From the monthly archives: "February 2017"

Koppie Foam Grasshopper from Mpumalanga

On · Category: Toxic Milkweed Grasshoppers · Add Comment

Subject: identification assistance
Location: wakkerstroom Mpumalanga
February 23, 2017 12:05 pm
Please could you assist with the I’d of this specimen
Signature: Kristi Garland

Koppie Foam Grasshopper

Dear Kristi,
This is a Milkweed Grasshopper in the family Pyrgomorphidae.  More specifically, we believe it is a Koppie Foam Grasshopper, Dictyophorus spumans, which is pictured on iSpot.  Because they feed on milkweed and they are able to absorb and retain toxic compounds from the plant, members of this family are called Toxic Milkweed Grasshoppers and they sport aposomatic or warning coloration to protect them from predators.

Thank you so much Daniel!  You are a super star!
Kind regards
Kristi

 

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Eastern Boxelder Bugs hibernating in home

On · Category: Box Elder Bugs · Add Comment

Subject: Bug identification
Location: Upstate NY Catskill Mountains
February 23, 2017 11:05 am
In the past 2 weeks, I’ve noticed these bugs crawling around in broad daylight. They resemble a roach but my husband swears it’s not. I see about 10 on any given day. They are seen sporadically anywhere, kitchen floor, living room floor, etc. Never seen on countertops but the thought of bugs in my home gives me the creeps. Could you please help me out here and identify this bug. It started about 2 weeks ago, as the weather has been warming up here in the Catskill Mountains, Upstate, NY.
Signature: Marie

Subject: Bug identification
Location: Upstate NY Catskill Mountains
February 23, 2017 11:28 am
I just recently sent you a inquiry if you could help me identify this bug that we’ve seen more and more in the past 2 weeks. Seems like since the weather got a bit warmer, we’ve suddenly seen this bug. Looks like a cockroach to me, but my husband says it’s not. Other people up here in Upstate New York, Catskill mountains, have also seen them and don’t know what they are. Can you help me out with identifying this pest? Never see them on the kitchen counters, and see about 10 a day in broad daylight. Has six legs and antennae. Dark brownish in color, and I believe they have wings, but I’ve never seen them fly. About 1/4 -1/2 inch in size. Have spotted them throughout our first floor. We do have an unfinished basement that get occasional water from rain. So please see if you can let me know what they are and what I can do to get rid of them. Thanks so much.

Eastern Boxelder Bugs

Dear Marie,
You have Eastern Boxelder Bugs, a species known to form large aggregations outdoors and to seek shelter indoors to hibernate once the weather cools.  Once the weather begins to warm again, the hibernating Eastern Boxelder Bugs become active and attempt to gain egress to the outdoors, at which point they are noticed.  Eastern Boxelder Bugs are harmless, and they will not damage your home, but they can become a nuisance when they are plentiful.

Thank you so much Daniel.  You were a big help.  Not sure how to get rid of them though.  Any ideas?
Marie

 

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Case Bearing Moth Larva

On · Category: Clothes Moth and Meal Moth Caterpillars Tagged With: · 3 Comments

Subject: Odd creepy crawly
Location: Southeast Florida
February 23, 2017 5:09 am
Ive recently found a bunch of these hanging around, a hard casing with what seems to be a little black worm inside along with silverfish. The worm will stick its head out and move itself around surprisingly fast as well. Its starting spring and its been raining quite a lot here in southeast Florida. They also seem to be more active at night but that may be because I’m not around much of the day. Thanks.
Signature: Alli

Case Bearing Moth Larva

Dear Alli,
This is a Case Bearing Moth Larva, a common household pest that will feed on many types of organic matter in the home, including pet hair.

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Feather Horned Beetle from Australia

On · Category: Feather Horned and Cedar Beetles Tagged With: · Add Comment

Subject: Feather-Horned Beetle – Rhipicera femorata
Location: Mount Gambier, South Australia
February 23, 2017 1:06 am
Found this beautiful little man today while out taking photos. Its a male Rhipicera femorata. They are uncommon and little is known about them, and i thought you and your readers might enjoy some nice photos 🙂
Taken on 23/02/2017, Mount Gambier, South Australia
Signature: – Liam

Feather Horned Beetle

Dear Liam,
This is a very good morning for us.  Generally, the beginning of the year is not the busiest time for our site as winter envelops the northern hemisphere and most of our submissions are blurry images sent by desperate homemakers who find carpet beetles, stink bugs, bed bugs, cockroaches and other household intruders that they fear and loath.  Your submission is the third beautiful and wondrous posting for us today.  We really prefer posting images from people who appreciate the beauty of the lower beasts.  While Feather Horned Beetles are not new to our site, your images are especially lovely.  According to the Atlas of Living Australia:  “Adults may not feed, but fly readily in fine weather. During their short summer flight season, males greatly outnumber females; their flabellate antennae are presumably particularly sensitive to the female’s scent and help them to home in on her. The larvae are thought to be parasites of the nymphs of cicadas living in sandy soils.”  According to Featured Creature:  “The males differ from the females in that their anntenae are much larger and more pronounced. Those anntenae are unique due to the fact that they have more than 20 segments and arise from small knob-like prominences.”

Feather Horned Beetle

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First Luna Moth of the Year

On · Category: Luna Moth - Rare Specimen · 1 Comment

Subject: Luna
Location: Juliette Ga
February 22, 2017 9:48 pm
Just wanted to post this for you all, such a beauty.
Signature: Trent

Male Luna Moth

Dear Trent,
Thanks so much for sending in your image.  We always thrill at our first Luna Moth posting each year and your image is especially lovely as the backlighting really enhances the translucent beauty of the wings.  The heavily feathered antennae indicates your individual is a male.  We hope he finds a mate to perpetuate the species.

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Giant Yellow Robber Fly from Australia

On · Category: Robber Flies Tagged With: · 2 Comments

Subject: Giant yellow robber fly from Western Australia
Location: Quinninup, Western Australia
February 23, 2017 3:14 am
I found this giant fly on a window, feet caught in spiderwebbing, 25km south of Manjimup. It is 45mm from head to tip of abdomen, is bright orange on the top of the abdomen and black and hairy underneath. It has tufts of black and white hairs down the sides of the abdomen and very strong black legs covered in barbs.
Signature: PK

Giant Yellow Robber Fly

Dear PK,
The Giant Yellow Robber Fly, Blepharotes coriarius, is one of the most impressive looking flies we have ever received for posting.  We were quite amazed the first time we posted an image of a Giant Yellow Robber Fly nine years ago.  It is one impressive predator.

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