From the monthly archives: "August 2014"
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Red Footed Cannibalfly

On · Category: Robber Flies · Add Comment

Subject: hairy Cicada?
Location: Leesburg, VA
August 30, 2014 12:26 pm
Thought this might be a cicada, but I’ve never seen such a hairy one before or with such huge eyes.
Signature: Alicia

Red Footed Cannibalfly

Red Footed Cannibalfly

Dear Alicia,
This magnificent, predatory Robber Fly is commonly called a Red Footed Cannibalfly, and this summer we have received more than the typical number of identification requests of Red Footed Cannibalflies from our readership.

Related posts:

Robber Fly Swatted at Work Bee Killer in Torrance, California Hanging Thief August 9, 2014 is the Day of the Robber Flies: Fourth Red Footed Cannibalfly posting today, bringing total to six large Robber Fly Postings!!!
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Parasitized Slug Caterpillar

On · Category: Braconids and Chalcids, Stinging Slug Caterpillars · Add Comment

Subject: Can you name this bug?
Location: Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. Google maps: 19.522574, -96.927901
August 30, 2014 5:09 pm
Hello, I found this bug. It has at least one week living at the same leaf. Here is the raining season. It does not move even when is raining. However it’s alive because when I was taking some photographs it moved a bit. Could you help me to identify this bug?
Signature: J. A. K.

Cochineal, possibly

Parasitized Slug Caterpillar

Dear J.A.K.,
This appears to be a Slug Caterpillar in the family Limacodidae, and it has fallen victim to parasitic wasps, most likely in the family Braconidae.  This image from BugGuide depicts a Slug Caterpillar infested with Braconids.

Dear Daniel,
Thank you for your help. It’s a shame I can’t help this small caterpillar, c’est la vie!.
This “bug world” is amazing, I hope I can learn more.
Cheers,
J Ko.

Related posts:

Stinging Slug Caterpillar from Malaysia Braconid Katydid Eggs Parasitized by Chalcid Wasp Large Numbers of Stinging Slug Caterpillars reported in South Africa: Latoia vivida
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Blue Winged Wasp

On · Category: Scoliid Wasps · 2 Comments

Subject: wasp?
Location: ohio
August 31, 2014 5:42 am
Do wasps collect nectar?
Signature: kelley

Blue Winged Wasp

Blue Winged Wasp

Dear Kelley,
This is a Blue Winged Wasp or Digger Wasp, Scolia dubia, and like many wasps, adults feed on nectar.  According to BugGuide:  “Adults take nectar, may also feed on juices from beetle prey.  Larvae are parasites of green June beetles and Japanese beetles.”  Most young wasps are carnivorous, but they cannot hunt for food, so adult female Social Wasps hunt for prey and return to the nest with it to feed the young, or in the case of solitary wasps, they will sting and paralyze food to provide fresh meals when the eggs hatch and the larvae begin to feed.

Related posts:

Digger Wasp Mammoth Wasp from Italy What's Buzzing the Baccharis??? Scarab Hunter Wasps Fear of the Digger Wasp: Real or Irrational?
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Mating Tiger Spiketail Dragonflies

On · Category: Dragonflies and Damselflies Tagged With: · Add Comment

Subject: Dragonfly Bug Love <3
Location: Clifton, Va
August 31, 2014 7:01 am
Found this amorous pair in Hemlock Park- Clifton, Va
Signature: Katie from Manassas

Mating Dragonflies

Mating Dragonflies

Hi Katie,
We believe your mating Dragonflies are Tiger Spiketails, Cordulegaster erronea, based on this image from BugGuide and the distribution range.

Related posts:

Damselflies Mating Green Darners Mating Damselfly Spousal Abuse: Cannibalism after Mating Mating Green Darners
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Female Ladybird Spider from Greece

On · Category: Ladybird Spiders · 3 Comments

Subject: Poisonous spider in Greece?
Location: Kos Island, Greece
August 30, 2014 4:50 pm
Hello,
during my visit in Asklepion on Greek island Kos, we found on the stairs this big black spider, about 7 cm long. It was quite aggressive, when I took it away from the visitors, on a long stick to the nearest forrest, it was biting the stick!
Could you please help me identify what kind of spider it was?
Signature: Olaf

Female Ladybird Spider

Female Ladybird Spider

Dear Olaf,
In our opinion, this looks like a female Ladybird Spider in the family Erisidae, a family with many endangered and rare species.  Ladybird Spiders get their common name because of the coloration and markings of many male spiders in the family, which are red with black spots.  Ladybird Spiders exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism, and the larger, often black females appear to be distinctly different species from the male Ladybird Spiders.  See FlickR for a similar looking image  and SpiderzRule for additional information on Ladybird Spiders.

Related posts:

Ladybird Spider Endangered Species: Rare Ladybird Spider from Slovenia Endangered Female Ladybird Spider from Spain Endangered Male Ladybird Spider from Crete
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Cuckoo Wasp

On · Category: Cuckoo Wasps · Add Comment

Subject: Metallic Blue Bee?
Location: Northeast FL
August 29, 2014 9:47 am
I saw this bee (?) in my yard here in northeast FL. It was a striking metallic blue, with some green especially on the underside of the abdomen. Size was about 1 1/2 to 2 cm. I thought it might be a sweat bee that was more blue than the green I usually see. But it looks like the bee might be eating something, maybe a smaller insect, which would make it something besides a sweat bee. Whatever it is, it was a beautiful blue color.
Signature: Karen in FL

Cuckoo Wasp

Cuckoo Wasp

Dear Karen,
This beautiful Hymenopteran is not a bee, but rather a wasp, a Cuckoo Wasp to be exact.  Cuckoo Wasps in the family Chrysididae lay eggs in the nests of unsuspecting hosts, other Hymenopterans.

Related posts:

Cuckoo Wasp or Not Cuckoo Wasp, NOT Sweat Bee Cuckoo Wasp from Portugal Cuckoo Wasp from Scotland
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination