Meet the Beetle

While my son was gamboling about the Lincoln Road playground yesterday, I caught this beetle walking on the slide. Since it wasn't an Asian Long Horned beetle, I left it alone.

I am fascinated by the markings on this guy, which remind me of an African mask. If there are any coleopterists out there who can give me more information about this creature, I'd love to hear more.

Comments

[dennis]

These are quite dangerous, especially so near Prospect Park.

This is from the NY City Parks Department:

The Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB)(Anoplophora glabripennis) is an invasive beetle believed to have arrived in New York from its native China via untreated packing crates and wooden palettes. Infestations have been discovered in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island.

Tunneling by ALB larvae damages the vascular system of the tree. Repeated attacks lead to dieback of the tree crown, and, eventually, death of the tree. The beetle presents a serious threat to the trees of New York City and has also infested parts of Long Island and Chicago.

The beetles are known to attack maple, horsechestnut, elm, willow, birch, poplar, and ash trees. Currently the only effective means to control the beetle is to remove infested trees and destroy them by chipping or burning. To prevent further spread of the insect, quarantine zones have been established to avoid transporting wood from the infested areas.

Early detection of infestations and rapid tree removal are crucial to the successful eradication of the beetle.

[Charles Star]

No, Dennis, it ISN'T an Asian Long Horned Beetle. If you click the link you'll see that they are considerably different. I know how dangerous the ALB's are; if it had been an ALB I'd have squashed it on the spot.

I'm looking for someone to help me with identification.

[Xris (Flatbush Gardener)]

I applaud your choice not to squash first, ask questions later!

I don't know who this fellow is. My guess is some kind of stinkbug, based on the shape of the thorax (check out those "padded shoulders!") and head/mouth area.

My favorite resource for identification is http://bugguide.net. You can browse the existing photographic catalog anonymously. If you want to submit your own photos for identification, you'll need to register (free).

And yeah, it's definitely NOT ALB.

[JC]

It is a leaf-footed bug. Probably Leptoglossus orientalis. This insect is in a completely unrelated to ALB. Beetles like ALB are in order Coleoptera and have chewing mouthparts. Leaf footed bugs are in order Hemiptera and suck plant juices through a sword like mouthpart that fold up under their body. And they can give you a nasty bite if you grab them in your hand.

[Buggman]

It's a western conifer seed bug. Read more here (scroll down):

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/housingandclothing/M1181.html

If you want to keep them and other fall invaders from coming in your home, try our Buggslayer Insecticide.

http://www.buggslayer.com