insect ID please

lorrainebentham · #1 (**permalink**) 01-06-2011, 07:43 AM

Hi all.

I recently started (trying to!) grow a garden and planted some sunflowers. this morning i found a little creature on my sunflower and i have no idea what it is.

i have a picture but i'm not sure how to add it, i keep getting a message saying it exceeds the file limit but i'll keep trying.

the insect is about 4mm long, its body is orangey-bronze, then black, then bronze again. it has a tail that looks almost like a maggot but orange with a black tip. the body is shiny like a beetle.

i know my description isn't great. sorry. if anyone can help me upload the photo it might be easier to id.

thanks for any help

htcdude · #2 (**permalink**) 01-06-2011, 07:47 AM

Your photo could be being rejected for 2 reasons:

1) The filesize is too big
2) The resolution is too big

See here for info:

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...otos-info.html

Nige

lorrainebentham · #3 (**permalink**) 01-06-2011, 05:32 PM

Thank you!!

I've managed to upload the photo.

this is the only way i could work out how to link to the picture (lol, not very good at this!)

P6010456_800x600_ - Wild About Britain Pics

any help id-ing the insect would be great thanks!

Bobbobthebob · #4 (**permalink**) 01-06-2011, 05:49 PM

It's a rove beetle. Looks like Tachyporus sp. but it's a massive group with lots of similar looking species so don't take my word for it.

lorrainebentham · #5 (**permalink**) 01-06-2011, 06:32 PM

Thank you!

I've had a bit of a search on the net of the name you've given and it definately looks like that.

thanks again

Geoff F · #6 (**permalink**) 01-06-2011, 06:35 PM

Next time you want to include a photo, Lorraine, try going to Gallery - Upload Photos (on the toolbar) - select the blue image library option and follow the instructions from there.

Read that link from Nige first; and there are also help hints attached to the blue image library icon. Also some advice in the FAQ section.

But basically, if you can get a photo to approx 800 to 1200 pixels on the long side and a jpeg at around level 8 to 10 compression everything should work fine.

The upload system on this site has a few unique 'quirks' and most of us had some difficulty initially. Occasionally, when I'm not thinking clearly, I still get something wrong.