface.”
Crimson bug love!
Tue, May 19, 2009 at 10:50 PM
I was tempted to put “Beetle porn” in the subject. Here’s why:
I saw this guy (I know this is a male, for sure) during my hike last weekend in the Upper Galilee. At first I thought “Cool, beautiful beetle I can identify later”, but then, with no thought to his surroundings, and completely at ease with my camera, he found a mate. You could almost hear the lousy dialog and the cheap porn-clip music in the background! The ants peeking in on the action didn’t bother the amorous couple either.
I did identify them later as Purpuricenus desfontainei. It’s Hebrew name, loosely translated, is the Crimson Longhorn. Apt, don’t you think?
BenS
Upper Galilee, Israel
Crimson Longhorn
Dear BenS,
Thank you so much for contributing your wonderful images of mating Israeli Longicorns to our website. We are even more thrilled that you have identified them as Purpuricenus desfontainei.
Crimson Longhorns Mating
Critter by the River
Tue, May 19, 2009 at 2:46 AM
Hey I sent this in earlier this month and realized it may not have gone through as I didn’t receive an email confirmation. I found this critter by a stagnant pond near the bank of the Verde River in Cottonwood, Arizona at 5/5. I was taking photos of tadpoles when it wandered into my view. This is the only clear photo I got of him, sadly; the rest came out blurry. I haven’t seen another like it before or since, and I’ve been back out there twice since that date.
It is less than a centimeter long, with an up-curved abdomen that ends in a point. It otherwise resembled an ant. If the photo is not good enough shoot me an email and I will attempt to sketch it for you as accurately as I can remember. Curiosity is burning me up, let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help!
Justen, Cottonwood, Arizona
Cottonwood, Arizona
Rove Beetle
Hi Justen,
This is a Rove Beetle in the genus Paederus. We first got letters regarding this genus from Cameroon and other parts of Africa where it is known as a Creechie. The Paederus Rove Beetles, according to BugGuide: “contain a toxic chemical (pederin) in their hemolymph which causes contact dermatitis in humans, usually as a result of slapping the beetle and crushing it against exposed skin. The affected area becomes red, swollen, and itchy, causing the skin to peel when scratched. Outbreaks of Paederus dermatitis have occurred in Africa, Asia, and South America.
Historically, extracts of Paederus beetles have been used by the Chinese since at least the year 739 in the medicinal treatment of boils, nasal polyps, and ringworm.” They are found throughout North America.
Is this a Six-spotted Tiger Beetle?
Mon, May 18, 2009 at 1:30 PM
Hello,
I was digging in by backyard today when I came across this beautiful beetle. After looking through some Field Guides I guess it may be a Six-spotted Tiger Beetle, but on of them said that they usually don’t occur in Michigan. I was hoping you could shed some light on what I found. It seemed to have been underground next to a nest of larvae feeding on a mouse or rat i dug out.
O. Keller
Port Sanilac, MI
Six Spotted Tiger Beetle
Dear O. Keller,
We believe you have correctly identified your Six Spotted Tiger Beetle. According to the data on BugGuide, Michigan is firmly part of the range of the species.
Tiger Beetles
Sun, May 17, 2009 at 4:32 AM
Hi Lisa Anne and Daniel, thank you for your generous remarks of 5/10. Central WY has been cool and uncharacteristically cloudy this spring, Lepidoptera seem less evident and other orders more so. These tiger beetles especially have stood out. Please correct my i.d.s where necessary.
Your site is still the best!
Dwaine
near Casper, WY
Green Claybank Tiger Beetle???
Hi Dwaine,
Either the Montana Field Guide website Tiger Beetle page has a dearth of photos, or there is something currently wrong with it. When we tried clicking Green Claybank Tiger Beetle, Cicindela denverensis, we get a message that indicates “No photos are currently available.” Upon turning to BugGuide, we see that your specimen appears to match the pictured specimen posted there. The Festive Tiger Beetle – Cicindela scutellaris scutellaris is also noticeably absent from the Montana Field Guide site, but is present on BugGuide, though the common name Festive Tiger Beetle is not indicated. The habitat is listed as “Commonly found in dry sandy habitats with sparse vegetation such as blowouts, dune swales, and roads.” Once again, your photo matches the subspecies of this species posted on BugGuide. The subspecies is found in Alberta, Canada which borders Montana.
Festive Tiger Beetle???
Finally, the specimen that you have identified as a Beautiful Tiger Beetle is not listed on the Montana site. It does not resemble the images posted to BugGuide. We would be more inclined to identify it as the Bronzed Tiger Beetle or Common Shore Tiger Beetle, Cicindela repanda, based on images posted to BugGuide. It is listed on the Montana Field Guide Tiger Beetle page, but once again, “No photos are currently available.” We really believe a true expert in the genus is needed for positive identifications of Tiger Beetles, but we will post our tentative identifications nonetheless. Thanks Dwaine for your wonderful photos. Posting this entry ate up our allotted web time today and we have chores to attend to now.
Bronzed Tiger Beetle???
ID for this Tortoise Beetle
Wed, May 13, 2009 at 8:59 PM
Hi guys,
This one has me beat. Looks like several tortoise beetle species except that the prothorax doesn’t cover the head. Any ideas? Found feeding on wattle leaf.
aussietrev
Queensland, Australia
Tortoise Beetle
Hi Trevor,
Sorry for the delay, but Wednesday is the worst day of the week to write to us since we don’t get home from work until nearly 11 PM. Then we get backed up with several days worth of letters. We haven’t had a chance to try to identify your Tortoise Beetle, but perhaps by posting it, someone will write in with an identification.
