A Bug for Dan

[Dan From Smithville]

In the 60s and 70s there were thousands of them every year, they were a danger to motorcyclists, it felt like getting shot. They started disappearing in the 80s, that's the first big one I've seen for about 30 years. Not sure why but I guess land clearing is the main problem and maybe pesticides.

There are some very large species of scarab in several of the subfamilies. Some of the largest insects in the world are in the genus Megasoma and Goliathus and a few other genera. Some exceed 100 grams and would be a heck of thing to hit while driving a car, let alone on a motorcycle.

 

[John53]

There are some very large species of scarab in several of the subfamilies. Some of the largest insects in the world are in the genus Megasoma and Goliathus and a few other genera. Some exceed 100 grams and would be a heck of thing to hit while driving a car, let alone on a motorcycle.

I've been doing a bit of reading on scarabs and I've decided if I come back as a scarab I don't want to be a cockchafer. Who thought up that name!

 

[John53]

I just found this Christmas Beetle Population Project

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I've been doing a bit of reading on scarabs and I've decided if I come back as a scarab I don't want to be a cockchafer. Who thought up that name!

I don't know, but I'm pretty sure it was a dude.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I just found this Christmas Beetle Population Project

Are you getting involved with your recent find? It looks pretty cool. Really appreciate the value of citizen science for the education and citizen involvement in worthwhile research.

 

[John53]

Are you getting involved with your recent find? It looks pretty cool. Really appreciate the value of citizen science for the education and citizen involvement in worthwhile research.

Yeah, after an hour of trying to register. The website is a piece of junk.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Yeah, after an hour of trying to register. The website is a piece of junk.

I was having trouble navigating around some of the university sites to see what sort of entomology programs are available. So far, I found that they teach entomology at some of them.

Have a good night. Or day. I've got to get some sleep.

 

[John53]

Someone posted a couple of tortoise beetles on the Aussie entomology page. I'd never heard of them, they have a clear shield over them but in the pic they've turned them over and there's a couple of tiny wasps attacking them. I don't want to steal their photos so here's a pic from wikipedia of a similar one.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Someone posted a couple of tortoise beetles on the Aussie entomology page. I'd never heard of them, they have a clear shield over them but in the pic they've turned them over and there's a couple of tiny wasps attacking them. I don't want to steal their photos so here's a pic from wikipedia of a similar one.

View attachment 85027

They are a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. I have seen them, but where I am, I have not found them to be common or at least I have not seen them very often.

There are thousands of species of small wasps that are parasitoids on many other insects. That includes small wasps.

These wasps will lay eggs in or on the host and the life cycle will be completed on or in the host with adult wasps emerging from the dead or dying host.

 

[John53]

I spent much of the morning trying to photograph a large metallic bug. It wouldn't land and my reflexes are no longer good enough for flying shots. After looking online I believe it was a Carpenter Bee perhaps Xylocopa aerata - Wikipedia . It looked blue to me but apparently they're green.

 

[John53]

I think this is a type of shield bug, It's about 12mm long and very iridescent when flying. At first I thought it was a scarab until it landed and I got some pics.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I think this is a type of shield bug, It's about 12mm long and very iridescent when flying. At first I thought it was a scarab until it landed and I got some pics.

View attachment 85060View attachment 85061View attachment 85062View attachment 85063View attachment 85064View attachment 85065

You are either correct or close. It is either a member of the family Pentatomidae (stinkbugs) or a closely related family like Scutelleridae. Do you have any shots less close?

 

[John53]

You are either correct or close. It is either a member of the family Pentatomidae (stinkbugs) or a closely related family like Scutelleridae. Do you have any shots less close?

Not at the moment, they're flying into and out of a Cheese Tree fairly high up and are hard to spot when they land. But I'll keep trying.

 

[John53]

I need to get a bug net.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I think this is a type of shield bug, It's about 12mm long and very iridescent when flying. At first I thought it was a scarab until it landed and I got some pics.

View attachment 85060View attachment 85061View attachment 85062View attachment 85063View attachment 85064View attachment 85065

Check out pictures of Chrysocoris stollii and see if they fit this one. It seems to be what this is.

Chrysocoris stollii - Wikipedia

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I need to get a bug net.

I would recommend it. I have several.

Especially considering the variety of really cool insects you have available.

I wish I was down there with you collecting away.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Not at the moment, they're flying into and out of a Cheese Tree fairly high up and are hard to spot when they land. But I'll keep trying.

You have trees that produce cheese? That's awesome!

Now, I'm going to have to be serious and look this up. Clearly, I'm not familiar.

 

[John53]

Check out pictures of Chrysocoris stollii and see if they fit this one. It seems to be what this is.

Chrysocoris stollii - Wikipedia

Looks similar but the range doesn't fit

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Not at the moment, they're flying into and out of a Cheese Tree fairly high up and are hard to spot when they land. But I'll keep trying.

That's a rather nice looking tree. I can see where it gets its common name from the little fruit.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Looks similar but the range doesn't fit

I see that now that you have pointed it out.

Perhaps a different species in that genus or a related genus.