Newer Love See more recent images and letters of mating insects.

Kinky Japanese Beetles
(09/15/2005) Mating bugs
I saw your page for mating bugs and thought I would give you an even better (and funnier) Japanese Beetle picture.  I call this....Beetle Orgy! 
Monica Ragsdale



Hi Monica,
Your photo speaks for itself. We especially like the voyeur. Your photo could compromise our recent good reputation with Elementary Schools as well as religious fanatics.

Imperial Moths Mating
(09/10/2005) Mating moths Picture
Hello BugMan;
Thought you might like a closeup photo of two mating Imperial moths.  I have no idea what the spider is doing here - lesson? voyeur? ambitious?  They seemed oblivious to its presence, anyway.  These two were found on a silver maple tree about 30 miles north of St. Louis, MO, on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River. Thanks for the wonderful site; I discovered it while trying to figure out what the insect is in the second photo.  Acts like a large fly, but a bit aggressive when approached too closely. Wish me luck.
Mark Naylor
Godfrey, Illinois



Hi Mark,
Thank you for the wonderful photo. The photo of the mating Imperial Moths we received earlier in the week were of a much shier couple.

Mating Florida Love Bugs
(09/09/2005) Florida Love bugs
Found your site and love it. Great pictures and information! I noticed that you do not have pictures of the Florida Love bug. I am sending you one of a male and one of the male and female in the way they are found most often. If I am able to get one of the female alone I will send that also but so far I have not found one. They are just now coming into season, October and May I think are the times they fly and make a real nuisance of themselves.
Yvonne Griffiths
Morriston, Florida



Thank You Yvonne,
We just love getting new species and new additions to our Love Among the Bugs page. How appropo that these flies are called Love Bugs. Plecia nearctica belongs to the Family Bibionidae. They are often hazardous to motorists because of their sheer numbers on roadways. Here is an excellent site with much information.

Mating Imperial Moths
(09/04/2005) Imperial Moths Mating
Thought you might like to add this photo to your website.  This pair of Imperial moths were unabashedly honeymooning on the chenille plant on the back step this afternoon.  I live in the hill country of Texas just north of San Antonio.
Catherine



Hi Catherine,
Thanks for the photo. The male moth has the darker wings and the female has more yellow.

Hummingbird Clearwing Moths Mating and Eating
(09/04/2005) Bug Love
One for bug love.
don nelson
new site, alabama



Hi Don,
Makes one wonder how they can stay aloft as well as concentrate on so many things at once: Flying, eating and procreating.

Careful Mister, She's a Man Eater
(08/31/2005) Praying Mantis mating
I took this picture two weeks ago in Port Elgin Ontario, I haven't seen a better one on the internet, enjoy.
Sean J. Patrick Bates



Hi Sean,
We agree your photo is "Aces" and are proud to post it.

Mating Western Rhinoceros Beetles
(09/29/2005) Rino
Better pics of the Rino,  Hope you can use them.
Danny



Ed. Note: We have put in a request for Danny to provide additional information on this image. Is he raising the beetles? or were they found in the wild? Only time will tell.

I sent you a few pics last week,  they were found in Payson Arizona. I do have 3 males and 5 females. I will try to raise any offspring. The pics sent last week were taken on the spur. in the current photos I was able to use a tripod.  How about that bug luv.  
Danny Lee

Mating Robber Flies
(08/28/2005) Hi Daniel and Lisa Anne!
Hi Bugman!
AWESOME SITE AGAIN!!!!
I just can't seem to stop looking at all of the beautiful pictures and excellent information!!!! Here are two Robber Flies engaging in Bug Love on my pepper tree. Enjoy!
Cathy



Hi Cathy,
We will proudly post your image on our Bug Love page.

Birdwings Mating in Butterfly Garden
(08/26/2005) butterfly lovin'
Hi Bug Man,
I sent you a query about tiny, tiny thorn-headed larvae the other day   and have since been mesmerized by your site.  The larva I had chosen   for a photo shoot has since desiccated beyond recognition on a napkin   (sorry, little guy), but I thought, in the meantime, I'd send a   butterfly picture I took last winter, at a butterfly garden.  Is this   cheating in the world of whatsthatbug.com? Anyway, I remember they were in this position for a long time, at   least ten minutes, and it looked painfully snug.  But hope you like   the photo.  What kind of butterflies are they?  And does the male or   female have more color?  Male, right? Yours
Allison



Hi Allison,
These are tropical butterflies, and we can't give you a positive identification. They are either some tropical Swallowtail, or a close relative, one of the Birdwings. You are correct. The male is more colorful.

A pair of Banana Spiders cohabitate
(08/22/2005) spider
Can you tell me if this is a banana spider or orb spider or if they are two different spiders?
Theresa



Hi Theresa,
We love your photograph. These are Banana Spiders or Golden Silk Spiders, Nephila clavipes. It is a pair. The male is much smaller than the female, often a mere 1/100 of her body weight. He shares a web with her, and this cohabitation must have some symbiotic significance other than just proximity for mating. Perhaps he gets protection and also benefits from the insects trapped in her web. Banana Spiders are in the group known as Orb Weavers.

