WHAT'S THAT BUG? DOES NOT ENDORSE EXTERMINATION
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Effective Immediately: No Location means your letter will go directly to the Trash!!!!!!

Autumn is Approaching
(08/23/2008) ... and we are swamped. Our summer vacation is about to end and we will be heading back to the classroom and numerous time consuming responsibilities. This means we will not be able to answer or post as many letters. We are getting about 100 letters per day and can only post a few. We can email short answers to a few more. Getting our attention is the luck of the draw. Chances are quite good that the insect you want identified might already be in our archives. Please try our search engine or click the links on the left side of the homepage. Don't forget to scroll down to see our most recent postings and you can see the alphabetized archive of links on the lower left.

We will be undergoing a Metamorphosis!!!
What's That Bug? will be changing our appearance and format in the future. We hope you will find our transformation easier to use and we hope it will make our lives easier. Watch for the new and improved What's That Bug? in the near future.

We got a great holiday present last year. One of our readers was sick and tired of not being able to look at bugs when she wanted wanted to. The whims of our server got the best of her and so she put us in touch with her husband who is WEB-SAVVY down in Florida. He hooked us up with plenty of bandwidth, so there should be NO MORE PROBLEMS and our readers are now free to browse the bugs whenever they feel the urge. THANK YOU Lisa and Daniel of SHIRTSOFBAMBOO.COM.

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Recent Letters to What's that Bug-
Before writing in, please browse our recent letters, use our search engine, and take a look at the list of bugs on the left side of the page to see if your beast has already been identified!

There are numerous other pages in the alphabatized list at the left. Please check out those pages first before writing to us to see if you can locate your mystery specimen. Then if your photo is better than one we have, please send it in with any relevant details. Because we are getting hundreds of letters a week, we are only able to post four per day. This is no indication of the quality or urgency of your query as the letters are chosen at random. If you have a question about a bug, please take the time to look at our alphabetized list of bugs on the left column before writing us. The most popular household intruders we get letters about are HOUSE CENTIPEDES and PANTRY BEETLES. Larger frightening creatures that are frequent letter topics include POTATO BUGS, DOBSONFLIES and TOE-BITERS. So please check out those sections if you see something creepy in your house or yard!

Not Much Help to the Helpless
(10/7/2003) HELP!!!
Help I have a spider and i want to idenify it! i need to know it's Family Scientfic name and its order!!
Please help1!!
helpless child

Dear Helpless,
Give me something to go on. Please send a photo attachment or a description and a location.

Editor's Note: Here at What's That Bug? we make every attempt to identify your mystery visitors, but we need information. In the event that you don't have a photo, please try to provide a description including where the creature was spotted, when, if it was on a specific plant, and please include your geographic location.


We do not offer extermination advice.


Bug of the Month: August 2008
Mating Great Spangled Fritillaries
(07/29/2008) Attention ... Great Spangled Fritillaries mating
Hi Bugman:
Here are a few photos of mating Great Spangled Fritillaries (Speyeria cybele) for your collection. They were taken on a perfect sunny afternoon last weekend in southwest Manitoba, along a forest trail in mature aspen parkland. The key identifying features of this species are the reddish background color on the underside of the wing, except for the relatively wide and clear yellow/cream band between the last two rows of silver spots on the underside, and the lack of any black spots or dashes on the base (inside of the long squiggly black line) on the upper side of the forewing. Apart from these features most Greater Fritillaries (genus Speyeria) are very similar and difficult to tell apart. I believe the curious intruder was another female (males are generally paler than the females). Keep up the great work! Regards.
Karl



Hi again Karl,
Thank you for your gorgeous photos and the concise species identification information for the Great Spangled Fritillary.




Update: (07/30/2008) Speyeria cybele pictures
Hi,
I noticed the Speyeria Cybele pictures on your front page, I think the identity of the male and female is mixed up.  Speyeria cybele females are generally paler than males, especially westward and the color of the disc is a little richer brown. More generally in the genus Speyeria males of most species including cybele have darker scaling along the forewing veins, so I think in the top picture the female is on top while the male is on bottom and in the second picture both of the butterflies showing their topsides are males.
Mike

Response: (07/31/2008)
Thanks Mike.
You were quite correct and I did have the sexes reversed. I should have checked again. To add to your comments, many references do say that the female of the species is darker topside, but this is an overall visual effect caused by the heavier black (or dark brown) markings on females relative to males. The orange background color is always more vivid in the male. This difference is only slight in Manitoba, but increases as you go west, as you suggest (in Alberta the females can be almost black and white). Good call, and thanks again.
Karl

Ed. Note: (08/01/2008)
Choosing our Bug of the Month each month is sometimes a difficult decision, but we try to use a very recently submitted photo. The photos that Karl sent of the mating Great Spangled Fritillaries are positively gorgeous, and they brought back fond memories of the Dog Days of Summer in Ohio, and the numerous Fritillaries that would visit roadside wild flowers like milkweed and Joe Pye weed among others. These beautiful and noble butterflies were also among the favorites of Vladimir Nabokov, one of our favorite authors.

Female Carolina Mantis
(08/28/2008) Black and tan Praying Mantis from southwest Texas
Until yesterday, I didn't even know the Praying Mantis had any other color than green.  We were on a hilltop 15 miles north of Brackettville, Tx which is in the southwest part of the state and I saw this little guy.  His colors made me think of desert camo.  Then I find your site and see all the many many varieties of Praying Mantis and I'm amazed!  I didn't see my guy on your site, although the Carolina Mantid on your page was similar in coloring. What's that bug?
Genie Robinson
Brackettville, TX



Hi Genie,
Based on BugGuide, we believe this is a female Carolina Mantis, Stagmomantis carolina. We don't believe your specimen is fully mature due to the small size of her wings. The female Carolina Mantis does not have fully developed, functional wings, but mature specimens have more noticeable wings than are represented in your photograph.

Dysdaemonia boreas from Mexico
(08/28/2008) Moth ID please
Hi Bug man.
My 7 year old son turned me on to your site. I've been a bug collector all my life and it seems he's following in my footsteps. I travel quite a bit and am required to pack a net. "Dad, you've got a net, right?" Last month I was on a fishing trip in Guerro Vincente Mexico. The fishing was on the slow side so I started checking some lights in and around the village. I found plenty of Satellite Sphinxes and some that appeared to be Carolina Sphinx. This one however has me stumped. It came to a light late at night at laundro mat. It is 5 3/8" in wing span. Any ideas? Also, I missed a larger moth that had "Atlas" type upper wings and was as flighty as a Black Witch. I'm still bummed. Thanks a million for teaching Josef so much in this field. Keep up the good work. I noticed your site doesn't have: Elm, Waved, Abbots, Wild Cherry, Ash, Pandora, Laurel, Blind Eye, Cersey's andTwin Spotted Sphinxes. 'Want' em?
Tim Borski



Hi Tim,
We quickly located your beautiful moth, Dysdaemonia boreas, on the World's Largest Saturniidae Site, an amazing private access website with a membership. Dysdaemonia boreas is found in much of Mexico, Central America and South America. We located another image on a public access website, the Moths of Belize. We are going to copy Bill Oehlke on our reply as he may want your location information to add to his comprehensive sighting data. The other large Saturniid you describe may be one of the Rothschildia species. Regarding the missing Sphinx Moths you mentioned, we currently have 7 Sphinx Moth pages, and some of the species you mention are represented on our site. If you find any totally lacking, or underrepresented, please send us photos and data, like time of year, location, and anecdotal information our readership may find amusing.

