Does anyone know what this bug/beetle is? I'm not sure it is damaging anything. Once in a while I see them on the sunflowers I let grow for the birds. This summer, I saw one on my feverfew hanging out for quite a while as I was tending my garden out front. It hung out on just one flower the entire time but would crawl underneath the petals for short periods of time and come right back to the top.
Today, it appeared to be looking for something on this coneflower, so I assume maybe it eats tinier bugs. It was there a long while and roamed the coneflower in constant motion. I've seen the bees dive-bomb these guys so either they are enemies or the bees get tired of the guy hogging the flower.
[img]https://lh5.ggpht.com/cheshirekatttt/SI_qnEd1xwI/AAAAAAAABq4/V15-9wbB4Xo/s400/jul292008%20%2061800.jpg[/img]
[img]https://lh6.ggpht.com/cheshirekatttt/SI_z4MOuDFI/AAAAAAAABsk/FF6Jl5doVug/s800/jul292008%20%2061625.jpg[/img]
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cheshirekat
- Senior Member
- Posts: 264
- Joined: Mon May 12, 2008 11:13 pm
- Location: Denver, CO (zone 5)
What is this Red and Black Beetle?
Last edited by cheshirekat on Thu Jul 31, 2008 3:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
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cheshirekat
- Senior Member
- Posts: 264
- Joined: Mon May 12, 2008 11:13 pm
- Location: Denver, CO (zone 5)
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cheshirekat
- Senior Member
- Posts: 264
- Joined: Mon May 12, 2008 11:13 pm
- Location: Denver, CO (zone 5)
I changed the link to the second photo in the first post so you can click on it to view full size to view his rear. I have quite a few of photos of him from the coneflowers and the recent photo was from June 29 and I have a bunch from that day.
If I were raised to eat bugs, this is one that looks like cherries. Shiny, red, and juicy looking - especially the head. That's what is throwing me off the most trying to id him. I can't find any with a red head like his.
webmaster, you may be right about him eating pollen. In some of the photos I've blown up to view, the pollen really sticks to him. Not like hairy bees, but maybe he has some kind of light stickiness to his body. And I had to wonder if he had eggs or babies underneath the petals. That would explain the frequent trips down under. Unfortunately, none of my flowers I've found him on are tall, and there isn't room to lay on my back to view from below. More than likely, I'd disturb him and any possible eggs. I don't want to do that if he is a good guy (beneficial). As far as I can tell, he is a good guy, spreading the pollen around and no damage to my plants and flowers. He's quiet and appears to have good manners. LOL.
I don't know how he hangs on after the frequent bee attacks. I was a few feet away from the coneflower and could literally hear the thump of the bee trying to knock him off. The little guy was completely unphased and kept circling the top of the flower. I immediately thought of that phrase "Never let them see you sweat."
Another thing, I saw the bee hit him twice. I've never seen that. When I've watched them attack each other on the flowers and sunflowers they thump once. The bee under attack falls off or moves on. (Maybe seniority or alpha male, or something in play.) The bees come in close, see the other bee and will hover while the tone of their buzzing changes. If the bee on the flower doesn't move, they get thumped, but it's fairly genteel.
When they attack the red bug, they hover, but go at it with speed and stealth. I've had to take turns watching and trying to get photos because I think the behavior is so interesting.
I nearly forgot that wasps will totally ignore the bug. I saw one on a rudbeckia a few days ago when I went for a walk to take photos. The wasp was all over the flower and the red guy was ignored. I was holding my breath thinking for sure I'd see behavior similar to what I've observed with the bees.
Hmm. Should have been in bed and asleep two hours ago. Gotta stop thinking about the bugs for a while.
If I were raised to eat bugs, this is one that looks like cherries. Shiny, red, and juicy looking - especially the head. That's what is throwing me off the most trying to id him. I can't find any with a red head like his.
webmaster, you may be right about him eating pollen. In some of the photos I've blown up to view, the pollen really sticks to him. Not like hairy bees, but maybe he has some kind of light stickiness to his body. And I had to wonder if he had eggs or babies underneath the petals. That would explain the frequent trips down under. Unfortunately, none of my flowers I've found him on are tall, and there isn't room to lay on my back to view from below. More than likely, I'd disturb him and any possible eggs. I don't want to do that if he is a good guy (beneficial). As far as I can tell, he is a good guy, spreading the pollen around and no damage to my plants and flowers. He's quiet and appears to have good manners. LOL.
