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

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#288453
NE Missouri ident of two bugs that are trying to make baby bugs plz..  High detail macro sideview,   - Epicaerus imbricatus - male - female

NE Missouri ident of two bugs that are trying to make baby bugs plz.. High detail macro sideview, - Epicaerus imbricatus - Male Female
Bethel, Shelby County, Missouri, USA
June 13, 2009
Size: See hand shot.
I found these two curious looking things hanging upside down off of a leaf located in a grass waterway separating a bean field from a pasture. Temperature was about high 70s degree F. They were pretty small. I am bad at estimating size so I took a shot of them sitting in the palm of my hand (not attached atm) while they were copulating for somewhat of a scale. The lighting was pretty cloudy and poor so I brightened, contrasted the entire picture. The only color alterations where to brighten up the color of the leaf. From a distance they looked light grey to silverish.

If you need more photos of different views, let me know. It seems like it is much easier to photo some of these things when they are caught up in the throws of bug passion. They sit still long enough for me to stick a camera lens close to an inch away from them.

Thanks in advance for the ident.

Images of this individual: tag all
NE Missouri ident of two bugs that are trying to make baby bugs plz..  High detail macro sideview,   - Epicaerus imbricatus - male - female NE Missouri ident of two bugs that are trying to make baby bugs plz..  High detail macro sideview,   - Epicaerus imbricatus - male - female NE Missouri ident of two bugs that are trying to make baby bugs plz..  High detail macro sideview,   - Epicaerus imbricatus - male - female

ID
Epicaerus imbricatus Say Color patterns are extremely variable in this genus.

Epicaerus (perhaps E. imbricatus)
compare
i'll get it figured out eventually

 
Back
I never got a shot of the female's back to see what pattern it consisted of. I provided a shot of the male's back.

Are there sexually dimorphic variances between back patterns in weevils?

You might be right. If so, then they are only showing a female from what you showed me.

I meant to add
Most of the yellowish color on the female's back is some sort of drool coming from the males mouth.

 
I think
these are weevils but I have no idea which ones. I bet someone will inform you soon.

Lee

 
Thanks
I am quite curious to know. They didn't act like I was bothering them hardly at all. New to bugs here and was looking for names on all of the stuff I take pictures of.

So new, I didn't even know they were weevils. lol Thanks for helping me out so far.

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