What are these massed bugs on my tree trunk?

When I moved my hand toward them to smash them dead they all moved away as if one organism. I watched for a while, and it was definitely as if they had a common brain telling them which way to move. Very soft bodied. Easily smashed. Does anyone know what they are?

TIA
LAS

Without a photo no way to id-

Oops! Sorry. Here it is.

Termites? Can you do a macro on it?

This message was edited Aug 17, 2013 11:01 PM

Not sure what a macro is???

A close up picture.

Can you catch one of the bugs and take a picture against a pale background? Or at least get a side view of one of them on the tree.

Marco is a setting on a camera that allows you to take a close up shot. From your pictures to me it looks like they could be ants(drones) or termites. Looks like they have wings?

But with a close up photo we could better help you to identify them.

I feel pretty sure they are not termites- I have seen them closeup, and they don't look like that- nor are they any ants.

that is why we need a close up picture.

One on the left is termites in the adult stage. The one on the right are carpenter ants with wings.
Of course there are alot of other insects it can be.

I smashed them dead, so no more pictures. But the adult termites have too much white wing, and the carpenter ants are too fat.

There are a lot of variations and types of ants and termites and there is added variation according to their stage of development larva, nymph, and adult.

But likely could be something else...I just cant think of anything else that swarms in such great numbers.

Maybe someone who is an entomologist might have a better idea.

I am just tossing out a few ideas here. I have no idea what they are, but from that one picture and the description I have noted a few of these that I think less likely.

Insects that perch with their wings folded up, tent-like:
Psyllid
Cicada (there are many species, do some research)
Leaf Hoppers (most have somewhat colored to more colored wings, not so often clear. These do not look like leaf hoppers)

Bugs that swarm:
Box Elder (these are not box elder)
Ants
Termintes

Bugs with clear wings
Crane flies (not)
Peach Tree Borer
Gnats
Many species of flies, bees, wasps and related insects.

Diana_k, is the whole list insects that you think are not my bugs? Or just the ones where you've made notes?

Well, I would suggest you google some images of each just to be sure.

I do not know what cicadas look like except from pics (not native to my area). I understand there are many species, so it is probably worth some time to research.
There are many species of Psyllid, and this is worth looking into.

If those 2 ideas do not lead anywhere, then try the others. There might be some other species of something, related to one of these, that is not known in my area, but is common in your area. I might say that your bugs do not look like the ones I am familiar with, but looking at some images might lead to a related insect and ID for your bugs.

If the bugs ever show up again, better pics could help.
Have you seen any damage to the plant that might help ID the bug? Did they emerge from a hole nearby, a hole in the bark or in the ground?
What species of plant were they on?
Any other info you have might help figure out what they are (or were).

No visible damage. No holes. I'll keep a watch to see if more show up.

Thanks all.