Tortoise Beetle
Correction: Mon, May 18, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Hi Daniel:
I believe aussietrev’s tortoise beetle (Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) is in the genus Notosacantha (formerly Hoplionota); probably N. dorsalis. The species appears to be limited to Queensland. The larvae of all Notosacantha species are leaf-miners. Regards.
Karl
Link: http://www.biol.uni.wroc.pl/cassidae/katalog%20internetowy/notosacanthadorsalisfig.htm
Fuzzy Gray & Orange Beetle?
Thu, May 14, 2009 at 3:24 PM
I found this crawling on the back of my neck. I don’t know if it flew in or crawled up. It is fuzzy and gray with orange coloring. It is about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch long. It is sitting on my dustpan and I just put it outside so it could go on it’s merry way. I can’t find any similar pictures online and was hoping you could tell me what it is.
Pamela W.
Midwest City, Oklahoma
Elm Borer
Hi Pamela,
We don’t recognize your Longhorned Borer Beetle or Longicorn in the family Cerambycidae. We haven’t the time to research this at the moment, but perhaps one of our faithful readers knows the identity. We will also try to contact Eric Eaton for his opinion.
Update:
Hi Bugman:
This looks like an Elm Borer Beetle ( Saperda tridentata). Regards
Karl
http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/okwild/misc/elmbor.html
Cluster of mating black and yellow bugs in Delaware
Mon, May 11, 2009 at 1:55 PM
I stumbled upon this mass of mating beetles (maybe they aren’t beetles) inside and on top of a rotting snake at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware. Just curious as to what they are since I’ve never seen them before.
D. Fiero
Delaware
Carrion Beetles
Dear D.,
While it is difficult for us to ascertain from your photograph that mating is occurring, it is very obvious that a group of American Carrion Beetles, Necrophila americana, is feasting on the dead snake. We will trust your powers of observation in the matter. Insects might be the original multi-taskers. While multi-tasking might not be terribly efficient for humans in the computer age as evidenced by the documented numbers of automobile accidents that have occurred during cellular telephone calls and texting, trying to compete more than one task at a time is here to stay. Getting back to the American Carrion Beetles, the rotting snake will also provide a food source for larval beetles, so mating while feeding would be a logical behavior. According to BugGuide, the American Carrion Beetle’s habitat is “marshy and forested areas.” BugGuide also indicates: “Adults consume fly larvae (maggots) at carrion, as well as some carrion,” which would be a good way to ensure that there is more food for the developing beetle larvae.
Red Beetle?
Mon, May 11, 2009 at 1:47 AM
Found this on my lily plant leaf. Would like to know about it, especially if it is harmful to my garden and greenhouse plants.
Katie
Leicester, UK
Lily Leaf Beetle
Hi Katie,
This is a Lily Leaf Beetle, Lilioceris lilii. This beetle is native to Europe and has recently been introduced into parts of North America. The larvae and adults feed on the leaves of true lilies, and can become so numerous they become a pest. BugGuide has a nice dialog about the Lily Leaf Beetle, including one person calling them the “scourge of Cambridge” and others recommending using black pepper to control their numbers.
grey and white and black!
Thu, May 7, 2009 at 7:56 PM
I live in Central Florida, and was walking into a burger king in New symrna beach florida (central east coast) and i looked down and spotted this bug looking right back at me. went in to use the bathroom and came back and he was still there, in the same spot
April Diamond
Florida, US
Eyed Elater
Hi April,
Your letter is so amusing. This Eyed Elater was not really looking back at you. It just appears to be looking back at you. What you think are eyes are just eyespots. These eyespots help to discourage predators, especially birds. The birds see the large “eyes” and think a far larger creature is at hand, possibly a snake. Eyed Elaters are Click Beetles that can right themselves if they are on their back by snapping their bodies, propelling themselves into the air, and flipping to land right side up.
Metallic blue bug
Wed, May 6, 2009 at 6:47 PM
Hello WTB,i have been seeing this bug around my town and have no clue what it is. It looks like an ant but has a sort of metallic bue finish on it and is often about an inch to an inch and a half in length. They usually apear in the summer mouths only.
squishworthy
central new jersey
Oil Beetle
Dear squishworthy,
While we don’t feel entirely comfortable with your name and its ramifications, we will nonetheless write back to you to tell you that this is a Blister Beetle in the genus Meloe, commonly called an Oil Beetle.
I see now that the name was a poor choice but a assure you that this bug and the many others that I encounter I do not harm and appreciate their respective services to nature as a whole
Thank you and I hope to have the opportunity to submit to your site again
Steven from jersey
Sent from my iPod
Eastern Hercules Beetle
Tue, May 5, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Some guys in my Army platoon found this beetle while we were training at Camp Shelby, MS two summers ago (August 2007). It was very sluggish and did not appear in good health, and died shortly after placing it in a box to observe. I never knew what it was until i visited your site yesterday to post a question about a different bug. I thought you guys could use a cool image! It was about 2 1/2 inches in length and was found in a large open field.
I look forward to hearing from you on the ID for my question yesterday. Thanks!!!
Brian
Southern Mississippi, USA
Eastern Hercules Beetle
Dear Brian,
Thanks for submitting this beautiful photo of a male Eastern Hercules Beetle, Dynastes tityus. Sadly, our email program for the website does not allow us to identify the sender of the message before opening the message, so there is no way for us to quickly scan your previous query. In an attempt to locate the email you sent yesterday, we stumbled upon a gorgeous image of a Harlequin Beetle from Trinidad, and needed to post it. Alas, our old computer is quite sluggish and every task we perform takes an inordinate amount of time, including replying to as many people who contact us as possible. As soon as we get our book advance, we are going to purchase a brand new tricked out Mac so we can write and scan images quickly and easily. We hope we are able to find your previous questions when we have more time, but right now, our real job is calling upon us and we have a train to catch.
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