From the monthly archives: "January 2017"

Bug of the Month February 2017: Fiddler Beetle from Australia

On · Category: Scarab Beetles Tagged With: , · Add Comment

Subject: Can you please help.
Location: Canberra Australia
January 31, 2017 2:09 am
Hello thank you for taking the time to help me out I am wondering if you can help me identify this bug? I’m in Canberra Australia and right now it’s summer thank you
Signature: Andy

Fiddler Beetle

Dear Andy,
Normally, we do not like to repeat our Bug of the Month designations, but submissions in January and February are at their lowest, and we just realized it is the Ten Year Anniversary of the Fiddler Beetle, Eupoecila australasiae, from Australia being designated as the Bug of the Month on our site in February 2007.  According to the Australian Museum:  “Female Fiddler Beetles lay their eggs in rotting logs or in the damp soil under logs. The grubs feed on rotting timber and build cocoons of soil and debris in which they pupate.”  According to Museums Victoria:  “The adult beetles emerge in early summer. They are strong fliers and fly between eucalypt and other trees to feed on nectar. They are found in all states except for Western Australia and are harmless to humans.”  According to Climate Watch:  “It buzzes loudly while flying.”  The markings on the Fiddler Beetle can be green or yellow.

Fiddler Beetle

Related posts:

Bug of the Month July 2010: Japanese Beetles Fiddler Beetle from Australia Ten Lined June Beetles in Glassell Park and Mount Washington Spotted Flower Chafer from Australia

Prionid from Zimbabwe

On · Category: Longhorn Beetles · Add Comment

Subject: Longhorn beetle
Location: Philadelphia, Harare, Zimbabwe
January 31, 2017 6:14 am
I have narrowed down the identity of this beetle to Tithoes Confinus or Tithoes Maculatus. What do you think?
Signature: Majotso

Prionid: Some species of Tithoes

Dear Majotso,
We have several Prionids from Africa in our archives that we have identified as Tithoes confinus, but we would always defer to true experts when it comes to determining the exact species.  Many times members of the same genus require close examination to determine an exact identity and we just do not possess the necessary qualifications to make that determination.  Perhaps one of our readers will be able to provide more specifics.  This posting from our archives has some information on distinguishing T. confinus from T. maculatus.  ISpot has many postings from the genus, and not a single one is identified as T. maculatus, and several are identified as T. confinus.  Prioninae.org does have an image of a pair of T. maculatus, and the range is listed as “Angola Bénin Burkina Faso Cameroun Centrafrique Côte d’Ivoire Gabon Gambie Guinée BIssau Mali Niger Nigeria Rwanda Sénégal Soudan Tchad Togo” and not Zimbabwe.

Which Tithoes species???

Thank you Daniel,
I posted this pic on NatureWatch NZ and got feedback from Jacob and fubr as being T. maculatus frontalis which I now agree with.
Regards,
Majotso


Related posts:

Ivory Marked Beetle Longicorn from Norway: Leptura quadrifasciata Male Broad Necked Root Borer Cedar Tree Borer

Possibly Flea Beetle from Zambia

On · Category: Flea Beetles · Add Comment

Subject: Zambia
Location: Zambia
January 31, 2017 1:19 am
Hello,
I found the buck below in Sambia in vetches.
Thank you very much!
Signature: S. Frantz

Flea Beetle, we believe

Dear S. Frantz,
We believe this is some species of Flea Beetle in the tribe Alticini, a group in the Leaf Beetle family Chrysomelidae.  Your image resembles this image posted to iSpot.

Hello Daniel,
thank you very much for your detailed answer!!!!
It was a big help and I really appreciate your work.
Kind regards from Germany,
Simon Frantz

Related posts:

Flea Beetle and Recipe for Farfalla con Funghi Porcini Shining Flea Beetle Sumac Flea Beetle Flea Beetle from Brazil

Devil’s Coach Horse from Portugal

On · Category: Rove Beetles · Add Comment

Subject: Strange bug from Portugal
Location: Portugal
January 30, 2017 12:44 pm
Hi, bugman.
Found this strange bug hanging around my backyard in Portugal, never seen one before. My cat chased it into the house. It’s nearing the end of winter now.
I’m of course wondering what it is. When the cat was trying to swat it around, I noticed it attempts to raise its tail like a scorpion and secretes a white liquid from the tip. A stinger of sorts, I presume?
The bug was of course released without harm.
Anyway thanks in advance for any help!
Signature: David

Devil’s Coach Horse

Dear David,
This native predatory Rove Beetle in the genus Ocypus is commonly called a Devil’s Coach Horse.  They are not dangerous to humans, though they are able to expel a foul smelling odor from glands at the tip of the abdomen which they do while striking a curious curved posture that many folks liken to the appearance of a stinging scorpion.  This European native has naturalized in parts of North America and according to BugGuide:  “They often eat, and may help to control, the introduced brown garden snail.”

Related posts:

Gold and Brown Rove Beetle Default ThumbnailGold and Brown Rove Beetles prey upon Blow Flies Default ThumbnailAngry Rove Beetle in a Zip Lock Bag!!! Rove Beetle

Mud Dauber Nest in Australia

On · Category: Nests, Thread Waisted Wasps Tagged With: · Add Comment

Subject: What are these clay light shells
Location: Sydney Australia
January 28, 2017 8:07 pm
Found these in the backyard and just wondering what they were shells of..
Signature: Cindy

Mud Dauber Nest

Dear Cindy,
This is a mud nest constructed by a Wasp, probably a Mud Dauber in the genus Sceliphron based on the image posted to Oz Animals.  The Brisbane Insect site has images of a female Mud Dauber constructing her nest as well as this information:  “The wasps build mud cells in sheltered locations. If the cell is opened, you will find a wasp larva, together with some spiders which are the larva’s foods. They are collected by the mother wasp.”

Related posts:

Australian Paper Wasp Cutworm Wasp Paper Wasps and Nest in Australia Orange Potter Wasp provisions nest with Caterpillar in Australia

Probably Lychee Stink Bug Uxuvia from Australia

On · Category: Stink Bugs and Shield Bugs Tagged With: , · Add Comment

Subject: Weird Insect
Location: Sydney Australia
January 29, 2017 2:36 am
Just curious about this one. Never seen one like this before.
Signature: Russell

Lychee Stink Bug Exuvia

Dear Russell,
This appears to us to be an Exuvia or cast-off exoskeleton that an immature insect leaves behind when it matures and molts.  Our best guess is that it is the member of an order that has incomplete metamorphosis, with immature nymphs resembling adults.  Alas, we do not recognize the order.  We will continue to research this and we hope to get some input from our readership.

Lychee Stink Bug Exuvia

Karl Provides a Suggestion
Hi Daniel and Russel:
My first thought was that this exuviae belonged to a true bug nymph in the family Tessaratomidae. The horn-like caudal projections are a common feature among Tessaratomids, especially nymphs. A quick internet search came up with several photos of Lychee Stink Bug nymphs (Lyramorpha rosea) that appear to me as a possible candidate. I believe the black filaments visible in both exuvia photos are likely the antennae sheds. Interesting photos…regards Karl

Related posts:

Unknown Hemipteran Nymphs from Australia Unknown Hopper from Australia Possibly Male Orbweaver from Australia Crested Tooth Grinder and Two Unidentified Grasshoppers from Australia