Bug on Michigan watermelon
Location: Mid Michigan
July 7, 2011 12:30 pm
Dear Sirs;
Found this beautiful creature eating my watermelon plants.
Would like to identify, so I might find a way to ask it to leave.
Also, Bug pics are very hard to take! Links to Insect pic taking advice also solicited.
Signature: Prime
Japanese Beetle
Dear Prime,
The invasive exotic Japanese Beetle was introduced to North America in the early 20th Century and it is well established in Eastern States where it appears in droves each year. It is doubtful it will ever be eradicated. Japanese Beetles feed on a multitude of cultivated plants and they are probably one of the most despised insects among home gardeners since they feed so indiscriminately. This is the first image we have posted of a Japanese Beetle this year.
Thank you sir.
Currently researching options. Have you recommendations?
Normally, we do not give extermination advice, but in the case of the invasive Japanese Beetle, we will make an exception. You can try hand picking them (careful, they drop to the ground when disturbed) and dropping them into a jar of soapy water. Adding a touch of oil or kerosene will also help. They quickly drown.
Not Carpenter Bees?
Giant Resin Bee
Location: Northeast Georgia mountains
July 1, 2011 2:29 pm
A group of 10 or 11 of these burrowing bees-wasps-hornets-flies hangs around a wooden bench made from a cayuco, which, in the Republic of Panama, is made from a hollowed-out tree. I brought this bench with me when I moved from Panama to the mountains of northeast Georgia. I even captured 3 groups of 3 of these guys and released them at different locations between 1 and a half and 2 miles from my porch where this bench sits. That left 2 that I know of. Within 3 hours, 10 or 11 of them were buzzing around again. I believe the captives had found their way back and rejoined the group. Huh? Although they’ve made holes similar to those of the female carpenter bees, from my research I don’t believe they are–these are too social and carpenter bees don’t have the ”smiley face” characteristic that you can see in one of the images. Besides, I have carpenter bees on my property and they don’t look like them. They’re not aggressive, as I& #8217;ve sat among them–even bumping them–without getting stung; assuming they have stingers. I could easily kill them, but I don’t do that. I was tempted to sacrifice just one to determine if it had a stinger, but I couldn’t even bring myself to do that. (No, I’m not going to capture one and hold it in my closed fist just to see if it’ll sting me.) I’m really baffled; haven’t found an image that even closely resembles them. Obviously, I’m missing something. I know someone’s thinking that I unknowingly ”smuggled” them as larva inside the bench when I left Panama. I left there 12 years ago, and these showed up only 3 years ago. Please help. Thank you.
Signature: Rob Lane
Giant Resin Bee
Hi Rob,
The first thing we have to say is that your action photos are spectacular. Though the Giant Resin Bee, Megachile sculpturalis, is an introduced exotic species, you had nothing to do with its importation. The Giant Resin Bees were introduced from Asia and they are now very well established in North America. BugGuide indicates: “They are opportunistic and nest in existing wooden cavities, rather than excavating their own. Effectively pollinate kudzu, another invasive species.”
Giant Resin Bees
Thank you, Daniel, for that rapid response. Had I seen any image like the ones in BugGuide (the link you provided) I’d’ve instantly recognized it. Although I said it, I didn’t mean that they actually “made” the holes like the carpenter bees do. This piece of cayuco was riddled with holes, and I did observe the “plugs” in their entrances near the end of their season. Do you think that those nine I captured and released actually found their way back?
Oh, and thank you for the comment on the action photos. I credit them to my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 set at 1/160 shutter speed with flash.
Although I said that a cayuco is made from a hollowed-out tree, I failed to mention that it’s a boat (like a dugout canoe).
Regards,
Rob
For your interest I’ve included a few more images focusing on the wood of the cayuco:
This is stem of the boat; the flat part on the very bow. That hole at the upper right is cut completely through and is where the boatman would tie his anchor line. You can see traces of the resin, mud, or clay at the center of the stem.
Resin Bee Nest
Hi Again Rob,
We believe the Giant Resin Bees may have found their way back, but we cannot be certain.
¶ Posted 01 July 2011 § Resin Bees ‡ ° Also tagged: Unknown Korean insect
Location: Seoul, Korea
June 27, 2011 9:13 pm
These insects became a huge infestation about 4 years ago in Seoul. Since then they have had a large yearly population in the city. They became bright red as they mature and then also grown wings. As juveniles, they are wingless, but able to jump hundreds of times their body length.
Signature: DaveT383
White Cicada Nymph
Hi DaveT383,
This immature Fulgorid Planthopper goes by the deceptive common name of White Cicada. It is native to China, but in recent years it has invaded Korea where it has become established. Here is an early What’s That Bug? posting that has some informative links.
White Cicada Nymph
shrimp beetle???
Location: Milford, CT
June 25, 2011 11:08 pm
I live in Connecticut and found this guy crawling on my floor. It was also making flipping movements like a shrimp! Never seen one before. Help!
