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Bug
of the Month: May 2008
Striped Morning Sphinx or White Lined Sphinx: adult and caterpillar
(04/27/2008) Question: Help! What is this bug?!
Dear Bugman,
Please help me identify this bug. I have searched all
the pages on the internet for moths and cannot locate a picture
that looks like this one. Thank you so much!
Julie
Hi Julie,
On our website, the Sphinx Moths, a large family, get their
own pages separate from general moths. This is a White Lined
Sphinx, Hyles lineata. It is one of the most common U.S. Sphinx
Moths, and in desert areas the species go through cyclical
population explosions. Because the California rains this season have been spread out rather than concentrated, there is lush native plant growth and we expect to continue to get reports of both the adult Striped Morning Sphinx moths and the caterpillars as well.
White Lined Sphinx Caterpillar
(03/26/2008) caterpillar picture attached
I saw this caterpillar in Anzo-Borrego Desert in southern
California last week. Curious if you know what it is.
Pictures attached.
paul
Hi Paul,
With the desert wildflowers being so spectacular this year,
there is plenty of food for plant eaters like caterpillars.
We expect to get numerous queries regarding your species,
the White Lined Sphinx or Striped Morning Sphinx, Hyles lineata.
The caterpillars of this species are highly variable and become
quite numerous at times. They were eaten by Native Americans
and still are eaten by some adventuresome modern Americans
as well.
Bug
of the Month: April 2008
Carpet
Beetle
(03/08/2008) bug on windowsill
In the last week (first week of March), we have seen several
of these tiny beetle-like bugs on our windowsill. We’re
concerned that they might be from possible dampness in the
wall – or are they from a house plant. It’s
too cold here yet, so you windows have not been open for fresh
air and bugs! Thanks for helping us identify this tiny bug.
It’s about 2 millimetres long.
Lauren
 
Hi Lauren,
This is an Anthrenus Carpet Beetle. It and its siblings have
probably been living all winter in your home as fuzzy larvae,
feeding on wool, feathers or fur, or some other animal product.
Carpet Beetle infestations can do major damage to your valuables
and are considered one of the most serious threats to natural
history museum collections. Adult Carpet Beetles emerge in
the spring and are attracted to windows. They feed on pollen
as adults and are trying to get outside to feed.
Ed. Note: (04/04/2008)
It seems that daily we have been receiving multiple requests
for the identification of Anthrenus
Carpet Beetles, hence our decision to make them the Bug
of the Month for April. These Carpet Beetles can be extremely
destructive to museum collections as well as to natural fibers
in the home. The larvae are fuzzy and are the destructive
stage of the insect.
Carpet Beetle Larva
(04/13/2008) Carpet beetle larva from MN
Hello Daniel and Lisa.
Thanks to your site, which I visit almost daily now, I
was able to identify a carpet beetle larva when I first saw
it last year crawling up the wall in my room. Now I
found another one this year in the same place and time, and
now I have a better camera for getting a decent picture of
it. I noticed that you made it the Bug of the Month
for April, and the picture you have up there is a little blurry,
so I thought you might like some clearer images. I'm
still not sure of the species of this one though. I
live in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
Joel
Hi Joel,
Thanks for providing us with a sharper and more current image
of a Carpet Beetle Larva. We scoured the archives for the
one we originally posted in the Bug of the Month for April
2008 posting.
Update: (04/12/2008)Thank you thank you thank
you!!!
Thank you SO much for making the Carpet Beetle April's bug
of the month! We have been in this house for 3 springs now
and have wondered what on earth those little things are!
It's nearly impossible to find info online for one bug out
of millions! I have a question... I looked up info on what
they eat, the larvae that is. It said they like wool carpet.
Our carpeting is made from recycled milk cartons! We do have
a pet rabbit, but the bugs tend to stay in our daughter's
room, which the bunny is only allowed in on occasion. What
could they be eating that keeps them coming back each spring?
Again, thanks so VERY much! You have really satisfied a curiosity
of mine and my husband's (who, by the way, thought they were
some bizarre kind of tick or flea!) Sincerely,
Crystal
Southern California
Hi Crystal,
Your letter is the second thanks we have received since making
the Carpet Beetle the Bug of the Month. That is always a tough
decision, and we almost chose the Striped Morning Sphinx.
