Pretty little things

salden · Post by **salden** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 12:39 pm

I do not know what they are, but they come in all sizes and they sure are pretty.

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 1:43 pm

They look like Harlequin Bugs (Murgantia histrionica), or some very close relative.

Very pretty indeed, and well shot!

--Rik

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 1:55 pm

Looks like a family reunion. I would say a very unusual instance where so many different instars are all in one place at the same time. A very nice find Sue and a beautiful picture.

Adrian · Post by **Adrian** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 4:06 pm

nice photograph, great dof, those bugs sure are pretty look at those lovely patterns, well done.

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 5:22 pm

So, doing our nails are we Sue

They are very pretty and it looks as though they were painted with nail polish. Well taken Sue.

Gordon C. Snelling · Post by **Gordon C. Snelling** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 7:00 pm

I agree, Harlequins. Nice .

salden · Post by **salden** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 4:01 am

I did a seach on "Harlequins" and that is what they look like, but it was stated that these insects are found in the southern part of the US (both southeast and southwest); and rarely found in Pennsylvania and Colorado. I am in Pennsylvania. Wonder why they came to visit me

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 4:43 am

Sue asked:

Wonder why they came to visit me

"Global Warming." Seriously, a lot of animals and insect species that were once found in the southern climates, are now migrating northwards due to the warming trends or at least that is what I have been reading.

salden · Post by **salden** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:21 am

Ken Ramos wrote:Sue asked:
Wonder why they came to visit me
"Global Warming." Seriously, a lot of animals and insect species that were once found in the southern climates, are now migrating northwards due to the warming trends or at least that is what I have been reading.

I just came in from outside and freezing my whatevers off...what global warming?

Adrian · Post by **Adrian** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:25 am

Ken Ramos wrote:"Global Warming." Seriously, a lot of animals and insect species that were once found in the southern climates, are now migrating northwards due to the warming trends or at least that is what I have been reading.

Maybe this is why theres isnt many bugs around here, or maybe its still not warm enouth!!

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 10:01 am

salden wrote:I did a seach on "Harlequins" and that is what they look like, but it was stated that these insects are found in the southern part of the US (both southeast and southwest); and rarely found in Pennsylvania and Colorado.

Different sources quote different ranges for these beasts (and a lot of others). For Murgantia histrionica, The Audubon society Field Guide to North American Insects & Spiders (copyright 1980, pg 486), says

Range: New England and adjacent areas of Canada to southern states, west to California, south into Mexico.

I gather that you haven't seen these beasts in your area before. So maybe there's some climate thing going on, or maybe you're having a local population explosion this year due to irregular cycles of disease and predators, or maybe a few gravid females got carried in with a load of firewood last winter and the disease and predators haven't caught up with them yet. Hard to say without a lot more data.

--Rik