Toxomerus marginatus
Location: Hawthorne, California
September 4, 2010 3:42 pm
Hi Bugman,
I think I have this fly properly identified. Can you confirm it as being a Syrphid fly – Toxomerus marginatus?
Signature: Thanks, Anna
Common Oblique Syrphid
Hi Anna,
This is a Syrphid Fly in the family Syrphidae, also known as a Flower Fly or Hover Fly, but we do not believe it is Toxomerus marginatus. We applaud you for attempting to self identify your Flower Fly, and the reason your letter caught our attention is that you used a scientific name in the subject line of your email, and it was a name we did not recognize. We do believe you have correctly identified the subfamily Syrphinae which is the same subfamily that includes the Common Oblique Syrphid Fly, Allograpta obliqua, which we believe looks like a closer match to the markings on your individual. If you compare images of Toxomerus marginatus on BugGuide with images of Allograpta obliqua on BugGuide, we think you will agree with our correction. This image on BugGuide shows the markings quite clearly. Syrphidae is a large and confusing family with many members that look remarkably alike, so we want to say again that we commend your efforts at self identification because we know how much time it can take to sort through the countless images posted to BugGuide.
P.S. In formatting the images for this posting, we realized that you have submitted other Syrphid Flies to us in the past, including a Eristalinus taeniops in January and a possible Copestylum marginatum in June. Your photos are excellent, so please keep sending us images of Syrphid Flies or other bugs that you might find that would interest our readers.
Common Oblique Syrphid Fly
Hickory Horned Devil vs. Cardinal
Hickory Horned Devil and Cardinal
Hickory Horned Devil vs. Cardinal
Location: Columbia, Maryland
September 4, 2010 4:21 pm
This was a battle between a Cardinal and a Hickory Horned Devil. After many attacks, the Cardinal finally gave up and flew away.
Signature: Edwin
Cardinal Gives up on Hickory Horned Devil assault
Hi Edwin,
Thanks for supplying our website with this marvelous documentation. Without birds, our planet would probably soon be defoliated since there are so many insects that feed upon plants. This looks like a young cardinal and a more mature bird would probably not have given up so quickly. The Hickory Horned Devil does not look like it weathered the attack very well.
Hickory Horned Devil
huge caterpillar
Location: Palm Beach County, FL
September 4, 2010 1:23 pm
Hi,
I was picking basil this morning and almost picked this guy – to my immense surprise! He’s soft and squishy, didn’t move the entire time I was out there, and BIG. Can you tell me what species it is?
Thanks in advance!
Signature: basil lady
Rustic Sphinx Hornworm
Dear Basil Lady,
This is the caterpillar of a Sphinx Moth in the family Sphingidae, known as a Hornworm. It looks to us like a Rustic Sphinx, Manduca rustica, and Bill Oehlke’s excellent website has photos of the caterpillar as well as the other stages of metamorphosis. The features that lead us to believe your caterpillar is a Rustic Sphinx are the “numerous white nodules on top of the thorax (visible in your closeup photo) and seven pairs of oblique, blue-gray stripes along the side of the body. The horn is white at the base and blue-gray at the tip.” There is an extensive list of plants that the caterpillar is known to feed upon, and basil is not among them, so we are copying Bill Oehlke on this reply to get a confirmation and also in the event he may want to add basil as a food plant to his list.
Rustic Sphinx Caterpillar
Colorado Moth
Location: Denver, Colorado
September 4, 2010 12:49 pm
I found this moth in Denver, Colorado in July. It seems to resemble the dagger moth and the underwing moth but the secondary wings look just like the ones on top. Moth measures 2 inches. Any help is appreciated.
Signature: Colorado moth lover
Waved Sphinx
Dear Colorado Moth Lover,
We believe this is a Waved Sphinx, Ceratomia undulosa, based on photos and information posted to Bill Oehlke’s excellent website, however there are several other similar looking species found in Colorado. We are going to copy Bill Oehlke with our reply so that he can incorporate your sighting into the comprehensive database he oversees, and perhaps he will be able to confirm our identification.
Hugely helpful!! Thank you so much!!
Julie Groves
Jewel-like beetle
Location: Playa Del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Yucutan Penninsula, Mexico
September 4, 2010 1:08 pm
Hi,
So one day while sitting in the kitchen of my friends apartment here in Playa Del Carmen, in the coast of Mexico, this little beetle about the size of an index fingernail lands on the countertop. for ages I just sat there mesmerised by it’s coloring. It was only until 10 minutes had passed when I thought of taking a photo. It would be great if I could put a name to this insect as I’ve only seen it once before.
Much appreciated!
signature: Adam Bolton
Tortoise Beetle
Hi Adam,
This is a Tortoise Beetle in the tribe Cassidini, but we cannot find a visual match on BugGuide. Often Tortoise Beetles lose their beautiful metallic coloration after death. Perhaps one of our readers will be able to supply a species name.
Tortoise Beetle
Hi daniel,
Thank you for your quick reply! Now I know what it is, I can put my mind at rest. What I will be doing from now on though, is using
your site a lot more. Since moving from my native England to Mexico, I’ve come across all kinds of strange and weird creatures which i’d love to know what they really are.
Cool Moth
Location: Eastern Coast Maryland
September 4, 2010 9:35 am
Hello, i was on my lunch break. In annapolis, Maryland when i saw this leaf hanging on the wall. Closer inspection i realized it was an awesome insect but i am unable to find its name
Signature: Jason
Grapevine Looper Moth
Hi Jason,
We are certain your moth is a Geometrid Moth in the genus Eulithis, but we are not certain of the species. We suspect this is the Greater Grapevine Looper, Eulithis gracilineata, which is pictured on BugGuide, though the Lesser Grapevine Looper, Eulithis diversilineata, also pictured on BugGuide, looks quite similar and BugGuide indicates: “A text description is needed that explains how to reliably distinguish photos of this species from the similar Greater Grapevine Looper (Eulithis gracilineata).“
Grapevine Looper Moth
Thankyou so much. That happened so fast. I am almost certain its the grapevine. You guys are so great
Unknown catepillar
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
September 3, 2010 3:34 pm
We found this in the yard in Pittsburgh, PA. ANy ideas as to what it is and what kind of moth/butterfly it will turn into?
signature: Wendi Martin
Heterocampa Caterpillar
Hi Wendi,
Though your photo doesn’t show the head, this pattern and coloration is characteristic of Prominent Caterpillars in the genus Heterocampa just prior to pupation. BugGuide has good images of the caterpillars in the genus Heterocampa as well as images of the adult moths.
Fuzzy Red and Black ant looking thing
Location: North East Arkansas, United States
September 3, 2010 3:22 pm
Hi. I just found this little horror running around on my kitchen floor. I trapped him under a little plastic container and as soon as I did it started hissing at me! I could hear it from two feet away! Now when I hold the container to my ear (with a lid on of course) it’s constantly making this strange high pitched ’khtkhtkhtkht’ noise. It looks VERY mean. It’s roughly a half an inch long and maybe a little more than a quarter of an inch wide. Red and black striped, very mean looking.
Found in: North Eastern Arkansas
3:15pm
Signature: Jesse
Cow Killer
Hi Jesse,
This is a Velvet Ant, a flightless female wasp in the family Mutillidae. It is a Cow Killer, Dasymutilla occidentalis, and it has earned its common name because the sting is reported to be extremely painful, so those warning colors are well earned. Our favorite part of your letter is your description of the noises made by your Cow Killer. The are able to make noise by stridulation or rubbing body parts together.
I like This
