From the monthly archives: "May 2019"

Probably flightless, female Moth from the French Alps

On · Category: Geometrid Moths Tagged With: · 4 Comments

Subject:  Unknown insect from French Alps
Geographic location of the bug:  Val Claret 2300m Tignes, France
Date: 05/27/2019
Time: 01:17 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Possible White Hyphantria ermine or cunea moth Spilosoma lubricipeda following the only similar picture found so far…
But my beauty has no wings!
How you want your letter signed:  Silvia

Flightless Female Moth

Dear Silvia,
We agree that this is a Moth, but we are not certain of the species or even the family, though we are leaning to Geometridae.  Females of certain species of Moths in the Inchworm family Geometridae and Tussock Moths in the family Erebidae are wingless, hence flightless.  Perhaps one of our readers will recognize your beauty and write in with an identifying comment.  

Flightless Female Moth

Dear Daniel,
Thank you so much for your reply. I got nuts trying to know even what the family was! I’m not entomologist, but biologist, hence very curious
Kind regards,
Silvia

Related posts:

Geometrid Moth Three Moths from Ecuador Hibernating Winter Geometrid Moths Geometer Moth

Big Legged Bug

On · Category: Leaf Footed Bugs · Add Comment

Subject:  The big black nuisance
Geographic location of the bug:  Monroe NC
Date: 05/28/2019
Time: 12:25 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  I keep finding these guys around my back deck. What are they and are they something I have to worry about with my dogs?
How you want your letter signed:  Roger G.

Big Legged Bug

Dear Roger,
This is a Big Legged Bug in the genus Acanthocephala, and we just finished posting an image of an immature Big Legged Bug.  Big Legged Bugs will not harm your dogs.

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Leaf Footed Bug Nymph Helmeted Squash Bug Nymph Western Conifer Seed Bug Leaf Footed Bug

Immature Big Legged Bug

On · Category: Leaf Footed Bugs · Add Comment

Subject:  WTB IS IT???!!!
Geographic location of the bug:  Pearsall, Texas
Date: 05/29/2019
Time: 07:53 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Greetings Bugman,
WTB IS THAT ??!!!
Was my similar response by 1 letter.
A friend of mine from where I now reside in California is now in Texas.
He took this photo 5/24/2019 in Pearsall, Texas.
I grew up in Texas and in true tomboy form was an avid “bug collector”.
Many years and in all seasons were spent combing through the grass, foilage, and dirt.
Untold hours were spent in trees, creekside, streamside, in barns, sheds, fields, etc..etc…
I also bug watched in New Mexico, Louisiana, Tennesee, Florida, and finally the California deserts.
I have gotten up close and personal with huge grasshoppers, gargantuan centipedes, massive black scorpions, and black widow spiders, tarantulas (and had a pet one later), made buddies with a wolf spider have been buds with several manti, a walking stick, a few crickets too and even a very special sun spider that bypassed my rare fear of an insect.
I like insects as I do animals, birds, reptiles.
I have never seen a bug like this one in Texas or anywhere else.
Can you educate me in this one?
He is a handsome fellow (or felicia) in warrior’s armor to boot even if pre steel.
I applaud your stand on extermination.
I often say; “even cockroaches are simply trying to clean up OUR mess so who is actually disgusting?
Many thanks to you.
How you want your letter signed:  Amie Friederich

Immature Big Legged Bug

Dear Amie,
Thank you for your highly entertaining submission.  This is an immature Big Legged Bug in the genus Acanthocephala, and you can compare your image to this BugGuide image.  Adult Big Legged Bugs grow quite large.  This genus is not reported from California.

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Leaf Footed Bug Leaf Footed Bug Western Conifer Seed Bug Western Conifer Seed Bug killed in UK!!!

Honey Locust Moth

On · Category: Giant Silk Moths · Add Comment

Subject:  Moth identification
Geographic location of the bug:  Manhattan, KS
Date: 05/28/2019
Time: 06:30 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Found this moth on my deck this morning. With wings closed it’s about 1 inch in length.
How you want your letter signed:  Andrea

Honey Locust Moth

Dear Andrea,
This lovely Giant Silkmoth is a Honey Locust Moth, Syssphinx bicolor, which we identified on BugGuide.  According to BugGuide:  “Range mostly Upper Midwest, less common across se.”

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Bug of the Month June 2019: Mayfly with white eyes

On · Category: Mayflies Tagged With: · 2 Comments

Subject:  White Eyed Bug
Geographic location of the bug:  Bernville, Pennsylvania
Date: 05/27/2019
Time: 06:27 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  I found this sitting on the door frame of my patio door. I am trying to identify it, and hoping you might be able to help.
How you want your letter signed:  Troy

Mayfly

Dear Troy,
This unusual creature is a Mayfly in the insect order Ephemeroptera.  This BugGuide image and this BugGuide image of individuals in the genus Maccaffertium closely match your specimen.  Mayflies are unusual in the insect world in that their final molt is divided into two phases, the first being called the subimago, and though it is winged, it is not fully mature.  A second molting that usually occurs within a few days produces the mature adult.  We are uncertain why the eyes on your individual and on some of the images posted to BugGuide are white.  Your images are beautiful.  Though it is a few days before the beginning of June, we have decided to post your submission as the Bug of the Month for June 2019.  We hope someone can clarify why the eyes on some Mayflies are white.  Our suspicion is that this is a newly molted individual and that the eyes will eventually darken.

Mayfly

Related posts:

Bug of the Month: September 2007 – Bagworm Bug of the Month November 2010: Wheel Bug Bug of the Month Halloween 2014: Tangled Limbs: Mating Wheel Bugs Bug of the Month June 2018: Mantispid

Fishfly

On · Category: Dobsonflies and Fishflies · Add Comment

Subject:  Large winged insect
Geographic location of the bug:  Western Pennsylvania
Date: 05/27/2019
Time: 07:22 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Found this very weak insect on our back porch today. Never saw its kind around here and was wondering if you folks would know its species.
How you want your letter signed:  Richard

Fishfly

Dear Richard,
This is a Fishfly in the genus Chauliodes.  According to BugGuide:  ” Larvae leave the water to pupate under bark or in rotting wood; pupal period takes ~10 days. Adults live a week or less. Eggs are laid in masses on vegetation near water. Larvae hatch and crawl to water.”

Daniel,
Thanks so much for ID’ing the Fish Fly for me. First one I remember ever seeing. Quite a treat to look at too.
I especially was impressed by its size and its antennae.
Thanks again,
Rich

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Female Dobsonfly Fish Fly Male Dobsonfly Dobsonfly