Dead Leaf Butterfly
(08/28/2008) Butterfly ID
Dear Bugman,
I was trekking in Kasauli (lesser Himalayas) and came across this large 4.5 – 5.5 inches across and was wondering if you could id it for me. Thank you very much. Regards,
SAJNEET SODHI



Hi Sajneet,
This is one of the Dead Leaf Butterflies, perhaps Kallima inachus or a closely related species. When the wings are closed, the Dead Leaf Butterfly is very difficult to spot because of its leaflike markings. There is even a false petiole or leaf stalk formed by the tail of the lower wings.

Elm Sawfly
(08/28/2008) Caterpillar @ Presque Isle River
Seen: Presque Isle River in MI's U.P. I did not see this on your site.



You couldn't locate this "caterpillar" because it is not a caterpillar. It is an Elm Sawfly Larva, Cimbex americana, which can be found on Bugguide.

Cicada Killers
(08/27/2008) please identify
These seem to have moved into the base of my willow tree and i am worried that they might be harming the tree. can you tell me if i need to take measures to discurage them from my tree.



Your wasps are Cicada Killers and there is no need to worry about them harming your trees. Adult wasps feed on nectar and pollen and the female stings and paralyzes cicadas to provision a solitary underground nest for her young. Cicada Killers help control the Cicada population, and Cicadas may harm your trees by feeding on plant sap at the roots when they are immature. Additionally, the female damages twigs when laying eggs, so the presence of Cicada Killers may benefit your tree. We have gotten reports of large colonies of Cicada Killers frightening people, but they are rather benign insects, though the occasional sting is reported to be painful. While it is interesting that you have titled your photograph "Nasty New Freeloaders" we feel the name is unjustified.

Butternut Woolly Worm
(08/27/2008) Need to know what this is
Photo taken in woods in northern Indiana. August 27, 2008 One inch or a little smaller in length. About ten on one plant. Don't know what the plant is. Thanks Much,
John Hicks



Hi John,
Though it resembles a caterpillar, this is actually a Sawfly Larva known as a Butternut Woolly Worm, Eriocampa juglandis. According to BugGuide, they: "feed on leaves of Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) and Butternut (Juglans cinerea). Also reported on Carya spp. (Hickory)."

Imperial Moth Caterpillar
(08/27/2008) What's my bug (caterpillar)
Hello you intelligent bug lovers!
On behalf of Yulee Elementary School in Yulee, FL, thanks for making this informative and colorful site. One of my co-workers has asked me to identify this species. She has it co-inhabiting a jar w/ oleander larvae. I have looked at all the submitted photos but still can't decide what this is. Can you help? If you respond you'll be informing almost 900 3rd-5th graders and their teachers. You may inspire a new generation of bug lovers. ps any hints on how we can feed it would also be appreciated.
Mary Austin-Harris,
Yulee, Florida



Hi Mary,
There was no way we were going to pass up the opportunity to educate almost 900 elementary school students and their teachers. This is an Imperial Moth Caterpillar, Eacles imperialis. According to BugGuide, they: "feed on leaves of Bald Cypress, basswood, birch, cedar, elm, hickory, Honeylocust, maple, oak, pine, Sassafras (Sassafras albidum ), Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), sycamore, walnut. "

Cicada Killers found Dead
(08/26/2008) Possible Cicada Killers and What's Happening to Them?
My name is Lacie Blevins and I am from Mulvane, KS, just outside of Wichita, KS.  My children and I were outside playing and noticed that we were able to find an usually large number of Cicada shells in our backyard, at least in my opinion considering we’d never seen quite that many in one area before.  While looking for more Cicada shells, we noticed three dead insects, which my five-year-old daughter expertly [sarcasm] believed to be a dead bumblebee, and I a hornet, all underneath one of our trees; coincidentally, we found them under the tree with the highest number of cicada shells on and around it.  After finding your website, I believe that they are Cicada Killers, but the size being reported didn’t seem to match what I found in my backyard.  I have included a picture of one of the insects that I picked up out of my yard.  Could you tell me if I have correctly identified the insect and what could be happening to them?  I understand from your website that the Cicada Killer wasps are nothing to be afraid of, but can you tell me if there is something bigger and nastier out there that I should be worried about? Thanks,
Lacie Blevins



Hi Lacie,
Late August is about the end of the time of year you will be observing Cicada Killers, so it is possible they have just died of old age. It is also possible they have been attacked by some predator. Though we have never seen a photograph, it is possible they were attacked by one of the larger Robber Flies like a Bee Killer.

