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 
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
Hi Linda,
Thanks for sending us your photo of mating Japanese Beetles. We have had numerous requests for their identification recently.
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
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
Hi again Brian,
Thanks for sending us another wonderful image to better help our readers identify the 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
Hi again Brian,
Thanks for sending us another wonderful image to better help our readers identify the Emerald Ash Borers.
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
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.
Chrome Bug
This was taken while on a Ficus hedge in Florida today. It appears to be some type of borer as it stays on the tender stems of new leaves. Got any ideas? This was my second sighting while shooting Macro shots for fun.
Chris
Hi Chris,
When a specimen of Eurhinus magnificus was sent to us 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. Probably as a result of global warming, the tropical species has expanded its range northward. We wonder if ficus is the host plant.
Metallic Weevil, Eurhinus magnificus
Thanks for the confirmation.
Both sightings have been on the tenderest portion of a ficus plant. Attached is a better image of the beast. I’ll keep my eyes open for them on other plants. Attached is a bit better image of the Weevil. I have good shots from about 5 angles if you want them.
Chris
Thanks Chris,
The subtle movement of the antennae is a nice addition.
Dear bugman-
I saw the picture of Eurhinus magnificus and your question about Ficus being its host. If the Ficus hedge is the ubiquitous Ficus benjamina, it is native to Asia and Australia. This would make me think that the hedge is not a natural host for the weevil. It may be opportunistic or just hanging out. Also- It is far more likely that the beast was brought into Florida through trade from its native range rather than a natural expansion. This happens in Florida over and over and over… Hope this is useful.
Jimi
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 January 2007
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Weevils
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Also tagged:
Mating Beetles
Hi Bugman,
Thought you might like this photo of mating beetles taken August, 2006. These two are mating a hibiscus leaf which they ‘love’ feeding on and other ‘things’<:)) I titled this ‘Dance Of Love’ in my photo gallery at BetterPhoto.com.
Sincerely,
Lorraine Cook
Philadelphia, PA.
Hi Lorraine,
The Japanese Beetles are late in Philadelphia. This pestiferous alien introduction is continuing to expand its range. They decimated my mother’s Ohio garden in July but they have died out for another year. They are especially problematic as they eat such a wide variety of plants. Recently I acquired a pamphlet from the California Department of Food and Agriculture warning of their introduction to California.
what is this beetle?
Nice website! These guys are on a Virginia Creeper vine in Southern Ontario, Canada. There are a whole bunch of them. At dusk there are a lot flying around the tops of some of the trees. I’m guessing they’re responsible for all the holes in the plant leaves. Any idea what they are? Thanks. Take care,
Cory
Mississauga, Ontario.
Hi Cory,
Japanese Beetles were accidentally introduced to North America in 1916. There are now a serious agricultural pest throughout the east. They will eat many plants and are very fond of roses, primroses, rose of sharon and grapes.
japanese beetles
Last year I promised you a picture of a Japanese Beetle, as they normally frequent my garden. Well, last year there were none. This year I think I caught a Japanese Beetle family reunion. The photos were taken in Northwest Ohio on 7/6/2006.
Enjoy
John
Hi John,
Thank you for sending in this wonderful photo of the scourge of eastern gardeners. Mom currently has Japanese Beetle problems with her roses and primroses near Youngstown Ohio.
I was checking out your site and think its a great resource. My job involves exotic pests and I am on the constant look out for them. Attached is a picture I took of Emerald Ash Borer in Michigan
I hope your readers are on the look out for this pest.
Keep up the great work
Brian Sullivan
Plant Health Safeguarding Specialist
Hi Brian,
Thanks for sending in this image. We created a link from your name back to your email address in case anyone spots the Emerald Ash Borers.
White and Black Beetles
Hi Bugfolks,
Awesome site! Thanks!
I’ve browsed your beetles, but didn’t see this one. They’re all over my yard, on cassia, grapefruit, pine, and worse yet my butterfly host plants! Are they just contributing to the swiss cheese look on the leaves, or are they going after my butterfly eggs or caterpillars like this wasp looking creature that I’ve seen killing the caterpillars? Both the beetle and the wasp are in Palm Beach and Broward counties in south east Florida. The beetles are about the size of a large pea (slightly stepped on – they’re longer than round) and hide under the leaf when I get near with a camera then drop off (hopefully to the ground and not my shoe… they make ya hop!) the leaf when I flip it over to get a picture (which is good when I go beetle removing in the evening with a ziplock and flashlight – just hold the bag under the leaf and tap… in they go). I’d love to know the proper name for them.
Thanks Very Much,
Stephanie Sanchez
Hi Stephanie,
Your wasp photo did not attach. The Beetles are some type of Weevil, the largest family of insects, Curculionidae. Here is Eric Eaton’s assessment: “Ok, the beetles are definitely weevils of some sort, and strictly vegetarian:-) I’d see if they aren’t among the “featured creatures” that the Florida Ag department (IFAS) has made web page fact sheets for. They certainly are distinctive. Eric ” We checked all the weevils on the site and couldn’t find a match.
Update: (12/02/2006)
Floridian weevils mating
Re: your photo of “Floridian Weevils Mating” 10/18/2005, I found this alert on the U FL website which looks like the same weevil to me:
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/ento/weevil-pest-alert.html
There’s a native floridian version and a new invasive asian version, which looks more like these photos to me. We seem to have them too, though they haven’t yet been reported on the west coast of Florida, according to the article.
-Miriam Wallace
Sarasota, FL
Thanks Miriam,
You appear to be correct.
Mating bugs
I saw your page for mating bugs and thought I would give you an even better (and funnier) Japanese Beetle picture. I call this….Beetle Orgy!
Monica Ragsdale
Hi Monica,
Your photo speaks for itself. We especially like the voyeur. Your photo could compromise our recent good reputation with Elementary Schools as well as religious fanatics.
Love Bug
Hello Again, I hope all is well. This is a very common insect at the conservation area. The shell is a beautiful copper colour – the photo does not do it justice. Today it was extremely hot and humid and after a brief rain all the insects – moths, butterflies, and everything else that crawls or flies was mating!! Take Care,
Janet
Hi Janet,
Though your photograph is lovely, it will have rose growers cringing. The Japanese Beetle, Popillia japonica, was first discovered in New Jersey in 1916, and the introduced species quickly spread throughout the eastern states. The grubs live underground in lawns where they eat grass roots, and adults emerge in mid summer to devour roses, fuschias, and other ornamental blooms.