We have also gotten numerous requests for that identification.
Your letter did not indicate if you are finding the adult
Carpet Beetles or the larvae in your daughter's room. If the
adults, they could fly from the larval feeding source. If
you have rabbits, they will probably shed and the larval Carpet
Beetles will eat the shed fur. They will also feed on other
pet hair and human hair that gathers in corners and under
beds.
Bug
of the Month: March 2008
Giant
Crab Spider with Spiderlings
(02/27/2008) What Kind of Spider is This?
Hello,
I friend has this spider in his house in LA, California, see
attachment. What kind is this, it looks to be over 2" in
length.
Craig Baugher
(03/01/2008) i officially have the creeps
hi:
this photo has given me the willies, big-time: could it be
real? enhanced? photoshopped? just tell me it's nowhere in
north america.
cheers,
nick
Hi Craig and Nick,
Interestingly, you both sent us the same photo for identification.
This is a female Giant Crab Spider in the family Sparassidae,
probably the genus Olios.
Nice image of the maternal behavior. We have read that the
mother spider shares prey with her spiderlings. We are so
intrigued with this image, and also amused that two different
people requested the identification, so we decided to make
it our Bug of the Month for March. By the way Nick, Craig
says it was photographed in Los Angeles. Giant Crab Spiders
in the genus Olios are shy, nocturnal hunters and they are
harmless. They will actually help rid a home of cockroaches.
Bug
of the Month: February 2008
Longhorned Borer Beetle: Tragidion peninsularum
(01/31/2008) I have a strange bug
I found him in my backyard, in Murrieta California. Do
you know who he is?
Linda
Hi Linda,
My is this photo positively gorgeous, and the beetle itself
is equally stunning. We finally located a matching image on
BugGuide from Arizona, Tragidion
annulatum. Margarethe Brummermann posted the following
comment: "If I read the source correctly annulatum was the
original name and is still used for the Southwest population,
whereas peninsulare is a later split-off for the California
and Baja populations." We then followed a link to an image
of Tragidion
peninsularum. We are happy identifying your specimen as
Trigidion peninsularum unless we are proven wrong. It is also
the end of the month and time to select a Bug of the Month
for February. We like to post timely sightings for that honor
that will help readers with seasonal identifications. This
species is a first for our site, and perhaps there will be
additional sightings in California this year, so we are thrilled
to make your Tragidion peninsularum the Bug of the Month for
February 2008. We will write to Eric Eaton in the hopes that
he will confirm this identification, and perhaps add some
relevant information.
Hi, Daniel:
I can't make a call on the longhorned beetle, other than to
say the genus and gender are both correct....
Eric
Bug
of the Month: January 2008
Polka
Dot Wasp Moth and Oleander Caterpillar
Choosing the Bug of the Month each month is an enjoyable
ritual, and generally we select a recent letter for the honor.
Sadly, we have not received a recent letter that is appropriate
since we like to select a critter that our readership is likely
to encounter while the letter is posted. We have dug through
the archives for a nice image of the Polka Dot Wasp Moth,
Syntomeida epilais, a wasp mimic moth that readers from Florida
and other southern states often write to us about. The Polka
Dot Wasp Moth is not a seasonal sighting, and according to
BugGuide,
it can be found year round.
The Polka Dot Wasp Moth is also known as the Oleander Moth
because one of the favorite larval foods is the deadly oleander.
The caterpillars are known as Oleander Caterpillars and readers
frequently write about the large numbers of orange caterpillars
with black hairs that are defoliating their oleander plants.
Bug
of the Month: December 2007
Gulf
Fritillary Metamorphosis
(11/29/2007) thanx
You guys have been wonderful and I appreciate your getting
back to me with some answers. I am sending you all a couple
of shots of the changes in a gulf fritillary butterfly I happened
to catch all happening at the same time. I hope they are of
some use . Again, keep up the good work. This is a fantastic
site. I just wish you could input colors on the search area
because I don't know exactly where to look to find some of
these critters until I get an answer back. Thanx,
Scott Austin TX
 
Hi Scott,
It is time for us to choose the Bug of the Month for December,
and we will be using your wonderful documentation of the metamorphosis
of the Gulf Fritillary. This lovely orange butterfly has caterpillars
that feed on passionflower, and can be found in warmer climates
in the U.S. where that plant is cultivated, including California,
Arizona, Texas and Florida. We know that our website has numerous
problems, but at this point, it is such a behemoth, it probably
cannot ever be tamed.