Six Banded Longhorn
(08/26/2008) WTB??
I live in northern KY. This bug was found on Northern KY University's campus in May or June. He is probably about an inch long, flies and his antennae are long and hairy. What is he???
Shannon



Hi Shannon,
But for the extreme hairiness of the antennae, your beetle is a near perfect match to the Six Banded Longhorn, Dryobius sexnotatus, pictured on BugGuide. BugGuide also indicates it is "Uncommon (2)and listed as rare and endangered on several websites."

Huntsman Spider
(08/26/2008) big spider
father found this in florida and we think its a large wolf spider but not sure:



Your spider is a male Huntsman Spider, Heteropoda venatoria, also called a Banana Spider because they arrive from the tropics with banana shipments.

Unknown Caterpillar from Japan is a Fruit Piercing Moth, Adris tyrannus amurensis
(08/26/2008) What is this big juicy brown, vivid green and iridescent blue caterpillar?!
I live in Hokkaido in northern Japan, and yesterday I found a bush that is absolutely COVERED with these caterpillars. The leaves in the photo are about half my palm size and the caterpillar is as long and as thick as my thumb.
They are fleshy, not hairy, with two bright yellow, black and blue eye spots, and bright iridescent blue speckles all over them. I think they are a moth of some kind but can't get any closer than that. Help!
Vicky in Hokkaido



hi Vicky,
This is most certainly a Sphinx Caterpillar or Hawk Moth Caterpillar in the family Sphingidae. We located a website of Sphingidae from Japan, but it is difficult to search and does not have caterpillar images. We have contacted Bill Oehlke to see if he recognizes the species. This is a gorgeous caterpillar.


Update: (08/27/2008)
Daniel,
Beautiful image, but I am not sure it is a Sphingid, as pose with posterior end raised is not typical of any Sphingidae as far as I know.
Bill Oehlke

Update: (08/27/2008)
Thank you for your very quick reply! You are right, it is gorgeous, but I have a surfeit of them - they are DEVOURING one of my bushes in my garden! My Japanese-reading son got out some bug books and he found out that it is an "Akebi Konoha" in Japanese, and its latin name is Adris tyrannus amurenseis, which as far as I can tell doesn't have a common name. As I am ignorant about moth varieties this could well be a sphynx caterpillar...... On Googling a bit more and looking in the dictionary, we found that Akebi is the name of the plant it lives on, which is translated as a Chocolate Vine in English, and yes, that is what they are chomping on! So it seems to be a fairly specialised thing....  We found a Japanese site here, with photos of more caterpillars and the adult moth - DOES it have a common name? http://aoki2.si.gunma-u.ac.jp/youtyuu/HTMLs/akebikonoha020921.html Thanks again for your help - I hate not knowing what things are, yet living in Japan it's very hard for me to look stuff up intelligently and often the western websites don't have the exact same things on them. I'm glad too that you found it interesting. They really are beautiful, if not a bit revolting en masse!
Vicky in Hokkaido

Hi Vicky,
We were incorrect about this being a Sphinx Moth. It is a Fruit Piercing Moth.

