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Dynastes tityus
(06/17/2005) Thanks for a great site!
Hey Bugdude!
After unsuccessfully searching Google images and several websites to identify this beefy dude (painful over a modem...), you came to my rescue. I believe this may be either a Unicorn or a Hercules beetle? Found him legs up on my roof in rural northwest SC. Love your website, and since I'm from CA and am not familiar with the local fauna, will now refer back to it frequently to find out whether the buggies get to listen to me jabber at them or feel the wrath of my vengeful heel (The latter may be preferred over the former, since most seem to flee after the first "Hello, Mr. Insert-generic-bug-name-here." Word gets around these rural small towns rather quickly...). Your tips on what these insects eat and their preferred habitats make it easier for me to relocate them to the proper environs if necessary.
Thanks mucho,
-Mike
Hi Mike,
We have heard this guy called both the Hercules Beetle and the Unicorn Beetle, but to be safe, we could go scientific and call it Dynastes tityus. We sympathize with your modem searching, but imagine trying to upload What's That Bug? on dial-up. That is our excuse for answering so slowly when we have 100's of letters.
Lytta cyanipennis, a Blister Beetle
(06/16/2005) Iridescent Beetle?
Hi,
I found this beetle high up on a plateau near Rock Creek BC. I thought the iridescent greem covering the abdomen an wing casing was beautiful. However, I don't know what kind of insect it is?
Rick Hartnell
Hi Rick,
We checked with Eric Eaton to get an actual species identification on your Blister Beetles. He quickly responded: "I'm envious. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and never once saw these guys! These are indeed blister beetles, probably Lytta cyanipennis. Blister beetles are very LOCALLY abundant, for very short periods, so the person is lucky to have encountered them. Just don't grab one, as they will live up to their name by leaving blisters on sensitive areas of your skin."
Strategus antaeus
(06/16/2005) Help with an ID please?
I've looked at all the pictures on your site, as well and scoured the internet for the last 2 hours, but I am unable to find any photos of beetles that look like the one I've attached. I am in Palm Harbor, FL and met this rather buly bugger which I instantly named "Whole COW that's a big Beetle" If you can tell me the name of it, I would be so happy! I'm a huge research freak and it drive me crazy when I can't find what I'm looking for HA HA
Thank you in advance,
Heather
Hi Heather,
After consulting with Eric Eaton, I've got a name for you, Strategus antaeus, but not much information. This is one of the larger native scarabs. Eric says: "Yes, this image is definitely Strategus, probably a "minor" male without well-developed horns."
Fire Beetle
(06/16/2005) Strange bug
Hi,
I have seen this particular bug in my house two times so far, I can't seem to find out what it is. This is probably not a very good picture, if I see it again I'll try to take a better one. It has two spots near the top of the head that glow green when it feels threatened. Thanks for any help.
Wendy
Hi Wendy,
Your Fire Beetle is one of the Click Beetles from the Family Elateridae, also known as Spring Beetles, Snapping Bugs or Skipjacks (according to Dillon and Dillon) because of a strange habit they have when they find themselves on their backs. The body is bent and then snapped and the beetle flips into the air, hopefully landing on its feet. It will continue trying until it is upright. Some Southern species have luminous maculae (colored spots of relatively large size) and some larvae are also luminous. More specifically, your Fire Beetle is in the genus Pyrophorus. According to the Audubon Guide adults eat pollen and small insects such as aphids and scale insects. Larva are omniverous. Adults are active for a few weeks in May in Florida and late June in the Southwest. "Tropical members of this genus, up to 2 inches long, are known as Cucujos and often caught and worn as a luminous decoration by partygoers. If one beetle is held in the fingers and placed on a newspaper in a darkened room, it can supply enough light to read the print near the insect."
Round-Headed Apple Borer
(06/15/2005) What is this bug???
Someone posted a picture of this bug on an online forum I am part of and I'm so intrigued with it, I have to know what it is. It is on a door and looks to be quite big, possibly 6-8 inches long. I've searched on the net for a while, but not knowing anything other than it is an insect, hasn't helped me find anything on it. Hopefully you can lend some insight as to what it is. I believe it was found in Buffalo, NY. Doing a little more investigation, I guess the bug in the picture is the size of a quarter (just a really big zoom). I'd still like to know what it is if you could. Thanks.
Jordan Pulaski
Hi Jordan,
Your beetle is a Round-Headed Apple Borer, Saperda candida, from the Family Cerambycidae. In the larval stage this species is very destructive to apple trees, quince and a few other species.
Checkered Beetle: Enoclerus eximius
(06/15/2005) My Friend Fred
I work on the 29th floor of a huge building in the middle of downtown Portland Oregon. I found this little guy barely alive in my windowsill one day and have no idea where he came from. His appearance did coincide with an orchid that was donated to my office though, so he might have come in with that. Anyway, I poured a couple drops of water onto the ledge before I left that night and the next morning he was walking all over the place...on the window, on the sill, over my books. He has been my office mate for 4 days now. I though he might be a box elder bug or a milkweed bug, but haven't found any pictures that look like him and I've never seen him fly. He is about half an inch long. Could you let me know what my new friend is?
Well, perhaps his life span was short, or maybe he just did what we all feel like doing stuck in a skyscraper day after day...curled up and died of claustrophobia. I haven't heard anything though and am still interested to know what he was.
Leah Woodard
Springbrook Software
Hi Leah,
I'm not sure why we never got your original letter. Fred was a Checkered Beetle from the Family Cleridae. Checkered Beetles are brightly patterned with red, orange, yellow and blue and they have bulging eyes. Adults visit flowers and rest on foliage and trunks of dying or dead trees and they prey on the larva of wood boring insects. Larva of some species prey on bark beetle larva while others feed on grasshopper eggs. Our California species, Aulicus terrestris, feeds on caterpillars. We contacted Eric Eaton to try to get an exact species name. Here is his response:
"I grew up in Portland and never saw anything like this! It is indeed a checkered beetle (family Cleridae), but I wonder if it might even be exotic, and came in on produce or something. Jacques Rifkind runs a wonderful website with LOADS of images of Cleridae, so maybe someone should try searching that site for a match. These kinds of clerids are not pests, BTW, but prey on bark beetles and other pest insects. Eric"
Update: (06/27/2007) Eric Eaton pursued the following identification.
Daniel:
At last we have an ID on that checkered beetle: Enoclerus eximius according
to Jacques Rifkind! Please see attached, and make sure he gets the credit
for BOTH identifications. I was merely mediator here. Thanks.
Eric
Dear Eric, Jpeg came through fine. That one is indeed
Enoclerus eximius (Mannerheim). Have a good weekend! Cheers, J
Spider Beetles and Dermestid Larva
(06/15/2005) Please identify these bugs!
Hello Again,
I am very anxious to ask you what are the bugs that I've attached. For me, but I am almost too upset to go into the full story of how and how many of these bugs I've found in my NYC apartment. I fear that they may be bad for my health. Can you please help me identify, or tell me what they are not. No one's been able to help me.
