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Tag: bug of the week (Page 10 of 12)

Bug of the Week: Cabbage Looper Moth

February 3, 2009 / / 0 Comments

Did you wonder what kind of moth was in the cocoon in the “another lacewing larva” post? I did and so I kept an eye on it. This week a brown moth emerged.

cabbage looper moth

It is a cabbage looper moth, Trichoplusia ni. Check out the punk look. Isn’t that wild?

cabbage looper moth

I didn’t muss this moth up, those are naturally arranged scales. It also has some white markings on it’s wing.

The cabbage looper pupa is pale green with some brown marks on the back and it is hidden under a shield of white silk.

The cabbage looper caterpillar was bug of the week in an earlier post. It is a pale green caterpillar that loops when it walks.

Moths are often ignored because they are small, drab and are most active at night. But as you can see, if you look at them close up, they can be quite fascinating.

If you are interested in finding out more about moths, try:

Discovering Moths: Nighttime Jewels in Your Own Backyard by John Himmelman

Bug of the Week: Cabbage Looper

October 29, 2008 / / 10 Comments

It’s cabbage looper season here again. In some places cabbage loopers might be considered to be pests, but in our yard they are considered to be pets. They are hardy, will eat a wide range of foods, and they show up every year.

cabbage looper

The looper gets its name from the fact it “loops up” in the middle while walking. The caterpillar has two sets of appendages. Its six true legs are right behind the head. Towards the rear is another set of fleshy, wider appendages called “prolegs.” Scientists don’t count the prolegs, so the caterpillar still has the six legs characteristic of insects.

cabbage looper

The caterpillar holds on with the true legs and brings its back end forward. The prolegs meet the true legs, and the back forms a loop. Then it releases the true legs. The head and front spring forward. The looper holds on with its true legs and the process repeats.

This one was nibbling my mint, but I’m not too concerned. The mint is prolific and the caterpillar has a lot of enemies. It is eaten by birds, wasps and parasitic flies. So, loop on little buddy.

Edit: The cabbage looper moth is featured in a later post.

Bug of the Week: Ant?

October 15, 2008 / / 4 Comments

The bug of the week is a tiny beauty with an attitude. When I first spotted this bug I thought she might be an ant.

bethylidae wasp

But then I looked again. This insect was just not acting like an ant.  She was climbing around on a plant like she was searching for prey, more like a wasp.

bethylidae wasp bethylidae wasp

She doesn’t look quite like an ant either. Her antennae are not elbowed like an ant’s would be. Bug Guide has some pictures of bethylid wasps that look fairly similar to this one, although I couldn’t find an exact match.

Edit: I guess first impressions were best. Seems this is a Pseudomyrmex ant. Check this photograph of Pseudomyrmex pallidus. Thanks to Cameron for straightening me out.

Bethylid wasps are parasites* of caterpillars and beetles larvae. Even the small ones like this have a potent sting. They use their stingers to immobilize the host larva, and then lay their eggs on it. The wasp larvae that hatch from the eggs use the caterpillar or beetle grub for food. Because the hosts are often pests of crops, these bethylid wasps are considered to be beneficial insects. Just leave them alone if you are lucky enough to see one.

*A parasite uses one host that is bigger than itself for food. A predator catches and eats many smaller prey items for food.

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