Bug
of the Month: November 2007
Green Lynx Spider
(10/25/2007) just curious
Hi,
I live in central florida. ... As for the green spider, i
am terrified of them but i am also very curious as to what
type it is. i am assuming it is female since it seems to have
and egg sack. thanks for you help in advance,
devan s.
Hi Devan,
Your spider is a Green Lynx Spider, and the female has just
laid eggs. It is time for us to choose a Bug of the Month
for November, and we are going to post your Green Lynx Spider
image as the Bug of the Month. This fascinating spider is
found more commonly in warmer climates, and not that winter
is approaching, our northern readers will not be writing in
much. Readers from Florida, Texas, California and other warmer
climates will start to notice Green Lynx Spiders now that
they have matured and are larger. Green Lynx Spiders are harmless.
They are hunting spiders that do not build webs, with the
exception of building a sparse web at the time of laying eggs.
Your mother spider will defend her egg sack fearlessly, and
once they hatch, the orange spiderlings will begin to disperse.
Bug
of the Month: October 2007
Locust
Borer
(09/28/2007) Mystery Caterpillar and Bee-Like Insect
Hey Bugman,
I live in Rhode Island, and I've run across two odd insects
recently. I was wondering if you could help me identify them.
The first was a bright-green and brownish-purple caterpillar
with four little spikes on it. It was about an inch
long. The second is a vaguely wasp-like insect (I'm not sure
if this is Batesian or Mullerian mimicry, and I didn't stick
around to find out), and it was about an inch long as well.
Thanks for your help,
Guillaume Riesen
Hi Guillaume,
Your caterpillar is a Saddleback Caterpillar and we have posted
numerous images of this species. Your vaguely beelike insect
is a Locust Borer, a Cerambycid Borer Beetle that is very
common in the autumn and is often associated with goldenrod.
Many beetles in this family are considered wasp mimics. We
believe we are going to make it the Bug of the Month for October
and will probably be using your photo on our homepage the
entire month.
Bug
of the Month: September 2007
Bagworm
(08/28/2007) a little caterpillar with a traveling cocoon
Hi,
I'm hoping you can identify this little fellow.
He's been hanging around (literally) ,and under my blue
ceramic bird bath. At first I thought he was building
a cocoon, but he keeps crawling all over the place with
it . Let me know, please, if you can identify him.
His cocoon seems to be about 3" long. I live
in Parma, Ohio (a suburb of Cleveland). Thank you.
Mary Griffin
Hi Mary,
This caterpillar is a Bagworm. Bagworms are Moths in the
family Psychidae. According to BugGuide:
"Larvae (bagworms) construct spindle-shaped bags covered
with pieces of twigs, leaves, etc., and remain in them,
enlarging them as they grow, till they pupate (also in
the bag). Adult females remain in the bag, emitting pheromones
which attract adult males to mate with them."
Bug
of the Month: August 2007
Giant
Ichneumons
(07/28/2007) bug??? Hi,
I was wondering what kind of bug this is. There were at
least 30 of them on the tree at once. I am located in
Grand Rapids MI. Thank you soooo much for your time!
Melissa
 |
 |
| Megarhyssa
atrata |
Megarhyssa
macrurus |
Hi Melissa,
You have submitted photos of two different species of
Giant Ichneumons. The black specimen with the yellow head
is Megarhyssa atrata and the brown and yellow individual
is Megarhyssa macrurus. Giant Ichneumons are beneficial
insects, though they are often mistaken for wood wasps
upon which they feed. The adult female Giant Ichneumon
uses her formidable ovipositor to deposit eggs in wood
infested with wood boring larvae of the Pigeon Horntail
and other Wood Wasps. The young Ichneumon parasites the
wood boring larva. We have gotten so many images of Giant
Ichneumons this summer we have decided to make it the
Bug of the Month for August.
