bugs not beetles
Posted by Pablo on March 11, 2017, 8:36 pm, in reply to "Wild beetles"
Hey Rob. These are not beetles amigo, but gorgeous photos just the same. What you've captured are nymphs of the giant mesquite bug (Thasus sp.). For future reference, beetles have chewing mouth parts and can fly (wings covered by hard hinged elytra that flip up to allow the wings to unfold, you know, like a ladybird beetle). Whereas true "bugs" don't fly and have sucking mouth parts (mostly for sucking plant juices, but a few species specialized to draw up blood, e.g. assassin bugs and Chaga's disease). Sometime being an old entomologist comes in handy... Great to see you guys on the Westjet back to Cowtown yesterday (turbulence to remember, eh!!). Trust you're safely back home on the island now...
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Message Thread
- Wild beetles - Rob Boyes March 9, 2017, 10:07 am
- Re: Wild beetles - julie March 9, 2017, 11:03 am
- Re: Wild beetles - David Dagoli March 9, 2017, 11:03 am
- Sunset - Cassandra Donlon March 9, 2017, 2:18 pm
- bugs not beetles - Pablo March 11, 2017, 8:36 pm
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