The "What is this bug?" thread

[Chiseller]

\chiseller, the answer to your question is yes, it is a lime hawkmoth, as far as I can tell.

A quote for the UKmoths website"The larvae feed on lime (Tilia) as well as a number of other deciduous trees including birch (Betula), alder (Alnus) and elm (Ulmus). They are typically green with yellow stripes and a blue horn at the rear. When ready to pupate, they change colour to a dull greyish or purplish and begin to wander, looking for a pupation site. This is when they are most often encountered."

Tiptop cheers :thumbup:

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4

 

[British Red]

Hi Red, I'm afraid my butterfly expert has come back and confirmed my original identification of your butterfly - a tatty green veined white.

It was a really nice picture though.

Nothing to be sorry for - the veins looked too dark for me hence the question ...nice to know for certain - you can only tell so much from "Collins British Insects"

Thanks to you and your friend!

 

[Harvestman]

Always good to ask. It made me wonder too, as I've never seen a wood white for real, so I didn't want to be wrong on this one. My friend is the butterfly recorder for much of south wales though, so he is pretty reliable (just the 40+ years of experience or so).

 

[Niels]

Look what I found crawling on my new trousers.
What is it?

 

[Harvestman]

It is a crab spider of the genus Xysticus. Impossible to say for certain, but almost always turns out to be Xysticus cristatus.

 

[Niels]

It is a crab spider of the genus Xysticus. Impossible to say for certain, but almost always turns out to be Xysticus cristatus.

Oh. Someday I will photograph a rare one though!

 

[Harvestman]

Oh. Someday I will photograph a rare one though!

Me too! the ones that pose for photographs are never rare.

 

[Ash Blue]

I don't have any pictures, but yesterday I seen a white caterpillar with black spots. Any ideas?

 

[Harvestman]

I don't have any pictures, but yesterday I seen a white caterpillar with black spots. Any ideas?

If it is a butterfly you can try using the caterpillar identifier in this link.

If it is a moth I'm afraid you will struggle to get a useful answer.

 

[Mad Mike]

A little poser

Can you tell what it is yet?

Mike

 

[Goatboy]

A virgin or a garden tiger moth?

 

[wattsy]

Hoverfly, Episyrphus Balteatus?



Apologies for the poor pics the damn thing wouldn't settle so it's in a pot, I believe this is The Crescent?

 

[Niels]

Spider in a bramble bush:

 

[Harvestman]

Hoverfly, Episyrphus Balteatus?



Apologies for the poor pics the damn thing wouldn't settle so it's in a pot, I believe this is The Crescent?

First is correct. Episyrphus balteatus, otherwise known as the Marmalade hoverfly because of its colouring. The only UK hoverfly with 2 stripes (or partial stripes) per abdominal segment.

The second is a Silver Y moth.

 

[Harvestman]

Spider in a bramble bush:

That's a species of Philodromus, one of the running crab spiders. Not field identifiable to species.

 

[Niels]

That's a species of Philodromus, one of the running crab spiders. Not field identifiable to species.

Thank you

 

[Mad Mike]

A virgin or a garden tiger moth?

A Tiger moth anyway seen in a garden in south east London

This is the same moth

Mike

 

[Harvestman]

That's a Jersey Tiger, rather than a Garden Tiger. Nice moth.

Just noticed that my book (which is out of date) says confined to Devon and the Channel Islands, but it may have spread.

 

[Harvestman]

More information about Jersey Tiger moths here, Seems there is a known population in London.

 

[Niels]

Anybody know these bugs?

Might be Pyrausta aurata??


The second one is a lot bigger than it looks in the picture. It's like 2 centimeters long: