From the yearly archives: "2019"
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Newly Eclosed Tiger Moth

On · Category: Tiger Moths and Arctiids · Add Comment

Subject:  Very Cool Moth
Geographic location of the bug:  Central Virginia
Date: 05/20/2019
Time: 10:35 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  I came across this moth while mowing. Made sure to move it before going through. Thoughts?
How you want your letter signed:  Mr. Motter

Newly Eclosed Tiger Moth

Dear Mr. Motter,
This Tiger Moth appears to be newly eclosed and its wings haven’t yet fully expanded.  We believe it is in the genus Apantesis which is pictured on BugGuide.

Related posts:

(07/18/2005) Caterpillars Metamorphose into Faithful Beauty Newly emerged Black and White Tiger Moth from Australia Two Brazilian Tiger Moths Tiger Moth from Colombia: Histioea meldolae
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Raspy Cricket from Australia

On · Category: Raspy Crickets Tagged With: · 2 Comments

Subject:  What type of cricket (?) is this?
Geographic location of the bug:  Sydney, Australia
Date: 05/19/2019
Time: 08:36 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Hi this cricket (?) leapt at me and then tried to bite me! When I tried to initiate contact it reared back like a spider and it’s mandibles we’re clacking away.
How you want your letter signed:  Simon Carter

Raspy Cricket

Dear Simon,
This is a King Cricket in the genus Australostoma.  There are images posted to FlickR and The Bug Chicks.  According to the Queensland Museum:  “Giant King Crickets are found only in rainforest in south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales. They live in burrows in the soil and emerge on wet nights to forage on the rainforest floor for live insects and rotten fruit. They are closely related to the giant wetas of New Zealand.”

Raspy Cricket

Correction:  We received a comment from Matthew that this is actually a Raspy Cricket which is profiled on Brisbane Insects.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Twin Spotted Sphinx or Smerinthus ophthalmica???

On · Category: Hummingbird Moths, Sphinx Moths or Hawk Moths · Add Comment

Subject:  moth
Geographic location of the bug:  Idaho
Date: 05/15/2019
Time: 10:06 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  hey buggy man…I found this on my wall east side late afternoon in Idaho…we have maple trees and some blue spruce trees. may have some poplar trees around too.
How you want your letter signed:  Gary

Possibly Twin Spotted Sphinx

Dear Gary,
This is a Sphinx Moth in the genus Smerinthus, but we are uncertain of the species as there are to possible species that are known to fly in Idaho, and they are very difficult to distinguish from one another.  One possibility pictured on Sphingidae of the Americas is the Twin Spotted Sphinx, Smirinthus jamaicensis, and the other species with no common name, Smirinthus ophthalmica, is also pictured on Sphingidae of the Americas. 

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Whitelined Sphinx Caterpillar

On · Category: Hornworms · Add Comment

Subject:  some kind of horn worm?
Geographic location of the bug:  Boulder City  Nevada 89005
Date: 05/17/2019
Time: 11:06 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  This is not our standard tomato hornworm/sphinx moth but is a different horn worm?
Please help me ID this caterpillar!
How you want your letter signed:  Dr. Merkler

Whitelined Sphinx Caterpillar

Dear Dr. Merkler,
This is a highly variably colored Whitelined Sphinx Caterpillar, a species that is known for extreme population explosions in desert areas following winters of significantly heavy rainfall.  In April, Daniel  saw thousands of dark colored Whitelined Sphinx Caterpillars feeding on wildflowers in Joshua Tree National Park.

Related posts:

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Male Ladybird Spider from Greece

On · Category: Ladybird Spiders · Add Comment

Subject:  Ladybird spider
Geographic location of the bug:  Patras, Greece
Date: 05/15/2019
Time: 02:29 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Hi! Here are some photos from our school yard
How you want your letter signed:  Wendy

Male Ladybird Spider

Dear Wendy,
Thanks for sending in your awesome image of an endangered male Ladybird Spider.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Oak Apple Gall

On · Category: Gall Wasps, Galls · Add Comment

Subject:  Unknown Moth Chrysalis?
Geographic location of the bug:  Northern VA
Date: 05/18/2019
Time: 03:06 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Hello, I was walking today (May 18) and found this unusual growth on a small tree sapling off of the neighborhood trail. I’ve searched but have only found one image even close and it was a silk moth chrysalis.
How you want your letter signed:  N. Celata

Oak Apple Gall

Dear N. Celata,
Your sapling appears to be a young Oak and this is a Gall, a growth that appears on plants and is often caused by an insect.  Oaks are hosts to many different Gall Wasps that produce Galls.  Based on images posted to Discover Life, we believe this is an Oak Apple Gall, Amphibolips confluenta.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination