I know this week we were supposed to be looking for bees but I have a favor to ask.
I decided that I have far too many unidentified insects and I might as well just post the photos here and let anyone who has any idea what they are, please let me know the names or at least a direction.
I am *so happy* that we are finishing up our focus on insects because I get very frustrated with not knowing particular names. I know I should be happy to have had the experience with observing them and also the time to browse through my insect field guide and on the internet. My boys are content with just spotting and observing. I am not content.
Here are the photos:
This one is a shiny blue and there seems to be lots of them crawling in the garden. I find them mostly under the leaves of my green beans and strawberries.
This guy is fairly good size and has a beautiful red splotch on his back.
I know I see these all the time but I don’t have any idea what they are called. They are the biggest of the bunch.
EDIT: Bordered Plant Bug or Largus succinctus
(Thanks to Dana!)
This one is sort of like the blue one but still different.
This one has a round body and is really black and blue iridescent.
This one I thought at first was a spider but it only has six legs. The legs and the antennae are striped and he was carrying that black thing as he climbed around on the butterfly bush. He was very fast. (You may need to click the photo to enlarge it.)
EDIT: Some sort of Assassin Bug
(Thanks to Dana!)
Okay, that is my collection of photos that I have yet to identify. As you can tell, I see a lot of insects when I am out watering in the garden.
We didn’t see a single bee today when we went outside but the boys knew where to go look so I know they have been observing them in the garden. One son says that he always sees bees in the lavender and the other said he thinks they are always on the butterfly bush. I think just knowing where to look for the bees is valuable. I am not worried….the bees will be back later I am sure.
Insects are probably my favorite nature topic. 🙂 Anyway, I’m going to do some research on the others, but I think the last photo is of some kind of assassin bug.
Here’s your assassin bug: http://bugguide.net/node/view/16504/bgpage (I first found it on Whats That Bug)
And, the 3rd one looks like Largus succinctus: http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=largus+succinctus&search=Search. I found it in my favorite insect guide: Kaufman’s.
By the way, those 2 were GREAT photos! And, I think that’s all I can help you with. 🙂
I just found that 2nd bug is also known as a Bordered Plant Bug – which is much easier to remember. 🙂
That 3rd one is some type of stink bug or assasin bug. Oops, looks like others have already shared that with you, but thanks for sharing this post! I have some similar to that last one, so I’ll check back and see if it gets positively identified, too!
Maybe your bees took a field trip to our LA Zoo. We were swarmed there last week (not really, but the problem was bad enough that signs were posted outside the zoo as a warning).
Thought I’d pass along one of our favorite places to help identify mysterious bugs: whatsthatbug.com
I really enjoy your blog 🙂
Barb, I had to tell you that my 10yodd collected a caterpillar last Wednesday when we were on our nature walk, and it has spun its cocoon! We are so excited. I don’t have a photo up yet, but here is the post:
http://bkialblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/spunky-is-in-cocoon.html
Thanks for encouraging us to get out and look!
Awesome pics of BUGS!!! =o) I wish I could help identify some of them.
Be Blessed–Angie in GA
My goodness, it is hard to keep up with you. Your posts are great, and I love your photos.
The black, shiny round guys are nymphs (immatures) of stink bugs. I don’t know which species. They are also called shield bugs. The scientific name is Pentatomidae. Some feed on plants and others are predatory.
For another look at an assassin bug and some bee pictures, check my blog at http://blog.growingwithscience.com.