Hi,

I confess that I'm completely stumped about what I just witnessed today. I found
a grounded swift in my garden (a rarity in its own right for me). My intention
was to pick it up so that it could get itself airborne again.

However, as it lay on my palm, I could inspect it a little closer and realised
that a small insect was 'riding' the swift. It was positioned in exactly the
same manner as you might see a hero riding a dragon in a fantasy movie!

Before I could react the swift flew off. I thought that was that and that I must
have been mistaken. But just then the swift returned and re-grounded itself.
Unfortunately, before I could rescue it for the 2nd time my dog caught and
killed it. I inspected the body and could see the insect 'pilot' was still
there. The insect remained by the body for some time and I had time to return to
the house and get a camera.

I only managed to snap the following picture before the insect ran off:
http://i.imgur.com/bLlwJ.jpg (see centre of image)

So, to cut a rather long story short, does anybody have any idea what this
insect might be and why it was hitching a ride on a swift?

My initial reaction was that it was some kind of cricket, but I must say it did
move in an odd manner and almost reminded me of a spider. Very odd!

I should say this all occurred in South West UK - north of Bristol.

Any light you could shed would be very appreciated.

Many thanks,

im researching the effects of ultrasonic frequencies and their effects on
insects (and spiders).

i have found some existing research that suggests ants can be 'controlled' by
this method, can anyone offer any further information?

rgds, doc

Hi, I've got these insects crawling round my house. They are up to 3mm long.
Elongated oval or shield shaped. Quite flat. They have a white/cream strip
across the centre of the back left to right with dark brown at the head end and
back end. They don't seem to travel very fast and appear from nowhere.

I think that's the very devil!

Excellent detective work Graeme, many thanks indeed!

--- In bugclub@yahoogroups.com, "Graeme Stroud" <G.Stroud@...> wrote:
>
> Nice story Chewfish - I've never seen a grounded swift. Well I think
> your swift was in a pretty bad way by the sound of it - as you know they
> never ground intentionally except when nesting, and they all migrated
> ages ago anyway - the last one I saw this year was on 24th August.
>
> The RSPB web site says "Swifts carry many parasites, none of which can
> be transmitted to people. Most are harmless fleas and mites. One
> parasite, the louse-fly or flat-fly is found only on swifts. It does not
> affect humans but may alarm someone unprepared who picks up a swift.
> Louse-flies are about 7 mm long with flattened triangular bodies and
> very small wings."
>
> According to Wikipedia, "Swift nests commonly support populations of the
> Chewing Louse, Dennyus hirundinis
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dennyus_hirundinis&action=edi
> t&redlink=1>  and the Lousefly, Crataerina pallida
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crataerina_pallida> ." Your parasitic
> critter looks like it may be the lousefly, and I doubt if it's going to
> get another lift.
>
> Regards,
>
> Graeme
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: bugclub@yahoogroups.com [mailto:bugclub@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
> Of chewfish
> Sent: 16 September 2010 14:14
> To: bugclub@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [bugclub] Unidentified, dare I say it, insect... pilot?
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi,
>
> I confess that I'm completely stumped about what I just witnessed today.
> I found a grounded swift in my garden (a rarity in its own right for
> me). My intention was to pick it up so that it could get itself airborne
> again.
>
> However, as it lay on my palm, I could inspect it a little closer and
> realised that a small insect was 'riding' the swift. It was positioned
> in exactly the same manner as you might see a hero riding a dragon in a
> fantasy movie!
>
> Before I could react the swift flew off. I thought that was that and
> that I must have been mistaken. But just then the swift returned and
> re-grounded itself. Unfortunately, before I could rescue it for the 2nd
> time my dog caught and killed it. I inspected the body and could see the
> insect 'pilot' was still there. The insect remained by the body for some
> time and I had time to return to the house and get a camera.
>
> I only managed to snap the following picture before the insect ran off:
> http://i.imgur.com/bLlwJ.jpg (see centre of image)
>
> So, to cut a rather long story short, does anybody have any idea what
> this insect might be and why it was hitching a ride on a swift?
>
> My initial reaction was that it was some kind of cricket, but I must say
> it did move in an odd manner and almost reminded me of a spider. Very
> odd!
>
> I should say this all occurred in South West UK - north of Bristol.
>
> Any light you could shed would be very appreciated.
>
> Many thanks,
>
>
>
>
> Comma Oil & Chemicals Limited
> Dering Way, Gravesend, Kent DA12 2QX
>
> (Registered in England: Number 2075698. Registered Office as above)
>
> (If the e-mail is received in error, inform the sender immediately and do not
copy the e-mail, use its contents or disclose them to any unauthorised third
party).
>

Looks like a parasitic fly. Hippoboscidae or something like that.

Sincerely,

JM

Dr. Jean-Michel MAES
MUSEO ENTOMOLOGICO
AP 527
LEON
NICARAGUA
tel 505-2-311-6586
cel 505-8481-1351
jmmaes@...
jmmaes@...

www.bio-nica.info (main page - pagina principal)
http://espanol.groups.yahoo.com/group/MEL-Info/ (lista de anuncios - puede
inscribirse si le parece)
www.avesnicaragua.org (aves - ALAS)
www.coleoptera.org/p1760 htm (Lucanidae genera)

Save a tree. Do not print this message if not really necessary
----- Original Message -----
From: "chewfish" <chewcycle@...>
To: <bugclub@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2010 7:13 AM
Subject: [bugclub] Unidentified, dare I say it, insect... pilot?


> Hi,
>
> I confess that I'm completely stumped about what I just witnessed today. I
> found a grounded swift in my garden (a rarity in its own right for me). My
> intention was to pick it up so that it could get itself airborne again.
>
> However, as it lay on my palm, I could inspect it a little closer and
> realised that a small insect was 'riding' the swift. It was positioned in
> exactly the same manner as you might see a hero riding a dragon in a
> fantasy movie!
>
> Before I could react the swift flew off. I thought that was that and that
> I must have been mistaken. But just then the swift returned and
> re-grounded itself. Unfortunately, before I could rescue it for the 2nd
> time my dog caught and killed it. I inspected the body and could see the
> insect 'pilot' was still there. The insect remained by the body for some
> time and I had time to return to the house and get a camera.
>
> I only managed to snap the following picture before the insect ran off:
> http://i.imgur.com/bLlwJ.jpg (see centre of image)
>
> So, to cut a rather long story short, does anybody have any idea what this
> insect might be and why it was hitching a ride on a swift?
>
> My initial reaction was that it was some kind of cricket, but I must say
> it did move in an odd manner and almost reminded me of a spider. Very odd!
>
> I should say this all occurred in South West UK - north of Bristol.
>
> Any light you could shed would be very appreciated.
>
> Many thanks,
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> ========================================================================
> Members photos of insects and articles etc. can be viewed via the Files
> and Photos area - see the home page of the forum at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bugclub
>
> Pictures of the eggs, larvae and pupae of UK Lepidoptera can be viewed at:
> http://www.ukleps.org/
>
>
>
> The next AES Exhibition at Kempton Park Racecourse, Middlesex, is on
> Saturday 2 October 2010, open from 11.00 am to 5.00pm. For further details
> and information on membership of the AES see the AES Website at
> http://www.amentsoc.org/.
>
> For advice on insects and membership of the AES Bug Club (open to those
> under 13) see the AES Bug Club website at
> http://www.ex.ac.uk/bugclub
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Found this in Woking, Surrey, UK.
http://twitpic.com/2q3hd7

Would have taken a better photo - but it was freaking my wife out.  Ok... I was
a little freaked out too!

Bright green.
Six legs.
An upwardly hooked tail.  Like a very small scorpion - if that doesn't sound too
melodramatic.
Had very fine "toes" on its feet.  Almost red in colour.
Long, thin antenna.
Body was ~8cm long.

We caught it and released it.  Any idea what it was?

Pretty difficult to make out in that photo but perhaps it is one of the
Bush Crickets.

Try Meconema thallasiniuim for a starter.