Monarch Chrysalis Parasitized by Chalcid Wasps
(08/26/2008) Parasitic invasion of chrysalis
A friend gave me a beautiful chrysalis yesterday to watch and photograph.  This morning the container to swarming with little flying insects. I moved it outside and found two holes in the chrysalis that the bugs were emerging from.  What are the flying insects, and have they probably attacked whatever moth or butterfly was forming in the coccoon?  Thank you very much for any information.
Cindy Donegan



Hi Cindy,
Your distinctive Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis has been parasitized by minute Chalcid Wasps. According to BugGuide, there are over 2200 North American species, but since you did not provide us with a location, there may be more or less where you made this observation. BugGuide also states: "They are used as pest controls because they parasitize mainly the orders that contain many common pests: Lepidoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera and Homoptera."

European Hornet attacks Wheel Bug
(08/26/2008) Bug help....
Hello,
A few months ago by using your website I was able to identify a mysterious bug I had never seen before sitting on my basil planter outside as a nymph wheel bug.  Well, here we are a month or so later without having seen the wheel bug and we walk outside and find the now "adult" wheel bug sitting out on our deck right before we watched it get attacked and killed by a (European hornet?). Please identify the bug attacking the wheel bug in the attached picture. Thanks for your help!!!
B&D
Sellersville, PA



Dear B & D,
Your identification of a European Hornet, Vespa crabro, attacking a Wheel Bug is correct. According to BugGuide, the European Hornet is : "Predatory on other insects, used to feed young. ... The workers capture insects, bringing them back to the nest to feed the brood. Workers need more high-energy sugary foods such as sap and nectar, and hornet larvae are able to exude a sugary liquid which the workers can feed on."

Jumping Spider patrols intimate apparel
(08/25/2008) spider in the underwear drawer
Hello Bugman,
We found this little beast peeking out of one of our dresser drawers last night.  It saw us coming a mile away, so we failed to catch it.  Presumably he makes his home in the dresser.  It's about 1" across (including legs).  From pictures I can find on the internet, I think it looks a little like a red jumping spider, but the body and legs are lighter in color and more variegated.  What do you think?  We live in Los Angeles, CA.  Thanks,
Malia



Hi Malia,
We think that thanks to this Jumping Spider, your drawers are free from bugs. This is a Jumping Spider in the genus Phidippus. It may be Phidippus clarus which is highly variable, or perhaps Phidippus johnsoni, another highly variable species, or it may be another species in this highly variable genus.

Green Lynx Spider
(08/24/2008) green spider in roses
Hello again,
I have several beautiful spiders that are hanging out in my roses.  They catch unsuspecting bugs that go there to eat the rose or fly by, no web.  They are beautiful, but I've never seen anything like them.  I have three living on my roses.  The largest one is about 1 1/2 across with prickly legs.  I can take more pictures if you'd like.  They have all become larger over the past week or so.  I was able the feed one a small green grasshopper by hand the other day.  They are very fast when they strike. Thanks!!  
Evie



Hi Evie,
Despite you not providing our readership with a location for your sighting, we are posting your marvelous image of a Green Lynx Spider, Peucetia viridans. We find them in Los Angeles in our vegetable and flower garden each year and we never tire of observing their remarkable hunting skills. They are found from coast to coast in the southern states.

Dock Spiders: Female with Spiderlings and probable smaller Male
(08/24/2008) Dolomedes Spider
Hi Daniel!
On a recent getaway up in the Muskokas in Ontario I finally found what I think is a dolomedes fishing spider.  I’ve seen and read about them on your website, and often heard people talk about these “dock spiders”, but have never seen one in real life.  Needless to say, I was quite excited when I found this spider and her spiderlings hanging out on the shed down by the water on the Lake of Bays.  I’m guessing that her body was about an inch and a half in length and that she was at least 3 1⁄2 inches including leg span.  I’m not sure if this is considered big for this type of spider.  I tried a couple of times to get the nerve to put my hand or finger near her to give some better perspective of her size, but I just couldn’t do it.  She was HUGE!   There was an empty egg sac near her and hundreds of little baby spiders all hanging out in the same area.  I’ll send a couple of shot of these.  I hope you enjoy them.  I’m also going to send a shot of a smaller dock spider that was found on the side of the dock close to the shed. Would this be a male? I ended up finding about 5 of these smaller spiders on the dock, but only one shot turned out.  They are quite camera shy it seems.  Thanks again for your great website. 
Yvonne
Barrie , Ontario