Sincerely,
Russell Cowans
Hi Russell,
You have Spider Beetles, Mezium species. According to the Audubon Guide: "These minute, pear-shaped beetles superficially resemble spiders because of their long, thin legs and long threadlike antennae. Most are brownish and less than 1/4 inch long. ... Both adults and their C-shaped larvae are scavengers, feeding on dried organic matter, including wook, museum specimens, desiccated animals,l dung, plants, stored seeds, and dried fruits. ... Continuous generations as long as food remains available." So, you had better find the food source. They will not harm you except for your sanity. The larva is a Dermestid, possibly a Carpet Beetle. Good luck.
Metallic Wood Boring Beetle
(06/13/2005) From Portland
This flashy guy made it up 12 stories in the middle of downtown Portland, OR. Any ideas what he is? He's about an inch and a quarter long.
Rick
Hi Rick,
We weren't sure what species your Metallic Wood Boring Beetle from the Family Buprestidae was, so we wrote to Eric Eaton. Here is his response: "Possibly Buprestis adjecta. Hard to tell from such a distant photo, but
that is certainly a likely candidate."
Tiger Beetle
(06/13/2005) Let's I.D.this one that whines when picked up
Bugman,
I've got another one for you, I have looked all around your beetle pages and can't seem to id this one. When It was picked up it may a noise like a crying baby and once again we need you assistance to identify it. I thought it may be some type of stag beetle because of the jaws, but it just isn't the right color. Thanks again, Tiffany
Hi Tiffany,
We thought this looked like one of the ground beetles, but we checked with Eric Eaton for a second opinion. Here is his response: "Well, yes, this is a carabid....sort of:-) Depends on whether you still consider tiger beetles a separate family! This looks to be a specimen of Megacephala virginica. If it has ivory marks on the tips of the wing covers then it is M. carolina. Yes, they are cool!" Tiger Beetles belong to the Family Cicindelidae and they are voracious hunters that prey on many injurious insects.
Update (08/22/2006)
Hello Lisa Anne and Daniel,
I recently came across your website and I was pleased to see such a
vibrant (and well-done) site. I'm an entomologist and evolutionary
biologist (specializing on the systematics, taxonomy and evolution of
tiger beetles and their close relatives) and I have to say that I'm
impressed with your accuracy rate! It's much, much better than other
comparable sites I've come across over the years. The two of you must
really love insects.
In any case, I noticed that you are open to information from specialists,
so I thought I'd give you a few ID's of species that I came across on your
pages. I was having trouble sleeping, so I went through all of the tiger
beetles, scaratines, etc and checked them out. Here you go:
I'll bookmark your site and check it out when I'm having trouble sleeping
again!
This is indeed a Megacephala (Tetracha) species, but actually M. carolina.
You can most easily tell the two US species of Megacephala apart by
coloration. M. carolina has a rainbow-colored back... red, green, and
unpigmented cream-colored areas at the tip of the back (elytra). M.
virginica is much bigger (17-22 mm) and is entirely dark metallic
black-green on the back except for the cream-colored markings. It also
has a noticeably rougher texture. Hope that helps! The whine is called
"stridulation" and often occurs when some species of insects are picked up
(a number of insects do this).
And yes, the majority of professional insect systematists recognize tiger
beetles as a subfamily/supertribe within the Carabidae. Nice photo!
Daniel P. Duran
Dept. of Biological Sciences
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
Glowworm
(06/13/2005) Can you identify this?
Sirs,
I found this in forest litter in foothills of Colorado at about 8000 ft. elevation last fall. I saw several of them glowing green in the dark and was able to find a couple and photograph them. I am attaching several photo's and from looking at your site it may be a firefly, but I have lived here for 45 years and have never seen these before. I appreciate any information you can provide as to what this is. I can't believe I found this web site and still have the photo! Thanks!
Bill Trust
 
Hi Bill,
We wrote to Eric Eaton to see if he knew a species name for your Glowworm. We wrote back saying he would check with another expert. Here is Eric's query followed by the expert's thoughts: "Q Dear Art: I did not know there was anything like this in Colorado! Any ideas? A John Wagener Green revised Microphotus in 1959 (Coleopterists Bulletin 13: 80-96). The only species he lists from Colorado is Microphotus pecosensis Fall. Fall described this species in 1912 from specimens collected in June and July in New Mexico. Green also recordedthis species from Arizona, California, Texas, Utah, and Chihuahua. His Colorado records include Royal Gorge, Junction Creek, San Luis Valley, and Stollsheimer. He notes that they were all females collected in June and July and that, although their identities are not certain, they are probably pecosensis. The pink females are said to closely resemble the more common CA species, M. angustus LeConte and have 6-segmented antennae, 4-segmented tarsi. The CO specimens all have 3-segmented "
False Bombadier Beetle
(06/12/2005) What is this one?
We have been seeing this bug quite frequently all over our house recently. We had someone come out and take a look at it, and they thought it was some form of boxelder bug. I think it looks closer to an assassin bug - but not close enough. There is no reference to size in the picture, but they are probably the biggest bug I have ever had in my house. Also, they are very fast. Thoughts?
Thanks for the help,
Kent
Hi Kent,
This is a False Bombardier Beetle, Galerita janus. They can still spray repulsive chemicals, so not sure where the "false" applies!
Tanbark Borer
(06/12/2005) What is this?
I am finding these in my garage. The only place I can think that they are coming from is some fire wood I have stacked in there from over the winter. I didn't really use the wood stove all that much and most of the wood is still there that I put there at the start of last summer (2004). If these are coming from the wood why did they not come out last summer?
Steve
 
Hi Steve,
We contacted Eric Eaton to share his thoughts on your Borer Beetle. Here is his response: "Decent image of what might be the Tanbark Borer, Phymatodes testaceous. Certainly something in that genus. The tanbark borer is supposedly common in eastern North America, but is also found in Europe and northern Africa! Adults vary from 8-17 mm. Larvae bore in the wood of dead and dying hardwoods, and also pine."
Stag Beetle
(06/11/2005) Stag Beetle
After searching the internet for hours trying to identify my beetle, I've come to the conclusion it's a Stag Beetle, but now I'm wondering if it's a placidus or a capreolus. I know the capreolus has honey colored femurs, which I thought was the case in my first photo, but when I turned one of the bugs over, it clearly has dark legs from top to bottom. Could you let me know exactly which type of Stag I have here? Also, they live in my rock garden, will they damage my plants?
Rae Ann
 
Hi Rae Ann
The two species you mentioned are difficult to tell apart, but we thought Eric Eaton might be of assistance. Here is his response: I don't know the species well enough to say, but I do know that Pseudolucanus has now been lumped into the genus Lucanus. Genus should be plenty. I'd refer the person somewhere else if they just "have to" know the species:-) Larvae live in decaying wood." So they will not damage your plants.
Borer Beetle and Water Boatman
(06/12/2005) What are these bugs?
Dear What's that Bug?,
I have just discovered your site as I was looking for answers to name soe bugs/beetles found in my local outdoor centre in South Wales, GB. I am in the process of setting up a minibeast trail for children and have done some preliminary work by taking photographs of some of the bus/insects/beetles in order to make my own identification chart. I would be grateful if you could help me name one or two that I am unsure of. The centre is in the middle of a working pine forest, with a few native trees around, beech, rowan, holly, ash etc. Some photographs are clearer than others as I use a simple digital camera but having looked at your page I am impressed with your findings and am sure you can help.
bug1 taken on the climbing boulder I think it is a longhorn beetle of some sort. [The second image I] found in our small pond -looking at the markings on its back I don't believe it is a waterbeetle but looks more like a waterboatman although it was much fatter than any previously found.