Mating Muskmares
(08/20/2005) Safe or unsafe bug in SC?
Hello:
My name is Bob Stark and I've recently moved to Little River, SC (North Myrtle Beach). This is a picture of an insect which we've been told is poisonous, and I would like to know if that is correct.  Our home is 4 miles from the shore, and our backyard is bordered by a field.  I'm guessing that the smaller one is the male, and that since this is late summer, it is mating season.  Am I correct? This insect clings to our siding and at night, will cling on our screens, if we have an inside light on. When we moved in, the local movers refused to bring our furniture through the garage until we removed this insect, claiming it was poisonous.  Our dog approached it, and apparently got sprayed in the face as she got near.  I; however, got no reaction as I moved it along off our home. Thank you in advance for any information you may be able to provide as to it's name and safety, as our Grandson visits from time to time, and I would like to provide him with the correct stats on this insect.  For example: does is bite, sting, spray?
Sincerely,
Bob Stark



Hi Bob,
This is a pair of Two-lined Walkingsticks, Anisomorpha buprestoides, also known as Musk-Mares or Devil Riders because of their habit of remaining in coitus for extremely long periods of time. The male is much smaller than the female. Beware!! They do not bite but they can spray a noxious substance from their necks that is painful if it gets in your eye.

Pennsylvania Leather-Wings Mating
(08/17/2005) lovebug
Hello!  The Pennsylvania Leather-Back (identified it with the help of   your website!!) is common at the conservation area. I thought I would send along this photo for your lovebug page.  Take   Care,
Janet from Dundas, Ontario



Hi Janet,
Thanks for the image of mating Pennsylvania Leather-Wings, Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus. These Soldier Beetles are important biological controls against Corn Earworms in the larval form and adults are often found on flowers, especially goldenrod since they eat pollen and nectar.

Green Lynx Spiders, Mating???
(08/16/2005) Any idea's?
These guy's (?) were taken in north Alabama. Don't know exactly what they are doing or what they are.
Bud Watkins



Hi Bud,
We know some things and can speculate on the rest. These are Green Lynx Spiders, Peucetia viridans, our personal favorite spiders. The spider on the left, or as we reproduced your image, on top, is a female. The other appears to be a male. This seems to be a mating ritual. It could end in dinner for the lady. Great photo.

Heliconians Mating: Banded Oranges
(08/16/2005) Bug Love
Hey bugman!  Long time reader, first time contributor here.  I just recently became obsessed with entymology and now carry my camera with me everywhere hoping for a photo op.  While I was in the butterfly garden at Boston Science Museum today, I found these two beautiful specimen going about their private business. Thought you might like it for the bug love page. Thanks for your time and keep up the good work! p.s. Sorry my camera is so bad, trying to get a better one for future endeavors.
Jeff



Hi Jeff,
We hare so happy to hear you have been enjoying our site for a long time. We cannot give you an exact species name on these tropical Heliconians, just the Subfamily Heliconiinae.

(09/03/2005) I've spent the past two summers volunteering at the Hershey Butterfly House. The two orange, mating heliconians are Banded Oranges and they are native to Texas. ~Abby

Disabled Craneflies Mating
(08/15/2005) Cranefly Love
Hi bugman love your job.
We have another example of Cranefly's in the heat of the moment.
Rob from North Vancouver, British Columbia



Hi Rob,
Thanks for the image. It is nice to see that losing several legs, a common Cranefly disability, hasn't hindered the process of procreation.

Orb Weavers Mating
(08/15/2005) Spiderwars?
I am sending you these pictures that my husband recently took of the spiders outside our sliding glass door.  Are they dangerous?   There are tons in my garden.  The webs are VERY sticky, tough, and the spiders themselves have sticky little feet...I had one crawling on me the other day, and nearly died of heart failure.  These gems are about 1 to 1.5 inches and the smaller skinny one is more aggressive than the fat one.  I can assume that they are a Mr. and Mrs., but which is which?  In the garden, when you see one spider, you don't really have to look far to see a separate web with the partner in close proximity.  Local people call them "quarterbacks" as the bulbous body can easily reach the size of a quarter.  If they do bite, do you know what a remedy is (if needed?) Thank you for the help.
Ruth



Hi Ruth,
There are so many similar looking Araneus species as well as so much variation within a species, that we have given up trying to get species names on Orb Weavers. Let's just call them a pair of Araneus Orb Weaving Spiders. The female has the more bulbous abdomen. The bite is not dangerous and they would really have to be provoked to bite anyways. The weather this year created a population explosion of insects, and hence, their predators like spiders are also plentiful.

Japanese Beetles Procreating
(08/12/2005) Love Bug
Hello Again, I hope all is well.  This is a very common insect at the   conservation area.  The shell is a beautiful copper colour - the   photo does not do it justice.  Today it was extremely hot and humid   and after a brief rain all the insects - moths, butterflies, and   everything else that crawls or flies was mating!!  Take Care,
Janet



Hi Janet,
Though your photograph is lovely, it will have rose growers cringing. The Japanese Beetle, Popillia japonica, was first discovered in New Jersey in 1916, and the introduced species quickly spread throughout the eastern states. The grubs live underground in lawns where they eat grass roots, and adults emerge in mid summer to devour roses, fuschias, and other ornamental blooms.

