From the monthly archives: "August 2010"

Hickory Horned Devil

On · Category: Silkworms · 2 Comments

Pics of Hickory Horned Devil
Location:  Charlotte NC
August 31, 2010 8:56 am
Thought you might like some additional pics of this horned devil. He was on a nearby tree at the welcome table at the Hummingbird Festival (Charlotte NC) this past weekend (Sat. Aug. 28). It amazed everyone that got to see it.
Michael

Hickory Horned Devil

Hi Michael,
Thanks for providing us with your excellent images of a Hickory Horned Devil.  The “portrait” is a perspective we do not often see.

Hickory Horned Devil

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Carolina Wolf Spider we believe

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My little sisters said I should ask you
Location:  Denver Colorado
August 31, 2010 1:01 am
about this spider I found at work, we were wondering what kind it is. We looked through your spider pictures and didn’t see anything that resembled it. It looks bigger in the picture, the actual size is about 3 inches total and just the body is about an inch. If you have time to identify it for us that would be great. My little sisters use your site a lot for school and for fun. They are really excited!
Nick, Kailee and Miranda Johnson

possibly Carolina Wolf Spider

Hi Nick,
Your spider looks to us like it is a Wolf Spider, probably in the genus Hogna.  It might be Hogna carolinensis (see BugGuide which states:  “Considered to be the largest wolf spider in North America” in support of the information you have provided regarding size) or possibly Hogna coloradensis (see BugGuide).  BugGuide provides this description of Hogna coloradensis:  “Hogna coloradensis – PDF from The Journal of Arachnology – An 8 page paper with drawings, descriptions, and range. ‘Hogna coloradensis can be separated from all other Hogna and Lycosidae by a dark area immediately anterior to the epigastric furrow as well as a small dark area just anterior to the spinnerets, the rest of the venter is light with spots.’”  Should you care to read the entire Journal or Arachnology paper, it is also posted online.

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Royal Walnut Moth

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Strange Moth
Location:  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
August 30, 2010 1:35 pm
Hi Bugman,
Can you please identify this bug? It was hanging out on the back of a co-worker’s car in late July.
Thanks!
Curious

Royal Walnut Moth

Dear Curious,
We cannot imagine how you ever managed to contain yourself for over a month by suppressing your curiosity regarding the identity of this Royal Walnut Moth or Regal Moth, the adult form of the fantastic Hickory Horned Devil caterpillar.

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Banded Sphinx Moth Caterpillars

On · Category: Caterpillars and Pupa · 3 Comments

Banded Sphinx Moth Caterpillars?

Banded Sphinx Moth Caterpillars

Banded Sphinx Moth Caterpillars?
Location:  Irmo, South Carolina
August 30, 2010 2:08 pm
Dearest Bugman,
Love the website. Just found it the other day. I have been taking lots of pics of dragonflies, but my questions are about some caerpillars I’ve found. The first photo is of two cats on a type of primrose that grows in the water at the edge of the pond. Unfortunately, I hadn’t noticed the cats until after my DH had weed-whacked most of the primroses down, but there are still a few plants left. The second photo is one of the cats after I had brought him inside. I’m keeping it in a plastic bug box for now. I’m feeding it the plants it was on. I thought it would eat more, but there has been frass and the cat has grown and changed color. The second pic shows him now (three days after I found him). Will the indoor temp negatively affect it? It’s about 90 degrees outside and about 70 inside. The last pic is a large (about 3” long) cat that is also feeding on the primroses. I am pretty sure the first pic is a Banded Sphinx moth cat, but not sure about the last one. One of my flowerbeds has petunias and moonflowers and we thought there was a baby hummingbird coming to feed late in the evening, but now we know it was one of the big moths.
Laura

Banded Sphinx Moth Caterpillar

Hi Laura,
All of your caterpillars are Banded Sphinx Moth Caterpillars, Eumorpha fasciatus.  According to Jim Tuttle on Bill Oehlke’s excellent website:”In my experience the caterpillars of this species are the most variable of all of the sphingids.”  That statement is supported on BugGuide where many color variations of the Banded Sphinx Moth Caterpillars are posted.  The temperature change from 90 to 70 degrees may slow growth a tiny bit, but it will not have a negative effect on the development of your caterpillars.  Banded Sphinx Caterpillars, unlike the caterpillars of most members of the family which are known as Hornworms, does not possess a caudal horn.  Your caterpillars will appreciate some nice soil in which to bury themselves to pupate.

Banded Sphinx Moth Caterpillar

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Picture Winged Fly

On · Category: Flies · 1 Comment

Unknown fly
Location:  Philadlephia, PA
August 30, 2010 4:19 pm
I’ve had a bunch of these flies in my yard for the past couple of years. I’ve tried to find out what kind of fly this is on my own with out any luck. In fact, trying to I.D. this fly on my own is part of what led me to your site.
Sadly, my camera gave me a hard time with focusing on this fly, so I was only able to get this one picture before it became annoyed with me and flew off. I was hoping that you’d be able to help me I.D. it.
Dave

Picture Winged Fly

Hi Dave,
This is a Picture Winged Fly in the family Ulidiidae.  The species Delphinia picta does not have a common name.  According to BugGuide , it:  “Breeds in decaying organic matter, such as compost.”

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Pandora Sphinx

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

Coolest looking green moth looking thing I have ever seen!
Location:  Raleigh, NC
August 30, 2010 4:39 pm
Ok so bugs normally creep me out and I run as quickly in the opposite direction as I can…but this is the prettiest bug I have ever seen! I have actually been back outside of my apartment several times in the last hour just to look at it. This moth looking bug has been outside of my apartment on the wall out of the sun for the last 4 hours. Hasn’t moved an inch! I have never seen another bug like this in my whole life, its wings look like a piece of art. Please help me identify this bug that I’ve been staring at for the few hours. I’d love to know anything else about this bug like if it is common to this area because I haven’t ever seen another one.
Curious bug gazer

Pandora Sphinx

Dear Curious bug gazer,
Your lovely moth is a Pandora Sphinx, Eumorpha pandorus, a species that ranges from Florida to southern Canada and west to Oklahoma according to Bill Oehlke’s excellent website.

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