Monday, June 1, 2009

Willow sees a bug.....or maybe an axe murderer














The problem with cats is that they get the same exact look whether they see a moth or an axe murderer.
~Paula Poundstone

We've been doing a lot of clutter clearing lately.

Over the weekend we had the attic door open to pull stuff out of there that we threw into the big dumpster rented for a week.

Also, we installed the two window air conditioners upstairs and downstairs. In other words, there's been a good deal of stirring things up in the process. These insects seem to have been a part of the deal, unbidden and quite unwelcome.

I researched online last night in an attempt to identify them. We need to know if they are destructive or dangerous, and I'm having a heck of a time finding a photo that resembles them in any of the entomology sites I visited. Maybe a reader will instantly recognize what kind of insect this is. If so, please let me know.

Willow, who floats more than she jumps, caught two of them mid-air in the early hours of the morning after talking to me about them for the better part of the night. She ate both of them, but the second one got the worst of it because both she and Feather performed various experiments on it prior to death....How long will it wobble on the bathroom floor before it tries to fly away again?...If I roll it under the bathroom rug, let's see how long it takes me to figure out where it's hiding. ... One paw or two? ... I bit him, now it's your turn.....

These insects are about 3/4 inch long, appear to have a beetle-type body, black shiny wings, and a red head and thorax. They are basically nocturnal and seem to like crawling around on ceilings. I haven't noticed that they make any sounds, such as humming. When they fly they are graceful in the air. I caught these two last night in separate glasses, took the shots today, and released them outside. They flew away, seeming to have weathered well the stress of captivity and lack of good air.

Willow and I are more than curious and appreciate your thoughts.










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18 comments:

Looking to the Stars said...

Wish I could help but I haven't seen an insect like this before. Very intersting looking, though. Love the kitty pics!

Hattie said...

It's a woggle bug. :)

Unknown said...

Just looking at Willow's expression put a smile on my face :)
How are you going to kiss her now that you know she its bugs?

Lydia said...

@Looking to the Stars- I'll let everyone know if we solve the puzzle. Glad you like Willow's photos.

@Hattie- But of course it is! And that is what they shall be called if we don't learn the scientific name. (p.s. At least they don't break the eardrums like those frogs you have in Hawaii...)

@Buddha- Good that she made you smile. It's one of her missions in life. I've read many times that a key ingredient in lipstick is crushed bugs (ewwwww), and it's hard to think that my lips may have touched more bugs than hers have. So she'll still get my kisses.

Batteson.Ind said...

Think this might be your critter!?... http://www.cirrusimage.com/beetles_Calleida_punctata.htm
Your cats I'm sure don't care what it is..lol!

Anonymous said...

WoW! Willow on action! She's more than just a cat I guess!
And to let you know, I have never seen such insects! Hope you and Willow will identify them precisely pretty soon!

Melinda said...

LOL--Lydia--you know me and my bug phobia. To be honest, I try to not look at bugs too much because I am so disgusted by them. I have no idea what these bugs are--but at least you have a couple of furry little exterminators to help you with your pest problem.

(and oh, by the way--we finally got rid of the bats--YAY!).

I really hope that the bug problem is not a bad one. I did hear of a completely natural pesticide called 'Bio-oil' that you might want to check out.

Take care--and good luck!

Melinda

Unknown said...

ha-ha, cats...I had two cats when I was single and childless, living in a loft apartment next to a wwods. The cats would be dead asleep, then both wake at EXACTLY the same time and look at the window. I would have heard nothing, but instinctively knew there was an ax murderer out there. I think the cats planned it for fun.
Sorry, no idea on the bugs. I'll ask Hubby and Honeyhaired when they get home.

Darlene said...

Oooh Willow - what big eyes you have!

Sorry, can't help with the entomology search. I just go eek and turn the other way when I see one.

Crushed bugs in lipstick. Eeewww!sopen

Kim said...

I wish I could help with the bugs, but I loved the way you described the kitty experiments. They really are torturers at times, aren't they?

Terry said...

Hi
Oh my Willow is so beautiful .
Love Willows photo.
The bug well I have no clue.
I am sorry I could not be of help but there must be someone who knows .
Blessings to you as you catch your breath again from all this activity.
Have a wonderful week.

Owen said...

Hopefully Willow has not seen too many axe murderers... don't you hate it when those pesky critters get loose in the house ? Better off with just a few small bugs, rather than something out of "The Shining"...

Lydia said...

@the watercats- Your guy looks a lot like Willow's bug, except hers has a red head. We're probably looking in the same family of beetles. Getting closer thanks to you!

M Riyadh Sarif- Well, now we know they did not come from Bangladesh! I wonder if they really might have come to us by way of South America. Maybe they flew here with the butterflies!

@Melinda- Thanks for the tip on the bio-oil. I congratulate you on getting rid of your bats. I'm thinking we need some around here to eradicate the influx of new bug types. It's all a delicate balance...

@Distracted- Living on the edge of a woods in an apartment reminds me of living on a hill in the woods in a condo. I had only one cat, though, so he didn't have a comrade to help him cook up dastardly mean games like you endured. :)

@Darlene- Willow says cheers.
You hadn't heard that about bugs being in lipstick, I gather. Read this or this or this. Ewwwwww

@Kim- Thanks for the support. Yes, they sure can be what you described. :)

@Terry- Was thinking about you today, actually! Willow and I thank you for your concern and interest.

@Owen- You are right. Keep anything from The Shining far away from me. Although it really was filmed at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood, relatively close to where I live. They had an overnight party up there in 2008. Scary! Here's the write-up.

Sage Ravenwood said...

(chuckling) I'm still laughing over the quote you never know what they're looking at a bug or an axe murderer. I have four inside. I've noticed those types of bugs down in my basement recently. Willow is as beautiful as her name. (Hugs)Indigo

j said...

That picture of Willow is priceless. And "Willow, who floats more than she jumps" really gets a sense of her across!

Lydia said...

@Indigo- Ooh, we are both cat people! I agree that Willow is so beautiful.
Yesterday I saw some of those insects crawling on the bush in front of my kitchen window. But none inside for the last 24 hours...yea!

@Jennifer- She is priceless, and it comes forth in her pictures. I'm so in love with this little cat! If there was a cat in the play Peter Pan I'd enroll her in the casting call because she really does float when she leaps. :)

naomi dagen bloom said...

We owe so much to cats and Willow must be one of their secret rulers. Great photos along with your usual engaging text. Thanks, needed that especially today.

deus ex machina said...

willow is so cute with her yellow eyes! my new landlord has the same penchant for orphaned cats which he meets along the road. he has about 5 cats in the house but he's so brutal enough to hit them with a broom when they get in his way in the kitchen. . .poor cats.

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