I hope I haven't taken too much of a liberty by sending a few at a time.
Diolch yn fawr (Thank you very much)
Mary Chinnock
Cynon Valley, South Wales
 |  | | Rhagium bifasciatum | Water Boatman |
Hi Mary,
One image at a time. Your first beetle according to Eric Eaton IS a borer, in the family Cerambycidae, albeit a real oddball: Rhagium bifasciatum, one of the European species. The second image is actually some kind of waterboatman, family Corixidae. Not familiar with European fauna in that family.
Dung Beetle
(06/07/2005) scarab beetle?
I cannot find a good reference on bettles. This scarab looking beetle had a copper colored covering over his thorax much like a triceratops. But the horn curved backwards over its head. The elytra were emerald green. It was found in Immokalee Florida. Sorry I thought it was near dead and didn't get any better pictures before it flew off. We have peach and citrus groves here.
Ginger M. Allen
Senior Biological Scientist
Florida Master Naturalist Program Coordinator
University of Florida/IFAS
Hi Ginger,
We are honored that you have turned to us for an identification. Your beetle is a Dung Beetle, Phanaeus vindex. Dung Beetles are considered Scarabs. The male and female often work as a team to gather dung, roll it into a ball and bury it with an egg. Your specimen is a male as evidenced by his long curving horn.
Ten-Lined June Beetle
(06/07/2005) Arizona Bug
This was a bug that my dogs were so interested in, when I went to see it was so interesting looking, I had to take these photos--what is it? The tentacles are amazing.
regards
michael minkus
Hi Michael,
We wrote to Eric Eaton to get an exact species name for your Scarab. Here is his reply: "This one is a male Tenlined June Beetle, in the genus Polyphylla. Adults nibble a little on conifer needles, the larvae feed on roots of various plants. Never really numerous enough to do any damage. Females have much smaller antennae, not those paddle-like things the males have. Both genders can make an endearing huffing noise by scraping the abdomen against the inside of the wing covers. Very cute."
Cockchafer
(06/07/2005)
Can you identify this please?
Jayne
 
Hi Jayne,
We were stumped and when we are stumped, we turn to Eric Eaton. Here is his conclusion: "Ah, that has to be from the U.K. or mainland Europe. It is a male cockchafer, Melolontha melolontha (by one reference I have). I don't think they are very common in the U.K. any more."
Ed. Note: This eye-witness account just arrived.
(11/14/2005) Cockchafer
Hi,
Just seen your I’D on the cockchafer. You have said they are not very common in the UK. I am a surveyor for a pest control company an we come across them quite often. They take to flight in may. We call them May bugs. We come across them because people think they are cockroaches and they call us out a lot,
Regards
Clive
Cheshire, UK
Eyed Elater
(06/07/2005) Click beetle
I found this beetle in my pool In Peru Indiana and have never seen anything like it in my 30 years here. It looked like a fishing lure. I found your site through google and found it very interesting as it had several similar click beetles. Is this one different?
Bob
Hi Bob,
The Eyed Elater, Alaus oculatus, is a very distinctly patterned Click Beetle. Those eyespots distinguish it from any other species. The adults are common in decaying logs and though they can be found nearly year round, they are most common in the spring.
Disonycha Leaf Beetle
(05/13/2005) Hi Bugman
I hope you are the person who can tell me what kind of bug that I photographed. This striped bug reminded me of a ladybug when it flew but it has stripes instead of dots. I was walking through a marsh area in southeastern Michigan. Any help you can give me would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Cris Music
Michigan-USA
Hi Chris,
We wrote to Eric Eaton for more information on your Leaf Beetle from the Family Chrysomelidae. Here is what he wrote: "This is indeed a leaf beetle, probably in the genus Disonycha, one of the larger flea beetles. Can't give a species without running the specimen through a key, but that should get you in the ballpark to find more info."
Flower Scarabs
(05/12/2005) ID?
Hi, Bugman.
Can you identify the beetle in the attached photos? My dad has a bumper crop of them in his garden, about 30 miles outside of Dallas, TX. Love your site. Thanks for any wisdom you can impart. (My money's on scarab beetle.)
amanda
 
Hi Amanda,
We wanted to be more specific than just a generic scarab beetle agreement, so we contacted Eric Eaton. He quickly wrote back: "Nice images. These are flower scarabs in the subfamily Cetoninae. They mimic bees, flying with the wing covers closed. This is probably Euphoria kerni, or a related species in that genus. Other possibility is Stephanucha sp., but they are apparently more northern, and also along the Atlantic coast. None of these are pests, just sometimes more abundant than usual. Eric"
Iron Cross Blister Beetle
(05/12/2005) it fly's
from tucson arizona. there are very many of these insects outside my house. please tell me.
Mikie
Hi Mikie,
We haven't gotten a photo of one of these for years. Your little beauty is a member of the Blister Beetle Family known as Iron Cross Blister Beetle, Tegrodera latecincta.
"Spotless" Six Spotted Tiger Beetle
(05/11/2005) What's this Canadian bug?
Hi - my dog tripped over this bug sitting on the ground at my cottage near Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada this past weekend. The bug was brilliant metallic-green/blue and did not fly or crawl away when the dog nudged it. About a thumbnail in length, quite spiney looking legs. Snow cover melted about 3 weeks ago. As you can see from picture, trees include; maples, birch, poplar, pine, spruce.
Do you know what it is? Is it a 'good' bug e.g. will not harm the trees?
Thanks, Susan.
Hi Susan,
Thank you for a beautiful photo of a Tiger Beetle, Family Cicindelidae. These are predatory beetles that definitely will not harm trees. They attack other insects. They are good fliers as well as great runners. Probably your guy was just lethargic because of the cold weather. They are also much prized by collectors. We are going to write Eric Eaton, a true expert, to see if we can get an exact species name for you.
Thanks so much for your reply. Since you identified it, I was able to search Internet to find information and articles - looks like different Canadian provinces have variety of different tiger beetles. Photos I saw close to my bug were from Ontario, however they had very distinct spots which I did not observe on my bug. Really interesting to read all about it. Lately I made a conscious decision to slow down and look and learn more about the wildlife who live where I live and visit. Just occurred to me this Spring how little I know about the bugs and other insects I frequently encounter in my wanderings - usually too distracted running from voracious hoards of black flies in Spring I guess!
Thanks, Susan.
Update (08/22/2006)
Hello Lisa Anne and Daniel,
I recently came across your website and I was pleased to see such a
vibrant (and well-done) site. I'm an entomologist and evolutionary
biologist (specializing on the systematics, taxonomy and evolution of
tiger beetles and their close relatives) and I have to say that I'm
impressed with your accuracy rate! It's much, much better than other
comparable sites I've come across over the years. The two of you must
really love insects.
I'll bookmark your site and check it out when I'm having trouble sleeping
again!
That species of tiger beetle is Cicindela sexguttata. In Ontario they are
quite variable in markings, ranging from no spots to six spots or in rare
cases more than six.
