Subject: Caterpillar
Location: Amboseli, Kenya
December 27, 2012 11:39 am
Hi,
Please can you help me identify this species. It’s a caterpillar found in East Africa and is about 3-4 inches long and about as thick as a man’s thumb.
Signature: curious conservationist

Cabbage Tree Emperor Moth Caterpillar

Dear curious conservationist,
This is the caterpillar of the Cabbage Tree Emperor Moth or just plain Emperor Moth, Bunaea alcinoe.  You may verify our identification on the African Moths website.  We learned from David Gracer, who runs Small Stock Foods, that they are edible. 

2   I like This

Related posts:

Cabbage Tree Emperor Moth from South Africa: Bunaea alcinoe African Emperor Caterpillars from South Africa Emperor Caterpillar Emperor Gum Moth Caterpillar

Subject: School infestation
Location: Northern Belize (tropical marine climate)
November 15, 2012 7:16 pm
We are suddenly have great numbers of the pictured bugs at the village school. No one seems sure what it is or if it is dangerous to the children.
Signature: Peter

Giant Mesquite Bug nymph

Hi Peter,
You have nothing to fear from this proliferation of Giant Mesquite Bug nymphs.  They pose no danger to the school or the children.  They are edible and they are commonly eaten by the indigenous people of Mexico.

Thank you for your help.  Sound like we could have saved a bit on the lunch program. Peter

When we eat something, we like it to look good, and this is one good looking nymph.  Winged adults don’t look as tasty.  We will contact David Gracer to see if he can provide any information on how they taste.

3   I like This

Related posts:

Giant Mesquite Bug: adult and nymphs (and it's edible!!!) Giant Mesquite Bug Giant Mesquite Bug from Mexico Giant Mesquite Bug

Subject: Colorful Beetle seen in Central Mexico
Location: Tepoztlan, Morelos, Mexico
September 22, 2012 7:55 pm
Hi there! In April, 2010, I was in Mexico, in Tepoztlan, in the state of Morelos, hiking up a hill to some ruins when I came across this very ornate and colorful bug. There were actually many of them along the trail of this hike. They looked like jewels! The weather at the time was super hot and dry…
Signature: What a great idea for a website!!

Giant Mesquite Bug Nymph

Your insect is a member of the Leaf Footed Bug family Coreidae rather than a beetle.  It resembles a species found in the southwest portions of the U.S. as well as in Mexico, the Giant Mesquite Bug, Thasus neocalifornicus, but the coloration is different.  We believe this is another member of the genus.  Here is a similar individual from our archives.  The Things Biological website has an identically colored specimen identified as a Giant Mesquite Bug, and the site goes on to state:  “These nymphs are enormous, each being roughly the size of my thumb. I have never encountered them before and was astounded by their size and abundance. Adults and nymphs can be found on mesquite trees during the summer. The nymphs congregate on the pods, drinking plant fluids, while the adults feed on fluids from both the pods and young twigs.  The young advertise their bad taste with their brilliant colors, which are further emphasized by their tendency to aggregate.”  We are inclined to believe that the genus is correct, but that the species may be misidentified.  The images on BugGuide support that belief.  Though we are confident the genus is correct, we cannot conclusively provide you with the species name. 

1   I like This

Related posts:

Giant Mesquite Bug from Mexico Giant Mesquite Bug nymph Giant Mesquite Bug from Mexico Giant Mesquite Bug