Tonight's challenge is this rather unusual insect.
What is it?
Points will be awarded to the first person to pick the order (3), family (3), and genus (3). Plus, a bonus point for explaining what is unusual about this insect's life cycle.
The cumulative winner for the month of June 2010 will get their choice of 1) any 8x10 print from my photo galleries; or 2) a guest post on the safe-for-work topic of their choice.
- Log in to post comments
More like this
Something took a bite out of this leaf:
What was it?
Three points for the taxonomic order of the culprit, five for family, and two for explaining the natural history. Points are awarded only for the first correct guess in each category. And maybe some extra ones if you get creative with the…
Mystery #1
I admit, I like to pick on iStockphoto, the pioneering company behind the high volume/low cost microstock model of media licensing.
There's nothing wrong with microstock. After all, the thriving web-based market for cheap images is a ripe opportunity. But buyers get what they pay for…
Ok. Now you guys have asked for it. Apparently the mysteries haven't been quite obscure enough.
So here you go. A real challenge:
One point for order, three points for family, three points for genus, and three for species. Points are awarded for the first correct guess in each category.
The…
[the following is a guest post from Rob Mitchell]
Hi folks - Rob Mitchell here, guest blogger extraordinaire and your temporary replacement for Alex while he celebrates a recent age-related milestone.
My job tonight is to provide you entomology sleuths with a mystery, so take a look here at…
I'll go with Diptera for the Order.
I'll change that to a Wasp (Hymenoptera).
Order Coleoptera
Family Rhipiphoridae
Genus Rhipiphorus
Forgot to mention - eggs are laid on flowers, and the newly hatched larvae hitch rides on bees back to their nests, then settle in as brood parasites.
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Rhipophoridae
Genus: probably Rhipiphorus?
Behavior...I think I remember their larvae being parasitic on bees; they're usually called "triungulins" where their first-instar larvae are mobile and undergo "hypermetamorphosis"
Male strepsipteran?
I agree it is a Rhipiphorid.
Rhipiphoridae - specialist parasites of cockroaches.
Oh wait, it's Ripiphoridae. Do I get a point for using the correct spelling? :p
Alex, can you post sometime about the uses, functions, and forms of antennae? I notice this beetle seems to have some elaborate, beautiful antennae that seem designed for maximum surface area. I'd love to know more about the importance of feelers or antenna-like structures since they seem to be present on nearly every single bug and beetle, implying that they're as critical as eyes or an exoskeleton.
Order-Coleoptera
Family-Ripiphoridae - Wedge-shaped Beetles
Genus-Ripiphorus
From Bugguide - "Eggs are laid on or near flowers, sometimes inside unopened flower buds. Larvae attach to visiting bees and are taken back to nest, where they are internal parasites of larval hymenoptera, in some cases only in early stages"
Thanks for the fun quiz and I learned about a new (to me) critter :)