Spanish Insects (1 Viewer)

[Brian Stone]

Taken recently in southern Spain.

A couple of Ant-lion/Lacewing relatives:
Nemoptera sinuata (amazing large insect with hugely elongated hindwings)
Libelloides coccajus (a fast flying ascalaphid)

Epilachna chrysomelina (Twelve-spotted Melon Beetle?)
A very large orthopteran: either Migratory Locust or Egyptian Grasshopper I think.
Another large insect - perhaps some sort of rove beetle

thanks for any assistance with the IDs.

 

[Euan Buchan]

Great Pictures

 

[Brian Stone]

The odd-looking, large, wingless insect in the last picture looks like a kind of Oil Beetle, perhaps a Meloe species. Does anyone recognise it? It cropped up in several places in Southern Spain so I think its reasonably common. Thanks.

 

[Brian Stone]

Here are a couple more. I think the first is Blue-winged Grasshopper (Oedipoda caerulescens), but then I could see the blue wings when it flew.

If anyone could help with a name for the large "Robot Wars" beetle I'd be very grateful.

 

[Brian Stone]

Unless anyone shouts otherwise I'm going for Scarabaeus sacer for the Scarab Beetle.

 

[jonafly]

second one I think: Scarabeus semipunctatus?

 

[jonafly]

Second one top series Libelloides ... (Planipennia - Ascalphidae)

 

[jonafly]

First one top: some sort of Euroleon or Myrmeleon or Palpares (suborder Planipenna - fam Myrmeleonidae)

 

[Brian Stone]

Thanks André

I think semipunctatus should have a more deeply pitted pronotum but I'm not at all sure.

Here is another insect that was common in the area but I can't find a name. Any ideas?

 

[jonafly]

I'll check.

Yoyr Meloe is probably Berberomeloe majalis.

http://www.insectariumvirtual.com/htm/exposicion_fotografica/htm/antonio.htm

 

[Brian Stone]

Thanks. That's the kiddie!

 

[Brian Stone]

A couple more insects from Southern Spain in May for ID. I think the dragon might be Keeled Skimmer Orthetrum coerulescens. And could I have another go at the black and red chap please?

Any help gratefully received. :h?:

 

[Brian Stone]

Are these really that hard? The red beetle was particularly common in the area and I'm sure someone must have the name. Please? :flowers:

 

[jonafly]

Hi Brian,

No. 1 is:
http://users.skynet.be/fa213618/galerie web/pages/Pimelia-grossa-01.htm

 

[jonafly]

Hi again Brian,
No. 3 is probably Mylabris quadripunctata (what a suitable name!).
Those black spots are variable in size and shape. Larvae develop on the ground on eggparcels of locusts. Mediterranean.

André

 

[HarassedDad]

The dragonfly is, I think, a female black tailed skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum). The keeled skimmer has very fine black lines down the centre of the abdomen, rather than the scalloped pattern down the edges.

 

[Brian Stone]

Many thanks for all your help. Elsewhere I've had another vote for Pimelia species (there are apparently a few possibilties from the pic) and a couple more for Black-tailed Skimmer. I didn't realise tenerals could show pterostigmata like this. In particular thanks to André as I have had no other takers for the Mylabris, which looks an excellent call to me.

 

[jonafly]

On second thought I'm not certain it's Pimelia grossa, but definitely Pimelia.

André

 

[paul mabbott]

Epilachna

Better late than never! Your Epilachna chrysomelina, melon ladybird is what we know as Epilachna argus, the bryony ladybird! I've been meaning to check on this for some time ... thanks for the reminder.
Paul

Taken recently in southern Spain.

A couple of Ant-lion/Lacewing relatives:
Nemoptera sinuata (amazing large insect with hugely elongated hindwings)
Libelloides coccajus (a fast flying ascalaphid)

Epilachna chrysomelina (Twelve-spotted Melon Beetle?)
A very large orthopteran: either Migratory Locust or Egyptian Grasshopper I think.
Another large insect - perhaps some sort of rove beetle

thanks for any assistance with the IDs.

 

[jonafly]

Brian,

Take a look at this site for your oil beetle:
http://www.meloidae.com/meloidae/index.html
Is a bit confusing but just click away and you'll get there.

Good luck.

André.