Daniel P. Duran
Dept. of Biological Sciences
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
Ceruchus Stag Beetle
(05/11/2005) Awesome website...
Hi there!
I am so glad I found your website!! A year ago, I found a creepy ugly bug pinching my 6 month old daughter. Tonight, my same daughter (now 21 months, the youngest of 3 girls) was sitting on the potty when the same kind of bug crawled across our bathroom floor. I searched countless websites trying to identify the creature...including Terminex, Orkin, several universities' entomology sites, etc. None of the sites even came close to the bug we found....until I came across yours. Our nasty little critter is the Ground Beetle. He (she?) is identical to the ones you have listed on your site. Thank you for having such a thorough and interesting site. I'm going to save you in my favorites just incase we need to identify any more little buggers!! Thanks again!
Terra J. Ward
Hi Terra,
We once again turned to Eric Eaton to clarify matters for us. Here is what he had to say: "Wow! Actually, this is a male stag beetle in the genus Ceruchus, assuming it is from North America. Right family for certain. I'd also like to see this posted to BugGuide.net, as right now we are getting postings of some of the other smaller Lucanidae, but not this genus. Neat.
Eric"
Spined Bark Borer
(05/11/2005)it's a longhorned beetle, but what kind? Dear Bug Person, I found this on a coffee singles package this morning in our warehouse. I live in Spartanburg, SC and cannot tell if this is a Carolina Sawyer beetle or not. It has larger pincers than the sawyer beetle. We do receive foriegn shipments, maybe he hopped a ride overseas?!
Shane G
Hi Shane,
When we aren't sure, we turn to entomologist Eric Eaton who usually knows the correct answer. Here is what he has to say: "My best guess is the "spined bark borer," Elaphidion mucronatum. Those spines on the antennae are distinctive. Certainly that genus anyway.
Eric"
Chrysomelidae
(05/09/2005) tomato leaf eating bug
I hate this thing! Tons of them are eating my tomato plants!
robert
Hi Robert,
The closest I can get for you is it is one of the Chrysomelidae, or Leaf Beetles. It looks to be a close relative of the Cucumber Beetles.
Painted Hickory Borer
(05/09/2005) What is this bug
Hello
I just moved into a new home and there are a few trees that need cut down. I am currently cutting down some Shagbark Hickory trees and this bug is all over the trees. We live in Western Pennsylvania. Could you please tell me what it is and if it is harmful? Please see the attached pictures.
Thank you,
Neal
Hi Neal,
Judging by the mating activity evident in your photo, you might soon have a new generation of Painted Hickory Borers, Megacyllene caryae. They attack hickory, black walnut, butternut, osage orange and mulberry. The female lays eggs after cutting deep pits in the bark. Larva bore inward and pupate under bark. Adults emerge in the spring.
Warf Borer
(05/09/2005) Can you help identify?
Hi there, I have recently moved from the UK to central Boston and have found several of these flying insects in my city center apartment. Their bodies are generally 0.5 to 0.75 inches long. I am unsure if they are attracted by light or not. Thanks in advance
Mike Hume
Hi Mike,
We wrote to Eric Eaton to properly identify your beetle. He wrote back: "Ok, the beetle is the "Wharf Borer," Nacerdes melanura. It is in the
family Oedemeridae, the False Blister Beetles." Adults are usually found on flowers or foilage near water and the larvae live in decaying wood. It is common in woodsheds, cellars and lumberyards. Originally European, it has been spread around the world due to commerce.
Big Eyed Click Beetle or Eyed Elator
(05/05/2005) Help!
We have a 7th grade science project due Monday (05-09-05). We have this insect we would like to use in the project, but don't have any idea what it is. Can you identify it?
Thanks,
Ben
Hi Ben,
This is one of the Click Beetles known as the Eyed Elator or Big Eyed Click Beetle, Alaus oculatus. Adults eat little and larva attack roots and small creatures in the soil. Click Beetles are so called because if they are turned on their backs, they quickly flex their body making a clicking sound and flipping in the air to right themselves.
Thank you so much for your help. Gotta finish that bug project. Love your website!
Ben
Leaf Beetles
(04/09/2005) Type of bug eating the leaves of my tree?
Hi,
The attached picture of these little bugs that are eating the leaves of one type of tree I have. They are about the size of your little finger's nail. They are only attacking this one type of tree I have, not sure what kind of tree it is, but I have Elms and Oaks and they don't mess with them. This tree is very large, probably about 4 foot in diameter. I've been constantly spraying the trunk up to about 12 feet up and so far are controlling them...but my neighbor has the same kind of tree and they are in it too but he's too lazy to spray them. I cannot find any evidence of the bugs borrowing out of the bark, I can't find any holes anywhere, but the bark is very coarse. Any idea what these bugs are or how to better controll them?
Thanks,
Robert Downey
Dear Robert,
We wanted to be sure about the identity of your beetles, so we wrote to Eric Eaton who quickly responded: "Well, if they are from the U.S., then they are leaf beetles in the genus Calligrapha, family Chrysomelidae. All bets are off if they are from outside North America north of Mexico:-) Neat insects.
Eric"
Wood Boring Beetle
(04/10/2005) what this bug
Attached please find a photo of a flying insect i found enjoying the spring sunshine around my woodpile. the wings are hard to see but they can fly. they crawl very fast.
can you tell what they are?
thank you
jason sagerman
Hi Jason,
This is one of the Long Horned Borer Beetles from the Family Cerambycidae. Larva bore in wood. Perhaps your specimen just emerged after spring metamorphosis aftel living several years in the wood. We wanted to try to be more specific, so we wrote to Eric Eaton who kindly replied: "The borer is a species of Neoclytus in the Cerambycidae. Not knowing anything more, I wouldn't venture a species guess. They are wasp mimics of course, with those markings and overall leggy appearance, short antennae. Thanks for sharing. It is like Christmas every time I open one of your e-mails."
Arizona Blister Beetle
(04/09/2005) black-orange bug?
Hello: your web site is really cool. My son and I found a bug outside and we don't know what it is. We live in Phoenix, Arizona. The bug is pretty big. Maybe 1 inch long. Black body with an orange head. We found it on a leaf on our Magnolia tree. Just like to know anything about it. Is it harmless? I haven't seen one of these bugs after living in Arizona for 10 years. So I am curious as to what it is and if it is common around here.
thanks!
Paul Avona
Hi Paul,
You have a photo of an Arizona Blister Beetle, Lytta magister. It is found in deserts in Arizona. Much of the life cycle is still unknown, but adults eat plant tissues of desert shrubs and larvae attacks grasshopper eggs in soil. Blister Beetles secrete a chemical cantharidin which causes blisters on human skin.
Rove Beetle, probably
(04/06/2005) What is this?
I came home today and found about 5 of these in the lower level of my home. Do you know what they are?
Thank you!
Erica
Hi Erica,
We contacted Eric Eaton for a more expert opinion, and he believes it is some species of Rove Beetle, wingless predators that often eat destructive insects. There are so many similar looking species that he can't provide anything more concrete that that.