On 19/09/2010 21:51, terenceeden wrote:
> Found this in Woking, Surrey, UK.
> http://twitpic.com/2q3hd7
>
> Would have taken a better photo - but it was freaking my wife out.  Ok... I
was a little freaked out too!
>
> Bright green.
> Six legs.
> An upwardly hooked tail.  Like a very small scorpion - if that doesn't sound
too melodramatic.
> Had very fine "toes" on its feet.  Almost red in colour.
> Long, thin antenna.
> Body was ~8cm long.
>
> We caught it and released it.  Any idea what it was?
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> ========================================================================
> Members photos of insects and articles etc. can be viewed via the Files and
Photos area - see the home page of the forum at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bugclub
>
> Pictures of the eggs, larvae and pupae of UK Lepidoptera can be viewed at:
> http://www.ukleps.org/
>
>
>
> The next AES Exhibition at Kempton Park Racecourse, Middlesex, is on Saturday
2 October 2010, open from 11.00 am to 5.00pm. For further details and
information on membership of the AES see the AES Website at
http://www.amentsoc.org/.
>
> For advice on insects and membership of the AES Bug Club (open to those under
13) see the AES Bug Club website at
> http://www.ex.ac.uk/bugclub
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


--
David Howdon (http://freespace.virgin.net/david.howdon/)

Hmm

It should be an Oak Bush Cricket, but it looks different somehow.... Dark green
instead of emeral, plump upper limbs and body and casting a determind shadow
too.

If I didnt know better I would say it is more the shape of the Saddle backed
bush cricket Ephippiger e, but they are not found (yet) in this country.  They
dont fly but can walk on ceilings.  Have you been to the European coutryside
recently?

Did it have fairly like wings or appear to have no wings at all?

Just a thougt.


Mark

--- In bugclub@yahoogroups.com, "terenceeden" <bugclub@...> wrote:
>
> Found this in Woking, Surrey, UK.
> http://twitpic.com/2q3hd7
>
> Would have taken a better photo - but it was freaking my wife out.  Ok... I
was a little freaked out too!
>
> Bright green.
> Six legs.
> An upwardly hooked tail.  Like a very small scorpion - if that doesn't sound
too melodramatic.
> Had very fine "toes" on its feet.  Almost red in colour.
> Long, thin antenna.
> Body was ~8cm long.
>
> We caught it and released it.  Any idea what it was?
>

Thanks for the replies.  From looking at the pictures, it was almost certainly
Leptophyes punctatissima.

Mind you, I would have said it was much larger than 15mm suggested by Wikipedia.
Either they grow 'em big round here - or adrenaline compromised my perception
:-)

Thanks all,

T

--- In bugclub@yahoogroups.com, "Graeme Stroud" <G.Stroud@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Terence,
>
>
>
> It's definitely a female bush cricket.
>
>
>
> Looks from the photo like the speckled bush cricket Leptophyes
> punctatissima, but if your size estimate is anything like correct, it
> has to be a great green bush cricket Tettigonia viridissima. The great
> greens are almost always pictured with long wings which would count your
> little baby out, but you do sometimes get short-winged ones that look
> like a speckled but larger.
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Graeme
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: bugclub@yahoogroups.com [mailto:bugclub@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
> Of David Howdon
> Sent: 19 September 2010 23:26
> To: bugclub@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [bugclub] Unidentified Insect - any help?
>
>
>
>
>
> Pretty difficult to make out in that photo but perhaps it is one of the
> Bush Crickets.
>
> Try Meconema thallasiniuim for a starter.
>
> On 19/09/2010 21:51, terenceeden wrote:
> > Found this in Woking, Surrey, UK.
> > http://twitpic.com/2q3hd7
> >
> > Would have taken a better photo - but it was freaking my wife out.
> Ok... I was a little freaked out too!
> >
> > Bright green.
> > Six legs.
> > An upwardly hooked tail. Like a very small scorpion - if that doesn't
> sound too melodramatic.
> > Had very fine "toes" on its feet. Almost red in colour.
> > Long, thin antenna.
> > Body was ~8cm long.
> >
> > We caught it and released it. Any idea what it was?
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> >
> ========================================================================
> > Members photos of insects and articles etc. can be viewed via the
> Files and Photos area - see the home page of the forum at:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bugclub
> >
> > Pictures of the eggs, larvae and pupae of UK Lepidoptera can be viewed
> at:
> > http://www.ukleps.org/
> >
> >
> >
> > The next AES Exhibition at Kempton Park Racecourse, Middlesex, is on
> Saturday 2 October 2010, open from 11.00 am to 5.00pm. For further
> details and information on membership of the AES see the AES Website at
> http://www.amentsoc.org/. <http://www.amentsoc.org/>
> >
> > For advice on insects and membership of the AES Bug Club (open to
> those under 13) see the AES Bug Club website at
> > http://www.ex.ac.uk/bugclub
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> --
> David Howdon (http://freespace.virgin.net/david.howdon/)
>
>
>
>
> Comma Oil & Chemicals Limited
> Dering Way, Gravesend, Kent DA12 2QX
>
> (Registered in England: Number 2075698. Registered Office as above)
>
> (If the e-mail is received in error, inform the sender immediately and do not
copy the e-mail, use its contents or disclose them to any unauthorised third
party).
>

----- Original Message -----

From: markj

To: bugclub@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, September 20, 2010 11:40 AM

Subject: [bugclub] Re: Unidentified Insect - any help?

