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Mating
Lime Hawkmoths from Switzerland
(06/02/2007) Moth ID
Hi guys, My daughter Rosie and son Sam saw these moths on
our door today...initially we thought they were leaves. We
have tried to find a similar image on your site, and although
it looks a little like a Pandora Sphinx moth we are not sure.
This photo is from Duillier in Switzerland. We hope you
can help with the ID. Thanks
Duncan, Switzerland
Hi Duncan,
The Pandora Sphinx does not range into Europe. These mating
Sphinxes are Mimas tiliae commonly called Lime Hawk-moths.
More information and images can be found on Moths
and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa and the UK
Moths page. Lime refers to a favored larval food plant,
the Linden Tree which is commonly called a Lime Tree.
Bug Love Poster
View
Poster
(09/12/2006) Ed. Note
Recently, Dave, who worked on the radio transmitter project
to track the migration of Anax
junius, the Green Darner Dragonfly, proposed selling his
awesome Retro posters of Bug Love on our site. A percentage
of the proceeds goes to insect conservation. What's That Bug?
fully endorses this ad and these beautiful posters and we
are not making any profit off of the sales. So, contact Dave
via his email... and tell him What's That
Bug? sent you.
Read Dave's entire letter on our Fanmail
2 page.
Mating
Crane Flies
(06/02/2007) Bug Love
These seem to be Mosquito Hawks in love
Barb
Hi Barb,
Over the years, we have received numerous images of mating
Crane Flies, sometimes called Mosquito Hawks even though they
do not eat mosquitos. Your photo stands out from the crowd
since the shallow depth of field and subtle backlighting nicely
isolate the pair from their surroundings.
Mating
Emerald Ash Borers
(05/31/2007) Emerald Ash Borer
Dear Bugman
Thanks for making Emerald Ash Borer the bug of the month.
This will help folks learn more about this pest and maybe
discover new sites where it has become established and report
them. Attached is an old photo of them mating and a good close
up shot. Remember-Don't Move Infested Wood! Keep up the good
work
Brian Sullivan
Plant Health Safeguarding Specialist
Hi again Brian,
Thanks for sending us another wonderful image to better help
our readers identify the Emerald Ash Borers.
Mating Small-Headed Flies, not Bee Flies
(05/25/2007) Hello, I have tried to get an ID on this insect.
The picture is taken in in Northern California (the foothills
of the Trinity Alps) at about 2000 elevation. Here are two
different photos. Thank you for any help you can give me.
Jim
 
Hi Jim,
We incorrectly identified these as Bee Flies, but you have
set us straight.
Thank you so much for the compliment on the photos. I appreciate
your time. At the same time I contacted you, I also went to
a couple of other sites and found this identification: http://bugguide.net/node/view/40630
There seems to be a bit of difference between your ID and
the ID on this site. I am not an entomologist but, rather,
a hobby photographer who was curious about my find. Do you
think the bugguide is on point? Again, thanks for taking the
time and have a nice rest of the weekend.
Jim
Hi again Jim,
We will generally change our identifications if BugGuide,
which is awesome, differs from us. If BugGuide believes these
to be mating Small-Headed Flies in the Genus Eulonchus, we
believe it.
Snowberry Clearwing Moth Metamorphosis and Mating
(05/22/2007)caterpillar, pupa, and bumblebee moth pictures
We found a Bumblebee Moth caterpillar on our Honeysuckle vine...
 
brought it inside to watch it transform and thought you might
enjoy the pictures!
Nikki Ogle
Aubrey, Tx
BumbleBee Moth's Bug Luvin'
I sent pictures of our Bumblebee Moth development... well,
I just went to check to see if it was still on the vine...
and found a two for one. Two hours after placing the moth
on honeysuckle vine, I went to see if it had flown away ...
instead I was seeing double! After viewing this discovery
I've surmised that our moth was female ... The assumption
based on larger size and having not moved from the leaf it
was place on. It must have been releasing pheromones? If that
is correct ... the one facing us in this picture is a happy
little male. This is my favorite picture. I've attachem more.
Nikki Ogle
Aubrey, Tx
 
Hi Nikki,
We sure hope you are going to send us the egg photos to complete
this awesome life cycle series. Though it is often called
the Bumblebee Moth, Hemaris thysbe is most commonly known
as the Hummingbird Clearwing Moth or Common Clearwing. according
to Bill
Oehlke's awesome site.
Update: (05/29/2007) Snowberries I think
Hello bugman!
So glad that you guys are back. I was just looking an awesome
series of shots sent in by one of your readers of the life
cycle of some clearwing moths. I do believe they are Hemaris
difinnis, the Snowberry
Clearwing, and not H. thysbe. I use the same sources as
you (namely Bill Oehlke's website and bugguide, Wagner's book
for caterpillars). On Bill Oehlke's website, he describes
some of the differences, including the color of the legs,
which can be seen in the image you have of them mating. Keep
up the good work!
Bobby
Hi Bobby,
Thanks for the correction. By the way, we cannot open your
photos, but we are very curious to see them.
Red Lily Beetles Mating
(05/12/2007) red lily beetle?
