Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
BugGuide Gathering
Smoky Mountains
University of Tennessee Biological Field Station
August 8-10, 2008
 
Photos from the gathering
 
Photos from the 2007 gathering in Minnesota

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#109363
Small striped beetle - Prosapia bicincta

Small striped beetle - Prosapia bicincta
Williamson County, Texas, USA
May 12, 2007
Size: 1 - 1.5 cm
This very small bright beetle caught my eye as it flew past my knee into a clump of grass. It was active, moving from one grass blade to another, typically crawling upward a few inches then launching itself to the next. When I got really close, it started "hiding" behind the grass blade it was crawling on, but this is a very fine-leaved meadow grass that didn't offer much hiding space. So I got a shot of its underside (next image.) I thought it might be a blister beetle of some kind (the bright colors) but those seem to be longer and slimmer, with lengthwise stripes if they have stripes. It was out in midday, in bright sunlight, too.

Images of this individual: tag all
Small striped beetle - Prosapia bicincta Small striped beetle - Prosapia bicincta

Finally! I know one!
Two-lined Spittlebug. Prosapia bicincta. They do look a lot like beetles.

 
Thanks, Graham!
That would explain why I wasn't having any luck looking at the pages of beetles...it really helps to start in the right order...!

So it's this one's nymphs that have been making all those masses of spittle on things, I'll bet. It's a handsome little insect.

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.