Thought you’d like these pix of winter moth larvae (Operophtera brumata)
Sun, May 17, 2009 at 3:58 PM
Here in eastern Massachusetts we are having a horrible infestation of winter moths for the 3rd or 4th year. Each year they get worse, and the damage to the trees around here is greater and greater. I know that you think that there’s no such thing as a bad bug, but I’m having a hard time finding good in these guys. My car is covered in their feces and the driveway has a thick slippery coating of caterpillar poop.
Anyway, we had a rain last night and quite a few got knocked out of the trees and took refuge under our cars. Not sure why they all huddled together, perhaps for warmth. It was not a pretty site when I backed the car out of the driveway…
G. Glater
Natick, MA
Winter Moth Caterpillars
Dear G.,
We needed to do a bit of research on the Winter Moth. BugGuide hasn’t much information on the species, and indicates of the genus: “small geometers with banded brown forewings and plain whitish hindwings. Range southern Canada and northern United States (extends further south in the Appalachians and Rockies) “ BugGuide has no images of the caterpillars. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Introduced Insects Page indicates: “Adult moths emerge in late November and can be active into January under the right weather conditions.” The University of Massachusetts Green Info page has a pdf on the winter_moth that indicates the species was introduced from Europe. In its own natural habitat, the Winter Moth Caterpillars probably have natural predators that feed upon them. It is also possible that in Europe, there are periodic outbreaks that result in a necessary food source for other animals. Thanks for sending your awesome images of this outbreak of an introduced invasive exotic species.
Winter Moth Caterpillars
Long antennae beetle found in So. California
Seems a lot smarter than cockroaches and a lot slower. Can fly very well and seemed to make a quiet hissing noise when we first moved the grass around him. After the pursuit began, he went silent and we almost lost him as a result. He was found on the grass near some wood from a eucalyptus we had just cut down.
Weerdbugs Findmi
Carlsbad California 3.5 miles East of the Ocean
Eucalyptus Borer
Dear Weerdbugs,
It has been many years since we have received an image of a Eucalyptus Borer, Phoracantha recurva or Phoracantha semipunctata. According to BugGuide, there are two species, both introduced from Australia. Our edition of Charles Hogue’s Insects of the Los Angeles Basin was printed in 1993 and only mentions Phoracantha semipunctata, and indicates it was introduced “to Southern California, probably in 1982.” Hogue also writes: “Until this borer came on the scene, its host, eucalyptus, had been virtually free of major pests since its own arrival here after the 1860s. It is uncertain, however, how serious a threat the Eucalyptus Long-horn Borer poses, because the beetles probably only attack trees weakened by lack of moisture, disease, or other stresses. they also infest freshly cut wood. Damage by larvae is characteristic and may be extensive because of their large size (length up to 1 1/2 in., or 40 mm). They form deep broad galleries under the bark and, as they reach maturity, they girdle the tree and may kill it.” Because it is an introduced species that has spread in California, we are going to include this Eucalyptus Borer in the Invasive Exotics section of our site, but since the beetle feeds on an introduced tree species, it really doesn’t pose as much of a threat to the native California ecosystem.
Caterpillar ID please!
Hello Bugman.
Would love it if you could help me id this beauty. I found her in the garden in Chelsea, QC. Isn’t she stunning?
Thanks for your help!
Celine
Québec, Canada
Much appreciated
Introduced Pine Sawfly
Hi Celine,
This isn’t a caterpillar. It is a Sawfly Larva, a relative of wasps. We believe it is the Introduced Pine Sawfly, Diprion similis. According to BugGuide, the species was “First recorded in Canada in 1931 near Oakville, Ontario, and has not spread naturally much beyond there. There were light infestations in other parts of Ontario in the 1970s and one in southern Quebec in 1940. “
Asian longhorned beetle love
Love you site, check out the attached Anoplophora glabripennis shot.
Best,
Mike
Mating Asian Longhorns
Hi Mike,
We are thrilled to have your wonderful documentation of mating Asian Longhorn Beetles, especially since it will be cross referenced in our Bug Love section and our Invasive Exotic section of our new site, which we are currently about to migrate to, however, your photo lacks a location. Was this taken in native China? or is this an example of the species spread in North America? As this species has become established in the U.S., there is much information about the species online, including this UC Davis posting.
Worcester, Massachusetts.
Beetle?
Hey Bugman!
I live in Altamonte Springs, Florida. My four year old son and I found this bug on our balcony. I’ve never seen one like this before and I’ve lived in Florida my whole life(27 years).
Alien Invader
Your beetle is actually a Broad Nosed Weevil, Diaprepes abbreviatus, commonly called the Diaprepes Root Weevil. According to BugGuide: it is “Native to the Carribean but introduced into South and Central FL where it has become a serious pest especially of citrus and woody ornamentals.” BugGuide also indicates: “The California Dept. of Food & Agriculture has issued a flyer containing the following information: ‘The weevil was accidentally introduced into Florida in the 1960s and caused extensive damage. It has been intercepted in shipments of plants to California.’ Said to feed on some 270 different plants, it’s described as ‘a significant threat to both urban and agricultural trees and plants.’ If you see or catch one in California, call the California Dept of Food & Agriculture at 1-800-491-1899 ”
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Posted 14 September 2008
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Japanese Beetles
I see you have a few pictures of these guys (Japanese Beetles) already, but they were just tearing up my friends roses and I wanted to share. They are so insidious!!! This photo was taken August 24th, in Lakeview Michigan, just north of Greenville. Thanks for your cool site ( love it )!
Erica Carranco
Hi Erica,
The Japanese Beetle is an excellent example of what happens when a destructive invasive exotic species becomes established elsewhere. Japanese Beetles appear in July and eat almost everything in their path until they are killed by the frost.
Please help me identify this bug
I have been searching for some time now and cannot figure out what these bugs are. They have been eating my grape leaves and raspberry leaves and killing the plants. Any help as to what it is or how to get rid of them would be extremely helpful. Thanks in advance,
Michael Ramello
Hi Michael,
Though you did not provide us with a location, we think your photo will help our readership identify the Japanese Beetle, one of the most destructive invasive exotic species on American soil.
Help
What is this bug, it is eating up my tree. I have thousands of them Thank you for your time
Mom in Ohio says the Japanese Beetles turn the leaves of her plants into “lace doilies” and your photo illustrates this nicely.
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
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.
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
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
(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
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.
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Posted 22 February 2008
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