Is this a Red Lily Beetle? I found a ton of them on my lilies
this week. If so, what is a good way to stop them from eating
my lilies? If not, what is it? Can't wait to show my daughter
you site..........very cool!
These sure are Red
Lily Beetles, Lilioceris lilii, and they are mating.
Mating
Luna Moths
(05/09/2007) Luna Moths Mating
Hello! I was just scrolling the Luna Moth page on your website
and saw that you have a couple of pictures of Luna Moths mating.
Today we have a pair on our fence and they have been there
all day. We saw one on the fence last night by himself and
today he was joined by his mate. I have been outside several
times to take pictures and thought you might enjoy a few to
post on your website if you'd like. I was saddened to read
that the Lunas only live a few days. No wonder these two are
spending so much time together! Enjoy!
Shelly W.
Near Winston-Salem, NC
Since I sent these, we have also located the chrysalis/cocoon
of what we assume to be the female who was originally on the
fence the day beflor, as the females apparently do not fly
until after mating.
Hi Shelly,
Thank you for taking the time to resend your gorgeous image
of mating Luna Moths.
Mating
Monarchs and Mating Polka-Dot Wasp Moths
(05/06/2007) Bug Love Submissions
Attached are two images for the BUG LOVE page. I could use
help IDing the non monarchs. if you use, please provide a
photo credit/link to website.
ENjoy!
Tina
P.S. the non monarchs are polka dot wasp moths
 
Hi Tina,
Thanks for sending your compelling images. We are happy to
see you identified your Polka-Dot Wasp Moths before we had
a chance to reply.
Mating
Fire Bugs from Belgium
(04/15/2007) Beetles in Brussels
Our garden in Brussels, Belgium is full of these beetles.
Can you tell us what they are? Thanks.
Mike
Hi Mike,
These are not beetles. They are mating Fire Bugs, Pyrrhocoris
apterus.
Desert Spider Beetle
(04/12/2007) Desert Spider Beetle
Hi,
You had a posting at the end of march 07 from a lady that
lives in Las Cruces, NM. I too live in Las Cruces, and yesterday
came across the same beetle she is talking about. I took some
pictures. I was taking my dog out just now, and found two
of the, a big one and a small one. I believe the larger is
a female and the smaller is a male. I captured them in the
act. I am attaching the pics that I took. I have sized them
down to a small email size pic because I have a few. If you
want me to email you a larger pic, let me know, and I will.
I hope these pics will do some wonderful justice to the beautiful
beetle that seems to be prominant in Las Cruces. The majority
of these larger pics show the smaller male attached to the
back of the much larger female.
Heather, Las Cruces NM
Hi Heather,
Thanks for sending us your wonderful image of mating Spider
Beetles.
Wasp Mimic Sesiid Moths Mating
(04/10/2007) Jack Spaniard Moths.jpg
Hi there,
Was wondering if you might be able to help me identify this
moth? Many Thanks if you can help. All the best,
Marc
Hi Marc,
We are not even going to attempt to search for an exact species
on your mating Wasp Mimic Sesiid Moths unless we know where
this photo was taken. We are guessing somewhere in the Caribbean
since we have heard a local name for paper wasps is Jack Spaniard.
Hi there,
This was taken in the British Virgin Islands. I live near
Sage Mountain on Tortola, British Virgin Islands and I have
seen these around fairly often. We also get a lot of Sphinx
moths and Tiger Moths (which get to about 5 inches). They
are all very cool. Cheers,
Marc
Mating Dragonflies from Australia
(04/09/2007)
Bug Love
Bugman, your site is so enthralling. I have these to add to
your bug love page. All taken in Queensland Australia in April
2007. Hope you like these. regards,
Trevor Jinks
Australia
Hi again Trevor,
We will only be posting your Mating Dragonflies as it is our
favorite image.
Leaf
Beetles: Mating Striped Cucumber Beetles and Unknown Family
Member
(04/04/2007) Beetle
Can you please tell me what these bugs are? The yellow one
was found on our squash plants, and the other in the grass.
We live in the Baton Rouge, La. area.
Thanks,
Jeanette Murray
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| Striped
Cucumber Beetles |
Unknown
Leaf Beetle |
Hi
Jeanette,
These are both Leaf Beetles in the family Chrysomelidae. The
ones mating on the squash plant are Striped Cucumber Beetles,
Acalymma vittata. The other beetle is also one of the Leaf
Beetles, but we are not sure of the species.
Blister Beetles Mating
(03/30/2007) Tiger Beetle in Sunol Regional Wilderness
We found these 2 tiger beetles yesterday (3/29/07) in the
Sunol Regional Wilderness
park; that's northern CA, East Bay, but I'm not sure which
county. It's definitely not the 6 spotted tiger beetle. I
hope you can identify it. Or, after further searching your
site, maybe it is: Cicindela_sexguttata, as I see that they
can come without spots and they must be quite common. thank
you,
Katherine Suri
back yard naturalist
Hi Katherine,
Tiger Beetles are carnivorous predators and your Blister Beetles
were at some point feeding on the blossom in the photo. These
Blister Beetles match an image on BugGuide
of Lytta stygica, but a comment posted by Joyce Gross
claims: "There is another beetle, Lytta chloris , which looks
very much the same as Lytta stygica . But according to specimens
I looked at, Lytta chloris occurs a bit further north, and
more specifically, according to John Pinto, Lytta chloris
doesn't occur south of the Tehachapi Mountains." We are concluding
that your specimen is probably Lytta chloris unless Lytta
stygica occurs further North in addition to its Southern California
range. Since we brought up the carnivorous versus phytophagous
or plant eating diets, Blister Beetles are quite a rarity
in the beetle world. Though diets of immature and adult insects
tend to include different foods, carvivorous larvae usually
grow into carnivorous adults and phytophagous larvae grow
into phytophagous adults. Many larval Blister Beetles are
flesh eating, with grasshopper eggs being a choice food, while
the adults feed on leaves and blossoms.