Larder Beetle and False Bombadier Beetle
(04/04/2005) Help, gross bugs
I'm hoping you can identify these two bugs for me. The small brown and tan ones are suddenly everywhere in my house, but mostly in my kitchen drawers and in the bathtub.
The black and red ones are just mean looking, and these two were found dead in the bathtub, although I have seen them around other areas of the house. We live in an old farmhouse, and am hoping you are not going to tell me they are eating my house!!
Paula
Stockton, IL
Hi Paula,
Your small beetle is a type of Pantry Beetle, but we will write to Eric Eaton for more information. He just got back and writes: "The top two specimens are Galerita janus, a false bombardier beetle, family Carabidae. The other is the larder beetle, Dermestes lardarius, a frequent pest of stored, dried meat if I recall correctly.
Caragana Blister Beetle maybe
(03/14/2005) What kind of beatle is this?
This picture was sent to me by a freind who is doing a Bald Eagle study near Needles Eye of the Gila river in Arizona.
Thanks,
Mike
Hi Mike,
We were unsure so we contacted Eric Eaton. He also wanted to be positive, and he wrote back: "I queried Dr. Carl Olson at the U of Arizona, and he suggests it is most likely a blister beetle, MAYBE Lytta viridana. Meloids were on my short list also, so you can draw your own conclusions. Thanks.
Eric"
So while we are not 100% positive, I hope this helps. The common name for this beetle is the Caragana Blister Beetle.
Thanks, I will check with Carl Olsen myself too. I used to date one of his students and forgot all about it. I have thousands of bug pictures I need to get identified. If I get the time to sort them out I will send them in. I am out in the field most every weekend and about 3 times durring the week looking for herps. If ya all need any pictures let me know.
Mike Everett
Tucson Az
Large Diving Beetle
(03/14/2005) Beetle
Hi,
My husband and I found this beetle in our back yard. I have lived here on the North Coast of Oregon for 20+ years and have never seen one like it. He or she was under our dogs (kiddie) pool. Sorry for the bad pictures!
Thanks!!
Shannon
Hi Shannon,
There is a good reason your beetle was found under the pool. It was probably once in the pool. You have a Diving Beetle, from the Family Dytiscidae and the genus Dytiscus. They can be recognized by their dark brown coloration with yellow along the sides of the prothorax and elytra. They are voracious predators that feed upon tadpoles, small fishes and insect larvae.
Chafer Scarabs
(03/07/2005) beetle identification needed
Please help me identify these bugs which are eating my oak tree in Clermont , Florida . Thank you.
Duane Hunter
 
Hi Duane,
We knew they are some type of scarab beetle but we weren't sure exactly what, so we asked Eric Eaton. He wrote back: "Yes, they are scarabs of some kind, in the chafer subfamily, but there are many options down there in the subtropics! Try submitting to Buggguide.net and asking Phil Harpoolitan to look at them. He literally wrote the book on South Carolina scarabs.
Eric"
So, We will contact Phil and get more information.
Painted Hickory Borer
(03/07/2005) Whats this bug??
I need help identifying the attached bug. Please
review the photos and advise if you have any idea what this
is!!! I have attached a photo of the top and bottom
of the bug.
Thank you!
Janet Cox
Clarksburg, West Virginia
 
Hi Janet,
Your beetle is one of the Long Horned Borer Beetles from the
genus Megacyllene. Your beetle looks like the Painted Hickory
Borer, Megacyllene caryae which closely resembles the Locust
Borer, Megacyllene robiniae. The telltale markings of the
Painted Hickory Borer include the third stripe on the elytra
which is W-shaped followed by three additional sinuous stripes.
This species is usually found in the spring, while the Locust
Borer is found in the fall. Larva feed on the wood of hickory,
ash, hackberry and Osage orange trees.
possibly
Longhorn from Kuala Lumpur
(02/07/2005) Please help me identify this bug !!!
hi there !! I've caught two bugs here but i can't find their
family name , genus, order and scientific name ... i came
across your website today and was wondering whether you can
help me identify them ?? thanks alot .. !!! sorry i forgot
to tell you that im writing from kuala lumpur , malaysia.
i caught the stick-like insect near a pond somewhere around
my house. it camouflages itself n looks like a grass. while
the other bug was caught from a place call genting highlands.
i found it in a carpark near a hotel. i think it came from
the forest somewhere near the hotel. thanks alot. your help
is very much appreciated. if you cant identify them then its
ok.
angeline
Hi Angeline,
We thought Eric might be more help with the beetle. I thought
it might be a Cerambycid, one of the Long-Horned Borers, but
Eric is not convinced. Hope that helps.
Eucalyptus Tree Borer
(02/03/2005) Scary Bug
Hello,
Could you please help me to identify this bug I have never
seen one of these before. It was on our ceiling and
was terrifying my young son (unfortunately the bug didn't
survive). It was about one inch long excluding legs
and feelers. I would like to be able to tell my son
what it is and whether or not it is harmless. We live
in San Diego, California.
Thank you,
Caroline Gilbert
Hi Caroline,
The Eucalyptus Tree Borer, Phoracantha semipunctata, is harmless
to you, but will do considerable damage to your eucalyptus
trees. This insect was introduced to southern California from
Australia where it has multiplied due to the absence of natural
predators. Young bore into the wood of Eucalyptus trees and
have destroyed many stands of this common tree.
Spider
Beetles
(02/01/2005) bug info
We are having this bug on our carpet for a while. Apparently
it's harmless, but since I have a 6-month-old baby, I'd like
to check what it is. I've looked at several bug pictures,
but could not find it. We also find them sometimes on our
bathtub. We live in Boston, MA. It is the size of a small
ant, very small. To kill it, I crush it and it sounds like
killing a pregnant dog's flea, it cracks. I've put a couple
in a completely closed jar a few days ago, and they are still
alive. I’m sending some pictures I took. I’d appreciate any
kind of information you could provide me.
Thanks a lot
Melina Suarez
 
Dear Melina
We were not sure exactly what species of beetle you had, though
we suspected some type of Pantry Beetle. We contacted a true
beetle expert, Eric Eaton who gave us the following reply:
"Some pretty clear images of pretty tiny beetles! They
are spider beetles, Mezium americanum. It is a
stored product pest, so best to inspect the pantry to find
the source of the infestation. This should also
include examination of pet food, taxidermy mounts, insect
collections, the spice rack....Aside from adding some inadvertent
protein to one's diet, though, they are of no real consequence
even if you don't ever find them. Aside, we'd
love to have these images submitted to Bugguide.net. Not
even sure this family is represented yet.
Thanks.
Eric"
Ed. Note: We put Eric in contact with Melina
and hopefully she will give permission to post the images
on Bugguide.net.
Ergates
Pine Sawyer
(01/25/2005) Longicorn ??
hi just curious what genus and species of longicorn beetle
this was, ur site has been very interesting and helpful so
any help would be greatly appreciated .
yours greatfully
wayno the bugman
Hi Wayne,
By the looks of things, it appears you might be beginning
a collection. This beautiful specimen is one of the Ergates
Pine Sawyers. The larva eat the sapwood and heartwood of pines
and Douglas firs usually feeding in fallen logs, stumps and
telephone poles. According to Hogue, Ergates spiculatus is
the largest local beetle in Los Angeles.
