Need help identifying freaky insect!

[cjean]

This is frustrating, because I am not yet allowed to post pics, so I'll try to describe it. My dd found these bugs crawling out of the ground and eating the Mt. Hood wildflowers. The front of the insect looks exactly like a carpenter ant, but their rear end is the shape and size of a grub. They are solid black. The females are at least an inch long, and very fat, with the males being a little smaller. They have what look like tiny beetle wings. We have never seen these before, and they are voraciously eating leaves. I think they are aliens.

[mommagoose_99]

Where do you live? It might help us give you an answer.
Linda

[seedspreader]

You CAN post pictures, you can't post attachments.

You just have to host the picture on a picture site, something like photobucket.

Then you put it in brackets. I will post, first what the brackets look like and I will add little "*'s" to it so it doesn't work to show you the format. Then I will remove those so you can see how the picture shows up.

In fact on photobucket you can just right click on the "[img]" tag and it will copy and then paste it here and it will show up.

First with the *'s (they will make it so the photo doesn't appear, but you can read the correct layout).

[IMG*]http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/seedspreader/Goats/May72007Horselogger025.jpg[/IMG*]

Then when I remove the *'s




Hopefully you can post a picture of it.

[cjean]

Okay, thanks for your help, seedspreader!
We live in the WA Cascades, if that helps.

[mommagoose_99]

Sorry , I do not know what those insects are. I have never seen anything like them here in NY.
Linda

[Ravenlost]

I think you're right...aliens! I've never seen those in MS, VA, TX, AL or LA either.

[mammabooh]

They look like steel blue cricket hunters whose wings haven't formed yet. Not sure, though, because I don't know that they eat leaves. They do make their nests in the ground.

[cjean]

Originally Posted by mammabooh

They look like steel blue cricket hunters whose wings haven't formed yet. Not sure, though, because I don't know that they eat leaves. They do make their nests in the ground.

Except that these are MUCH larger. They are at least an inch, some are even longer. The females' bodies are about 1/4 inch in diameter, maybe more.

[unregistered29228]

They look hideous, whatever they are! Obviously some kind of beetle but I've never seen anything like that either.

[mammabooh]

How about some mutant form of blister beetles? Do they fall over and act like they're dead if you mess with them?

[mammabooh]

Look up "black blister beetle" on-line. Looks very similar to me. Info says that they go through several stages and can look quite grub-like. If that's what they are, you can get blisters from touching them.

[mammabooh]

Here's a picture of one...

[patience]

oil beetle??


check out
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/index.html

[Ashtina98]

It looks like what is called a powderpost here is a link to the photo
http://www.lindpestcontrol.com/true.html

[ozarkcat]

I don't think it's any of those three - the picture has separate segments on the back of the body, all the photos of what folks think they could be have only one . . . . You could try your county extension office and see if they could put you in touch with an entomologist.

[cjean]

Yes, these things are much bigger than blister beetles, and they don't eat wood like powderposts. They are breeding now, and it says that b. beetles breed in late summer.
Here's another photo.

[BaronsMom]

Blister beetles do come through in groups devouring plants as they go...we have the gray ones here. I'd contact my extension office...

[jewlz64]

No idea what you've got there, but this site might help:
http://whatsthatbug

[dancingfatcat]

http://www.whatsthatbug.com

This might help.

[Bearfootfarm]

Originally Posted by mommagoose_99

Where do you live? It might help us give you an answer.
Linda

"Mt Hood" could give you a clue