OT: Bug (any armchair entomologists around?)

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Underside, obviously... this guy's top side is hard black, and hides wings like a ladybug's wings are stowed. It's about 3/16" long, about half as wide as you can see from the picture, and maybe as tall as half that again.

I've been wondering, because I've seen an unusual number of these guys this season. There's about ten, dried and dead by now, sitting near the window (clean the place? Gnaw, not me!). One day I found one circling and circling the rim of a Dixie cup that was laying on the floor, they don't seem to like walking off edges and don't fly much (I didn't realize they had wings until I poked this one, actually).

Tim

--
Deep Friar: a very philosophical monk.
Website: http://webpages.charter.net/dawill/tmoranwms
Reply to
Tim Williams
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It looks to me like a Variegated Carpet Beetle. Plug that into Google Images to see some.

--
Regards,

John Popelish
Reply to
John Popelish

Hmm, it's hard to tell looking at the underside of the beetle. If you could overcome your feelings and turn the beetle around, it would help. However, the behavior you describe reminds me of the southern chafer beetles that we have here in California this time of year:

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They tend to fly low above the ground shortly after sunset, then find a bright spot on the sidewalk where the first thing they do is a botched landing attempt that ends with the beetle upside down, waving his feet helplessly in the air. With my 9 yr old daughter we take evening strolls on "beetle-saving" expeditions, moving the poor guys from the sidewalks back into the grass, where they can make proper damage. Still, every morning the concrete is littered with bugs, most of them suffering from extreme flatness.

Regards,

- Alex

Reply to
Alexander Avtanski

Feelings? I photographed the underside because it had more detail... the top is so dark and shiny, and small, it's hard to get a photograph of it. Here's an example.

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I also found what looks to be a larva underneath something. I'm thinking this is a very good sign I should vacuum...

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If they come in solid black, maybe. But the legs are a lot shorter.

Tim

--
Deep Friar: a very philosophical monk.
Website: http://webpages.charter.net/dawill/tmoranwms
Reply to
Tim Williams

he

Well, not a chafer then, at least not the type we have here. :-(

ng

You know, I think vacuuming is just a needless disruption of the natural sedimentation processes. You should see my desk at work... :-) (Oops, this is getting really OT - sorry!)

- Alex

Reply to
Alexander Avtanski

Sedimentation! Another person who independently created the theory of mess? ;-)

I've noticed many times that mess accumulates in out-of-the-way locations, including alongside the main path. Sedimentation indeed!

Tim

--
Deep Friar: a very philosophical monk.
Website: http://webpages.charter.net/dawill/tmoranwms
Reply to
Tim Williams

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