The smaller dock spider
Hi again Daniel,
Here is the shot of the smaller dock spider.  I’m guessing it’s male because it’s SO much smaller than the other spider I sent to you.  I think this one including leg span was no more than 1 ? inch.   Looks like I’m due for a manicure….
Yvonne
Barrie , Ontario

Hi Yvonne,
Thanks for your wonderful images and also for reminding us that in some areas, Fishing Spiders are called Dock Spiders. We believe your speculation that the smaller Dock Spider is a male is correct. In many groups of spiders, including Orb Weavers and Comb Footed Spiders, the male is considerably smaller than the female.

Hickory Horned Devil
(08/21/2008) Hickory Horned Devil or Royal (or Regal) Walnut Moth Caterpillar Photo
Hi – My 8-year-old twins found this caterpillar on the street in front of our house (Aug. 21, 2008, Virginia Beach, VA)  – we’re not sure what happened to it…  Initially we thought he’d been run over (his mouthparts seem a bit damaged and there was liquid surrounding him – and very tiny ants were attacking him) but he didn’t really appear squished.  We brought him in, rinsed off the ants and read a bit about him (which suggests that perhaps he fell out of a tree preparing to pupate and fell a bit too hard?) – and filled a jar with soft soil and what I hope are walnut leaves.  He’s got a broken horn or two, and I’m not sure if he’ll make it (not sure what damage he’s sustained), but he is still moving around a little.  Hopefully he’ll make it (we were afraid to leave him outside because the ants find him too attractive).  Thanks for your site – my family and I use it almost every day to identify all the cool bugs in our yard!    
Monica



Hi Monica,
Your Hickory Horned Devil would also be an attractive snack for birds and other predators. There is no way of knowing what caused the trauma. We received three images of Hickory Horned Devils today, and expect to get many more in the next month.

Yellow Garden Spider
(08/20/2008) To share
Hello there!  Thanks for the website.. I was able to figure out what we had! You have alot of these on your site, but we capture this picture of the brand new egg sac!
Kevin D. Handley
Irving , TX



Hi Kevin,
Argiope aruantia has numerous common names. In addition to Yellow Garden Spider, it is also called Golden Orb-weaver (California), Yellow Garden Orbweaver, Writing Spider and Black and Yellow Argiope. Now that the females are maturing, reaching their maximum size and laying eggs, they are being noticed, and we expect to be receiving numerous more identification requests for spiders in the genera Argiope and Araneus, the Orb Weavers.

Male and Female Black Witch Moths from Hawaii
(08/18/2008) Black Witch Moths - Male & Female
Both sexes on the same screen!
Enjoy Keep the Spirit of Aloha alive!
Michael F. O'Brien
Waikoloa, HI




Hi Michael,
We we first read your very short email, we thought you had a photo of a pair of Black Witch Moths on the same window screen. Upon opening the photo files, we realized the screen you have in mind is the computer screen. We are also surprised that you manage to meticulously lable the file names on your digital photos with much information, yet your communication to us is quite spare. We know that collected insects without information regarding the circumstances of the capture are relatively worthless, so in the interest of credibility, we are including your label information here. The darker male Black Witch has the label: "P1070967(72) ­ Black Witch Moth (male) - HALE o O' - WAIKOLOA VILLAGE - SOUTH KOHALA - BIG ISLAND - 27 JULY 2007 1" and the female with her zigzag lighter traverse stripe is labeled thus: "P1180580 ­ Black Witch Moth ­ Female (Ascalapha odorata) - HALE o O' - LIVINGROOM CEILING - WAIKOLOA VILLAGE -SOUTH KOHALA ­"