Bug
of the Month: July 2007
Cicada
Killer
(06/30/2007) Our 1st CK
Dear Bug Man,
The Cicada Killer in the attached photo, thanks to your
site, will continue to "guard" our back step this summer
(in the MD suburbs of DC). It's a relief to know the family
& especially our dog, will be able to frequently pass by
him w/o being harmed. We used to have an underground yellow
jacket nest in this same area. Do CKs ever move into abanadoned
nests? I believe this particular CK is a male b/c he frequently
rubs/bounces his tail on the step & door mat. Is this behavior
to mark his turf, attract a mate or both? Even if you're
unable to responsd, THANK YOU! Your site provides a wonderful
& very interesting service. Jean
Hi Jean,
According to Eric Eaton, the behavior you describe is of
a male Cicada Killer marking his territory and trying to
attract a mate. Cicada Killers dig tunnels with cells for
individual paralyzed Cicadas and a single young Cicada Killer.
Yellow Jackets are social wasps and their abandoned nests
will not suit a Cicada Killer. We have decided to make the
Cicada Killer the Bug of the Month for July 2007, so your
photo will remain at the top of our homepage until August.
Killers in Washington DC terrorize government workers!!!!
(07/13/2007) Bug of The Month NEWS
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/US_Presidential_Cabinet/ODD_US_Diplomacy_Wasps.html
Cicada Killers invade the government! LOL Keep up the
good work!!
Steve Smith
Bug
of the Month: June 2007
Emerald
Ash Borer
(05/26/2007) Please post...
Good Evening,
Could you possibly post some information on the Emerald Ash
Borer as a feature? Their spread and destruction of trees
has been all over the news and many people that I know are
now killing every green bug they see. The insect population
of Wisconsin thanks you!
Sincerely,
Teresa
Hi Teresa,
What a wonderful suggestion. We just returned from a week
in Ohio and the Emerald Ash Borer was quite the topic of discussion.
We received the following letter earlier in the year and are
thrilled to repost it to our homepage.
Emerald Ash Borer
(03/29/2007) Emerald Ash Borer
Dear bugman,
This is in response to the folks from Ohio that sent in a
photo of the 6 Spotted Tiger Beetle. I'm glad Bruce does recognize
its not EAB but I have attached photos I took in the past
that might help people ID Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)
if they think they have found it. Note the D shaped exit hole.They
will be emerging in early June and ending about mid July.
Your readers may find the attached website of use and report
these pests if found in new areas.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/hot_issues/emerald_ash_borer/emerald_ash_borer.shtml
Keep up the good work
Brian
 
Hi Brian,
Thank you ever so much for providing us with a photo and information.
We will try to remember to repost your letter on our homepage
in June.
Another Link
(05/31/2007) link to Emerald Ash Borer doesn't work, but here's
another one
Daniel and Lisa, Try this link (not sure it has exactly the
same info, but...): http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/plant_health/content/printable_version/pub_pheab.pdf
More bugs! Less email! regards,
Dave Fallow
Hi Dave,
Thanks. We corrected the original link issue as well.
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.
Bug
of the Month: May 2007
Valley Carpenter Bees
From the Archives: a pair of Carpenter Bees from Texas
(03/13/2006) Carpenter Bees
I bet you guys have fun on your sight. I thought you might
like the attached photo of a male and female carpenter bee
from El Paso, TX. The differing colors are great. I believe
them to be a Xylocopa species. According to John L. Neff of
the Central Texas Melittological Institute in Austin, it is
either X. varipuncta (your Valley Carpenter Bee) or more likely,
X. mexicanorum, given distribution records. The picture was
taken on Feb 19, 2005, which is a bit early for them to be
out and about (they usually show up, based on my recollection,
about April and May). They were rather lethargic for quite
some time despite that it was not cold (upper 70s that day).
The tree is a "Mexican Elder", my wife tells me
a Sambucus mexicana, though she is not sure. The site is:
El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, 2 miles n. of downtown.
Glenn Davis
Hi Glenn,
Thank you so much for sending in the gorgeous photo.
Ed. Note: When this image arrived last spring,
we fell in love with it. We are always cheered by the presence
of these large lumbering black female Valley Carpenter Bees
in our garden each spring. They frequent the sweet peas and
the honeysuckle. The female bees remain in the garden most
of the summer. One year a bee nested in our carob tree and
another year we found a nest in a sumac. The female bee labors
many hours creating a tunnel. she fills the end of the tunnel
with pollen and nectar and lays an egg, sealing the chamber
with wood pulp. She will create about five or six chambers,
each housing a single egg, within the tunnel. The adults emerge
in about 45 days. Adult female bees will overwinter and create
a new nest in the spring. The golden male bees are very short
lived and have a very different, more nervous flight pattern.
