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L&K-IL 6/19/2010, 2:09 am

Just trying to figure out good or bad...

This one is about 1/2" long....

This one is just weird...moves like a spider. Looks furry....and looks like it has a tail. Bizarre...

auntij 6/19/2010, 2:18 am

I think the second is a wooly aphid still looking for the name of the first

**camprn** 6/19/2010, 2:19 am

The beetle looks like a type of fire fly, but I'm not sure. Could also be a type of soldier beetle, beneficial me thinks.

MsMinchin 6/19/2010, 2:22 am

oh I saw that same beetle in my garden today, I'd like to know too

auntij 6/19/2010, 2:37 am

Here is a link to firefly info http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Cyphonocerus_ruficollis_2552543412_crop.png it does look similar but this bug looks a little narrower. I have searched dozens of pages and I am with you it is the closest match I could find. I even looked at the Illinois extension to look up your local garden pests.

pattipan 6/19/2010, 2:43 am

Maybe this soldier beetle? Rhaxonycha carolina: http://bugguide.net/node/view/3550

Apparently there are a lot of beetle that mimic the firefly because birds don't like to eat them.

Patti

**camprn** 6/19/2010, 2:47 am

pattipan wrote:Maybe this soldier beetle? Rhaxonycha carolina: http://bugguide.net/node/view/3550 Apparently there are a lot of beetle that mimic the firefly because birds don't like to eat them. Patti

Bugguide.net is great.

auntij 6/19/2010, 2:50 am

Patti that is an AWESOME site!!! Thanks for posting it!! I drive myself crazy and make myself go crosseyed searching pages of pics. This site makes it so much easier.

pattipan 6/19/2010, 3:00 am

auntij wrote:Patti that is an AWESOME site!!! Thanks for posting it!! I drive myself crazy and make myself go crosseyed searching pages of pics. This site makes it so much easier.

It is a good bug searching site, but it doesn't always tell you what they like to feed on. If follow the links backwards to the more general Soldier bug family, it says:

"Adults eat nectar, pollen and in some cases
other insects, particularly aphids. Larvae are generally carnivorous and feed
on small soft-bodied insects. A few species feed on plant material
such as grains potatoes and celery."

Once you find your bug though you can always google for more info.

Patti

P.S. I think I've looked at enough bug images for one day! If I dream about them, I'm blaming it on this forum!!! LOL.

auntij 6/19/2010, 3:53 am

Finding a name is the hardest part. Once I have a name I'll Google til I'm giddy. I just hate trying to Google "it's a grey beetlish type bug with stripes" and weeding through the results.

MsMinchin 6/19/2010, 4:49 pm

oh goodie, another good guy in my garden! I love how nature balances out.

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