Mating
Fireflies
(03/26/2007) Lightning Bugs gettin' jiggy.
Hi there! :)
I just wanted to send along a photo that I took today. I'm
sure it's one you've seen a million times, but it's the first
time I've ever seen ANY two bugs mating, let along managing
to snap a pic of them! The neat thing, though, is that these
two lightning bugs were getting busy on my brand new lilac
bush, which I just named Oksana. Now, in Russian, Oksana means
"hospitable, especially to strangers." ...I guess
so! Thanks!
Erika
Hi Erika,
Thanks for sending us your great image of mating Fireflies.
Lettered Sphinxes and a Gnome
(03/20/2007 first sphingidae of spring
I spotted and collected my first sphinx moths of the year
on Sunday (3/18). I found out they are Lettered Sphinx moths,
Deidamia inscripta, from bugguide.net. I was scrolling through
your marvelous collection of sphinx images, and I didn't see
any of this species, so I thought you might like to check
these out. (And the female laid eggs the night I collected
them!) Going to be a good year for moths! Anyways, keep up
the great work, bugman!!
Bobby
 
Hi Bobby,
Your amusing photo of Lettered Sphinxes just made our day.
It is awesome.
Malaysian Flower Chafers Mating
(03/09/2007) For your bug love collection
Hi bugfolks,
Love, love, love your site, thank you! I have attached a picture
I'd like to contribute to your Bug Love section. It was taken
in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. If you know what they
are, I'd love to know, but I think it's a cool picture anyway.
Again, wonderful site!
Mariane
Hi Mariane,
We don't recognize your beautiful Malaysian Scarab Beetles.
Perhaps one of our readers will write in with a species identification.
We have seen this species embedded in lucite and sold as keychains
in Chinatown and at swap meets.
This scarab belongs to the Cetoniinae subfamily, Flower Chafers
or Flower Scarabs. It is an Agestrata species but I don't
know which one, as apparently there are several which are
all rather similar. It seems not to be A. luzonica or A. orichalca.
Take a look at: http://www.naturalworlds.org/scarabaeidae/species/Agestrata_luzonica.htm
Susan
Morpho
Butterflies mating
(03/03/2007) Butterflies at Niagara Conservatory
Hi! Your site is a lot of fun, what a labor of love. I would
really like to know what this butterfly is so I can label
the photo in my album! The picture was taken a few years ago
at the Niagara Falls Butterfly Conservatory. In my North America
guide, they look most like Pearly Eyes, but the number of
eyespots is wrong. They could be a relative from the tropics,
since the conservatory imports chrysalises from all over.
Thanks,
Melanie
San Jose, CA
Hi Melanie,
These are Blue Morpho Butterflies. Butterflies in the genus
Morpho often have irridescent blue wings with brown underwings.
When the butterfly is in flight, it is showy, but when it
alights, it is camoflauged. There is an excellent Wikipedia
page on Morphos. Sadly, we haven't the time to research
what species this is as there are about 80 species in the
genus that is found in Central and South America.
Thank you! Then they must be Morpho
peleides, which the Conservatory exhibits. I had no idea
that they were the same butterfly as the gorgeous blue ones.
(I probably noticed that when we visited, but the pictures
are from 2003!)
Melanie
Japanese
Beetles mating and Syrphid Fly feeding
(02/19/2007) Bedroom or dining room?
Dear Lisa Anne and Daniel,
"Must You Do That While I'm Eating?" Think of this
bug love episode as nature's own shunga, especially as its
main characters are Japanese beetles. Isn't it bizarre that
the bee-mimic hover fly (in addition to being there in the
first place) is actually HOLDING this flower's stamen while
it slurps? Taken in Pennsylvania on a July afternoon in 2001.
Jim & Sandy
Hi Jim and Sandy,
Thank you for this humorous image that will get archived to
numerous pages: Beetles 11, Flies 3 and Bug Love 4.
Checkerspots,
Fritillaries and Predacious Diving Beetles Mating
(02/19/2007) butterfly monkey sex
And other insect porn for you! I was so happy to find out
I'm not the only one!
Thanks
Lacey Greene
Bishop, California
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| Checkerspots |
Fritillaries |
Hi Lacey,
Your photos are all so beautiful. We wish you had provided
a bit more information. Your mating Checkerspots in the genus
Euphydryas, your mating Fritillaries in the genus Speyeria,
and your mating Predacious Diving Beetles, Acilius mediatus,
are all wonderful additions to our site.