We are eagerly awaiting the appearance of the first male bees
in our garden this spring. Male bees are attracted to our
lantana and digitalis.
Bug
of the Month: April 2007
Luna Moth in Texas
(02/27/2007) Luna Moth
Took a pic of this Luna Moth on February 27, 2007, just north
of Houston, Tx
Lynne
Hi Lynne,
This is the first official Luna Moth photo we have received
this year, and it is a gorgeous photo.
Ed. Note: (04/01/2007)
We have been receiving countless letters and images of Luna
Moths from the Southern part of their range beginning in February
and increasing in March. We suspect it is not too late to
make the Luna Moth the Bug of the Month for April since the
northern specimens will begin to emerge as springtime weather
hits the north. These emergences should continue through May
and June for the most northern specimens in Maine and Canada.
Luna Moths overwinter in cocoons formed around leaves from
the deciduous trees that they feed upon. These cocoons usually
drop to the ground where they remain among the leaf litter.
The warm spring sun stimulates the metamorphosis of the adult.
Adults live only a few days and do not feed. They mate, lay
eggs and die if they do not become a food source for birds
and other predators first. The caterpillars spend the summer
fattening up on leaves before pupating. There are two generations
in the southern portion of the range..
Bug
of the Month: March 2007
Silverfish
(03/02/2007) What is this?
Hi, there,
Recently I can see this kind of bug everyday in my house.
First I thought it is a House Centipede. But I found there
are not enough legs. Please tell me what it is and how to
control them (I killed 2-3 everyday). Thanks and regards
James
Hi James,
This is a Silverfish, a primitive insect. They are considered
household pests. They are found in dark, damp areas, often
the bathroom and basement. They will eat many things, but
are fond of glue that adheres wallpaper to the wall and the
glue in book bindings. Your timing was perfect and your photo
quite gorgeous, so we are making the Silverfish the featured
Bug of the Month for March 2007.
Bug
of the Month: February 2007
Third Fiddler Beetle from Australia in a week
(02/01/2007) What is it??
Hello there
Found this in Sydney Australia. Any idea of what it is? Thanks
Stuart
fOUND IT!!!!!! thanks!
Fiddler Beetles
Eupoecila australasiae
These beetles emerged from cocoons found in a pot of daffodils
in Randwick. Other locations around Sydney where Fiddler Beetles
have been recently found include Ingleburn, St Mary's, Kellyville
and Faulconbridge. They are common in heath and woodlands
in south-eastern Australia. Adult beetles emerge from soil
in early summer and feed on the nectar of flowers. The beetles
lay eggs in rotting logs or in the damp soil under logs. The
grubs feed on rotting timber and build cocoons of soil and
debris in which they pupate. These attractive beetles are
harmless to humans.
Hi Stuart,
We are thrilled that you identified your Fiddler Beetle. This
is the third specimen we have posted this week and your letter
is the first to arrive in February. It is time to post a Bug
of the Month for February 2007, and since we have so many
fans in Australia, we have decided to that this month we will
feature the Fiddler Beetle. This will be the first Bug of
the Month not found in the U.S.
Bug
of the Month: January 2007
Potato
Bug
(12/29/2006) Please tell me what It is.
Hi Bugman,
I hope you could tell me what this is too. I found this in
Los Angeles, California near DownTown Los Angeles on December
14, 2006. It didn't move even if I threw a quarter or a penny.
It's more than 2"x1"x1". I believe it doesn't
have any wings and the shape might look like a bee w/o wings,
or a giant ant. Hope to hear from you soon. Best Regards,
Tak S.
Hi Tak,
This is probably our most common insect query subject from
southern California. This is a Potato Bug or Jerusalem Cricket.
They are subterranean dwellers that are often discovered in
gardens, especially in the winter and spring during rainy
season. Potato Bugs are in the family Stenopelmatidae, and
in the genus Stenopelmatus. They eat roots and tubers. Because
of their unusual appearance, there are many myths and superstitions
about these fascinating creatures.