Craneflies Mating
(08/12/2005) Bug Love
bugman
I just today discovered your website.  Awesome!  Creepy - but really neat. I have a different picture, once I find it, of an as of yet unidentified bug.  Noone knows what it is.  But until I find that one, I have another submission for your Bug Love section.  I went through your website, and think I identified this two in the picture. I've always been a city girl - and now live in a rural area of Central Virginia.  Since moving here a year ago, I've seen more creepy crawlies than I knew existed.  Last year, I went out the front door, totally oblivious to what was sitting on the door frame.  I only noticed it when I turned around to lock the door.  They were too.. involved... to notice me coming in and out of the door, so I got my camera.  Are they crane flies mating? Thanks
Caron



Hi Caron,
Your Craneflies are indeed mating, and this represents the intimate activity of a new species for our Love Among the Bugs page. Thanks for the contribution.

Muskmares Mating
(08/12/2005) I am the rude person that sent you a photo a few minutes ago with no question or anything.  sorry.  Sometimes, I get excited.  I found this insect (or creature) this morning next to the door going into our shed.  He is still in the same position this afternoon.  The interesting thing about this creature is that the lighter line going up his back, is actually curved over as if it were a tail?????  I live in Ohatchee, Calhoun County, Alabama which is Northeast Alabama. Do you know what this creature is? 
Thank you so very much
Martha Tucker



Hi Martha,
This isn't one insect, but a pair. The smaller male Walkingstick is mounting the Musk Mare.

Black Widow Foreplay
(08/11/2005) black widow?
Hello, we live in Kentucky and found these in our trash bin outside, we assumed the large one was a black widow, but there is a very small one with it on the side, is that a male or another female?Thanks.
Kerry



Hi Kerry,
Though your photo doesn't actually show mating activity, we still felt it appropriate for our Love Among the Bugs page. The Black Widow has earned her name because of her reputation for devouring her mate. The tiny male in the upper corner of your photo is biding his time, living in close proximity and waiting to make his move. The male is a much smaller spider. When the time is right, he will move in and if the fates allow, consumate the pairing. Once years ago, I watched a male widow snare his mate by spinning a web around her. This probably kept her still while he did the deed, hopefully allowing him to skulk off into the night afterwards.

Northern Bluets: Damselflies Mating
(08/10/2005) Bug Love
Hi… I JUST this minute heard your website on a talk radio home improvement show…I just had to check it out.  I love bugs……. And know little about many of them.  But I had a blast the other day taking pictures of bugs ‘doin’ it’… amazing I actually have a place that someone will enjoy seeing them!  I’m not sure where to attach the photo’s, so I will do so here. …. Looking forward to checking more of your site soon!  If you could name them all for me, I’d appreciate it.  I am guessing the red colored bugs are soldier beetles?  And of course, dragon flies…the single big one is beautiful…what kind is it?
Sherrie Gerber



Hi Sherrie,
We must confess that we find identifying the species of Damselflies to be a daunting task that we are not very good at. We do love the photo though.

Update: (02/24/2007)
Hi Lisa Anne and Daniel,
As Susan says, "I am no an expert but..." I think Sherrie had a pair of Northern Bluets (Enallagma annexum) there. They've got the right mix of blue and black on the abdomen, tapering black shoulder stripes and large eyespots. They're also common in Washington. Of course, this is a bit late. The main characters died about eighteen months ago.
Jim
NYC

Soldier Beetles Mating and Talk Radio free advertising
(08/10/2005) Bug Love
Hi… I JUST this minute heard your website on a talk radio home improvement show…I just had to check it out.  I love bugs……. And know little about many of them.  But I had a blast the other day taking pictures of bugs ‘doin’ it’… amazing I actually have a place that someone will enjoy seeing them!  I’m not sure where to attach the photo’s, so I will do so here. …. Looking forward to checking more of your site soon!  If you could name them all for me, I’d appreciate it.  I am guessing the red colored bugs are soldier beetles?  And of course, dragon flies…the single big one is beautiful…what kind is it?
Sherrie Gerber



Hi Sherrie,
Out of curiosity, was it a local station and where? I shudder to think what might happen to our mailbox if it was a syndicated show. We will address your photos one at a time. Your mating beetles are Soldier Beetles in the Family Cantharidae, but we even checked with Eric Eaton and we can't positively identify the species.

I can understand your shudder thought!  No fear, tho.... I live in Seattle, Washington, and this was a LOCAL home improvement show that is on Saturday mornings from 9-10am with Tim Lawless.  (I record them to tape, to listen to while I am in the garden during the week, therefore the JUST heard it response.)  Some lady was inquiring as to something that may be eating near her house (I missed part of the story), and Lawless said he was surfing the web and found 'a cool site' (yours), and he stumbled as to whether you were a .net or .com....  Me, being the avid plant lover and bug extraordinaire, ran indoors to the computer to flag it before I forgot your web name...  So if it was going to bombard you, it would've on Saturday morning.... Ironically, a garden show - 3 hours long- immediately follows that show... thought that interesting to hear a garden report on a home show! :) That being said, I won't call in your web site to the garden show! :) Thanks a bunch for the info.... I almost thought people would think me too weird if I had pictures of bugs doin' it, but when my entire Euonymus shrub was covered in mating soldier beetles, it was too much to pass on.  We got the dragon fly pictures just this past weekend in the San Juan Islands. Thousands upon thousands of them were hovering around one end of this beautiful lake...all bright turquoise.  It was a sight to behold!
Thanks again,
Sherrie Gerber

Cerisy's Sphinxes Mating
(08/10/2005) large mating moths
Hi,
I found these two moths on the casing of my basement door. I thought they were leafs at first, once I realized they were moths I sure was shocked. They were on the jamb for at least 12 hours and left behind a good 50 eggs. Should I let them be or destroy them?   Thanks for having such an informative web site,
Toby Rapp
Portland, Oregon



Hi Toby,
Thanks for the compliment. Your mating moths are Cerisy's Sphinxes, Smerinthus cerisyi. They range from coast to coast in the northern US and Canada as well as south into the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Mountains. The caterpillar eats willow foilage and you might have a nearby tree. I'm sure your tree can sacrifice a few leaves for this beautiful moth.