Argiope
Orb Weaver pair from Argentina
(02/19/2007) orb-weaver
Hi! These orb-waiver spiders abound in my house here in Argentina.
I would like to know what are they and whether they are dangerous.
I can only guess they are some kind of Argiope from some pictures
I've found in Wikipedia and in your site.
Emiliano
Hi Emiliano,
These are Argiope Orb Weavers, but we cannot tell you what
species without additional research. The smaller spider is
the pair and he will live in the web with the female and eventually
mate. Should you happern to learn the species name, please
update us.
Mating Stink Bugs from (probably) Singapore
(02/12/2007) Beautiful yet a nuisance
Hi Bug man
Please view the attached picture of a very beautiful bug that
I spotted yesterday in my friend's garden. There are not 2,
4 or 6 but a few hundreds of them. They cut circular holes
in the leaves. Please identify them & give prescribe a
safe control measure for the same. Thanks in anticipation.
Regards
Azmi
Hi Azmi,
Though you did not provide us with a location, your email
address tends to indicate Singapore. These are mating Stink
Bugs in the family Pentatomidae, though we are not certain
of the species. They are NOT responsible for the circular
holes. Stink Bugs do not chew plants, they suck the juices.
Green Darners Mating
(02/09/2007) Dragonfly Love
Dear Bugman,
Love your site! I work at a garden center in Orlando, Florida
and come across some strange creatures from time to time...your
site has been helpful in identifying some of the little buggers.
(sorry, couldn't help it.) Anyway, I thought you might like
this photo for your Bug Love section. She looks like she put
on a little make-up for the occasion.
Laura Stump
Hi Laura,
Thanks for the wonderful photo of Green Darners Mating. The
male is in the front. He uses his anal claspers to grab onto
the female's neck and she uses the tip of her abdomen to gather
his sperm.
Mating
Checkered Skippers from Puerto Rico
(02/04/2007) Um... two more. This one's a pair of mating butterflies...
... but inland on Vieques. They're maybe 2" in diameter,
and hairy as a pair of moths, but their antennae say "butterfly",
don't they?
Jim
Hi Jim,
These are Checkered Skippers in the genus Pyrgus. Skippers
are classified as butterflies.
Hatching Mantids and Mating Hemipterans from Australia
(02/03/2007) bugs of course!
Hi again,
You may remember me from my Christmas time request at identifying
my cute little pie dish beetle? But I know how busy you are
so I won't be offended if you've forgotten me and my beetle
by now - much!. Anyway the reason I'm bugging you (pardon
the pun) is that since Christmas I've been lucky enough to
have travelled right across our wide brown land all the way
from Perth to Tasmania and as a direct result of that journey
have two pics and one question for you. First I want to say
that thanks to your wonderful website I was able to positively
identify an egg case that had been carefully attached to our
spare car tyre, which had to be transported in our pop up
camper due to lack of space elsewhere, as belonging to a preying
mantis. Thus their lives were spared as my husband had thought
it was some kind of spider egg and was about to crush it.
It was not until our trip was underway that it was discovered
and as my hubby has a bit of a soft spot for preying mantis
he was careful with it from then on. After crossing the Eyre
Peninsula in 47c heat, I had a good idea that might trigger
an hatching, and so it did, as two evenings later we popped
up our camper to find hundreds of tiny preying mantis running
about all over our stuff. We carefully removed them from the
camper and left the remaining ones to hatch outside. In the
morning we carefully removed the egg case and left them to
battle against the funnel web spiders which were, unfortunately
for them, abundant in that area. Hopefully they already had
that species of preying mantis in Victoria, if not- well...
they have now. Anyway to make a long story short, I took a
pic of the hatch-lings that I thought you might like. The
question I have is about the other picture, which I assume
are assassin beetles obviously mating. Please correct me if
I'm wrong about my identification. These bugs were photographed
in Tasmania and many more were found all over town mating
merrily. My mother, who lives there, told me that once these
bugs couple, they cannot dis-attach, and so the bigger one,
presumably the female? drags the little one presumably the
male? around until he dies, and then what I don't know? (not
unlike some human marriages I believe) Anyway, I found this
information a little hard to swallow, and although I hate
to question my mum, I'd really like to know if this is so?
Can you verify that for me? Well that's if from me for now...
hope to hear from you when you get time. Kind regards,
Jill Hardman
Western Australia
 
Dear Jill,
Thank you for the wonderful letter. You hatching Mantid Oothica
and accompanying details are fascinating. Your alleged Assassin
Bugs are Hemipterans, which includes the Assassin Bugs, predatory
species in the family Reduviidae, but they are a different
family, possibly Lygaeidae,
the Seed Bugs. Most definitely, they are a phytophagous or
plant eating species.
Orchard Bees Mating
(01/10/2007) mating orchard bees
Dear Bugman,
Great bug site! My son took this picture of two lovin' orchard
bees on our deck in April of 2005. These bees regularly nest
under the siding on the south side of our home. They are docile,
early spring risers and are very welcome visitors to our apple
trees.
Sandy Nunn
Kakabeka Falls
Ontario
Hi Sandy,
Thank you so much for sending us this wonderful image from
your son's photo archive.