Signature: freaked out
Lawn Shrimp
Dear freaked out,
This sure looks to us like a Lawn Shrimp or House Hopper, a terrestrial Amphipod native to Australia that has become established in California gardens and more recently, Florida gardens. It is especially associated with gardens that are well watered and have eucalyptus trees and if conditions are right, they can become very plentiful. See bugGuide for additional information. We doubt you will experience much of a problem in Connecticut with Lawn Shrimp, and it is our theory that perhaps you recently did some landscaping or purchased some plants from a nursery and that those plants may have originated in California, or possibly Florida. It is doubtful that Lawn Shrimp will be able to survive your severe winter and we doubt they will become established. This is most likely a single sighting and you should not be alarmed.
Mating Immigrant Leaf Weevils
Location: Hornepayne, Ontario, Canada
June 25, 2011 2:49 pm
Hey,
I thought I’d send you a couple of pictures of mating immigrant leaf weevils. I found them walking along my clothesline today. They were super active, it was hard to get a good picture. As you can see, there is some sexual dimorphism, as well as a slight colour difference between the two. In the second picture, the weevils walked onto my camera lens, and though the picture is fuzzy, you can still see how the male grips the female with his feet.
Signature: HQ
Mating Immigrant Leaf Weevils
Hi HQ,
We are thrilled to be able to post you images of this invasive exotic species perpetuating in its new land. The BugGuide information page on the Green Immigrant Leaf Weevil is quite informative.
Mating Immigrant Leaf Weevil
2
Walmart Watermelon Bug
Location: Found in NJ
June 24, 2011 10:11 pm
Good evening. A friend who works at a local Walmart was unpacking watermelons and came across this bug. To me it looks like a grasshopper of some sort and then again it doesn’t can you tell us what it is and if it is a danger.
Thanks
Signature: Ellen
Eastern Lubber Grasshopper
Dear Ellen,
This is an immature Eastern Lubber Grasshopper, Romalea microptera. There are two recognized common color variations and this is the dark morph. There is a very thorough information page on BugGuide. According to BugGuide, the species is found in the south from Texas to South Carolina and all states between. It would be interesting to learn where the watermelons originated. Though this is a native species to the U.S., it does not range to New Jersey, and since its method of entry was unnatural in that it was the result of the transportation of crops, this could not be considered a normal range expansion. We doubt this individual will reproduce since it is too young to have mated, and it is not likely to find a mate in New Jersey unless it is another stowaway. We will nonetheless tag this as an Invasive Exotic.
Daniel,
Thanks so much for the quick response. It reminded me of a grasshopper I had seen in the everglades several years ago although the one in Florida was much brighter in color. As you can imagine this guy gave the young lady quite a jolt as she was unpacking the melons.
Ellen
Friend or foe?
Location: Hawaii
June 23, 2011 1:03 am
I’ve been looking for the culprit that has been nibbling my eggplant leaves for some time now with no luck. Today I saw this bug which almost looks like a lady beetle. I took these photos, then watched it for a while to see if it left any holes (lol I know that seems silly but my plant is healthy overall). Either it was full or scouting because it didn’t appear to be eating. Is this a garden friend or no?
It’s quite lovely looking. I’m usually terrified of bugs 
but my garden which I love & this site which keeps me informed, are both making me braver.
Thanks for your awesome site that my kids and I learn from and enjoy.
Signature: Dasi
Unknown Leaf Beetle
Dear Dasi,
We tried unsuccessfully to identify your beetle, which we believe to be a Leaf Beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. BugGuide’s section on Hawaiian Insects did not help, nor did our search for Hawaiian Chrysomelidae. Many insects found on Hawaii are not native. Perhaps one of our readers will be able to assist in this identification.
Update with Correction
Hi again Dasi,
While trying to research the new photo you submitted, we stumbled upon this Hawaiian insect page that pictures your Black Stink Bug, Coptosoma xanthogramma. Upon doing additional research, we learned it is not native on the Insects of Hawaii website. Then we found the ScholarSpace of the University of Hawai’i at Manoa website that it is considered “a New Pest of Legumes in Hawaii.” You may also find this excellent paper on the ScholarSpace site, which states: “Since the initial discovery of this bug in Honolulu during September, 1965, very heavy populations
have been observed on several legume hosts on Oahu, and it is considered a potentially serious pest of cultivated beans and certain ornamental vines and trees.” It also indicates the species originates in the Philippines.
That you so much for that great website. I had seen a very blurry photo on the other Hawaii bug id website and thought that might it be the one listed as “stink bug” but was unsure. I lost it shortly after taking the picture and haven’t seen it on my Eggplant since. Thanks for the most excellent info. Hmm, does that mean he emits an odor as protection?
I’m also glad that I found that ladybug–a welcome addition to my garden. I did notice during my research that quite a few lady beetles were introduced to Hawaii. Thanks again for all your effort.
Red beetles
Location: Torrington, CT
June 20, 2011 9:37 am
These little red guys are all over my hostas. Can you tell me what they are? LOVE your site, but what happened to your Facebook page? I loved having neat bugs sent to me every day! Happy bugging!!
Signature: Jennifer
Lily Leaf Beetle
Hi Jennifer,
This is a Lily Leaf Beetle, Lilioceris lilii, a species recently accidentally introduced from Europe. It is firmly established in Canada and New England. Until your letter, we did not realize that Hosta is a member of the Lily family. We will check with our web host regarding your Facebook question, since that is not a matter that our editorial staff controls.
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