Skip to content

Tag Archives: Invasive Exotics

Japanese Beetles

Help
What is this bug, it is eating up my tree. I have thousands of them Thank you for your time

japanese beetles doilies Japanese Beetles

Mom in Ohio says the Japanese Beetles turn the leaves of her plants into “lace doilies” and your photo illustrates this nicely.

Posted 28 July 2008 § Scarab Beetles ‡ Comments (0) ° Also tagged:
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Asian Longhorned Beetle or Starry Sky Beetle in Japan

Name our beetle in Japan?
Hi! We are living in Kawatana, Japan on Kyushu island. This beetle was on our front porch on the 4th of July. He was approximately 2 1/2 inches long. We’d love to identify him! We are seeing so many new insects since we’ve been here. I have used your site to identify ONE of the many types of centipedes we have here, the house centipede. Hopefully I can catch a few more on camera to send to you. They move quickly though! …Thanks for your help!
Rachel

asian longhorned beetle jap Asian Longhorned Beetle or Starry Sky Beetle in Japan

Hi Rachel,
We are very happy your report is coming to us from Japan and not from the U.S. This is an Asian Longhorned Beetle or Starry Sky Beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis. Now that you know that, you will be able to find much information online including Wikipedia which reports the Asian Longhorned Beetle, which is called the Sky Oxen in China: “is native to China and other areas of eastern Asia, where it causes widespread mortality of poplar ,willow ,elm , and maple trees.” The Amazing Insects site reports: “Asian longhorned beetles is widely distributed in China, and in Japan and Korea Once introduced into an area, people unintentionally spread the beetle by cutting or trimming an infested tree and moving the wood elsewhere. To date, the Asian longhorned beetle has been found at 26 scattered warehouse and residential sites in 14 States around the country, including Cincinnati, Ohio. The only Asian longhorned beetle infestations of living trees are at Brooklyn, NY, Amityville, NY, and three neighborhoods in the Chicago, IL area.” The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Forest Site reports: “The Asian Longhorned Beetle, also known as the Asian Cerambycid Beetle, was first discovered in the United States in 1996, when it was found attacking maple and horsechestnut trees in New York City. Recently, three Chicago area infestations have also been detected, heightening concern among forest health professionals about the threat posed by this non-native pest. This beetle, known by the scientific name Anoplophora glabripennis, is native to Japan, Korea, and southern China. In Ohio, the insect has been found associated with solid wood packing and crating materials, however, an infestation of living host trees has never been detected in the state. ” If our readership sees this beetle in the U.S. it should be reported to the local office of the US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service or USDA APHIS.

Posted 04 July 2008 § Longhorn Beetles ‡ Comments (0) ° Also tagged:

Little Leaf Notcher Weevil and Citrus Leaf Miner

Gray Insect on a Citrus Leaf
I was examining the fruits of my bitter orange citrus tree in Miami, Florida when I found this gray insect on one of the leaves. I suspect it’s some type of beetle. Can you please identify the insect? Also, do you happen to know what those white and brown streaks on the leaf are and whether or not they were produced by the insect?
Rob

weevil citrus leafminer fl Little Leaf Notcher Weevil and Citrus Leaf Miner

Hi Rob,
Your gray insect is a Little Leaf Notcher Weevil, Myllocerus undatus, and invasive species from Sri Lanka that feeds on at least 55 plant species in Florida including citrus. Read more on BugGuide and the Florida Department of Agriculture Pest Alert site. You have another problem with your citrus. Beneath the Little Leaf Notcher Weevil are what appear to be tunnels produced by the Citrus Leaf Miner, Phyllocnistis citrella, a tiny moth. Read more about this introduced pest on Featured Creatures.

