Mystery Sphinx Moth?
Location: Eatonton GA (Middle GA)
November 10, 2011 10:42 am
Good morning!
I found this moth in my freshly picked beans. It flutters its wings much like a hummingbird type moth – the wings never stopped all the time I had him. He was found 11/10/11 in Middle GA in the vegetable garden and fortunately announced his presence and didn’t inadvertently become a photo in the Carnage section of the site…
Signature: Dixie Gardener
Mournful Sphinx
Hi Dixie Gardener,
This little Sphinx is a Mournful Sphinx, Enyo lugubris, and you may read more about it on the Sphingidae of the Americas website.
Thank you so much Daniel! What a cool moth – we have such a variety here. But I wish they ate cucumber beetles…
1
Found in Pomona, CA
Location: Pomona, CA
November 10, 2011 2:21 pm
IDK if its a Bee or Beetle? or anything else
Signature: Southern CA Resident
Valley Carpenter Bee
Dear Southern CA Resident,
This is a male Valley Carpenter Bee. Females of the species are black and larger.
1
Ant queen?
Location: Michigan
November 10, 2011 11:00 pm
I found this in the woods and I thought it might be an ant queen. It’s a little over an inch long so I was able to spot it from a distance. Any ideas?
Signature: Weezie G.
Oil Beetle
Dear Weezie,
At this time of year, we typically get numerous requests like your request to identify Oil Beetles in the genus Meloe. You are not the first person who has mistaken an Oil Beetle for a queen ant.
4 legged white booted dragonfly?
Location: northern minnesota usa
November 11, 2011 3:31 am
I seen this in my house in late summer in northern minnesota. This bug flew with all legs spred out gliding like it was flying squirrel. I am very curious as to what kind of bug it is. thank you
Signature: josh
Phantom Crane Fly
Hi Josh,
Though it somewhat resembles a Dragonfly, this Phantom Crane Fly is a true fly that is characterized by having two wings rather than the four wings that most insects possess. Your individual is missing two legs as a result of some trauma. Phantom Crane Flies, like other insects, have six legs.
1
Pinacate Beetle Secretions
November 10, 2011 11:14 pm
Do you know of anyone who has had the secretions from this beetle on their skin? What does it look like? I suspect my daughter has been repeatedly sprayed by this beetle that was in her shoe, and she has a dark black area on 2 toes that will not wash off.
Signature: Lori Lindley
Acrobat Beetle
Dear Lori,
Since you did not attach a photo, we located a recent image from our archives of a Pinacate Beetle in the genus Eleodes, also called an Acrobat Beetle or Desert Stink Beetle. We have no knowledge that the malodorous secretion produced a chemical stain on skin, so we did some research. According to the Exploring the Southwest Desert USA website: “They are well known for their comical, yet effective, defense tactics. When alarmed they stand on their heads by bending their front legs down and extending their rear legs. Depending upon the species, they exude an oily, musty secretion, which collects at the tip of the abdomen or spreads over posterior parts of the body, or they eject the reddish brown to brown secretion as a spray. Larger desert species, like E. armata and E. longicollis, can spray 10 to 20 inches. Most species can spray multiple times, if necessary. The spray is not painful unless you get it in your eyes or mouth, where it is painful, burning and temporarily blinding. It does not wash off.”
1
Bright Orange spider
Location: Pandora, OH – Putnam County – NW Ohio
November 9, 2011 9:08 pm
I found this spider outside today – it is fluorescent orange! Very weird. The temp was low 60’s and falling. It appeared to be dying… moving very slow, and sometimes would just curl up. I have NEVER seen any spider this color.. any idea what it is ?? And why does it have an extra set of ”small legs” in front?
Signature: Found Freaky Spider
Pumpkin Spider
Dear FFS,
This gorgeous individual is a Marbled Orbweaver, Araneus marmoreus, a highly variable species. Not every individual is orange, but the bright orange color variation is quite distinctive. According to BugGuide, an alternative name is Pumpkin Spider, a common name that no doubt refers to both the color and the time of year large individuals are noticed corresponding to Halloween. The underside of your individual has markings similar to this photo from BugGuide.
Marbled Orbweaver
Thanks so much for sending three distinctly different camera angles of this beautiful Pumpkin Spider.
Pumpkin Spider
1
Daniel,
I just wanted to let you know about my Museum Blog http://northcampusnhm.blogspot.com/! The most recent post includes a picture from What’s That Bug.
Check it out.
Lila
Mediterranean Mantis in Threat Posture
Hi Lila,
When will the North Campus be open to the public?
Daniel
Daniel,
The North Campus will have a grand opening in late spring 2013, after our new grand entrance, the Otis Booth Pavilion is finished. However, parts of the gardens will be open for Museum programming and special tours starting next March.
We’re already finding a lot of cool insects, can’t wait to see what else turns up.
Lila
1
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