Bug
of the Month: December 2006
Western
Conifer Seed Bug
(12/02/2006) Winter migration of these into my house
What is this? It seems they come into my house located in
Cumberland, Maine every winter. We also have them in Dover,
NH but fewer. They seem to be some sort of harmless bug, maybe
a form of grasshopper? Picture attached. Thanks
Russell
Hi Russell,
This is a Western Conifer Seed Bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis.
It is native to the Pacific Northwest, but has migrated east
over the last century. They often enter homes in the fall.
We have decided to make this our featured Bug of the Month
for December.
Bug
of the Month: November 2006
Boxelder
Bug
(10/30/2006) Bug on House -- Please Help Identify
Bugs like the attached are all over my house. They can fly.
Please help me identify them.
Thank you!
This is an Eastern Boxelder Bug, Boisea trivittata. We
get so many identification requests in the fall that we have
decided to make it the bug of the month for November. Boxelder
Bugs are True Bugs with incomplete metamorphosis. The immature
nymphs are wingless replicas of the adults, but appear more
red as the wings are not covering the coloration on the abdomen.
Boxelder Bugs are noteworthy in that they form large aggregations
of nymphs and adults, and they seek shelter indoors as the
weather cools. Turn to BugGuide
for additional information. We have numerous advertisers who
guarantee to exterminate them, but there are also several
home remedies that have reported success rates.
Soap
against Boxelder Bugs
(02/03/2005) A WAY TO ELIMINATE BOX ELDER
HELLO, I AM FROM NEW YORK STATE AND WE HAVE A VERY SERIOUS
PROBLEM WITH THE BOX ELDER BEETLES. THEY ARE ALL
OVER OUR TREES, OUR POOL DECK AND OUR HOME. OUR
NEIGHBOR ONE DAY WAS DOING HER LAUNDRY AND SAW ONE IN THE
BASEMENT SO SHE SPRAYED IT WITH A DETERGENT SOLUTION SHE HAD
IN A BOTTLE. THE BEETLE DIED IN NO TIME. AFTER
THAT WE WOULD FILL UP OUR 2 GALLON SPRAYERS AND PUT A CAP
OR TWO OF LAUNDRY SOAP IN IT AND SPRAY THESE BEETLES. THEY
DO DIE FROM THIS SOLUTION. THIS IS A CHEAP SOLUTION
AND A NON TOXIC SOLUTION.
DEBBIE FENCLAU
Bug
of the Month: October 2006
Black Witch Moth
Ed. Note: (09/30/2006) Though this letter
came to us last year, the abundance of identification requests
in late September and October influenced our decision to make
the Black Witch Moth the Bug of the Month. It also has a great
common name for the Halloween season.
(10/06/2005) What kind of moth is this?
Joe Greco
Hi there Joe,
The Black Witch Moth is very common in the tropical regions
of Central and South America, and can also be found occasionally
in Florida and the Gulf states. Occasionally specimens, usually
females, are found in the North. In the Fall, they are even
reported from as far north as Canada. When they fly around
lights at night, they look like enormous bats. When we stayed
in a country home in Puebla Mexico, they commonly flew into
the house and rested on the walls near the ceiling until nightfall,
when they would fly away. Thank you for a great photo.
Update:
(10/15/2005) Black Witch
Hola Bugman,
You seem to be relying on some outdated sources of information
about the black witch moth, namely: Covell, C.V. 1984. Field
Guide to Moths of Eastern North America. Houghton Mifflin
Co., Boston. Powell, J.A. & C.L. Hogue. 1979. California Insects.
University of California Press, Berkeley. 388 pp. Current
taxonomy is: Ascalapha odorata. Both males and females (in
equal proportions) migrate north starting at the end of May,
not late summer. They regularly (probably annually) reach
Canada, as I know of some 30 Canadian records. They are actually
most common across the Southwest, not in the Gulf coast states
of LA, MISS, Alabama... They do breed in the US as larvae
have been found in Southmost Texas and due to their abundance
in Florida, they much breed there as well. More BWM info here:
North American Black Witch Records http://www.texasento.net/witchna.htm
Natural History of the Black Witch http://www.texasento.net/witch.htm
Black Witch - Storm Information www.texasento.net/witch_storm.htm
Early Northern 2005 BWM Records www.TexasEnto.net/witch_north.htm
Hope this helps...
