Here's your weekly challenge, also known as Bug of the Week. Can you identify this mystery insect? Post your answer in the comments below by next Tuesday. In one week, I'll post the answer, along with another challenge. Good luck!
Last week's insect was the peach tree borer (Synanthedon exitiosa), a clearwing moth. There moths are surprisingly good mimics of bees and wasps. Kudos to Moni and Spirula for identifying this Bug of the Week correctly.
Photo: Russ Ottens, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Comments
A Tarnished Plant Bug Lygus lineolaris
Agree…it is the tarnished plant bug
Ok this is kind of a randomn question, but since it involved bugs, I figured someone on here could answer it. Is it ok to paint the shell of a live lady bug using water based paint for an art project? Or will the paint be a bad thing for it?
Matthew,
I have no idea why you would want to paint the “shell” of an insect, but the fact that just because it is a water-based paint does not mean that it is not toxic to insects. In fact, most toxicology information on products is related to vertebrates, not invertebrates like insects (pesticides excluded of course).
Researchers do use “paint dabs” on insects to follow them for research tracking purposes for something such as eusocial insect behavior. But be aware, even what you might considered an innocuous thin coating of “paint” could be toxic, or possibly impede flight.
Just some thoughts.
Canthoconid bug (predatory bug ) predate on lepidopterous larvae