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Mating Dogbane Beetles

Dogbane Beetle Lovin’.
Location: Toledo, OH
August 6, 2011 9:48 am
Found these guys while I was out looking for some milkweed to abduct for my monarch caterpillar I am raising at home. Beautiful little guys, and definitely not shy! I am about 85% sure of my identification, but please correct me if I am wrong! I love you guys.
Signature: Katy

dogbane beetles mating katy 300x208 Mating Dogbane Beetles

Mating Dogbane Beetles

Hi Katy,
Your identification of mating Dogbane Beetles is absolutely correct.  They truly are a pretty little species.

dogbane beetles mating katy 2 300x220 Mating Dogbane Beetles

Mating Dogbane Beetles

 

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Posted 06 August 2011 § Leaf Beetles ‡ Comments (0) ° Also tagged:
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Mating Elm Sawflies

I’ve never seen these before or since
Location: South Coast Mountains near Lions Bay
August 2, 2011 2:07 pm
I saw these two a few years back but I’ve always been curious about what they are. They attracted my attention when I heard their wings buzzing. I was on a hike in the Coast Mountains at the time in late spring or early summer I think. Any ideas?
Signature: Thanks, Shaun

mating elm sawflies canada shawn 300x207 Mating Elm Sawflies

Mating Elm Sawflies

Hi Shaun,
We are very excited to post your photos.  In the past week or so, we have posted two images of Elm Sawflies, including one from Alaska, but this is the first time we have received a photo of a mating pair of Elm Sawflies.  Sawflies are related to wasps and bees, but they do not sting.

mating elm sawflies canada shawn 2 300x238 Mating Elm Sawflies

Mating Elm Sawflies

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Posted 02 August 2011 § Horntails, Wood Wasps and Sawflies ‡ Comments (0) ° Also tagged:

Elyria Canyon Work Party: Weeding in the Milkweed Meadow

July 31, 2011
Each month, on the fourth Sunday of the month, the Mt Washington Beautification Committee, co-hosted by Clare Marter Kenyon and Daniel Marlos, meets at 9:30 AM near the Red Barn in Elyria Canyon State Park.  Clare takes the lead with native plant germination in the nursery and Daniel goes out weeding in areas that need special attention.  This month the weeds that were targeted were invasive Conyza and an unidentified yellow thistle type plant.  Daniel is especially concerned about invasive weeds crowding out the native milkweed.  Elizabeth is seen pulling weeds from around the milkweed. 

Elizabeth Weeds 20110731 web1 242x300 Elyria Canyon Work Party: Weeding in the Milkweed Meadow

CLICK TO ENLARGE Elyria Canyon Work Party August 28, 2011

There is a wealth of insect life on the milkweed.  Daniel saw two Monarch caterpillars of approximately the same age.  They were on two different plants about ten feet apart.

monarch cat elyria 20110731 web 300x206 Elyria Canyon Work Party: Weeding in the Milkweed Meadow

Monarch Caterpillar 20110731 AM

Two different caterpillars were photographed in the morning, but in the afternoon, only the one feeding on the leaves was photographed.  The other Monarch Caterpillar was feeding on blossoms.  The detail that is missing from the live experience in the static photo is the twitching of the front fleshy pseudo-antennae.

monarch cat 20110731 pm 300x206 Elyria Canyon Work Party: Weeding in the Milkweed Meadow

Monarch Caterpillar 20110731 PM

While they were not plentiful, adult Large Milkweed Bugs, Oncopeltus fasciatus, were found singly or in pairs on the blossoms. 

milkweed bugs elyria 20110731 web 300x206 Elyria Canyon Work Party: Weeding in the Milkweed Meadow

Large Milkweed Bugs

One pair was caught In Flagrante Delicto.

milkweed bugs mating elyria 20110731 web 300x206 Elyria Canyon Work Party: Weeding in the Milkweed Meadow

Large Milkweed Bugs Mating

TO BE CONTINUED …

…  And the last of the insects found on the Indian Milkweed, Asclapias eriocarpa, were the yellow Milkweed Aphids.

milkweed aphids elyria 20110731 web 300x206 Elyria Canyon Work Party: Weeding in the Milkweed Meadow

Milkweed Aphids are tended by Argentine Sugar Ants

If you live in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Mt Washington, or nearby Highland Park, Glassell Park, Eagle Rock, South Pasadena, Atwater Villiage or Silverlake, and you want to volunteer some time on the fourth Sunday of August, come join us.  Most of our volunteers walk in from various entry points to Elyria Canyon Park, but there is one small parking lot at the end of Wollum Street near the intersection of Division Street.  Park in the lot and walk up the path.  When the path divides, take the right path and wind uphill through the trees.  When you get to the crest, you should be able to see the Red Barn down below.  Stay on the paths to avoid poison oak.  Take note that there is a gate on Bridgeport Drive, and we do not recommend parking there to drive to Elyria Canyon Park.  If you would like additional information, please leave a comment.