Pseudolucanus
capreolus Stag Beetle
(01/23/2005) new pics
you identified this beetle for me last year and posted pics
i'd sent you (beetles 2004). thought i'd send these close
ups of the same beetle.
enjoy!
Alan
Thanks Alan,
Have you kept this beautiful male Stag Beetle as a pet for
the past six months, or are the photos from last year?
did NOT keep the stag beetle...
...as a pet! i wanted him to live life as it should be - free.
i took about a dozen pics, though. i thought you'd like a
glamour shot of, "volks - the stag beetle."
Rugose
Stag Beetle and Earth Boring Scarab
(01/19/2005) Two More Puzzling Specimens
Dear Mr. Marlos?
Thank you very much for identifying my previous mystery insect:
the Trichiotinous bee-scarab. It was one of several insects
which I have yet to ID. If you and your colleagues would be
so kind as to have a crack at naming another two specimens
of mine, I would be most pleased. The first, found near my
home on Vancouver Island is likely a dung beetle but of an
unknown genus (to me). The second, from my region as well,
has proven to be even more challenging to ID. I am not even
certain of it's family and I hesitate to call it a scarab
even though it exhibits several anatomical features which
resemble those of such a beetle. (See attached photos for
both.) On a final note, might I request the urls of the best
sites in your opinion that may aid me in my quests for further
insect identification? This may save me from troubling you
with more ID requests in the future. Thanks again,
Sandy.
 |
 |
| Rugose
Stag Beetle |
Bolboceras
obesas |
Dear
Sandy,
We always love turning to a real beetle expert, Eric Eaton,
with difficult identifications. Here is what he has to say:
"Well, as luck would have it, I grew up in the Pacific Northwest,
and both these species are familiar to me. Both
are males. Females do not have horns. The top [first]
image in your e-mail to me is of a rugose stag beetle, Sinodendron
rugosum. They are usually found in rotting logs.
The second image is of an earth-boring scarab (family Geotrupidae). The
species is Bolboceras obesus. Females dig burrows
terminating in cells which they provision with fine humus,
which serves as food for their offspring (grubs). Neat
insects. I've never seen one alive, but they are
supposedly common. Thank you for sharing."
Regarding
our favorite websites, we recommend Angel
Fire and for caterpillars, we like Caterpillars
of the Eastern Forests.
Burying
Beetle
(01/17/2005) alaskan beetle
Hi,
Found your cool site and wondered if you could identify this
beetle. We found a couple of them and several larvae in a
pile of dog poop behind our home in Anchorage. It seemed to
be an inch long and about .5 inch wide. My wife said it opened
up it its wings but did not fly. Its antennae are really wild
looking. It dug itself into the grass/ground quickly after
turning it loose. Neither of us has ever seen one and both
have lived in Alaska all our lives. Thanks,
Mike & Heather
Hi Mike and Heather,
You have a species of Burying Beetle. These beetles eat carrion.
I have read that a pair can bury a small mouse in a few hours.
A hole is dug under the corpse which is eventually buried.
Then eggs are laid on the dead critter which serves as food
for the growing larvae. We were uncertain as to the exact
species, and Eric Eaton has informed us that certain identification
would be time consuming but it belongs to the Genus Nicrophorus.
Bee
Mimic Trichiotinus Scarab
(01/16/2005) A Mysterious Scarab Beetle
Hello, my name is Sandy and I am an insect enthusiast from
British Columbia, Canada. I have written to your site (which
is doing a wonderful service to the public) because I have
failed to identify a particular scarab beetle specimen I have
found. It and 2 others were collected on the flowers of a
fire weed plant outside of Thunder Bay, Ont. in the summer
of 2004. The actual size of the specimen in the photograph
is roughly 1 cm. Hopefully the enlargement and the given information
will aid you in an identification. Many thanks, I anxiously
await your findings.
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
We wrote to Eric Eaton who is a specialist in beetles and
he wrote back to us: "This is a species of [genus] Trichiotinus. They
are difficult to ID to species without a key. Good mimics
of bees, though." Our beetle guide says they commonly occur
on flowers during the day and readily take flight when disturbed.
Australian Scarab Beetle
(01/15/2005) bug i found
hey i live in australia [south coast] and i was walking
along the beach on the hight tide line when i came across
this beetle love to know what it is.I took few pics i dont
think it was ment to be on the beach.
Matt
Hi Matt,
It is some species of Scarab Beetle from the Family Scarabaeidae.
Many species are metallic green in color. They include the
largest beetles known. You are correct in speculating the
beetle probably did not belong on the beach.
Australian Weevil
(01/02/2005) Bug from Perth, Western Australia
Dear Bugman,
I found this ugly little bugger in my house in Perth, Western
Australia. I have never seen one before any where
in Australia. Can you help me identify it. (I have
kept him in a jar for posterity) He looks like a huge flea/fly
combination with small proboscis. In addition to the original
photo I have added one with a scale beside the bug to show
you actual size.
Regards
James Lybrand
Hi James,
You have a species of Weevil. Weevils are sometimes called
Snout Beetles or Bill Beetles and belong to the Family Curculionidae,
the insect family with the most species. I will try to get
you additional information.
Ten-lined
June Beetle
(12/16/2004) My "Peanut Butter Log" bug...
Hi there. You were so helpful to recently identify my
pleocoma, for which I thank you! However, I'd be curious
to know what type of bug this is. I call it a
"Peanut Butter Log" bug as it reminds me of the
little striped candies I used to like (and STILL like, if
the truth be told). I'm in Northern California.
These guys show up in summer months and I am quite fascinated
with their markings. Thanks in advance for your awesome
site!
--Michelle Mahood
Hi again Michelle,
Beautiful photo of a Ten-Lined June Beetle, either Polyphylla
decemlineata or P. crinita. I saw my first live specimens
several months back when they were attracted to lights at
the campus I teach at in Pasadena. Adults feed on the needles
of coniferous trees and make loud squeeking noises when handled.
Glowworm: Zarhipis integripennis
(12/15/2004) Hiya Bugman,
What's this critter? Is it a catapede or a millipillar or
what? I found it charging across my living room tonight (in
bright light). I've lived here in Malibu (elevation 250 ft.)
for 35 years and have NEVER seen this beast before. I didn't
find him (or her) in Hogue's Insects of the Los Angeles Basin,
nor in some extensive web hunting, so of course I had to bring
him (we'll call him a boy) into the kitchen for a quick photo
session. He's almost 3 inches long in the picture; 4 inches
when walking fully extended. Several legs are visible in
the photo (top) near his head (left). He's pale on the underside.
I thought he might be a millipede due to his hard, glossy
exterior; but he definitely has only one set of legs per section
(he has legs along its entire length). And he's not cylindrical
like the black millipedes I sometimes find here, but rather
ovoid in cross-section, flattish. But he's not quite like
a caterpillar either; I don't know any that have such hard
bodies... but then look at those horns! In any case, I'm
pretty certain he's not a centipede. So what say thee? If
you know this critter, please tell me where he's indigenous,
and if he has a latin name. I have half a hunch that he's
a foreigner in these parts....
Cheers,
Kraig
P.S. If the photo didn't come through, I can send it as an
attachment. I have several other photos as well, if you'd
like.
Hi Craig,
I wanted to contact a real expert before writing back to you.
Eric Eaton quickly gave this excited reply
"Dear Daniel:
Whoah! Tell him to turn out the lights and he'll
get a real surprise:-) That sure looks like a larviform female
of the glowworm, Zarhipis integripennis. In fact,
I think we still need a shot of this for our field guide....
They feed exclusively on millipedes, so he could conceivably
keep her in a terrarium with some soil and leaf litter and
add a millipede or two....He could also take her outside some
evening and see if she attracts any males (which ARE beetle-like,
fly, and have these amazing feathery antennae). She
will glow bright greenish-yellow from the pale membranes between
her segments. Thanks for sharing! Makes my day:-)
Happy holidays to you.
Sincerely,
Eric"
So, Craig, I'm sure it would make Eric's day even more exciting
if you would send him a copy of the image for inclusion in
the insect guide he is working on. Have a great day.
Darkling
Beetle
(11/15/2004) Can you please tell us what kind of bug this
is?Hi WTB!
Hello WTB.
Can you please tell us what kind of bug this is? We sure
hope so! We found this bug on the dirt path in our back
yard. We caught it in our bug vacuum, shortly after releasing
an ant lion. I am 8 and brother is 6 and we LOVE bugs, so
you can expect lots of questions and photos from us in the
future, now that we’ve discovered your great website. We
are anxiously awaiting your answer. Thanks! We live in El
Cajon, California.
Thank you for your help!
The RamFam4
Dear RamFam4,
Sorry to have taken so long to get back to you, but we have
been busy and also the site was down, yet again, due to heavy
traffic. We wrote to Eric Eaton for assistance on your beetle.
He wrote back: "The hairy beetle is some kind of Tenebrionidae
darkling beetle. I'll forward this message to a friend of
mine who is an authority on California beetles. He'll probably
know the genus at least." We hope to hear more and get you
a more positive identification.
Ed. Note: We later heard back from Eric who
contacted expert Art Evans who contacted Warren Steiner at
USNM. According to Art: "the winner is Trichiasida! This,
according to my friend and teneb expert, Warren Steiner at
the USNM. According to me, the likely species are hirsuta,
hispidula, gabbi, or impetrata. The genus was last revised
by T.L. Casey in 1912 and is need of revision!"
Ironclad
Beetle
(11/08/2004) Unknown Bug
Hi there,
I found this bug on my front porch in San Antonio, Tx on Sunday
Nov. 7th. I have was wondering what it is.
Thanks in advance
Chip
Hi Chip,
There are two genuses of beetles with the common name Ironclad
Beetle, and your specimen of Zopherus nodulosus haldemani
is one of them. We have another letter and photos from June
2004 on our Beetles 2004 page
with additional information.
Ham Beetle
(11/04/2004) What is this beetle?
Mr. Bugman,
I live in southcentral Alaska and I found this beetle among
my dermestid beetle colony about 4 days ago. They are
about 4.5mm in length, blue on the dorsal side/black on the
ventral side and they can fly. They may have gotten
in with my colony with the last skull that was put in, which
had been stored on a woodshed under a bunch of spruce/hemlock
trees. I was thinking that they were related to the
bark beetle, although the color doesn’t seem to match.
Can you tell me what this is? Do you know if these beetles
are harmful to my dermestid beetles? Could they be harmful
to the building and/or animals in the building if they get
out? Thanks for the advice!
Jenelle
 
Hi Jenelle, We contacted Eric Eaton who is putting together
a guide book for this identification. He wrote back:
"Ah, a ham beetle, Necrobia violacea, family Cleridae. One
book I have says they prey on dermestid beetle larvae, which
could be the case because other clerids are predatory. I would
not be concerned by the presence of only one, however. I don't
think we have an image of this insect for our field guide
yet, so if this person wants to contact me, that'd be great.
In fact, we don't have many images of dermestids, either."
I am replying to him as well, so if you want to allow your
photos to be printed in the guidebook, that would be great.
Thanks for sending us a new species.
We continued to be curious, especially about the common name
Ham Beetle, so we did some google searching because we know
people who cure Virginia Hams. Sure enough, both the adults
and larvae of the Red Legged Ham Beetle, Necrobius rufipes,
bore into the meat and ruin hams. Here is a site that talks
about curing Virginia
Hams.
Rain Beetle
(11/02/2004) Giant beetle creature! Whazzit??
Hi there. Your site is really fantastic! While
flyfishing the other day (northern California area), I came
across several of these HUGE beetles. Some were swimming
(rather pathetically). They have wings of a sort but
it seemed to never occur to them to fly. Any clue on
its ID? Thanks much!
Michelle Mahood
Hi Michelle,
You have a photo of a Rain Beetle, Pleocoma species, one of
the Scarab Beetle Family. According to our favorite expert
Hogue: "The first measurable late fall or winter rains stimulate
the adult males of this genus to emerge from their subterranean
burrows, in which they have lain as pupae for more than a
month. In some species a soaking rain of several inches is
needed to initiate activity, but the species found at higher
elevations will often fly a few minutes after the onset of
the year's first shower. In the foothill and canyon areas,
the males seem to emerge in response to the rain and may be
attracted to light, congregating around store fronts or dwellings
during a drizzle or downpour. When searching for the burrows
of the flightless female beetles, the males fly in slow sweeping
patterns low over the ground and brush. ... The females are
seldom found outside their burrows, which may extend from
4 to 6 feet into the soil. The male apparently locates the
burrow of the female by detecting a strong [musky] scent that
she puts into the air. He enters her burrow to copulate, after
which the female plugs the burrow's opening with pulverized
soil and digs deep in the ground. The eggs, which are laid
in a spiral at the base of the burrow and packed tightly in
fine soil, do not mature until the following spring or early
summer. ... The life cycle may last as long as ten or twelve
years, with the larvae feeding on the roots of varied kinds
of plants, usually hardwood shrubs or trees and in particular
oaks and conifers. The mouthparts of the adults are atrophied
and useless for feeding." Your beetles were not swimming,
but probably just bumbled into the stream. Thanks for a new
addition to our site.
Ed. Note: We received this letter shortly
after posting the Rain Beetle photo.
Rain Beetles Hello: I am a biologist studying rain beetles
in California, and came across the posting of the rain beetle
on your website. I would be very interested in finding out
the exact locality where the beetle was seen. Would it be
possible for you to contact the woman who posted the picture
and question and either give her my email to contact? Thanks!
-Ian
We forwarded Ian's letter to Michelle who wrote back to
us:
Thanks for passing my email along. I heard from Ian last
night and sent him some whopping big high-res photos of the
rain beetle -- even the underside. How cool that someone
is studying them! Thanks again for ID'ing my bug. You guys
are EXTREMELY COOL. Best regards, Michelle
Ed. Note: We just got this letter.
(08/09/2005) identifications
Hello - I was recently shown your site, and it is excellent. My
specialization is longhorned
beetles, and in cruising around I notice a number of incomplete or
uncertain IDs for this
family. I don't know if you are interested in receiving this sort of
input, but if you are, I
offer the following additions to your identifications.