 

Hmm

It should be an Oak Bush Cricket, but it looks different somehow.... Dark green instead of emeral, plump upper limbs and body and casting a determind shadow too.

If I didnt know better I would say it is more the shape of the Saddle backed bush cricket Ephippiger e, but they are not found (yet) in this country. They dont fly but can walk on ceilings. Have you been to the European coutryside recently?

Did it have fairly like wings or appear to have no wings at all?

Just a thougt.

Mark

--- In bugclub@yahoogroups.com, "terenceeden" <bugclub@...> wrote:
>
> Found this in Woking, Surrey, UK.
> http://twitpic.com/2q3hd7
>
> Would have taken a better photo - but it was freaking my wife out. Ok... I was a little freaked out too!
>
> Bright green.
> Six legs.
> An upwardly hooked tail. Like a very small scorpion - if that doesn't sound too melodramatic.
> Had very fine "toes" on its feet. Almost red in colour.
> Long, thin antenna.
> Body was ~8cm long.
>
> We caught it and released it. Any idea what it was?
>

Hi Belle


You are welcome

I am getting my replies mixed up...ever since I had to resort to using Microsft
Explorer  :(

Your insect is Acrida ungarica: The slant faced grasshopper.

The sound you heard is is wings rustling.  Its called crepitation....the insect
itselt has no wayof stridulating like other grasshoppers and crickets.

They are completely harmless by heway, so do enjoy their beauty

Mark

--- In bugclub@yahoogroups.com, "bel" <bellebird@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Mark
>
> It was found whist on holiday in the Greek Island of Zante / Zakynthos. It did
indeed have wings as it was the the 'brrrrrrrrr' sound that initiallty got my
attention (it flew similar to a Locust just like you said, fairy like).
Beautiful creature, huge attena though for some reason.
>
> Thanks for getting back back to me as I was intregued, have been to Zante many
times but only seen this mad little bug once.
>
> Regards
>
> Belle
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: markj
>   To: bugclub@yahoogroups.com
>   Sent: Monday, September 20, 2010 11:40 AM
>   Subject: [bugclub] Re: Unidentified Insect - any help?
>
>
>
>   Hmm
>
>   It should be an Oak Bush Cricket, but it looks different somehow.... Dark
green instead of emeral, plump upper limbs and body and casting a determind
shadow too.
>
>   If I didnt know better I would say it is more the shape of the Saddle backed
bush cricket Ephippiger e, but they are not found (yet) in this country. They
dont fly but can walk on ceilings. Have you been to the European coutryside
recently?
>
>   Did it have fairly like wings or appear to have no wings at all?
>
>   Just a thougt.
>
>   Mark
>
>   --- In bugclub@yahoogroups.com, "terenceeden" <bugclub@> wrote:
>   >
>   > Found this in Woking, Surrey, UK.
>   > http://twitpic.com/2q3hd7
>   >
>   > Would have taken a better photo - but it was freaking my wife out. Ok... I
was a little freaked out too!
>   >
>   > Bright green.
>   > Six legs.
>   > An upwardly hooked tail. Like a very small scorpion - if that doesn't
sound too melodramatic.
>   > Had very fine "toes" on its feet. Almost red in colour.
>   > Long, thin antenna.
>   > Body was ~8cm long.
>   >
>   > We caught it and released it. Any idea what it was?
>   >
>

Photographed in a meadow in Westchester county, New York, about two weeks ago.
There were many of them, but this one stopped still long enough for me to take a
picture.

What kind of grasshopper is this? Male or female? What could the red stuff on
its back be?

Thanks a lot,

Sandra

EDITORS NOTE: I can't find your photo anywhere?

