Nawlins Beetle
Location: French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana
November 12, 2010 2:49 am
This beetle was slowly making its way up a pipe on the side of a house in the French Quarter of New Orleans, LA, around 1:30pm on November 11th 2010 (temp was approx 70°F). Please help me identify this amazing looking critter!
As you can see, it appears that one hind leg is longer/thicker than the other one. Might you know a reason for this? And are there any clues as to approximately how old he/she is?
Any info would be greatly appreciated, thank you!
Signature: KT
Dear KT,
This is a Big Legged Plant Bug in the genus Acanthocephala. There are several species that may be found in Louisiana and we are reluctant to commit to an exact species identification, however, you may check BugGuide for the possibilities. We believe the angle of view and the difference in perspective has created the illusion that the two hind legs are of a different size. We would guess that this adult hatched this past spring.
I have encounter one today in Hickory, NC. I was under a tree and it fell from the tree onto my head and I went to pee in a cousin’s house. So as I finished peeing, this bug was on my neck. I felt a sting in the back of my neck and I used my right hand to swing it off my neck and it was that long legged plant bug. It felt like a bee sting but a minute later the sting feeling was gone. It’s been 3 hrs and I still feel find so I don’t know if I’m allergic to it or not. But it does sting people.