The "What is this bug?" thread

John Elstob

Forager
Aug 18, 2019
137
76
47
Darlington
Is this just red mite? I was surprised how vibrant the colour is! I know they say beauty is subjective but it an ugly bugger of a thing
 

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lou1661

Full Member
Jul 18, 2004
2,225
225
Hampshire
Found this in a outside plant pot, any ideas what it is?
 

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Nice65

Brilliant!
Apr 16, 2009
6,885
3,302
W.Sussex
This thing is stuck to the back of my car. It’s been on there a few days while parked on chalk land. One end seems to be glued on, and if undisturbed it stands up with just the stuck end attached. If disturbed it hunches back down into the larvae you can see.

IMG_2531.jpegIMG_2532.jpeg
 

John Elstob

Forager
Aug 18, 2019
137
76
47
Darlington
it looks similar one of the insects that Coyote Peterson featured on his YouTube channel, and it looks like an executioner wasps, but I am guessing or reaching I don’t know 100% but the colours look very similar
 

henchy3rd

Settler
Apr 16, 2012
612
424
Derby
The more I learn, the more I realize I don't know - and that was never more true than with insects. Every time I go down to the wood I see something new!

I thought this one would be easy with its bold markings, but I can't identify it. I thought it was a cranefly (Nephrotoma or Ctenphora) but none of them fold the wings back like this one.

Any ideas?

View attachment 68148
From what I can make out you are right, it’s a spotted crane fly(Tipulidea).
It has no ocelli(simple eyes)& open anal cells on the wings(again only Tipulidea).
Also the V shape formation on the thorax is a give away.
There a a few that rest with their wings folded roof like.
The only thing that is puzzling me is.. it looks like the abdomen is banded, could be a variation?
 

Wander

Native
Jan 6, 2017
1,418
1,986
Here There & Everywhere
Out for a walk today and saw this hangover from the time of the dinosaurs:
53159511913_736ab5bcfd_z.jpg


Anyone know what it is?
I wondered if it was a cicada. But doesn't look like one when I checked online.
It's about 35/40mm long.
It was seen today, south east UK, on chalk heath/downland.
In the picture it's sitting on a cow pat.
Help me, Obi Wan - you're my only hope...
 

Wander

Native
Jan 6, 2017
1,418
1,986
Here There & Everywhere
I think we have a winner!
Likes chalk soil, sits on dung, eats grasshoppers (there were loads about)...
And funnily enough, when I first glimpsed it, the first thought I had was, 'Ooo...was that a hornet?'
 
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