Subject: Back and yellow bug
Geographic location of the bug: South Africa
Date: 01/10/2018
Time: 02:36 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: Hi,
What bug is this, it is currently summer here and it is everywhere on my plants. But does not seem to eat the plants though..
How you want your letter signed: Hanri
Dear Hanri,
This is a Net-Winged Beetle in the family Lycidae, and though it resembles the individuals pictured on Biodiversity Explorer, it is definitely a different species. According to Biodiversity Explorer: “Adults are active by day and occur on various plants and grasses and also feed on nectar. The larvae live in decaying wood and possibly feed on fungi. The orange and black colouration is mimicked by various insects as these animals contain cantharadin and are distasteful to birds and other predators.” Your individual looks exactly like the Hook Winged Net Winged Beetle, Lycus melanurus, pictured on Blue Gnu, a species also pictured on iNaturalist.