 

 

 

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Posted 31 July 2011 § Aphids, Scale Insects, Leafhoppers, and Tree Hoppers § brush footed butterfly caterpillars § Mt Washington Blog § Seed Bugs ‡ Comments (1) ° Also tagged:
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Mating Mydas Flies

Mating Wasps
Location: Royal Oak, Michigan
July 25, 2011 6:19 pm
Dear Bugman,
Over the past couple of weeks (beginning mid-July) this guy has been seen flying around the yard and never let me approach closely enough for a photo. Until he became preoccupied… It becomes startled easily, but sits for long periods of time on the mulch in my garden, rarely landing on the plants. It’s about 1.5” long. It resembles some of the spider wasps or wood wasps, but I was a little overwhelmed trying to identify it myself. Thanks!
Signature: DaleShannon

mydas flies mating dale 300x217 Mating Mydas Flies

Mating Mydas Flies

Hi Dale,
These mating Mydas Flies, Mydas clavatus, are excellent wasp mimics.  You may read more about them on bugguide, where it is indicated:  “Mating system in this species unknown. Different Mydas species apparently have different mating systems, including resource-defense polygyny and ‘hilltopping’.“  BugGuide does have at least one image of a mating pair.

mydas fly dale 300x188 Mating Mydas Flies

Mydas Fly

Posted 26 July 2011 § Mydas Flies ‡ Comments (2) ° Also tagged:

Japanese Beetles ravage garden in Canada

A garden feast
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
July 23, 2011 6:11 pm
We moved into our current home late last summer, and were disappointed to see all of the apples on our apple tree eaten, or on the ground full of holes.
The same thing is happening this year, and on top of that, many of the flowers we planted are being eaten! Oh the humanity!
Please help identify this culprit…Definitely not a helpful bug.
Signature: Vince S.

japanese beetle vince 300x267 Japanese Beetles ravage garden in Canada

Japanese Beetle

Hi Vince,
You are being plagued by one of the most well known invasive exotic species to have been introduced to North America, the Japanese Beetle.  The beetle is so well known because it was originally introduced to North America on nursery stock that entered the U.S. in New Jersey.  Since that time, it has spread across the country and despite all attempts to eradicate it, the Japanese Beetle populations show no sign of being under control.  Numerous products are on the market, including Japanese Beetle traps.  Because Japanese Beetles are relatively indiscriminate eaters, they will consume hundreds of different cultivated plants.  When the hoards have defoliated one plant, they will just move to another species.  They are especially fond of roses, much to the chagrin of many home gardeners.  Regarding your apples, we are not fully convinced that the Japanese Beetles are feeding upon them, and if they are, we suspect they are only doing peripheral damage.  While they will feed on the leaves of the apple tree, the damage you describe does not sound like Japanese Beetle damage.  We suspect birds might be picking at your apples while the beetles feed on the foliage.  It is also worth noting, that according to BugGuide: “Adult females lay eggs in soil June through early fall. Grubs feed on roots until hibernating underground (4-8″ deep) as third instar larvae when cool weather comes.“  It looks like there is mating activity going on in your photo of the apple tree.

japanese beetles vince 300x214 Japanese Beetles ravage garden in Canada

Japanese Beetles

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Posted 24 July 2011 § Scarab Beetles ‡ Comments (0) ° Also tagged:

Mating Cicada Killers

Large Bee?
Location: Lansing, Michigan
July 20, 2011 1:30 pm
Hello,
Over the past month I have noticed several (6-10) very large bees hanging around a lamppost near my work. I am Michigan and first noticed these around the beginning of July. I have been trying to get a photo of one, but they never stay still and they are very quick. If I had to guess the length I would say 1.25 – 2 inches.
Do you know what this is? I have never seen one before.
Signature: B

mating cicada killers b 273x300 Mating Cicada Killers

Mating Cicada Killers

Dear B,
These are not bees.  They are Sand Wasps, more specifically, mating Cicada Killers.  Because of their large size, many people find them intimidating, but they are not an aggressive species and we have not received any confirmations of individuals who have been stung by Cicada Killers, though we acknowledge that the possibility exists, and should it occur, we would imagine the sting would be painful.

Posted 21 July 2011 § Cicada Killer Wasps ‡ Comments (0) ° Also tagged:

Unknown Mating Flies

Mating flies
Location: Hawthorne, CA
July 19, 2011 2:22 pm
Hi – it’s me again. Can you tell me what type flies these are?
Signature: Thanks, Anna Carreon

mating flies anna 300x218 Unknown Mating Flies

Unknown Mating Flies

Hi Anna,
They remind us a bit of Big Headed Flies in the family Pipunculidae (see BugGuide) though we have a sneaky suspicion that they are really Flower Flies in the family Syrphidae.  This will take us a bit of research, and we may request assistance from Eric Eaton.

Posted 20 July 2011 § Flies ‡ Comments (0) ° Also tagged:

Mating Japanese Beetles

Japanese Beetles
Location: London Ontario
July 12, 2011 2:59 pm
Hello I am seeing these all over the place in Southwestern Ontario, grape vines, crab apple trees, flower beds.
This is the first time I have noticed these beetles and they are in abundance!
Signature: Jeff Kleber

japanese beetles mating jeff 300x206 Mating Japanese Beetles

Mating Japanese Beetles

Hi Jeff,
Your photo of mating Japanese Beetles is positively gorgeous, and it is unfortunate this lovely looking beetle is such a major pest of cultivated plants.  They will feed on well over 100 different ornamental plants cultivated in gardens, and they are especially fond of roses.  When the beetles are present, they will gather on a single plant, and when it is defoliated, they will just move to something else.  Since we will be out of the office for several days, we are post dating this submission to go live on Sunday.

Posted 17 July 2011 § Scarab Beetles ‡ Comments (0) ° Also tagged:

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