I don't know how he hangs on after the frequent bee attacks. I was a few feet away from the coneflower and could literally hear the thump of the bee trying to knock him off. The little guy was completely unphased and kept circling the top of the flower. I immediately thought of that phrase "Never let them see you sweat."
Another thing, I saw the bee hit him twice. I've never seen that. When I've watched them attack each other on the flowers and sunflowers they thump once. The bee under attack falls off or moves on. (Maybe seniority or alpha male, or something in play.) The bees come in close, see the other bee and will hover while the tone of their buzzing changes. If the bee on the flower doesn't move, they get thumped, but it's fairly genteel.
When they attack the red bug, they hover, but go at it with speed and stealth. I've had to take turns watching and trying to get photos because I think the behavior is so interesting.
I nearly forgot that wasps will totally ignore the bug. I saw one on a rudbeckia a few days ago when I went for a walk to take photos. The wasp was all over the flower and the red guy was ignored. I was holding my breath thinking for sure I'd see behavior similar to what I've observed with the bees.
Hmm. Should have been in bed and asleep two hours ago. Gotta stop thinking about the bugs for a while.
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cheshirekat
- Senior Member
- Posts: 264
- Joined: Mon May 12, 2008 11:13 pm
- Location: Denver, CO (zone 5)
I stole that last photo you posted, saved it to my desktop then cropped it and enlarged it. Hairy 'lil guy you've got there when magnified 3x. I did lose quite a bit of the details when I enlarged but I think you've got Batyle suturalis. Some variation within the species-
https://www.insectsofalberta.com/batylesuturalis.htm
https://www.cirrusimage.com/beetle_Batyle_suturalis.htm
https://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5024028
https://www.cirrusimage.com/beetles_Batyle_suturale.htm
Your description of your longhorn is one of the reasons why lots of people mix it up with Pyrochroa coccinea (Cardinal Beetle) or Lilioceris lilii (Scarlet Lily Beetle). If you take a good look at both of those beetles, you'll be scratching your head wondering how people could mistake one for the other but they do.
https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Pyrochroa_coccinea
https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Lilioceris_lilii
Webmaster is correct, you've got a pollinator there. In other words, friend not foe.
If you're really interested in bugs, you could contact your local college and take like an entomology 101 class. Better yet, a CE class on bug identification. I've seen those types of classes available from time to time at extension offices. Another option is to contact folks like this or similar to see if they'll be out your way-
https://www.amentsoc.org/insects/what-bug-is-this/
A book on bugs is a great way to begin familiarizing yourself with what's out and about. Not all books are created equal though so be picky. Browse through before you buy.
These are sites my kids have used-
https://www.whatsthatbug.com/
https://www.insectidentification.org/articles_index.asp
https://bugguide.net/node/view/15740
You'll do a lot better if you can narrow it down to an order-
https://www.discoverlife.org/nh/id/lucid/
Lots of sites on line to help you do that.
Arachnids are a whole different ball game. Some really great books out there to help with the identification of them. Quite a few nice online resources too.
Other than that, odonata (dragonfly and damselfly) identification can make your eyeballs fall out. The juveniles are different from the adult males are different from the adult females and we're talking some wild color variations. I have quite a few publications on odonata identification and I spend about 10 minutes then give up without even bothering to go online. I don't even bother trying to figure out naiads. Get a very basic book on odonata and call it a day or you'll be at risk of going mad.
