Prominent Moth
September 2, 2009
Hi bugman–
Since you recently posted a prominent moth caterpillar, I thought you might like this image of an adult (albeit a different species). Using Bugguide, I believe I have identified it as a Sigmoid Prominent Moth, Clostera albosigma.
I found this moth on the wall of an outhouse at Huntington Lake, in the Sierras east of Fresno, CA. The date was mid or early July. Unfortunately, the lighting in the outhouse was not designed for great photography.
This moth was holding very still, and was in the same position two days in a row. I actually thought it was a cocoon. Then on the third day it moved to different wall in the same restroom, and I caught a glimpse of its legs. When I poked it to see if it would move, I found that the knob on the back end of its body is soft, like a brush. I’m wondering if this protrusion acts as a false head to deceive predators.
JJR
Huntington Lake, CA
Prominent Moth
Dear JJR,
Thanks for identifying your Prominent Moth for us. We are also creating a Prominent Moth page to accommodate your submission. We are also posting your blurry image that has good color, and your sharp image that is polluted by the light source.
Prominent Moth
Unknown caterpillar
September 3, 2009
Hi, I found this really weird looking caterpillar in my birch tree. I have never seen anything like it in my life. It is green with 2 sets of horns toward the front of its head and has 1 horn at the end of its body. It blends in with the leaves and has what appears to be a leafs vein running up it’s back. I searched for something like this online and the closest thing I found was the lime hawk moth caterpillar. Is that what this is?
Denise-MA
Massachusetts
Four Horned Sphinx Caterpillar
Dear Denise-MA,
According to Bill Oehlke’s wonderful website, the Four Horned Sphinx, Ceratomia amyntor, is also called the Elm Sphinx, and its food plants include: “Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and cherry (Prunus). There are chocolate-brown to orangey-brown, sometimes with a pinkish tint, and green forms of the larvae. The common names are derived from foodplants (Elm Sphinx) and the structure (Four-horned Sphinx) of the larva.“ We are impressed that you were able to locate this well camouflaged Four Horned Sphinx Caterpillar that matches the leaves of the birch tree so well. We are copying Bill Oehlke on this response so he can add your sighting to the comprehensive data he is compiling on species distribution.
Well Camouflaged Four Horned Sphinx Caterpillar
orange beetle with triangle on thorax in an argiope’s web
September 3, 2009
Around noon today, I saw this small beetle get caught in the web of the largest Argiope aurantia spider I’ve ever seen. I live in Fort Pierce, Florida. The beetle has an orange abdomen and legs, but a yellow and black thorax and head. There is a yellow triangle pointing towards the abdomen on its thorax. What could this beetle be? I don’t think I’ve seen one before.
I’ve also included a picture of the spider, in case you want to use it on your site.
Thanks!
Gary
Fort Pierce, FL
Delta Flower Scarab in Orbweaver's web
Hi Gary,
This lovely beetle is a Delta Flower Scarab, Trigonopeltastes delta. The beetle gets its common and scientific name from the shape of the marking on the thorax that resembles the Greek letter delta. According to BugGuide: “Adults take pollen and/or nectar. (Possibly eat vegetative parts as well?) Food plants include Goldenrod (Solidago), Feverfew (Parthenium), Coneflower (Echinacea), and Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccafolium).“ Golden Orbweavers are also called Writing Spiders because of the pattern of the stabilimentum in the web that is believed to help camouflage the spider. We are quite happy to add your images and letter to our Food Chain pages.
Golden Orbweaver eats Delta Flower Scarab
three-pronged tail antennae
August 31, 2009A few of these little guys were crawling around in and on the mailboxes for my apartment complex. I saw one when I opened the mailbox around noon, at which point that one and a couple others scurried away out of the mailboxes through some cracks, onto a wall. At first I thought it was a roach nymph because of the way it moved, but it looks too skinny and has these 3 tail antennae. Thanks!
Nick
Austin, TX
Silverfish
Hi Nick,
You have done an amazingly accurate drawing of a Silverfish considered it scurried away.
moth w/blue spots, brown white
September 4, 2009
Hello,
My friend travels all over colorado and he put this photo up on Facebook of this moth… I haven’t been able to id it… do you know what kind it is?
kellie karley
Colorado
Great Tiger Moth
Dear Kellie,
This is a Great Tiger Moth, Arctia caja. Just a few days ago we posted another individual and since BugGuide indicates it is: “uncommon to rare in North America; European numbers have been declining in recent years” it is hopeful that we are receiving images of this lovely moth that is found in both Europe and the New World.
Moth like insect
September 2, 2009
I found this insect sitting on my wall. It is about 2-3 mm in length. I took my camera and clicked this snap. I am not able to identify this one. Appreciate if you can help me to find this out.
Sanjay
Sunnyvale, California, USA
Bathroom Fly
Dear Sanjay,
This could well be the most detailed image of a Bathroom Fly, Clogmia albipunctata, we have ever received. According to Charles Hogue in Insects of the Los Angeles Basin: “The Bathroom Fly is often noticed indoors in damp areas – on the walls of bathrooms, showers, lavatories, and washrooms. The brown wor-like larva develops in the sludgy organic muck that accumulates outdoors in shallow pools and tree holes and, under artificial conditions, in sink traps, drains, and dead-flow areas in the household plumbing.” Your observation that this is a Moth like insect is right on since the family Psychodidae, is know as the Moth Flies.
Thanks so much Daniel. The information was helpful. I do photography as my hobby and just love macro photography. Will definitely use your website for any bug identification. Your site is of great help.
-Sanjay
Bug on Trail in Jackson Hole
September 3, 2009
Hi! I saw this bug sitting on the trail in Jackson Hole, WY on the Cascade Canyon Trail. Bug was not alarmed at my approach. It did not fly away, but crawled (I wanted to be sure it did not get stepped on!)
Doug
Jackson Hole, WY
Mormon Cricket
Hi Doug,
This is a Shield Backed Katydid, most likely a Mormon Cricket, Anabrus simplex, which can be compared to individuals on BugGuide. Your specimen is a female as evidenced by the swordlike ovipositor.
Update from Eric Eaton
September 6, 2009
Daniel:
The mormon cricket is pretty easy, plus this was “their year” apparently with lots of posts popping up in Bugguide from the Rocky Mountain states and Pacific Northwest.
Eric
¶
Posted 04 September 2009
§
Katydids
‡
°
can you help me identiffy this insect?
September 3, 2009
I found tis insect in front of my door and at first I thought that was a plastic toy but when I touched it it moved. It looks like butterfly but I’m not sure if it is one.
karolina85
new jersey, united states
Pandora Sphinx
Hi karolina85,
Your moth is a Pandora Sphinx, Eumorpha pandorus. It ranges through much of North America from Texas to the east.
Mosaic or hero darner?
September 3, 2009
At first I thought it was a low plane, but it was just this injured dragonfly. I’m guessing it’s a mosaic darner; it didn’t last long after it landed on the garden hose. The wingspan was a bit over 5 1/4 inches-pretty huge.
dexter
southeastern LI, NY, USA
Darner
Dear Dexter,
There are people out there far more qualified than we are to correctly identify your Darner. Hopefully, someone will write in with an identification.
Darner
Update from Eric Eaton
September 6, 2009
Daniel:
I believe the “unknown darner” is a “swamp darner,” Epiaeschna heros, one of the largest dragonflies in North America and a great find. Nice images of it, too!
Eric
Mettalic Green Beetle
September 3, 2009
I haven’t seen one of these in the Bay Area in 3 years. I’m wondering if it is local to California, it measured about 1in long. I was able to easily catch it by hand (very clumsy bug).
Michael Blair
San Jose, CA
Green Fruit Beetle
Dear Michael,
The Green Fruit Beetle or Figeater, Cotinus mutabilis, according to Charles Hogue in his book Insects of the Los Angeles Basin, was: “Originally native to Arizona and New Mexico, it gradually spread westward and became noticeable in the Los Angeles area after the 1960s.” Perhaps its range is spreading northward as well, possibly due to global warming, or perhaps by accidental introduction. Adults generally fly in Los Angeles during the hot final days of summer in August and September.
Fly-Moth-Butterfly from Sunol
September 3, 2009
I photographed this insect in April of 2009 in the Maguire Peaks area of Sunol Regional Wilderness, near Sunol, California.
The wings make me think moth, but the antennae, butterfly, and the head, fly.
Sengkelat
Sunol, California
Fairy Moth
Dear Sengkelat,
This is a Fairy Moth in the genus Adela. It bears a strong resemblance to Adela trigrapha as pictured on BugGuide. The species is reported from California and Oregon and the flight time is April.
Large redand yellow bee/wasp?
September 2, 2009
Would like to know the name of this bee-like bug that I found eating a dragonfly
Wondering999
Odenton, Maryland
European Hornet eats Dragonfly
Dear Wondering999,
The predator in your photo is a European Hornet, Vespa crabo, an introduced species, so we are tagging it as an Invasive Exotic. You can read about the species on BugGuide. The prey seems to resemble one of the Pilot Darners in the genus Coryphaeschna, but we are uncertain if the range is a far north as Maryland. We would love assistance with the Dragonfly ID. We didn’t have much luck on this Dragonfly of Maryland page.