Mating
Crane Flies, Flower Flies, Japanese Beetles and Ambush Bugs
(01/06/2007) Bug Love
Hi, my name is Brigette and I love your site. I've been interested
in insects since I was a little kid, and am currently an undergrad
studying entomology at McGill University. I love to photograph
insects and thought you might enjoy some additions to your
'bug love' section. These were taken in my backyard in upstate
NY.
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| Crane
Flies |
Flower
Flies |
I have included some japanese beetles, craneflies, horseflies,
and ambush bugs (my favorites!). I even have some eggs as
a result of the ambush bug matings, I kept several during
the fall months. When introduced the males waste no time at
all getting busy!
Brigette
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| Japanese
Beetles |
Ambush
Bugs |
Hi Brigette,
Wow!!! Thanks for sending us all your wonderful Bug Love images.
They are most excellent.
Query: (01/07/2007)
Wondering if those really ARE mating Horseflies....
Lisa and Daniel: HAPPY NEW YEAR, and thanks for your site,
it's great. The "mating bugs" quartet has two happy Dipterans
that are identified as "Horseflies," but I wonder if they
really are. For some reason they strike me more as Hoverflies
or something else. The sender, being a budding entomologist,
has great credibility, but somehow my mental antennae are
quivering...so I'll watch the site and see if there's re-thinking
on this one. regards from non-wintery Wisconsin,
Dave Fallow
Madison, WI
Hi Dave,
We tried finding a species match under Horse Fly on BugGuide
to no avail. We believe the eyes indicate Horse Flies. We
will check with Eric Eaton. Eric made the following correction:
"The mating horse flies are actually Flower Flies in the family
Syrphidae, probably in the Erastilini tribe."
Argiope
appensa in Guam: Banana Spider
(01/04/2007) Spiders in Guam
I live in Guam and have these wonderful spiders living in
my carport. I would like to know if the spider is male or
female. Also, is the little one the offspring, rather than
simply caught in the web? I hope these photos are clear enough.
I've enjoyed watching two of these spiders grow from tiny
to this size (approx 3.5 inches in span) in the course of
five months, but others never seem to make it past infancy
(or what I presume is infancy due to their size). Regards,
June Ameika
Hi June,
This is a pair of Argiope Spiders. The female is the larger
of the two and the male shares her web. We did a google search
of "Argiope Guam" and were led to a Wikipedia
page describing and picturing Argiope appensa. Argiope
appensa is one of at least three unrelated spiders commonly
called Banana Spiders. According to Wikipedia: "Females reach
a body length of up to 7cm and are strikingly black and yellow,
while the brown males reach only about 2cm. [1] On Guam, where
A. appensa is ubiquitous, it is frequently visited by Argyrodes
argentatus. Locals there refer to A. appensa as banana spiders.
Following the introduction of the brown tree snake and the
subsequent extinction or near-extinction of many of the island's
small birds, spider populations on Guam exploded decreasing
predation and competition. A. appensa is almost certainly
one of the large species which were encountered there in vast
numbers, much to his horror, by nature writer David Quammen
(who is extremely arachnophobic) during his trip doing background
research for the book The Song of the Dodo, as he vividly
recalls therein."
Mating
Pennsylvania Leatherwings
(12/16/2006) Color Coordinated Bug Love?
Is this bug love?
Teresa
Hi Teresa,
These are mating Pennsylvania Leatherwings, Chauliognathus
pennsylvanicus, a species of Soldier Beetle. Since it is commonly
associated with goldenrod, it is also known as the Goldenrod
Soldier Beetle.
Mating
One Eyed Sphinxes
(11/24/2006) bug love
I just came across your "bug love" page, and thought
you might be interested to see this picture. I live in NorthWest
Washington, and I have rarely ever seen a moth this size!
(That's why the hand is there, to show how big they are!)
This was taken on the 4th of July, 06. I took the picture
because they were so big, and it wasn't till later that I
realized what they must be doing!
Melody
Hi Melody,
Your moths are Mating One Eyed Sphinxes, Smerinthus cerisyi.
They get the common name due to the hind wings which have
"eye spots" that are hidden from view in your photograph.
Mating
Cotton Stainers
(Day of the Dead 2006) unknown beetle
Sorry to hear your so swamped. But that means you're very
popular. Love the site, visit it regularly and have posted
pic's in the past. I have been through all the beetle pages
and have not found one with the color pattern of the one included.
If I did miss it sorry, at least it can be a picture for the
bug love pages if nothing else. Picture taken Nov. 2, 2006
in Central Florida (Sebring). Thanks for providing a great
web site.
Mike D'Aguilar
Hi Mike,
The reason you could not locate these mating Cotton Stainers
on the beetle pages is that they are Hemipterans, or True
Bugs. Cotton Stainers, Dysdercus suturellus, are relatively
common in the southern states and were once considered a significant
agricultural
pest on cotton before growing practices changed which
controlled the numbers. The Cotton Stainer is also known as
a Red Bug.
