buglove
I just love your site. You have helped me identify dozens of bugs. I believe the picture I sent is of mating tiger beetles. We came across a bunch of them running around on a trail through a State Park in central Florida. Pic was taken in mid June of 2008. I’m just sending it for your buglove pages, as I don’t think I saw any there.
Jim from Everett, PA
Hi Jim,
We believe your mating Tiger Beetles are Cicindela hirtilabris, as pictured on BugGuide which states that it ranges in: “Peninsular Florida and extreme southeastern Georgia” and that it is “found commonly in dry white sand areas including trails, road edges, and open areas with sparse vegetation.” Another similar species found in the panhandle of Florida is Cicindela gratiosa, the Whitish Tiger Beetle.
¶ Posted 26 June 2008 § Beetles ‡ ° Also tagged: Hi there and thanks for your informative site
As best as I can see – the moths on my front porch today are Modest Sphinxes – they do not seem to have the distinct battle colors of the Cerisy’s. We live in the country east of Parker Colorado
Don Mackenzie
Hi Don,
Your photo is breathtakingly beautiful. This is a species closely related to the Modest Sphinx. It is the Big Poplar Sphinx, Pachysphinx occidentalis, the pale color form. Bill Oehlke’s wonderful website has some nice images of this beautiful moth. We have also heard it called the Western Poplar Sphinx.
longer lady bug w/ antennaes
Hi,
I was taking photographs of flowers and insects on a local lake here in maryland and got a chance to take shots of this bugs. At first I thought they are lady bugs but these are longer and a little bit bigger. Any help is appreciated. Thank you.
These are Red Milkweed Beetles, Tetraopes tetrophthalmus. The are frequently encountered while mating.
Bug photos
Hello from Woodbury, NJ! We have been seeing lots of great insects here this year and have identified nearly all of them with help from your site – we heart Whats That Bug! We are attaching some photos for your use, or not, as you see fit. They include – asparagus bugs – one of common asparagus beetle and one of spotted asparagus beetles mating (aren’t we lucky to have BOTH kinds in our asparagus patch?!), a Zale lunata moth we just found and identified tonight, a possible assassin bug nymph on a pepperbox poppy, what we think is an immature male common white tail dragonfly Libellula lydia (photo incorrectly titled damselfly) and bumble bee Bombus griseocollis (we believe)on swamp milkweed. Thanks for such a great site – hope you are catching up from your time away.
Jessica and Paul Ferguson
Woodbury, NJ
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| Common Asparagus Beetle | Spotted Asparagus Beetles mating |
Hi Jessica and Paul,
Posting photos from multiple taxonomic orders wreaks havoc on our already chaotic archives, so we will just be posting your Asparagus Beetle images. Both the Common Asparagus Beetle, Crioceris asparagi, and the Spotted Asparagus Beetle, Crioceris duodecimpunctata, were introduced from Europe in the 19th Century and both are widespread in North America where asparagus is grown. We located a paper published by Utah State University written by Erin W. Hodgson that has facts on the life cycle and control of both species.
butterfly, moth, what is it?
Hello,
Last night we had a visitor on the porch and this morning two. I have been trying to figure out what they are all day so I can share with my 9 year old daughter who is very curious about them. We have figured out that they are male and female. Could you tell me what they are and a bit about them please? Thank you,
Kelli
Hi Kelli,
These are mating Polyphemus Moths. The male is the one on the left with the large feathery antennae, the better to sense his mate’s pheromones. The female is the one on the right with the bulkier body, the better to lay 100s of eggs. The Polyphemus Moth has a large pair of “eyespots” on the underwings to startle birds into thinking they are a threatening creature. The Polyphemus Moth was named for the legendary cyclops Polyphemus, a one eyed giant, in Homer’s Odyssey.
Beetles doing the deed
I found several of these beetles chewing on leaves of the Wood Anemone flower/plant. They are about 1 1/2″ – 2 ” long. The location is the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, close to the S. shore of Lake Superior. In the one photo, there is another smaller beetle attached to the one eating. I guess these crafty critters are pretty advanced as they can do at least two things at one time! Wish the photo had captured it better but I had to give them a little privacy. So, can you help me identify them? Thanks
Ann
Hi Ann,
Your beetles are a species of Blister Beetle, in the genus Meloe, commonly called Oil Beetles. This seems to be a common habit among Blister Beetles, eating and procreating simultaneously.
Can you identify these?
They showed up in our neighborhood about 4 years ago, and are prolific breeders. Their young resemble “large” aphids with orange-ish red abdomens. The adults have the same orange/red abdomen that is exposed when they take flight. In the picture attached, I believe the smaller one (on the left) is the male mating with a female. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Ron
Hi Ron,
The Boxelder Bug, Boisea trivittata, is one of our most frequent query subjects due to the mass aggregations they form. Though they may be a nuisance when they appear in large numbers, they are not harmful to you or your home. Your mating couple is a nice addition to our site.
iron cross blister beetles — mating on cactus
Hi:
Thanks for helping me identify my bug — your site is great. I thought you might enjoy the picture of two iron-cross blister beetles ( Tegrodera latecincta ) mating on a cactus — it all looks a bit precarious! The cactus is a local “hedgehog cactus” ( Echinocereus sp. ). My yard was invaded by these bugs over the past couple of days; I’ve lived here 6 years and never seen them before. Best,
Jake
NW Tucson, AZ
Mid May 2008
Hi Jake,
Your photo of Iron Cross Blister Beetles mating is quite stunning.
I like This
