The insect seems to have one set of wings covered by a pair of dark orange cases. The Orange extends a little bit onto the shoulders. Two variations of the insect have appeared (male and female?). One is 7mm long with an all black body. The other is 12mm long with an lighter orange abdomen. They have six long legs (a bit like a mosquito) and feathered antennae. They have small eyes and I can't any proboscis. On both the abdomen tapers to a blunt point, but hte larger of the two has what looks like an ovipositor or a sting.
Does anyone know what they are?
2006-07-24 22:08:07 · 15 answers · asked by JOOLS 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Well by the description, I cant bring it to species, but I can definatly give you some ideas as to what it may be. Well first of all if it has a cover over the wings it can only be one of two orders of insects, either the Coleoptera (beetles and weevils) or the Hemiptera (true bugs: Heteroptera). The wing cover that you saw was probably the Elytra of a beetle, or shell. Most beetles are within that range of less than or equal to about a cm in length. If you saw two of ths species with similar colors and body form, then it is possible that they are the male and female. Typically the female is the larger of the two, this is an adaptation thta allows her to carry many eggs after copulation with the smaller male.
The feathery or plumate antennae are common to several male insects, many moths have them and so do several beetles.
I have attached some pictures that from your description fit the insect I first suspected them to be, have a look at them and hopefully you'll find it, I also attached a page with several insects that fit the description, have a look at them, and if you see something that resembles it closely, just click on the image and it will blow it up and tell you what it is.
Good Luck!
I hope this helps!
2006-07-25 01:38:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should go to bugguide.net and look at the pictures. To help you narrow it down, true bugs have a triangular-shaped head and a triangular patch between their wings--which sounds likely given your description. Beetles are more rounded.
I attached a couple likely lookers.
Happy hunting.
2006-07-26 17:51:28 · answer #2 · answered by candy2mercy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They sound like biscuit beetles.Do you've pigeons or different wild birds round? Biscuit beetle breed in chook's nests and once you've nests on or round your resources this can properly be the position they're coming from.
2016-10-15 04:34:34 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
definitely a beetle if it has two sets of wings and a hard casing
Without a photo, identification is tricky.
maybe the site will help
2006-07-28 14:38:52 · answer #4 · answered by lrad1952 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like a beetle seeing as it has a wing case, but not sure which one
2006-07-25 02:06:38 · answer #5 · answered by Howard Moon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like they might be Soldier beetles from the description.
2006-07-25 00:57:35 · answer #6 · answered by mactheboat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
These are parasites of the bathroom monkey. Latin name Orangegishmonkericus, they seek out a host, probably coming from your neighbor's bathroom monkey, or floffing off from one of your bathroom monkeys.
2006-07-24 23:59:12 · answer #7 · answered by timmy♫♫ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
have a look at the family Elateridae from coleoptera
2006-07-25 09:43:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its called a squiggledyquosh bug and they hide in bathrooms waiting for unsuspecting naked men
2006-07-24 22:35:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not a clue!
2006-07-24 22:17:04 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