Have fun!
https://www.insectsofalberta.com/batylesuturalis.htm
https://www.cirrusimage.com/beetle_Batyle_suturalis.htm
https://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5024028
https://www.cirrusimage.com/beetles_Batyle_suturale.htm
Your description of your longhorn is one of the reasons why lots of people mix it up with Pyrochroa coccinea (Cardinal Beetle) or Lilioceris lilii (Scarlet Lily Beetle). If you take a good look at both of those beetles, you'll be scratching your head wondering how people could mistake one for the other but they do.
https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Pyrochroa_coccinea
https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Lilioceris_lilii
Webmaster is correct, you've got a pollinator there. In other words, friend not foe.
If you're really interested in bugs, you could contact your local college and take like an entomology 101 class. Better yet, a CE class on bug identification. I've seen those types of classes available from time to time at extension offices. Another option is to contact folks like this or similar to see if they'll be out your way-
https://www.amentsoc.org/insects/what-bug-is-this/
A book on bugs is a great way to begin familiarizing yourself with what's out and about. Not all books are created equal though so be picky. Browse through before you buy.
These are sites my kids have used-
https://www.whatsthatbug.com/
https://www.insectidentification.org/articles_index.asp
https://bugguide.net/node/view/15740
You'll do a lot better if you can narrow it down to an order-
https://www.discoverlife.org/nh/id/lucid/
Lots of sites on line to help you do that.
Arachnids are a whole different ball game. Some really great books out there to help with the identification of them. Quite a few nice online resources too.
Other than that, odonata (dragonfly and damselfly) identification can make your eyeballs fall out. The juveniles are different from the adult males are different from the adult females and we're talking some wild color variations. I have quite a few publications on odonata identification and I spend about 10 minutes then give up without even bothering to go online. I don't even bother trying to figure out naiads. Get a very basic book on odonata and call it a day or you'll be at risk of going mad.
Have fun!
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cheshirekat
- Senior Member
- Posts: 264
- Joined: Mon May 12, 2008 11:13 pm
- Location: Denver, CO (zone 5)
Lorax, looks like you must know the different bug generas very well. I tried being descriptive and got all kinds of bugs and things only slightly related, like volkswagon, red beetle art, etc. I look at some of the photos on the bug sites and start to really get creeped out, so I only do it for short periods of time. Otherwise, if I just stay in the context of what I see in my garden, then the one bug looks kind of cute.
I'm not into bugs a lot, just trying to get info about what's in my garden. Enough to give him a greeting when I see him. LOL. I noticed that some people are curious enough to pick them up. Not a chance for me. Knowing that some bugs bite, even if not poisonous, makes me keep the camera between me and the critter and an exit plan.
Yes, the little guy does have hair, but I consider them fairly hairless when the hair isn't easily seen with the naked eye, like I can see the hair on bees. Thought about him too much yesterday and as I was falling asleep I decided I will see if I can find one this weekend, then use a mirror to see what they are doing under the flower petals.
None of the plants I see them on are woody, so I assume the adults do little damage hanging out on herbaceous plants but the larvae are the ones that can be pests from the bits I read about them. Glad I don't see a lot of them and haven't seen a single one on any woody plants or trees.
Thanks lorax for all your research and advice on my curious behalf. Hopefully, I will find a good bug book to buy so I can explore during the winter months. One that's fairly simple so I don't spend a lot of time getting the heebie jeebies. LOL.
I'm not into bugs a lot, just trying to get info about what's in my garden. Enough to give him a greeting when I see him. LOL. I noticed that some people are curious enough to pick them up. Not a chance for me. Knowing that some bugs bite, even if not poisonous, makes me keep the camera between me and the critter and an exit plan.
Yes, the little guy does have hair, but I consider them fairly hairless when the hair isn't easily seen with the naked eye, like I can see the hair on bees. Thought about him too much yesterday and as I was falling asleep I decided I will see if I can find one this weekend, then use a mirror to see what they are doing under the flower petals.
None of the plants I see them on are woody, so I assume the adults do little damage hanging out on herbaceous plants but the larvae are the ones that can be pests from the bits I read about them. Glad I don't see a lot of them and haven't seen a single one on any woody plants or trees.
Thanks lorax for all your research and advice on my curious behalf. Hopefully, I will find a good bug book to buy so I can explore during the winter months. One that's fairly simple so I don't spend a lot of time getting the heebie jeebies. LOL.
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