Subject: Identify the bug
Location: Hyderabad (A.P) INDIA
March 26, 2013 2:51 am
Hello Sir, Pls identify the bug… And give me the classification also.
Thank u sir.
Signature: 919949863709

Red Bugs

Dear 919949863709,
How sad that in India you have been dehumanized into a 12 digit number for identification purposes.  Our own American nine digit identification numbers are also used for identity purposes, but to avoid identity thieves, we do not freely publish that information.  These are Red Bugs in the family Pyrrhocoridae.  We found a link on India Nature Watch that identifies it as a Stainer Bug, but no species name.

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Subject: South African Bug
Location: Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe
March 7, 2013 12:24 am
Dear Bugman,
We spotted this bug while on a walking safari in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe last September. The first image I’m uploading to you is the photo we took of the bug. Using Google Images, I found the second image which shows a mating pair of the bugs and was taken at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Many thanks!
Signature: Eric

Welwitschia Bug

Dear Eric,
Thank you for letting us know that only one of the photos was taken by you since we cannot post the other due to copyright infringement.  Alas, we have already spent our allotted time updating the site this morning and we cannot do the research to try to identify your True Bug in the suborder Heteroptera, but we will do further research later.  In the meantime, perhaps one of our readers will be able to provide a species identification while we are off teaching and otherwise furthering the education of others.

Thank you, Daniel.  It is helpful to know that the insect we photographed belongs to the suborder Heteroptera rather than the order Coleoptera.  That helps to narrow my search which I will continue while waiting to hear more from you.
Eric

Update:  March 9, 2013
Thanks to Cesar Crash because he pointed out that we already have an example in our archives of this Cotton Stainer, Odontopus sexpunctatus, which is commonly called the Welwitschia Bug according to Andy Cowley.

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cool red beetle
Location: Hong Kong
May 6, 2012 1:27 am
Hi,
Could not find anything on the net, but found your site! This beetle lives in Hong Kong. A handsome specimin, but what is it?
Signature: Zine

Red Bug from Hong Kong

Dear Zine,
This is not a beetle, but rather a True Bug.  More specifically it is a Red Bug in the family Pyrrhocoridae.  We located a matching photo on FlickR that was identified as the genus Cenaeus and then following that genus name, we found the BioDiversity Explorer post on the genus which identified the family.  We also found a common name Fire Bug, but that name is used for many other species.  We also found a posting in our archive from South Africa that we also believe is the genus Cenaeus.

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Need your help for identification
Location: Yalova, TR
April 15, 2012 1:05 pm
Dear Scientist,
I’ll be very glad if you’d help
with identification of the bugs
that I encountered in the forest
recently.
This picture is taken in Yalova,
Marmara region of Turkey.
Sincerely,
Ercan
Signature: Mr. Ercan Arısoy

Firebugs from Turkey

Dear Ercan,
We are not scientists, nor do we have a terribly extensive formal background in science.  We are artists who are trying to promote a better understanding of insects and their importance to the web of life on our planet.  These are Firebugs, Pyrrhocoris apterus, a benign species found throughout much of Europe.

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Shield bugs
Location: Namibia, Southern Africa
November 20, 2011 2:29 pm
Can you please help identify these shield bugs. They are on the seed cone of Welwitschia mirabilis. The picture was taken at10.50a.m. on 19th April 2011 by the C39 roadside west of Khorixas in Namibia.April was unusually wet in Namibia.
Signature: Roger Pinkney.

Cotton Stainers

Hi Roger,
We aren’t entirely convinced that these True Bugs are Shield Bugs.  They may be in another Hemipteran family.  We will try to determine their identity.

Hi Daniel and Roger:
These are Cotton Stainers (Pyrrhocoridae); specifically Odontopus sexpunctatus, the Welwitschia Bug. Regards.  Karl

Thanks Karl.  They aren’t very red for being a Red Bug.

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