Bug of the Month March 2019: Red Headed Ash Borer...

3 weeks ago bugman
Ed. Note:  March 3, 2019 After posting this submission, we realized we had not yet selected a Bug o…
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Bug of the Month March 2019: Red Headed Ash Borer... Image  
3 weeks agoBug of the Month March 2019: Red Headed Ash Borer...

New California Resident discovers Potato Bug in Sa…...

1 month ago bugman
Subject:  identify bug Geographic location of the bug:  Santa Maria California Date: 02/14/2019 T…
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New California Resident discovers Potato Bug in Sa…... Image  
1 month agoNew California Resident discovers Potato Bug in Sa…...

Bug of the Month February 2019: Lichen Mimic Mant…...

2 months ago bugman
Subject:  bug on a lichen Geographic location of the bug:  Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk, Naples FL D…
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Bug of the Month February 2019: Lichen Mimic Mant…... Image  
2 months agoBug of the Month February 2019: Lichen Mimic Mant…...

Bug of the Month February 2019: Female Golden Sta…...

2 months ago bugman
Subject:  Bright Green beetle, dark blue legs and orange head. Geographic location of the bug:  Mit…
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Bug of the Month February 2019: Female Golden Sta…... Image  
2 months agoBug of the Month February 2019: Female Golden Sta…...

Our 25,000th Posting: Bug Love under the Porch Li…...

1 year ago bugman
Ed Note: We knew that we were getting close to our 25,000th posting for a few months now, and we dec…
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1 year agoOur 25,000th Posting: Bug Love under the Porch Li…...
Overlays

Painted Ladies are migrating in Southern California

On · Category: Brush Footed Butterflies · Add Comment

Subject:  Migrating Painted Ladies
Geographic location of the bug:  Los Angeles, California
Date: 03/14/2019
Time: 07:40 AM EDT
For over a week now, Daniel has been seeing 1000s of Painted Ladies flying throughout Los Angeles, including on the campus of Los Angeles City College.  One neighbor sent Daniel an email inquiring:  “Hundreds if not many more butterflies emerging from the trees in Red Hawk Canyon. Been going on all day.  I tried to get some video of them but hard to discern against the trees and greenery all around.  I think they’re Viceroys. They all seem to be heading West.  Rene.”  Another neighbor left a telephone message inquiry.  Though he did not get any images of the flight, Daniel did manage to get this image of a Painted Lady nectaring on Baccharis in Glassell Park.

Painted Lady

 

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Cactus Fly

On · Category: Syrphid Flies · Add Comment

Subject:  Large black “fly” with clear wings
Geographic location of the bug:  Safari Park Escondido CA
Date: 03/12/2019
Time: 02:58 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Not sure if this is a rodent bot (?), hope not.
How you want your letter signed:  Linda

Mexican Cactus Fly

Dear Linda,
We love your in flight image of a Mexican Cactus Fly, one of the Hover Flies in the family Syrphidae.  Despite its name, the Mexican Cactus Fly is a native species.  The Mexican Cactus Fly is one of the larger Flies we have seen in our Mount Washington, Los Angeles neighborhood.

Mexican Cactus Fly

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Debris-Carrying Lacewing Larva

On · Category: Neuropterans: Lacewings, Antlions, and Owlflies · Add Comment

Subject:  Bizarre Bug
Geographic location of the bug:  Atlanta , Georgia
Date: 03/13/2019
Time: 08:48 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Found on backyard wood deck. It is March. Found three others similar last year. Bug has on its back what look like crystals. It leaves strange residues on Petri dish. Scuttles quite fast. Very strange formations or perhaps its got stuff stuck to it? Or, is it carrying babies, or its lunch? Spider-like legs, pinchers, hairs on legs. 6 legs I think. Very bold stripes on face. I’m terrified.
How you want your letter signed:  C.McElhenny

Debris-Carrying Lacewing

Dear C. McElhenny,
This looks like a Debris-Carrying Lacewing larva.  They are ferocious predators and though we have received reports of people being bitten by Lacewing Larvae and by adult Lacewings, we have not gotten any reports of anyone being bitten by a Debris-Carrying Lacewing larva.

 

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American Hornet Moth

On · Category: Clearwings · Add Comment

Subject:  Please Identify
Geographic location of the bug:  Western Oregon, Outside Eugene
Date: 03/11/2019
Time: 11:43 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  I found this beauty while visiting a local lake in 2017.  It didn’t attempt to fly away the entire time we were there, and seemed unfazed when I stuck a phone camera several inches from its face.   I was afraid it was dead, but it was still moving a bit.  Thank you!
How you want your letter signed:  Dan

American Hornet Moth

Dear Dan,
This is one of the Clearwing Moths in the family Sesiidae, a group that includes many members that mimic stinging wasps and bees for protection.  Your individual is an American Hornet Moth, Sesia tibiale, which we identified on BugGuide, and according to BugGuide:  “In flight they closely resemble wasps, even producing the droning sound.”

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Possibly Fungus

On · Category: attack of the fungus · Add Comment

Subject:  Egg cases
Geographic location of the bug:  Northwestern Connecticut
Date: 03/10/2019
Time: 05:55 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Found these holding three logs together in my woodpile today, 3.10.19. Not sure if it’s fungal or insecticidal. The woodpile is seasoned and covered. It’s been that way for about 2 years now. Ever seen it?
How you want your letter signed:  Paul Hanlon

Fungus we believe

Dear Paul,
We do not think this is insect related.  It looks to us like a Fungus.

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Potter Wasp

On · Category: Potter and Mason Wasps · Add Comment

Subject:  Possible Cuckoo Leafcutter bee?
Geographic location of the bug:  Galveston, Tx
Date: 03/11/2019
Time: 03:45 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Hello,
I’m just now learning about native bees and am wondering if this bug that I took a picture of in October of 2018 could be a Slosson’s Sand-dwelling Cuckoo Leafcutter Bee. The insect was hanging out in my garden although I can’t remember the name of the plant I saw it on.
Can you help me out and let me know if it is a native bee?
Thanks Chris
How you want your letter signed:  Chris

Potter Wasp

Dear Chris,
This is not a native Bee.  It is a native Potter or Mason Wasp in the subfamily Eumeninae, the Red-marked Pachodynerus, Pachodynerus erynnis, which we identified on BugGuide.  According to BugGuide:  “Adults are nectar feeders and hunt caterpillars as food for larvae” and “Solitary. A parent wasp builds mud cells or uses empty cells of other mud-building wasp species, provisioning the nest with caterpillars. One larva per cell.”

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