The Northern California Pleocoma species sent by
Michelle Mahood is
undescribed, having been incorrectly recorded in older literature as
P. simi, which is found
in southern Oregon, and closely resembles Michelle's beetle. The
species shown in the
photo occurs around the Lake Shasta basin, most often in Douglas Fir
and Incense cedar
forest. I will be described in my upcoming revision of the genus Pleocoma.
Keep up the good work. You are a valuable resource.
Cheers
Frank Hovore
Stag Beetle
(11/01/2004) playground bugs [part 2]
Dear BUGMAN,
Thank you for writing back to us! WE LOVE YOUR SITE!!!!!
We are sending two medium sized photos of our Caddisfly [we
thought the other photo we sent might be too small to be seen
on the site]. We hope they help others! We also included our
favorite stag beetle photo and praying mantis photo [it stayed
on the wall next to our classroom door for days! We think
it was listening in!] Thank you again for your help!
Always looking for bugs, Fours and fives in PA
Dear Fours and Fives in PA,
Thank you for the additonal photos. We are posting them immediately.
Your Stag Beetle is Pseudoleucanus capreolus, a male.
Oil Beetles mashed in the heat of passion
(10/13/2004) 2 Shiny Black Bugs (Pic included)
Dear Bugman,
Before you view the picture...I have to apologize. I fear
I did not see them till it was too late. On top of that...it
looks like they were enjoying one of the finer things in life
right before I took it. I am really sorry. But I'm still curios
as to what they are. I'm 25, and have lived in Pennsauken
all my life, but never seen anything like them.
They have what seem to be wings (or maybey they're just the
shell covering the real wings)...a shiny black carapace with
a hint of turquois. Their Antennae are segmented. (I know
there is a significant difference between Segmented and smooth
antenna...but I forgot what) I didn't get a frontal shot...
But their mouth-parts didn't have any substantial mandibles.
The mouth-parts resembled that of a common grasshopper...for
lack of appropriate term. This picture was taken in Pennsauken,
New Jersey...about a 20 min drive from Philadelphia, PA. Again,
I apologize for their demise. It was not intentional. Hope
you can shed a little light on it.
Thanks in advance,
Russ
Hi Russ,
You have an awesome photo of a pair of Oil Beetles who met
a tragic end while procreating. Another common name is Short
Winged Blister Beetle, Meloe angusticollis. The beetle is
found in Southern Canada and the Northern United States. It
is usually found in crop fields and meadows where it eats
herbaceous foliage being particularly fond of potatoes. If
disturbed, the beetle feigns death by falling on its side.
The leg joints exude droplets of liquid that cause blisters.
Colorado
Potato Beetle
(10/11/2004) What are these playground bugs?
Hello!
We are so happy to have found your web site! We are a class
of 4 and 5 year olds in PA. We take photos of bugs everyday
but then we have no clue what they are. We used the photos
on your site to identify some of the bugs we have photographed.
Like the Wheel Bug that visited us last week. The first photo
included is of a roundish bug. We have ben calling it by the
wrong name. Could you please give us the correct name for
our playground bug friend? THANK YOU! Obviously we REALLY
need a bug encyclopedia! THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH!
Fours and Fives in PA
Dear four and five year olds,
I'm so happy to see you are budding entomologists. Your round
bug is a Colorado Potato Beetle, once native to the Rocky
Mountains, but now naturalized wherever potatoes and other
solanaceous plants are cultivated. It is considered a pest
and both adults and the fat grubs can do considerable damage
to the leaves of potato plants and their relatives.
Stag
Beetle
(09/20/2004)
Ed. Note: Mike
Zellers, former Homebody
of the Month, just sent in this photo of a Stag Beetle.
We love the interesting "bug's eye view" perspective.
Female Stenodontes sp. has ovipositor, not phallus
(09/13/2004) RE: phallus or stinger...but on a beetle?
Hello, I love your site.
I found this guy while I was walking in our office parking
garage. A friend here at work said "beetles don't have stingers"
so, I guess it could be a phallus. It most closely resembles
what you have described on your site as a California Prionus
beetle, but the pics you have don't show a stinger. What is
this bug, and what is the pointy-thing?
Thanks,
Courtney Cavness, Austin Texas
 
Hi Courtney,
Yes your beetle does look like one of the Prionus, but beetles
do not have stingers, and the appendage is not a phallus either.
We suspect it is an ovipositor since this type of beetle lays
eggs in trees, but we will turn to an expert, Eric. Below
is his response:
Dear Daniel:
Had to laugh at this one:-) This is indeed another
prionid longhorned beetle, but it is a Stenodontes sp. (or
what used to be called Stenodontes anyway, I think they changed
the name).
The funny part is that this is a FEMALE! The "stinger-phallus"
is actually her ovipositor, what she lays eggs with in the
crevices of bark. When beetles die, females often
evert the normally retracted ovipositor. Who knows
why?
Male Stenodontes resemble a prionid crossed with a stag beetle,
as they have enlarged jaws (and can USE them, let me tell
ya!). Looking forward to seeing the site back up in October.
Oh, BUGGUIDE.NET had THEIR server crash, so they are temporarily
out of commission also. Bad month! It
should be running again by October, but you might want to
check, and put a notice up to that effect if it is still not
up when your site goes back online.
Take care.
Sincerely,
Eric
Unidentified
Beetle Larva
(09/13/2004) What is it?
I new one for me....a beetle larvae?
We can't identify your beetle larva more specifically,
but one of our beetle experts will probably eventually write
in with something more concrete.
Another
Locust Borer
(09/07/2004) What is this beetle in Montreal, Canada
Hi,
This bug looks beautiful, but is it dangerous?
Had you scrolled down our homepage, you would have found
another photo of a Locust Borer, Megacyllene robiniae. The
closely related Painted Hickory Borer, Megacyllene caryae,
is very similar. It is not dangerous, but it probably does
mimic Yellow Jackets for protection from birds.
Locust
Borer
(09/05/2004) What's This?
I found this on the patio this morning. A little more info.
I found this on the patio this morning. I am in eastern
Washington state. It is about an inch long and could
move by crawling fairly quickly. It didn't fly.
Thanks, John
Hi John,
The Locust Borer, Megacyllene robiniae, one of the Long Horned
Borer Beetles from the Family Cerambycidae, is capable of
flight. The adult Locust Borer is often found on goldenrod
where it eats pollen and nectar. The larvae bore in the wood
of Black Locust trees after eating the bark. Thank you for
your photo. We like getting good images of signature insects.
The Locust Borer ranges throughout the Eastern and Southern
U.S. and eastern Canada.
Oil
Beetle
(09/05/2004) spooky bug
Hi,
Found this menacing looking bug at our front door in southern
Vermont. The head was turning side to side, with the pinchers
(?) open. It was about 1 1/2" long. Attached are a few
pictures.
Regards,
Jason Chastain
 
Hi Jason,
You have some good reason to call the Oil Beetle spooky. Another
common name is Short Winged Blister Beetle, Meloe angusticollis.
I believe you may have exaggerated the size, but the beetle
is found in Southern Canada and the Northern United States.
It is usually found in crop fields and meadows where it eats
herbaceous foliage being particularly fond of potatoes. If
disturbed, the beetle feigns death by falling on its side.
The leg joints exude droplets of liquid that cause blisters.
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