Mating
Leaf Footed Bugs
(Halloween 2006) Orgy in the Cow-Peas
My boyfriend and I discovered scads of these bugs (after searching
your website I think I've identified them as some kind of
leaf-footed bug) all over our cow-peas a few weeks ago. They
stayed there for at least several days, seemingly engaged
in a giant orgy. They appear to have made dark spots all over
our cow-pea pods. Is it possible that they layed eggs in the
pods or the peas themselves? Best,
Allison
San Diego CA
Hi Allison,
These are mating Leaf Footed Bugs in the genus Leptoglossus,
but they don't seem to exactly match the species depicted
on BugGuide.
We suspect the black marks on the cow-pea pods are the result
of the insects feeding. They have piercing and sucking mouthparts,
and inject enzymes into the seeds and fruits of the plants
they feed upon.
Differential
Grasshoppers Mating and Laying Eggs;
(10/29/2006) differential grasshopper laying eggs,
mating
Thanks for reading my email! I didn't see any pictures of
grasshoppers laying eggs on your website, so we were very
excited to find the latest captive in my daughter's bugcatcher
laying eggs! I'm also including some grasshopper pictures
from earlier in the summer, the extreme closeup was taken
when they were mating on my camera strap! I was bending down
in the bushes trying to get pictures of an orb weaver, stood
up to find the hoppers coming with me!
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| Mating
Differential Grasshoppers |
Differential
Grasshopper Laying Eggs |
I
don't know what the "fuzzy" grasshoppers are. We
found them in an area near a pond with lots of milkweed and
sunflowers. Their skin isn't smooth like the other grasshoppers
and actually appeared fuzzy. We live near St. Louis, MO.
Angie and her junior entomologist Miranda who is very sad
that the bugs are going away for the winter....
Hi
Angie and Miranda,
We are thrilled to get your Mating and Egg Laying Differential
Grasshopper images. We will need additional time to get you
a species on the fuzzy grasshoppers. We will try to enlist
the help of Eric Eaton.
Broad
Shouldered Water Striders
(10/21/2006) veliidae?
hi,
Two pictures, from two different days, of different-looking
critters on the surface of the pond in the shallows. I'm guessing
these are all broad-shouldered water striders, but the mating
pair is a little less clear. Could they be something else?
best
greg
 
Hi Greg,
We do not possess the necessary skills to take this to the
species level, but we agree with your identification in the
Family Veliidae, the Broad Shouldered Water Striders. The
coloration of the mating pair does not match anything on BugGuide.
We haven't bothered Eric Eaton in a bit, so we will see if
he has an opinion. Here is what Eric wrote: "You are probably
correct, but aquatic insects, especially the more 'minor'
families, are not creatures I am terribly familiar with. There
is at least one other family closely related to Veliidae that
you might want to check. Eric"
Mating
Multicolored Asian Ladybird Beetles stalked by Ambush Bug!!
(10/07/2006) weird bug
I was taking pictures of the mating ladybugs and did not notice
the strange bug until I downloaded the pictures. What is it?
Located in Dallas, Georgia.
Lee Hooker
Hi Lee,
Nice to hear from you again. We believe your Ladybird Beetles
are Multicolored Asian Ladybird Beetles, Harmonia axyridis,
which are highly variable in coloration. They are being stalked
by an Ambush Bug. The Ambush Bug might soon have a meal. We
are cross referencing your photo on several of our pages,
including Bug Love and Food Chain.
Mating
Mantids
(09/29/2006) My Apex pet...
Hello and good day, I just wanted to first say that your site
is by far the best for mantis pictures and stories. Bravo!
I have two mantis, both female. One of them is a Carolina
Mantid and the one in these pics is physically different with
its left wing having a spot on it that looks more like a eye.
It is a yellow circle with a black spot in the middle. Its
only on one side and she doesn't have a black spot on its
chest like my other pet mantids have had. I would appreciate
the help. Now with the crazy story, I caught my first mantid
of the year early in the summer nearly four months ago, she
travels every with us, chilling out in her special travel
case. Her name is Superwoman for the unusually large black
spot on her chest. She will eat 2 Grasshoppers everyday if
I feed her that much but I usually just give her three every
two days and she stays pleasantly fat and too heavy to even
fly! Believe it or not she has only flown away once and she
made it about a foot and just fell and never tried that again.
I have had her since the first molt and she went from solid
green to dark mottled brown like the sticks I put in her terrarium.
But it's my other mantis, KILLena, that takes the cake as
the apex predator in the house. I had three in total, two
females and one male, last night I decided to try and mate
the newest edition KILLena and a grass type mantis. I put
the two of them together and as soon as I did Killena froze
into position and starting swaying back and forth as if it
were a mating dance. The male mantis, Rosevelt (because I
found him in my rosemary herb garden tracking a butterfly),
started to move into position for copulation. As it made its
way down a stick near KILLena she reached out faster than
I had ever seen one ambush its prey, and snatched him up by
the head and claws and commenced to eating the head!! I thought
they did that that after they copulated but not KILLena!!
She then chewed off the front claws and rendered him defenseless,
munching on its upper half with one claw and has his mid-section
in the other claw. Rosevelt amazingly was still moving! Not
just moving but walking around, slightly clumsier but still
walking up and down sticks like it knew what was going on.
Eventually he made his way to KILLena's body and jumped on
the back and began reproducing!!!! just a fraction of his
upper half was left and he was still completing his routine!!