British Poplar Hawkmoths Mating
(08/08/2005) Mating Moths
Hi
I took this picture one evening this summer.  Could be a good one for the 'love among the bugs' page... Are these more 'modest sphinxes'?
Paul Beadle
Devon, UK



Hi Paul,
Your Sphinxes are definitely immodest, and they are not Modest Sphinxes either. These are Poplar Hawkmoths, Laothoe populi. As might be expected, the larvae feed on poplar trees. When alarmed the moths reveal a red patch on the lower wings to frighten predators, as depicted in this image we located online.

Scent and the Power of Pheromones: Fiery Skippers
(08/07/2005) Hi again Daniel,
Here's a shot of a couple of fiery skippers engaged in who knows what. I'm assuming the male on the right is checking the female to see if she is ready to mate. I never saw any mating going on. The female worked her way around the flower stopping now and then to vibrate her abdomen and wings with the male close behind. I've been seeing this behavior for several days and finally was able to get a shot of it. Photographed in Atlanta, GA on 8/6/05.
Bill DuPree
Atlanta, GA



Hi again Bill,
Your images are always such a treat. All you have to do is look and the money we spend on perfumes and colognes to know that scent is an aphrodesiac. Your Fiery Skippers are relying on natural pheromones as an aphrodesiac.

Dinner can be an Aphrodesiac for Robber Flies
(08/07/2005) Please tell me what this bug is
feel free to use this one too. It appears the female doesn't really have her heart into what else is going on while she dines.
Ted



Hi Ted,
We can come up with several scenarios for this Robber Fly courtship. Perhaps he brought her a tidbit to keep her still, or maybe he moved in while she was dining. At any rate, there are future Robber Flies on the horizon which is good since they are lethal predators.

Ambush Bugs Mating
(08/06/2005) two buggy things
First off, I'm now totally hooked! Many of the killer bad bugs have been ID'd and we can breathe easier knowing they are not killer bugs after all. My kids and I have had the camera with us now whenever we go out because we never know when we'll get a good shot. OK, the first one is of two tiny mantis looking bugs. They are maybe 1/2 inch long, can fly, and have those praying type of front legs. We were wondering if the mantis looking bugs were in fact tiny mantis critters (hope pic is clear enough).We live in SE CT.
Thanks so much,
Erika



Hi Erika,
Your mantis bugs are Ambush Bugs, Family Phymatidae, and they are mating. They wait on flowers to ambush nectar seeking insects.

Sheep Moths Mating
(08/04/2005) a picture for you
This is a better version of the picture I sent earlier. These two moths were mating in the Oregon Cascades in a meadow at an elevation of 4500 feet. Can you identify them?  Thanks!
Mark



Hi Mark,
Thanks for sending in a photo of a new species for our site. These are Sheep Moths, Hemileuca eglanterina. They are Giant Silk Moths in the Family Saturnidae. They are found in mountain meadows and sheep pastures in the Rocky Mountains and west to the Pacific Coast. The caterpillars feed on plants in the rose family. The adults are rapidly flying diurnal creatures.

Long-Legged Love
(08/02/2005) more bug love?
Hi Daniel,
These harvestmen aka daddy longlegs were on an oak tree I baited for moths. When I went to check it after it got dark, I found these two engaged in what I'm assumming is mating. This was photographed in Pike County, Georgia on 7/30/05. Bill DuPree
Atlanta, GA



Hi Bill,
We can always count on your for something interesting. Looks like the Harvestmen (and Harvestwomen) have some foreplay attached to their procreative processes. Thanks for the image.

Lubbers Loving
(08/02/2005) What is this?
I have these outside my home in West Palm Beach, FL.Being from Pittsburgh, I am a little freaked out by their size and audacity.  In this pic, there is one on top of the other.  Not sure why, maybe I don't want to know...
Julie



Hi Julie,
We think you know what your Southeastern Lubber Grasshoppers, Romalia microptera, are doing, which is why they will be posted on our Love Among the Bugs page. Adults begin to appear in June and can be found through November in the South. They give off a malodorous liquid when handled and their hind legs have sharp spines that can cut human skin.

Mantis Love
(08/01/2005) what's the rating on your site R?
Love the sight, but glad I checked it out before my budding entomologist 6 year old.  see here
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/maggots.html David's letter is a bit out of the rating "range" of most of your other letters.  I do have a few shots of Mantis bug love if you'd like see attached.  I have more if you are interested.
Leanne



Hi Leanne,
Your photos are pretty awesome. I sure hope they did not end in cannibalism, though that often happens to ensure that mother mantis is strong enough to lay eggs. In our defense, we do not consider our site R rated, but it is for mature audiences. We speak like adults and we do not edit our letters. In responding to letters, we remain polite, but love a good witticism. Also, between adults, we know that the mantids are not in love, but really having sex. We thought carefully about the name for our Bug Love page and decided against the word sex because we didn't want to get barraged by junkmail from porn sites, performance enhancing drugs and physical endowment alternatives. In the general scheme of things, our site, despite the occasional use of profanity from a poor homemaker who is plagued by flies, does not contribute to the delinquency of a minor.