Mike
Texas Entomology
www.TexasEnto.net
Bug
of the Month: September 2006
Hickory Horned Devil
(08/24/2006) hickory horned devils
Hi, Daniel and Lisa Anne,
I have three awesome, fearsome-looking hickory horned devils
devouring a small sumac tree on my property. My best friend
in town is actually an honest-to-goodness entomologist, and
he showed me what the adult royal walnut moth looks like too.
It would be a privilege to see the lovely adult morph next
spring. The caterpillars are probably 5 inches long now-I've
been watching them for a week or so now. My kids, and especially
my two girls, think they are the coolest bugs what ever were.
Today at ~ 6:30 PM I took some pictures of the hickory horned
devils (HHDs), three days after the last ones. I acquired
a number of images, and am sending ten of them**. In a few
of these pictures, a katydid (or so it appears) decided to
have a chat with the hickory horned devils, but who knows
what they said to each other. In one picture, I framed all
three at once. They are still 4.5 " long, and it surprises
me that none of the three have been eaten by anything. Here
they are: ... Is it usual to see this many survive to adulthood
from one batch of eggs? All I can say in defense of me sending
y'all this many pictures is that you challenged me to do better!
It would be interesting to me to see which ones you like,
and don't like. I enjoy nature photography and want to do
it better. Best Regards,
Glenn
Hi Again Glenn,
We went for a classic pose that is, in our minds, a definitive
Hickory Horned Devil, Citheronia regalis, image. We are pleased
to use your excellent photograph as the Bug of the Month for
September, the month we get the most letters requesting the
identification of this impressive caterpillar.
Bug of the Month: August 2006
Golden Orb Weaver
(07/25/2006) Argiope aurantia
what a great site you have, though it's late here, and I think
I may have dreams of creepy crawlies all night long. I found
this pider which I believe is an Argiope aurantia in my front
garden this evening while weeding. I was digging into the
middle of the Daylilies when a movement caught my eye....very
close movement. This beauty was hanging about 2" from
my nose as I turned toward the movement. Just reminds us that
no matter how much we think we control our flower patches,
nature is just waiting to jump out and give us the heebie
jeebies.... thanks
Mike Kunnick
Minneapolis. Minnesotbra
Hi Mike,
With August rapidly approaching, it is time to choose a new
Bug of the Month. We have been considering the Golden Orb
Weaver, Argiope aurantia as a perfect candidate, and your
photo arrived just in time to be prominently featured at the
top of our homepage throughout the month of August. This gorgeous
female is a textbook example of the species, and your photo
also shows the stabilimentum, the zigzag pattern she weaves
into her web to help camoflauge her.
Bug
of the Month: July 2006
Polyphemus Moth
(06/30/2006) What kind of moth is this?
This moth is clinging to my front screendoor. Can you tell
me what it is? Thank you,
Elaine K. Goldsberry
Hi Elaine,
This is a female Polyphemus Moth, Antheraea polyphemus. The
Audubon Guide lists it as east of the Rocky Mountains, but
according to Hogue, it is sometimes found in the Los Angeles
Basin. The Polyphemus Moth is one of our Giant Silk Moths
or Saturnid Moths. Adults do not eat and live just to mate.
Since the Audubon Guide lists the flight of the adult moth
in July, and since we get many questions regarding this moth
in the summer, we have chosen it as our Bug of the Month for
July 2006. We are currently experiencing and internet dilema,
and are being forced back to dial-up. We will post and answer
very very few letters in the next week, but we felt we needed
a new Bug of the Month. Thanks for your worthy submission.
Bug
of the Month: June 2006
Male Dobsonfly
(06/14/2006) Dobson fly
Based on other photos on you site I believe this is a photo
of a Dobson fly. Am I correct? This Insect was photographed
near the Hiawasse river in Murphy NC.
Thanks.
Richard
Hi Richard,
Yes, this is a male Dobsonfly. Despite those formidible looking
jaws, he is harmless. Now that summer is arriving, we expect
to get many queries targeting the Dobsonfly. Fishermen use
the equally fearsome appearing larvae, known as Hellgrammites,
as bait. Your photo is marvelous, and we have decided to feature
it near the top of our webpage for the entire month.
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