In the midst of that she noticed the fresh grasshopper I dropped
inside earlier that day and snatched it up as well!! this
is how she got the name KILLena, while munching on a grasshopper,
after eating the head of her new found mate, she was making
babies!! How great is that!! These pics should really explain
a few things about mantids as pets and how they work and the
order in which they eat their prey. I got quite a few camera
angles and she even seemed to pose and smile for to take more,
meanwhile not missing a single bite in between snaps of the
shutter. Please enjoy these pics and feel free to share them
with the world. Ill be updating you guys when she lays the
sack and we hatch them. Till then Have a great day and remember,
watch where you step, there is a whole 'nother world beneath
your feet!!!!
Proud Parent from Missouri
 
Dear Proud Parent,
Thank you for the graphic story.
WHERE
ON EARTH IS IT????????
(09/27/2006)
What on earth is this?
Thank you,
Eric
Hi Eric,
We really don't want to do anything to encourage identification
requests like yours, devoid of helpful information, so we
will request that you return to the site to get your answer.
These are mating Wheel Bugs, a species of Assassin Bug, and
they are highly beneficial insects that devour quantities
of harmful garden insects. We absolutely love the photograph.
Sorry. Additional info: These were located on my deck railing
in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. We live in development
that used to be an old orchard. Many of the orchard trees
still exist and these photos were taken directly under a black
walnut tree which catapillars recently ravaged. So, hopefully
these little 'assassin' gems are getting their fill !!! Thank
you for you help.
Eric
Mating
Homesteaders
(09/23/2006) Lubbers just acting like Lubbers
My niece came in and told me there was a grasshopper giving
another grasshopper a piggyback ride. I have visited your
site before and knew about your "love Bug" page
so I am sending my picture of the "piggybacking"
grasshoppers to you. I live in Clifton, Arizona and I have
not seen these guys around here before. I think they came
in such droves because of all the recent rain. I actually
learned from your site that these are "Lubber" or
"Homesteader" grasshoppers. Thanks for the info.
Skippy Beebout
Hi Skippy,
Thanks for the cute story and the great photo of mating Homesteaders
or Plains Lubber Grasshoppers, Brachystola magna.
Mating
Southeastern Lubber Grasshoppers
(09/23/2006) a few pics for ya from Central Florida
Got this shot in my back yard in august. It is the way they
looked at me that made the shot. We have had a lot of these
lubbers this year which means if we will be overrun nest summer.
Thought these would be fitting for Bug Love.
Jim
James Smullins
Groveland, Fl.
Hi Jim,
Thanks for sending both of your images. We always like great
images for our Bug Love pages.
Mating
Leaf Footed Bugs
(09/23/2006)
Hello. We live in Peachtree City, GA and have these bugs mostly
on our sunflowers. They were mating when I took these photos
the Sept. 13, 14, 2006. I think they are a kind of stink bug,
but their legs have a flare in them that I don't see in the
other photos on your website. Do you know what these are?
Thanks,
Mark Curtis
Hi Mark,
These are Big Legged Bugs or Leaf Footed Bugs in the family
Coreidae, in the order of True Bugs, Hemiptera. Stink Bugs
belong to the same order, but are in the family Pentatomidae.
This species is Leptoglossus phyllopus, and it is considered
a pest on ornamental and fruit crops where it sucks juices
from plants and causes damage.
Walkingsticks
Mating
(09/20/2006) Mating Walking Sticks - Insex
Found these two spending a few hours on the outside wall of
my house in the Ozarks of Arkansas. I take it these are not
the "muskmares" that spray noxious fumes.
Ken
Hi Ken,
You are correct. These are not Muskmares. We believe them
to be Northern Walkingsticks, Diapheromera femorata, which
range as far south as Northern Florida. There is more information
on BugGuide.
Mating
Wheel Bugs
(09/16/2006) Wheel Bug Love
Hello! I found your website very useful a few weeks ago when
I was IDing some moths, and I thought you might enjoy this
pic of some wheel bugs I found on my tomato table a few days
ago. Thanks for the great site!
Clara
Hi Clara,
As we state on our homepage, it is impossible to answer all
our letters. Eventually, after they have sat in the inbox
a few days, we must delete. This fills us with guilt, so we
open a few hoping for a lost gem. Your photo is one of those
lost gems, so we are posting, albeit a few days late. Your
mating Wheel Bugs is one of the finest photos of the species
we have received.
Mating
Monarchs
(09/14/2006) bug love
hello!
I must say I enjoy your site immensely, and love sitting with
my son and looking at all the wonderful pictures. I thought
you might enjoy this picture of monarch procreation. The evening
I took it, I was most thrilled with the colors and the sky
and the beautiful way the shot turned out. It was not until
I got it home that I realized they were mating! (much to my
disappointment and embarassment) I do not share this picture
with everyone like I do my other shots, but I couldn't bear
to delete it because it is really beautiful. I do however
really appreciate the way these two were modest enough to
do their deed behind the cover of their marvelous wings! Have
a lovely day,
Ruby K
Hi Ruby,
We are quite happy your reluctance to share your image ended
once there was cyberspace between you and the viewer. Just
so you know that you are not alone in your fascination with
six legged procreation, your image is the 4th Bug Love shot
we received today.
Bug Love Poster
View
Poster
(09/12/2006) Ed. Note
Recently, Dave, who worked on the radio transmitter project
to track the migration of Anax
junius, the Green Darner Dragonfly, proposed selling his
awesome Retro posters of Bug Love on our site. A percentage
of the proceeds goes to insect conservation. What's That Bug?
fully endorses this ad and these beautiful posters and we
are not making any profit off of the sales. So, contact Dave
via his email... and tell him What's That
Bug? sent you.
Read Dave's entire letter on our Fanmail
2 page.
Yellow
Banded Wasp Moth
(09/14/2006) Wondering what these are...
We snapped this picture in Wekiwa Springs State Park just
north of Orlando, Florida today. I can't find what they are
through a Google search, so maybe you can help? Thanks!
-CJS
Dear CJS,
We are starving and really need to cook some dinner, but we
had this nagging desire to open just one more letter. Your
letter was short and didn't give us much of a clue, but when
the image popped up, we gasped with delight. What an awesome
image of mating Yellow Banded Wasp Moths, Syntomeida ipomoeae.
The caterpillars of these beauties feed on the leaves of morning
glories.
Mating
Differential Grasshoppers
(09/14/2006) An addition for your "bug love" pages!
Hi there!!
I came across your site trying to identify a strange bug I
found in my back yard, and I love it!!! Never did find out
what the bug was, and didn't think to take a picture til it
was too late! The next day, while out at my brother in law's
house, I found these!! I immediately sent my husband for the
camera, and told him I had to take a picture to send to you.
They all laughed at me and called me a dork. :P So, here you
go, a couple of grasshoppers, getting their hop on!! I'm not
sure which kind they are, though. Cheers!
Cindi
Hi Cindi,
There are many criteria we use when trying to select items
to post. Rarity is always a plus, but what we are really attracted
to is nice imagery. Rarely we get a wonderful letter. We really
love your letter and the photo is also quite nice. These are
mating Differential Grasshoppers, Melanoplus differentialis,
a wide ranging species. Just ask those jaded folk who called
you a dork if they were ever published, and then point them
to our website where you entry will be archived on the Bug
Love 4 page as well as the Grasshopper page. Have a great
day.
Lovebugs
(09/14/2006) New Orleans Love Bug
Hello,
My name is Yvonne Nieves. I live in a suburb of New Orleans
called Avondale. This area that I live in is a pretty swampy
area as most of Louisiana is. My question to you is that the
photos that I am sending to you are photos of what we call
here Love Bugs. No one here knows where they come from, what
is their purpose, why do they come twice a year, the Spring
and in the Fall. We are pretty much getting over them right
now. They usually last for 2 weeks, then they are completely
gone and there will be no signs of them anylonger. They are
present in the millions and they are probably the most aggravating
insect that lives around here for just those 2 weeks every
Spring and every Fall. The bugs are connected by their tails,
most of them in pairs, and very few that are alone. One has
a head or is it eyes bigger than the other as you can see
in the photos. If you have any idea of what these bugs are,
and their correct name, and why and where they come from,
I would greatly appreciat the information, and so would thousands
of other people. Sincerely,
Yvonne Nieves
Hi Yvonne,
These really are Lovebugs, the common name for several species
of March Flies in the genus Plecia. Female Lovebugs have the
small eyes and males have the large eyes. Why they exist is
a philosophical question we would prefer not to tackle.
Silver
Argiope Love
(09/13/2006) silver argiope pair
Thought you might enjoy these. I live in San Diego and these
were taken outside my front door.
Thank you for sending us your photo. Looks like you should
have a new generation next year.
Acorn
Weevils Mating
(09/10/2006) mating acorn weevils
HI BUGMAN!! I love your site!! It's helped me identify lots
of insects and has only helped my already huge interest in
bugs. I have been having a problem with acorn weevils on my
pin oak tree in Columbia MO... so they pose a threat to the
tree? attached is a picture of two of them mating. THANKS!!
Andrew M.
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for sending a new species to us. The Acorn Weevil,
Curculio glandium, can be quickly distinguished by the elongated
snout or rostrum. We have located information
that the Acorn Weevil does not pose a threat to the oak tree
itself as both adults and larvae feed on the acorns. We apologize
for not having the ability to respond to every letter you
have written to us, and if there is anything that is either
new to our site or a pressing matter for you, please resend
those letters and images.
Western
Black Widow Family Values
(09/09/2006) A rare treat, Western black widow male, female,
and eggs in one photo!
Adult female, eggs and male - Latrodectus hesperus - Male
Female El Mirage AZ, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA September
6, 2006 An adult female with egg sacks, and a closeby male.
I could not believe she was staying put, maybe because she
was guarding her eggs, she was quite alarmed at me. This is
one of 4 adult females in my yard that I have found. Most
of the time they run and hide when I approach. This was a
treat!
Candy Cox
Hi Candy,
Thanks for sharing this wonderful domestic moment with our
readership, many of whom appreciate family values. We are
also thrilled to find there are others out there without widow
phobia.
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