Eyed Elaters Mating
(08/01/2005) HI Bug People!
I was so thrilled when I ran into these 2 while trimming the tree in our front yard. I live in Central Texas, and after trimming the branch they were on, I set it on another bush to allow them to finish thier bizness--a few days later, we found one on the back deck. When I tried to touch it, it snapped up, and flipped itself over in its defense--Marvalous creatures and beautiful too! Can you tell me about them? Thanks!
Minutes later: I didnt see the Eyed Elator on your site before I sent off my query--Im glad I got to share the pic anyway, but dont worry about the ID--I got it! Thanks so much for your great site!
Beth
Austin, TX



Hi Beth,
Your image is a nice addition to our Love Among the Bugs page.

Procreation of Red Milkweed Beetles
(07/30/2005) bug love
I thought I would share! Take Care,
Janet
Dundas, Ontario



Hi again Janet,
Thanks for the photo of Mating Red Milkweed Beetle, Tetraopes tetraophthalmus also called the Eastern Milkweed Longhorn. We never dreamed our Bug Love page would be as popular as it is.

Even Green Fruit Beetles Do It!!
(07/30/2005) Love bugs
Thanks for indentifying my Ten-lined June Beetle.  I was in my garage today in Placentia Ca. and found what I believe to be "Green Fruit Beetles", based on pictures that I saw on your site. They seemed to locked in serious mating mode and were not disturbed by the close proximity of the macro lense.  Thought you might want to add them to your amorous bug section.
Thanks
Rus



Hi Rus,
If you keep this up, we will have to give you your own page. Nice images of the mating activity of Green Fruit Beetles, Cotinus mutabilis.

Red-Tailed Bumble Bees mating
(07/29/2005)



Paul from Eastern Washington just sent in this image of mating Red-Tailed Bumble Bees, Bombus ternarius, mating on a corn stalk. What a nice addition to Love Among the Bugs.

Mating Ladybirds at the Nixon Library!!!
(07/29/2005) Great web site
;Bugman,
thanks for your help on my recent submissions. Your web site is great. I've been photographing crawling critters for a few years and it's nice to have a place to identify these little marvels. I'm sending you a few more that you can use on your site if you'd like. I photographed the Ladybugs at the Richard Nixon Library in Yorba Linda Ca. The Millipede came from Heber Springs, Arkansas. The Female American Dog Tic, hitch-hiked on me while on a trail in Anaheim Ca.
Thanks again
Rus



Hi Rus,
We were slightly amused that you photographed an insect with the same name as a former President's wife at the library of another President. Planting trees and shrubs will attract insects. Your mating Ladybird Beetles are stunning.

Mating Phorid Flies
(07/28/2005) Flies for your "Bug Love" page.
I found these flies vigorously engaging in bug love last month in Atlanta, GA. They're very small and belong to the f amily Phoridae. I'm not sure of the exact species because flies in this family are very hard to identify. Thought you'd like to see the photo.
Bill DuPree
Atlanta, GA



Hi again Bill,
We always enjoy getting interesting photos from you and this is one of the best. Thanks for allowing us to post it.

Mating Polyphemus Moths
(07/27/2005) polyphemus love
I just found your site tonight and I love it. Speaking of love, maybe you'd like a photo of a couple polyphemus moths gettin' it on. I assume that's what was going on. They weren't distracted at all when I moved them from the middle of the street to under a bush. ken



Thanks for the image Ken. It is a nice addition to our new Love Among the Bugs page.

Slug Sex: Mating Leopard Slugs
(07/24/2005) slugs
Hello Bugman,
Stumbled across your site while looking for official names for  "Hummingbird Moths". I took this photo many years ago and always wanted to know what these slugs are doing on the front of my house. I am assuming they are mating but need conformation. Thanks for the interesting website,it is now in my favorites.
Ken
Hatfield Pa



Hi Ken,
I think your slugs are redefining the exchange of bodily fluids. Slugs are hermaphroditic as well, each containing the organs of male and female. So a slug can mate with any other slug it meets. Awesome image and a welcome addition to our new Love Among The Bugs page.

Update (01/18/2006)
Those mating slugs on Bug Love page From:
Hi nice bug people, I love your site. I thought you might like to know that the pair of mating slugs are Limax maximus, the Leopard slug, which is an introduced species in the USA. Like all pulmonate gastropods, they are hermaphrodites. This large species is quite common around human habitation. You can see another picture, but not nearly as good as the one you have, at: www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordLandingES/ Ecology/mpages/leopard_slug.htm And there is a whole sequence of picture of a pair mating at: http://members.optushome.com.au/awnelson/davidavid/slug/ Although I am primarily a mollusk person, I also am fond of bugs. Invertebrates rule!
best to you,
Susan Hewitt

Mating Robber Flies
(07/23/2005) a couple of photos and a moth ID
Hello
I wanted to let you know I love the site, and  have used it for many identification forays since we moved out to the country here in south central Kansas. I also wanted send you to the url for three of my recent photos. (they are larger than I like to send through E-mail) One is of a mating pair of robber flies, it was interesting to watch as the male will vibrate his wings while wiggling the females head with his front legs. One is a photo of a green moth I found on the front deck this last night and I would appreciate any help with the ID you could give me. The last if of a green grasshopper. I do not know the species, but considering the number of them again this year, the chickens will be getting quite fat.
Thanks again,
William Tong



Hi William,
Thank you so much for the great letter and photos. We are also very happy that you have used the site in the past. Quite frankly, we are getting a little tired of responding to desperate housewives with pantry beetles. Your green moth is a Virginia Creeper Sphinx, Darapsa myron. If you go to this USGS site, you might find it is not yet reported in your county. Perhaps you could report the siting. We are thrilled to have your Mating Robber Fly image for our brand new Love Among the Bugs page. Your grasshopper is immature and we do not recognize it.

