From the monthly archives: "December 2016"

Banana Stalk Fly from Australia

On · Category: Cactus Flies Tagged With: · 2 Comments

Subject: What bugs are these?
Location: Cairns, QLD, Australia
December 3, 2016 7:11 am
Found these in my yard.
Signature: CE

Stilt Legged Fly

Stilt Legged Fly

Dear CE,
Like another of your submitted images, we believe this is a Stilt Legged Fly in the family Micropezidae, but unlike the previous image, we have not been successful in finding any matching images from Australia online.  We are postdating this submission to go live to our site when we are out of the office for the holidays at the end of the month.

Correction Courtesy of Karl:  Banana Stalk Fly
Hi Daniel and CE:
This is actually a Banana Stalk Fly (Family Neriidae); we usually call them Cactus Flies in North America. Depending on which source you read, there are either two or three species in Australia. Of these, I believe Telostylinus lineolatus is the closest match. Regards, Karl

Thanks so much Karl.  Interestingly, we have a mating pair of Banana Stalk Flies from Hawaii in our archives, and that posting is also listed as Stilt Legged Flies.  We will create a Cactus Fly subcategory for both postings.

Related posts:

Stinging Slug Caterpillar from Australia Christmas Beetle from Australia Pie Dish Beetle from Australia Possibly Wattle Goat Moth from Australia

Western Boxelder Bug

On · Category: Box Elder Bugs · Add Comment

Subject: What’s that bug?
Location: Northeast California, USA
November 29, 2016 11:47 am
Theis big is found in Northeastern California, USA. They are about 1/2 to 3/4 inches in length. Brown/black in color with red-orange marking I got along their backs. They can fly but not far and as they fly the open wings reveal a red body.
They seem to emerge from areas at the bottom of the house walls and are most active on warm days – especially in the spring and early winter ( i.e. Times when we have cool nights and warm days). They seem to nest near the house foundation and are very active on warm days following cold evenings. They seem to find their way into the house around door frames and sliding patio entrances.
What are these bugs? Are they harmful to people, pets or property (i.e. Like termites).? If harmful, is there a ecological control protocol that could discourage these bugs from nesting around the house?
Signature: Trevor

Western Boxelder Bug

Western Boxelder Bug

Dear Trevor,
This is a Western Boxelder Bug, Boisea rubrolineata, and according to BugGuide:  “Particularly noticeable in fall (often invade homes in search of shelter to hibernate) and in spring (when they emerge).”  We apologize for the very tardy response, but as our automated response states, we have a small staff and we cannot answer all the mail we receive.  We are currently selecting postings to go live to our site when we are away for the holidays, so your submission will go live at the end of the month.

Related posts:

Mating Boxelder Bugs Bug of the Month: November 2006 – Boxelder Bug Aggregation of Boxelder Bugs, AKA Democrat Bugs Boxelder Bug Nymphs

Possibly Signal Fly from Australia

On · Category: Signal Flies Tagged With: · Add Comment

Subject: What bugs are these?
Location: Cairns, QLD, Australia
December 3, 2016 7:11 am
Found these in my yard.
Signature: CE

Signal Fly, we believe

Signal Fly, we believe

Dear CE,
We believe this is a Signal Fly in the family Platystomatidae based on this BugGuide image of a member of the genus Rivellia.  According to BugGuide they are found:  “worldwide, incl. most of the Americas” and “Found on foliage, feces.”  Australian species are represented on FlickR and Discover Life.  Because we will be away from the office during the holidays, we will be postdating this submission to go live at the end of the month.

Related posts:

Stinging Slug Caterpillar from Australia Christmas Beetle from Australia Pie Dish Beetle from Australia Possibly Wattle Goat Moth from Australia

Darkling Beetle from India, we believe

On · Category: Darkling and Ironclad Beetles · Add Comment

Subject: What Beetle
Location: Noida, U.P. India
December 11, 2016 12:22 pm
Dear Daniel,
Kindly assist in identifying this matt Charcoal coloured Beetle.
thanks
Signature: Aditi

Darkling Beetle, we believe

Darkling Beetle, we believe

Dear Aditi,
We believe this is a Darkling Beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, and it looks similar to this individual posted to FlickR and to the Dusty Brown Beetle posted to Plantwise.  Because we will be away from the office during the holidays, we are postdating this submission to go live toward the end of the month.

Related posts:

Acrobat Beetle Darkling Beetle Darkling Beetle from South Africa Desert Stink Beetles

Rove Beetle from Borneo

On · Category: Rove Beetles · Add Comment

Subject: What is this bug?
Location: Borneo
December 13, 2016 8:14 am
Hey Bugman,
On a recent trip to Borneo we came across this funky bug.
Very praying mantis in its stance, but flies like some sort of wasp.
Super cool creature that we spent about 30mins watching as it waited for ants or flys to cross its path so it could have lunch.
Thanks!
Signature: Emily

Rove Beetle

Rove Beetle

Dear Emily,
The front legs on your insects are quite unusual, and they do not seem adapted for walking.  Nonetheless, we are relatively certain that this is a Rove Beetle in the family Staphylinidae.  But for the front legs, your individual looks like this individual from Malaysia pictured on Project Noah.  This unidentified Rove Beetle from Paul Bertner’s Rainforest Photography site and the one from Borneo Bootcamp have similarly structured legs.  Because we will be away from the office for the holidays, we are postdating your submission to go live at the end of the month while we are away.

Rove Beetle

Rove Beetle

Related posts:

Gold and Brown Rove Beetle Rove Beetle Devil’s Coach Horse Rove Beetle from Australia is Devil’s Coach Horse

Stilt Legged Fly from Australia

On · Category: Stilt Legged Flies Tagged With: · 1 Comment

Subject: What bugs are these?
Location: Cairns, QLD, Australia
December 3, 2016 7:11 am
Found these in my yard.
Signature: CE

Stilt Legged Fly

Stilt Legged Fly

Dear CE,
This is a Stilt Legged Fly in the family Micropezidae, and we are quite confident we have identified it as the Black Stilt Legged Fly, Mimegralla australica, thanks to the Brisbane Insect website where it states:  “Flies in this family have very long legs, although the front pair is usually shorter. Their body is slender with patterned wings. They usually mimic either wasp or ant. This Black Stilt-legged Fly is black in colour with two write strips on each wings. All legs are black except the smaller front pair with write tips.”  This species is also pictured on the Atlas of Living Australia.  We are postdating this submission to go live to our site at the end of the month when we are away from the office for the holidays.

Related posts:

Stinging Slug Caterpillar from Australia Christmas Beetle from Australia Pie Dish Beetle from Australia Possibly Wattle Goat Moth from Australia