Found this small 1/2 inch very fast flyer zipping through my brother's garden and nearby shrubs and trees (15 miles east of where I live). These photos were taken when it made a brief stop crawling on the ground next to a squash plant before flying away high into the trees.

I submitted a photo to the Iowa BugGuide forum, but had no response. It appears it could be a true bug, or possibly a beetle? I couldn't find it in my paperback Smithonian Insects Handbook.

Jonathan

Sure is a colourful little bug.I bet it would attract a trout.

Regardless what it is, Happy Birthday!!!!!

Happy B-Day,Jonathan.

boxelder bug?

Looks like the adult squash vine borer to me, cucurbit catastrophe. If you've got any cucumber, squash, zucchini, etc. growing they are in danger.

Happy Birthday!

my guess is box elder,taking over for the ladybugs the last couple years.

although it looks like its on a squash or cuke vine.

What sgs said, squash vine borer moth. Probably laying eggs on that stem. You can check for larva poo on your stems, especially at the base of the plant. I started injecting nematodes in my damaged stems the beginning of the month & now I'm getting borers up next to the leaves. Found out they got my candy roaster squash yesterday, grrrr.

Do you have squash bees up there?

Yup, squash vine borer, they can take all the fun out of growing giant pumpkins.

Jim

The white leg bands reminded me of a 2nd or 3rd stage spotted lantern fly nymph but it is lacking the white spots.

I believe these guys saying squash vine borer have nailed it. Images I found on a google search match your pic.

i wanna change my vote.

BIRTHDAY HAPPY j. I dont have any squash borers but i sure do have a passel of japanese beetles ..ggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Not a box elder

Happy Birthday Mr. Wilson.

SGS nailed it. Happy B day....eat cake!

Have seen box elder bugs by the thousnds,and it sure isn't one.Unless you have a different box elder bug from what we have in Minnesota.
Tom

Thank you for the birthday wishes and the Squash Vine Moth identification, and the memory jog.

I am familiar with the species, but didn't recognize it from the small size in those two frontal photos above. My next door neighbor's squash was infested with them in 2011. I had never seen one before until that year, so, as a nature photography buff, I decided to document the event with the photos below in reference for those not familiar with this garden pest.

Regards,

Jonathan

Very nice bug captures!