Unknown white and black thing - Anatis

Moved

Moved from Unidentified Eggs, Larvae, and Pupae.

… Abigail Parker, 15 June, 2011 - 12:37pm

Moved

… Abigail Parker, 12 June, 2011 - 9:31am

not an Asian lady beetle...not sure what it is though

The Asian LB has an orange and black pupa with the double-branched orange and black spines of the shed larval skin clinging to the rear end. If you hadn't said "Tiny" I would call this an Anatis species, but they're colloquially known as the Giant Lady Beetles, up to 10 mm long in your area, and the pupa would be at least as large if not larger than the Asian LB pupa you also found.

Can you check this pupa every now and then and see if you catch the adult emerging? That usually happens in the early morning and they stay near the pupa for several hours while their wings harden, so if you're lucky you might see what it turns into! I'd definitely like to know. And heck, maybe it's just a very small giant lady beetle!

… Abigail Parker, 12 June, 2011 - 9:30am

I'm sorry! :(

I'm sorry, I was unable to check back on the pupa until this morning. I just went out there and it's empty. I missed it! :(

… Neece, 13 June, 2011 - 7:52am

can you measure the empty pupa?

If it's kept its shape, can you get a ruler and measure the length? - or even hold up a coin next to it, I've got the measurements of all US currency written down :) I'm still pretty sure it's Anatis and I'm interested in how large/small the pupae can be.

… Abigail Parker, 13 June, 2011 - 7:57am

Added another picture

I just added a picture as requested. I hope it helps. I noticed in the picture that the shell looks rustier now than it did when it was full.

… Neece, 13 June, 2011 - 8:21am

thanks!

That does help; looks like it's about 6mm long, which isn't unheard-of for Anatis. (Males are smaller than females, and size of the adult depends on how well-fed it was as a larva, so an underfed male can be quite small for the species.) It does look more red now, but the structure is also Anatis-like (hm, I do seem to have made up my mind here!) - the spiky flanges, like a lobster's tail, are pretty distinctive.

… Abigail Parker, 13 June, 2011 - 8:28am

Thanks very much!

Thanks very much! I really appreciate your help! :)

… Neece, 13 June, 2011 - 9:21am

Beetle pupa

Perhaps a lady beetle.

… Miles Buddy, 11 June, 2011 - 2:26pm

Thanks!

I couldn't think how to describe it. I'm such a neophyte. :p

… Neece, 11 June, 2011 - 2:31pm