Subject: Two insects from Madagascar
Geographic location of the bug: Madagascar
Date: 03/16/2018
Time: 04:31 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: Hi,
I had the good fortune to visit Madagascar last September. While I was there I accumulated a wealth of pictures of the native species. I have two insects that I cannot identify and I would like to request your help. The first is a caterpillar that I saw in Ranomafana National Park in Madagascar. The second is an unusual yellow banded spider that does not appear to be Nephila inaurata, also from Madagascar. I am in the process of writing a post on unusual insects from Madagascar for my website www.traveltoeat.com. Like you, my website is a labor of love but I would be happy to cite you and link to your site as the source of the identification. I really have looked everywhere and I just cannot identify these two insects. With many thanks.
How you want your letter signed: Kurt Buzard
Subject: Malagasy Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia madagascariensis)
Geographic location of the bug: Madagascar
Your letter to the bugman: Sorry for writing again so soon but I don’t know any other way to contact you. I had literally just written to you for help in identifying the Malagasy green lynx spider when I happened upon a page of lynx spiders. Sorry, no need to identify that one but I would still like to know what you think of the fuzzy white caterpillar. I think it’s great that you take on the task of identifying unknown insects and I will certainly link to your page on my website. Thanks again.
How you want your letter signed: Kurt Buzard
Dear Kurt,
Thanks for writing back with your identification of Peucetia madagascariensis. We found images on iNaturalist and on Encyclopedia of Life to verify your identification. We will attempt to identify your caterpillar.