Small Headed Fly: Lasia purpurata Bequaert
(07/22/2005) What is this insect?
While taking pictures of "butterfly weed" I noticed an odd/unusual flying insect which appeared to me to be a cross between a hummingbird and beetle. It was hard shelled and perhaps about the size of a nickel or quarter. Clear colored wings, metallic/iridescence looking colors of black, blue and green, (depending on the light source perhaps), golden colored eyes, no antennas that I could see, six legs and a very long proboscis. I've searched my field guides and nothing comes close. What is this insect? I live in North Central Arkansas. Thank you,
Kay Biggerstaff



Hi Kay,
We thought this might be a Bee Fly, but has never seen anything like it. So ... as we always do when in doubt, we turn to Eric Eaton. Here is his excited response: "Holy moly!  What a proboscis!  I am pretty sure this is a small-headed fly in the family Acroceridae.  They are not terribly common.  Larvae are internal parasites of spiders, but usually have to crawl around looking for a host after mom deposits her eggs in spider habitat. Trapdoor spiders are often the victims.  I'd love to see this posted to BugGuide, as I believe it would be a whole new family for that site. I hate to ask that, everytime you send a cool image, but that is what BugGuide is for.  The more diversity there, the more helpful it is to people wondering what their mystery bug is:-) I appreciate your indulgence in forwarding such requests to the submitters.  Thank you. Eric" If they are so rare, it is great to see them perpetuating the species. So Kay, if you don't mind, I would like to submit the image to BugGuide as well.

Update (06/01/2006)
Lasia purpurata Bequaert
Wow! This fly is quite rare in collections. It is Lasia purpurata Bequaert, which has been recorded from Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Norm Woodley

Dogday Harvestflies Mating
(07/21/2005) Mating Cicadas?
Greetings "bugman" - once again!
I recently sent you a picture of a cidada husk, with a drousy bee near it in the same position, to which you were kind enough to identify the husk for me. In the same spot in my Wheaton, Illinois garden, 20 m. west of Chicago, I was today able to photograph these two insects mating. I assume they are cicadas, though their markings are different to all those on your web site. It may be common to photograph these insects mating, but I was able to take about twenty photographs, from beginning to end of the mating, until the male flew off. It was interesting that in some pictures the male is pinning the female's wing, so she could not leave, and he was the first to take off! Please let me know if this is a particular species of cicada, and whether typical of this region. Again, you are welcome to post the pictures, if of interest.
Best wishes, John Walford



Hi Again John,
Your mating Cicada photos will be a welcome addition to our new Love Among the Bugs page as well as the Cicada page. Your cicada is one of the Annual Cicadas, also known as the Dogday Harvestfly, Tibicen species.

Xenox tigrinus Mating
(07/21/2005) mating moths?
i just found these two in a hanging flower basket on my porch in the hudson valley, NY.  What are they?
Bennett



Hi Bennett,
Not moths, but mating flies. We contacted Eric Eaton when we couldn't find your insects on BugGuide. Here is what he has to say: "This is a pair of mating bee flies, Xenox tigrinus.  Nice insects, much larger than Eurosta.  Xenox are parasites of large carpenter bees. Eric "

Harlequin Bugs
(07/19/2005) Can you identify beetle
I hope you can identify this insect, I think beetle, but not leaf beetle. The above photo shows it to be 3/8 inch. The below photos shows a pair (mating?). My location is San Luis Valley, Colorado. 8,000 ft elevation. Very arid. I first saw them at our creek on tumble mustard. A couple a days later they arrived in the garden 500 feet away on the horse radish leaves (probably 100). There are only a couple on the potatoes which are next to the horse radish. None on any other garden produce. Any ideas? Are they harmful or beneficial? What can discourage them? Thanks,
Dave



Hi Dave,
These are winged adult Harlequin Bugs, Murgantia histrionica. They do feed on mustard in vacant lots and fields. When they move to the garden they infest cabbage, kale, collards and related plants. The best control is to locate the eggs which are barrel shaped and in rows. Hand picking will also do the trick. Also, when your crop is harvested, immediately remove any remaining plants that serve to perpetuate the infestation.

(07/16/2005)
While trying to pull out ivy and invasive crawling grasses from around our squash plants, we stumbled upon this Spendor in the Grass: Two Green Stinkbugs embracing. We hurried indoors for the camera and had a difficult time relocting them, but they were very cooperative for the camera.



Ed. Note Update: (12/03/2005)
stink bugs identified!
Greetings Bugman, I am browsing your site and enjoying the information and beautiful photos.  Thanks for doing a great service to the public.  From my recent work in agricultural entomology, I instantly recognized some of the little stinkers on your site, so I thought I'd point them out. Green Stinkbugs: Splendor in the Grass (07/16/2005) This looks like the red-shouldered stink bug, Thyanta custator.  It is fairly common but not as harmful as some other stink bugs like the southern green.  It should not be confused with a similar invasive South American species, Piezodorus guildinii, which has a two-toned black and orange or black and white stripe.
Take care,
Heather Spaulding

Cecropia Moths Mating
(07/14/2005) Butterfly
Can you tell me what type of bug this is? My husband and I have lived in Kansas our entire lives and never have seen this type of butterfly. There were two in our lilac bush in May. Thanks, Erin from KC
Erin Peel



Hi Erin,
These are not butterflies, but Cecropia Moths, a species of Saturnid or Giant Silkworm Moths. By the looks of things, there will be a new generation next year, at least if we are properly imagining what is happening under the cover of the lilac leaves.

Mating Ash Spinxes
(07/12/2005) mating moths. Hi there…we live in Calgary Alberta Canada . This afternoon I found these two very large moths with there “tails” inside each other. I’m an Engineer and it only took a second to fiqure out what they were doing. They were in danger of meeting up with our dog so I carefully moved then to a shady corner. Never touched then or really disturbed them. They measure 70mm in length head to end…I guess. I have never seen moths this big in my life….WOW ! Can you tell me what kind they are and if they are frequent in this area of North America. Just amazing.
Thanks.
Chris H. Calgary.



Hi Chris,
We didn't recognize your Sphinx Moth species, so we contacted Eric Eaton. He quickly responded: "Actually, they ARE sphingids, the Great Ash Sphinx, Sphinx chersis to be exact.  They are apparently uncommon according to Covell's "Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Moths."  Nice find! Eric"

Just What We Need: More Houseflies!!!
(07/11/2005)



Marian, a frequent contributor from Florida sent in this photo of Musca domestica, the Housefly, doing it. Guess there will be maggots on the way soon.

How Damselflies Do It
(07/06/2005) 3 pics
Hi!  I'm in Florida and I have 3 pictures I have questions about.  ... And last, but not least.....I think you know what I'm going to ask :0)  Thanks! 
Jaime



So Jaime,
You want to know how Damselflies Do It. The male grasps the female around the neck with pincers he possesses on the tip of his abdomen. She then twists around with her abdomen to accept the sperm. Many species of Damselflies stay in this position while the eggs are laid, with the female depositing the eggs underwater. I'm sure the extra pairs of wings help to lift her back into the air after an egg has been laid. This is such a wonderful addition to our brand new Bug Love page.

Mating Modest Sphinxes
(07/03/2005) what is the name of the moth?
i hope you can help, i found these two moths mating on my garden and would like to know the name of them. could you help?
Thank you,
Lee



Hi Lee,
This has to be one of the most ironic postings we have ever had. Your photo is of a pair of mating Modest Sphinxes, Pachysphinx modesta. There is some confusion regarding the names here though. Our old Holland book lists the common name of Pachysphinx modesta as the Big Poplar Sphinx and a variety, Pachysphinx modesta occidentalis as the Western Poplar Sphinx. The USGS website Moths of North America calls P. modesta the Modest Sphinx and P. occidenatalis as the Big Poplar Sphinx. Our Audubon guide lists P. modesta as the Big Poplar Sphinx. We are going with the government site since we like that you have caught the Modest Sphinxes mating. Caterpillars of both species feed on cottonwood, aspen, poplar and willow. Adults do not feed. P. modesta is an eastern species and P. occidentalis is western.

Beetle Urges
(07/03/2005) Ladybug mating pics
Hi,
I got carried away & sifted through all my bug pictures since I got my digital camera & tidied up the best ones for you. I'll send them in bunches, trying not to make any one email huge. Use whatever ones you like, however you like on your site.
Love, Marian



Hi Marian,
Your mating Ladybird Beetles are a nice addition to our site. Thanks much

Musk-Mare Walkingstick and her stallion
(06/19/2005) What's this bug?
I have never seen anything like this bug.  It literally looks like a piece of wood.  Being that I'm in Florida, I don't know if it flew away, hopped away or got eaten by something even bigger.  By the way, does it bite?  Does it eat wood? Yes, I still have a door!   Or, is it just hanging around waiting for it's next meal?



Your "It" is acutally "Them". You have a pair of Two-lined Walkingsticks, Anisomorpha buprestoides, also known as Musk-Mares or Devil Riders because of their habit of remaining in coitus for extremely long periods of time, as witnessed in your photograph. Beware!! They do not bite but they can spray a noxious substance from their necks that is painful if it gets in your eye. We are toying with the idea of adding a "Sex" or "Love among the Bugs" page to our site and we will definitely use your image when that day arrives.

So my "it" was a "them" doing "it!"  Too funny!  Not only was your website helpful; but, very educational as well.   Thank you so much for your help. 

Coral Hairstreak
(06/18/2005) Moth or Butterfly on Butterfly Weed
I went up to the farm Missouri) with my husband and found this insect on a butterfly weed plant.  I was wondering what sort of insect this is? I like it black and white face and antenna.   Thanks Mary  There are actually two insects here ( mating?) but this photo is the clearest of the actual insect.
Jackie and Mary



Dear Jackie and Mary
Your butterfly is a member of the Gossamer Winged Butterflies in the Family Lycaenidae, more specifically one of the Blues in the Subfamily Polyommatinae. We are guessing either the genus Plebejus or Lycaeides. There is much variation in coloration in local populations within the same species. Most larvae feed on legumes including lupines, rattleweed and clover. The Lycaean Blues are the group of butterflies that fascinated the great author Vladimir Nabokov.