I found this bug in the kitchen inside a metal cooking pot. it is red and has
hard shell,

my location: [lakeshore and kipling] etobicoke, ontario, canada

photos are attached:

http://img716.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=img2523v.jpg

http://img716.imageshack.us/i/img2523v.jpg/

http://img693.imageshack.us/i/img2524c.jpg/

http://img801.imageshack.us/i/img2525l.jpg/

http://img163.imageshack.us/i/img2526ti.jpg/

http://img213.imageshack.us/i/img2528c.jpg/

http://img826.imageshack.us/i/img2530s.jpg/


THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP.

Hello all,

Hope you can help.  This bug has been in our house for a couple of days and
we've finally been able to catch it and put it outside.

It's about 2" long, flies, buzzes and is quite scary when it lands on you!

I'm from West Norfolk, UK. and I've never seen anything like it.  It seemed a
bit grumpy and slow moving.

Sorry about the poor quality of the photo, I was made to get it out of the house
before taking a photo!

I've put the photo in an album "identification please!" by aljanicol2 as I
wasn't sure where to put it.

Many thanks.

I have a bright green praying mantis that is on its last days and when it dies,
I would like to preserve it in a jar of liquid. What's the best way of doing
this and what would be the best medium to keep it in? If at all possible, I
would like to keep its color bright. Is it possible to stiffen it so that it
keeps a pose while in the liquid?

I've been looking for information for a few days and all I can find relating to
preserving mantises is pinning which is not what I want. I found a lot of
articles about preserving soft-bodied insects in liquid, but nothing about
hard-bodied insects.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Any information is welcome.

Thanks!

----- Original Message -----

From: nicolaszekri

To: bugclub@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Sunday, September 26, 2010 7:56 PM

Subject: [bugclub] Preserving specimens

 

I have a bright green praying mantis that is on its last days and when it dies, I would like to preserve it in a jar of liquid. What's the best way of doing this and what would be the best medium to keep it in? If at all possible, I would like to keep its color bright. Is it possible to stiffen it so that it keeps a pose while in the liquid?

I've been looking for information for a few days and all I can find relating to preserving mantises is pinning which is not what I want. I found a lot of articles about preserving soft-bodied insects in liquid, but nothing about hard-bodied insects.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Any information is welcome.

Thanks!

unable to I.D. caterpiller. I have raised many of the large silk moth
caterpiller's but nothing of this size. Just a little over 4inches long. I took
a pic with the caterpiller in front of a tape measure. I live in south Florida.
The pic is in the photo section under the album "unknown" I will remove this pic
after a few days as there are way to many albums with just a pic in it and to
make room for others.
Thanks,
Ron Crandall

With a tail-horn it is obviously one of the Sphinx Moths or HawkMoths
but it is difficult to see much detail from your photo. Unless
someone on here can identify it all I can suggest is that you go
through all the Sphinx moths half way down the list at:-

http://facweb.furman.edu/~snyderjohn/leplist/saturniidae.htm

Reg


On 27 Sep 2010, at 21:03, Ron wrote:

> unable to I.D. caterpiller. I have raised many of the large silk
> moth caterpiller's but nothing of this size. Just a little over
> 4inches long. I took a pic with the caterpiller in front of a tape
> measure. I live in south Florida. The pic is in the photo section
> under the album "unknown" I will remove this pic after a few days
> as there are way to many albums with just a pic in it and to make
> room for others.
> Thanks,
> Ron Crandall
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> ======================================================================
> ==
> Members photos of insects and articles etc. can be viewed via the
> Files and Photos area - see the home page of the forum at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bugclub
>
> Pictures of the eggs, larvae and pupae of UK Lepidoptera can be
> viewed at:
> http://www.ukleps.org/
>
>
>
> The next AES Exhibition at Kempton Park Racecourse, Middlesex, is
> on Saturday 2 October 2010, open from 11.00 am to 5.00pm. For
> further details and information on membership of the AES see the
> AES Website at http://www.amentsoc.org/.
>
> For advice on insects and membership of the AES Bug Club (open to
> those under 13) see the AES Bug Club website at
> http://www.ex.ac.uk/bugclub
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

I've just found an insect crawling from under my sofa. It is:

1- About 1.5cm long
2- Pale brown with dark brown joins between each body segment.
3- 3 pairs of legs by the head
4- The rest of the body was legless.
5- Black pincer like nose.

I live in Norfolk, England - the room has wooden floorboards.

Any help telling what this is would be great.
Thanks