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What is this bug please? With cute bug pics!

23 replies

TeapotofTerror · 21/07/2019 23:04

Can anyone help identify my bug please? Found him in the back yard and he's super fancy and furry but doesn't appear in my bug identification book anywhere.

What is this bug please? With cute bug pics!
What is this bug please? With cute bug pics!
What is this bug please? With cute bug pics!
OP posts:
TeapotofTerror · 21/07/2019 23:07

He has four little brushes sticking out of his back, never seen anything quite like it!
Any help would be greatly appreciated thank you.

(I did release the actual bug back into the wild earlier, these are just pics in case anyone is concerned)

OP posts:
PineappleSeahorse · 21/07/2019 23:07

It looks like a Rusty Tussock Moth caterpillar. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orgyia_antiqua

They're beautiful but I hope that you didn't touch it.

PineappleSeahorse · 21/07/2019 23:09

I envy you your caterpillar. I love bugs and caterpillars but I haven't seen one as beautiful as that before.

PineappleSeahorse · 21/07/2019 23:09

In person I mean.

TeapotofTerror · 21/07/2019 23:14

Ooh yes, that's him! Thank you @PineappleSeahorse!
No, I'm wary of hairy caterpillars/ random hairy bugs so didn't touch him, just used the lid of the magnifying box to tip him in to have a closer look before releasing him.
He is very beautiful, I feel quite honoured! 🐛

(He or she, I'm just going with he for some reason)

OP posts:
TeapotofTerror · 21/07/2019 23:18

Out of interest, what happens if you do touch them? The wiki link mentions "toxins" but not sure of the effect on humans?

OP posts:
SarahTancredi · 21/07/2019 23:20

Aw s/hes so cute..Smile

justasking111 · 21/07/2019 23:23

Anyone know what this bug is?

What is this bug please? With cute bug pics!
Heratnumber7 · 21/07/2019 23:26

That's a beetle justasking Grin

PineappleSeahorse · 21/07/2019 23:28

That specimen will probably just irritate your skin like touching nettles or poison ivy. Some can cause a severe rash, vomiting and dizziness or breathing difficulties.

justasking111 · 21/07/2019 23:32

I know that but what kind of beetle, it was so beautiful

TeapotofTerror · 21/07/2019 23:35

Thanks again @PineappleSeahorse for your wisdom. I hope my little DS heeds my warning about furry bugs in case we come across him or his friends again. Unfortunately, two year olds touch most things!

OP posts:
PineappleSeahorse · 21/07/2019 23:43

I want to say a green dock beetle.

TeapotofTerror · 21/07/2019 23:46

Very pretty beetle @justasking111, looks like a broach!

OP posts:
PineappleSeahorse · 21/07/2019 23:54

How big was it?

ContactLight · 21/07/2019 23:55

Some furry caterpillars can cause a rash if you touch them, others (like the caterpillar of the oak processionary moth) shed the hairs, they are incredibly fine and even going near a tree infested with them is harmful to human health - inhaling the hairs can cause breathing difficulties.

Lovely shiny beetle by the way - I think it might be a mint leaf beetle.

PineappleSeahorse · 21/07/2019 23:59

You can't stop toddlers from being toddlers unfortunately but hopefully he won't encounter any more.

DontCallMeShitley · 22/07/2019 00:24

Beetle looks like a rosemary beetle, they change colour and are metallic looking. Pretty but they devastate rosemary and lavender and have no natural predators.

I spend a fair bit of the summer picking them off my lavenders and sadly, having to squish them or there will be no lavender for the bees.

One of the lavender farm gives children jars to collect them in as they use no pesticides.

MitMopse · 22/07/2019 00:30

The green beetle is a rose chafer I think!

Likethebattle · 22/07/2019 00:36

The other day I saw some damselflies. I couldn’t work out what they were and thought ‘dragonflies?’ Then I saw a board listing the local wildlife. They were very pretty.

Mumsymumphy · 22/07/2019 01:05

The beetle is a green dock beetle.

I've got a brilliant identification app, you upload your photo or a screenshot and it comes up with a list of possibilities of what it can be, listed in order of likeliness. It identifies animals and plants - can we name apps on here?

MitMopse · 05/09/2019 07:53

Justasking111 I think it is a green dock beetle too, the other common green jewel-like beetle I know is a rose chafer but the antennae aren't clubbed as far as I can tell. I love beetles!!!

TreacherousPissFlap · 05/09/2019 08:05

Here you go likethebattle Grin

What is this bug please? With cute bug pics!
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