Thanks Thank you for your quick reply and the information about  the identification of the butterfly and the information about the author.  I have just started in photography and have found that now I am becoming very interested in the names of insects and wildflowers. I did find a pretty clear photo that shows the other butterfly.  Thanks again
Mary



Your photos are very nice Mary, We surely appreciate the latest romantic image. Is it any wonder the author of Lolita was so besmitten with these lovely creatures?

Ed. Note: We just received the following correction.
misIDed pictures Hi, I love the pictures on your site, I noticed a couple of mistakes in the identification of two pictures. It is a Lycaenid, however the species is definitely Harkenclenus titus, the Coral Hairstreak, which is a beautiful tailless hairstreak, and is quite uncommon in my experience.
Mike

Painted Hickory Borer
(05/09/2005) What is this bug
Hello
I just moved into a new home and there are a few trees that need cut down.  I am currently cutting down some Shagbark Hickory trees and this bug is all over the trees.  We live in Western Pennsylvania.  Could you please tell me what it is and if it is harmful? Please see the attached pictures.
Thank you,
Neal



Hi Neal,
Judging by the mating activity evident in your photo, you might soon have a new generation of Painted Hickory Borers, Megacyllene caryae. They attack hickory, black walnut, butternut, osage orange and mulberry. The female lays eggs after cutting deep pits in the bark. Larva bore inward and pupate under bark. Adults emerge in the spring.

Cecropia Moths
(12/16/2004) moth, who are they
These were in the garden in July. I have not seen a pair before. They stayed on this shrub from morning to and threw the night.  The next morning all that we found were there wings. We placed the wings in clear document holder. Because of the different size of half moon shapes on the wings, it was assumed that we had one male and one female.
Area: Hammond, Ontario. Canada     (Forested Area)



Your moths are Cecropia Moth, Hyalophora cecropia, the largest North American Giant Silkworm Moths. They may have been a mating pair. The adults live only long enough to mate and lay eggs and they cannot even eat as they don't have working mouthparts. Sounds like a bird or other predator got a good meal.

Oil Beetles mashed in the heat of passion
(10/13/2004) 2 Shiny Black Bugs (Pic included)
Dear Bugman,
Before you view the picture...I have to apologize. I fear I did not see them till it was too late. On top of that...it looks like they were enjoying one of the finer things in life right before I took it. I am really sorry. But I'm still curios as to what they are. I'm 25, and have lived in Pennsauken all my life, but never seen anything like them.
They have what seem to be wings (or maybey they're just the shell covering the real wings)...a shiny black carapace with a hint of turquois. Their Antennae are segmented. (I know there is a significant difference between Segmented and smooth antenna...but I forgot what) I didn't get a frontal shot... But their mouth-parts didn't have any substantial mandibles. The mouth-parts resembled that of a common grasshopper...for lack of appropriate term. This picture was taken in Pennsauken, New Jersey...about a 20 min drive from Philadelphia, PA. Again, I apologize for their demise. It was not intentional. Hope you can shed a little light on it.
Thanks in advance,
Russ



Hi Russ,
You have an awesome photo of a pair of Oil Beetles who met a tragic end while procreating. Another common name is Short Winged Blister Beetle, Meloe angusticollis. The beetle is found in Southern Canada and the Northern United States. It is usually found in crop fields and meadows where it eats herbaceous foliage being particularly fond of potatoes. If disturbed, the beetle feigns death by falling on its side. The leg joints exude droplets of liquid that cause blisters.

Mating Western Box-elder Bugs
(07/08/2004) what are these flying bugs?
Hi Bugman,  you've got a great website! Can you tell me about the bugs that are in my yard by the thousands? They're all over the Portland, OR area. They don't seem to bite, but are terribly annoying. They're about 3/4 inch long and when flying, a bright orange body is visible. Are they likely to leave soon?
Thanks for the info,
Bev



Hi Bev,
You have Western Box-elder Bugs, Boisea rubrolineata. It feeds on Box-elder, Ash and Maple. Adults and nymphs aggregate in huge numbers, and often get inside homes to hibernate. They are difficult to erradicate, and since you have mating activity, you are well assured of future generations.

(06/26/2004) Copulating Harlequin Bugs will eventually lay eggs. The female places one or two rows of from usually 5-12 eggs neatly on twigs. The eggs look like black and white striped barrels. Here are some freshly layed eggs on anise.

Thanks a lot for your explanation. And what is the correct spelling? "Preying" or "praying?" Both of them make sense. As for the reason why they're called "kneeles" in Norwegian, I will try to find out. Thanks again.
Mark Mattison

Both spellings are correct, depending upon the author. I prefer to spotlight the hunting versus the religious connotation.

I now believe that the Norwegian name "kneeler" is from the same reason we say "praying" mantis: you kneel when you pray. At least if you accept the "praying" spelling. At least it makes sense. Why didn't I think of that
before?
Mark

Painted Arachnis
(10/26/2003)

We recently spotted this Tiger Moth, The Painted Arachnis, Arachnis picta, laying eggs on the side of our house. Every night, the moths are attracted to the lights outside. Our Green Lynx Spider has been feasting on them on a regular basis, hence the corpse on the right.