Thank you for all the information! I thought that perhaps the weevil was responsible for the tunnels on the leaf; thanks for clarifying that a citrus leaf miner was the true culprit. My citrus tree has been left unattended for quite some time, so it has become home to various insects.
Rob

Posted 24 May 2008 § Caterpillars and Pupa § Moths § Weevils ‡ Comments (2) ° Also tagged:
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Unknown Fruit Fly

unknown fruit fly??
In the photos attached are some sort of fly that attacks my artichoke plants. they wander around the artichoke heads and stick their ugly egg laying thing into the creases of the flower head that is trying to grow. then their maggots eat holes (i believe) and ultimately damage the crop. Please help me identify this pest. and any methods i can use to trap them. I want to rid my garden of pests without the use of chemicals. Thanks Bugman.
Chris McCrea
Vallejo, California

fruit fly artichoke Unknown Fruit Fly

Hi Chris,
Fruit Flies in the family Tephritinae, as depicted on BugGuide, often have ovipositors like the specimen in your photo. They also tend to have banded wings which your specimen does not have. We couldn’t locate a convincing match, but we will contact Eric Eaton to see if he has any ideas.

Update: May 22, 2011
In preparing for a lecture at Theodore Payne Foundation, we are finding images that we need for our PowerPoint, and in so doing, we are finding many unidentified insects buried deep in the archive, including this introduced Fruit Fly that feeds on artichokes, most likely Terellia fuscicornis based on BugGuide.  The jury is still out whether this is an Invasive Exotic species that will decimate the artichoke crop in California, or if it is a beneficial import that may help control the spread of cardoons in open spaces.

Posted 31 March 2008 § Fruit Flies ‡ Comments (0) ° Also tagged:

Invasive Species: Metallic Weevil, Eurhinus magnificus

(no subject)
Bugman,
Sorry for the low quality of the photos (I don’t own a macro lens for my digital yet) but this beetle was small at about 1⁄4 of an inch. The fabric it is walking on is a canvas cover for my boat, so you can get an idea how small it is. The photo was taken in Feb of 2008 in South Florida in my backyard. Can you give it a name? Sincerly,
George Detrio

weevil eurhinus magnificus Invasive Species: Metallic Weevil, Eurhinus magnificus

Hi George,
The first time we received a photo of this beautiful metallic Weevil, Eurhinus magnificus, in April 2005, it created quite a stir. This Central American Metallic Weevil originates in Costa Rica, Panama and Southern Mexico, but was introduced to Florida.

Update: 17 June 2009, 7:27 AM
In trying to identify an unusual Weevil from Costa Rica today, we stumbled upon this great link with the life cycle of Eurhinus magnificus.

Posted 22 February 2008 § Weevils ‡ Comments (0) ° Also tagged:

Mating Japanese Beetles

Name these Bugs Please. Ahhh, Bonking and Eating
I was day tripping just north of Lake Erie in Southern Ontario and found these great bugs while picking wild berries. I found your site while trying to identify them. What a great service you are offering. Pat on the back icon smile Mating Japanese Beetles I like to imagine what it would be like if bugs were six feet tall! Ahhhh, bonking and eating. Two of life’s finest treasures…so why not do them at the same time. I sent you this photo for identification but thought I’d resubmit it for the Bug Love section of your site which I just found. Location:Southern Ontario just north of Lake Erie in a lovely Conservation Area where I spent the afternoon picking berries. Luckily, the berries were bugless!
Linda

japanese beetles linda Mating Japanese Beetles

Hi Linda,
Thanks for sending us your photo of mating Japanese Beetles. We have had numerous requests for their identification recently.

Posted 15 July 2007 § Scarab Beetles ‡ Comments (0) ° Also tagged:

Bug of the Month: June 2007 – Emerald Ash Borer

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

emerald ash borer brian Bug of the Month: June 2007 Emerald Ash Boreremerald ash borer brian 2 Bug of the Month: June 2007 Emerald Ash Borer

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

emerald ash breedingcloseup Bug of the Month: June 2007 Emerald Ash Borer

Hi again Brian,
Thanks for sending us another wonderful image to better help our readers identify the Emerald Ash Borers.

Posted 01 June 2007 § Metallic Borer Beetles ‡ Comments (0) ° Also tagged:

Mating Emerald Ash Borers

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

emerald ash breedingcloseup Mating Emerald Ash Borers

Hi again Brian,
Thanks for sending us another wonderful image to better help our readers identify the Emerald Ash Borers.

Posted 31 May 2007 § Metallic Borer Beetles ‡ Comments (0) ° Also tagged:

Page 21 of 23« First...10...1920212223