Fourth Recipient: Nasty Reader Award
(08/15/2008) Email
Why is it that it is near to IMPOSSIBLE to find your email address CLEARLY displayed on your website? Are you guys COMPLETELY DAFT???? Since when is this an email address: Email the bugman AT Whatsthatbug.com ?????????????????????????????? ???????????
Are you truly dorks?
-----ja
jonathanayres@mac.com

Dear Jonathan Ayers (who can be reached at jonathanayres@mac.com),
While the majority of the emails we receive are complimentary, occasionally we do get unsolicited derogatory and inflamatory letters that trouble us deeply. In an effort to confront our demons, we have created the Nasty Reader page and we want to congratulate you on being awarded the fourth installment of the award. Your prize include a high profile posting on our homepage as well as a permanent position in our archives. So that our readership will have no problems locating your email address (jonathanayres@mac.com), we will make sure we link to it several times. You must be suffering from severe performance anxiety as well as personal inadequacy since it is apparent that a large majority of the web browsing public has no problem writing to us by simply clicking the Ask WTB link prominently featured at the top of each and every one of our individual pages. We do receive over 100 emails a day. We strongly suggest you seek some rage management treatment and perhaps our readership has additional suggestions for you. Our readership can email you directly at jonathanayres@mac.com, and hopefully copy us on their letters so we can post their views as well. Have a nice day.


Faithful Reader gets nasty with Jonathan (08/17/2008)
Dafty Dork Frustrations
Dear Jonathan,
Being that on a daily basis 100s of us are able to find the means to e-mail "What's That Bug", it leads me to the conclusion that it must be you who is the dork and a dafty dork at that!! And ... when you apparently did locate the address, instead of feeling pride in your brilliant accomplishment, you didn't share your insect pics, but instead chose to chastise the wonderful folks who provide this amazing website.  This is what I envision occurred... it's the only explanation for such rage and frustration: You wanted to share your bug pics, but said bug was up your arse.   You set up a tripod, positioned your butt, attempted to get your camera in position.  The lighting wasn't quite right, you're itchy and uncomfortable , what with the bug hopping around in there, just refusing to sit still for a photo. Finally , after 10 minutes or so, poor bug settled down, the lighting adjusted, butt position at perfect angle to camera, you got it! After all that work & discomfort, to not be able to find an e-mail address is certainly justification to spew venom at our Bug Folks friends. I hope your bug has been released and you feel calmer.  Although no photos were shared, I thank you for the entertainment. Best wishes,
A very loyal "What's That Bug" fan

Overkill: Sphinx Moth sprayed to death!!!
(08/15/2008) is it as dangerous as it looks?
Hi,
my little brother saw this bug upside down on our porch in Italy. He killed it with wasp spray, so it's all wet, which might make it a little harder to recognize. I hope you can still get an idea of what it is... Thanks a lot!
Esther



Hi Ester,
If ever the word "overkill" could be used regarding the use of pesticides, your photo ranks a close third after the global use of DDT and the statewide spraying of Malathion against the Med Fly in California in the 1980s. It appears your brother used an entire spray can of foaming pesticide to dispatch one harmless Sphinx Moth. This is textbook unnecessary carnage.

House Centipede from Fuerteventura, Africa
(08/12/2008) House centipede, close picture
Hi, think I have just found a House Centipede on the pool cover outside our holiday villa in Fuerteventura, an Island off the West coast of Africa. Saved him from drowning with a piece of paper and a cup after I took that pic!
Rob



Hi Rob,
Though we have no dearth of House Centipede submissions from around the world, we are thrilled to post your photo from Fuerteventura, Africa, a first for our site.

Mating Boxelder Bugs
(07/05/2008) Boxelder bugs.
Hi folks!
Two pictures, one of  Boxelder Bugs (Boisea trivittata) mating for your Bug love page, and one of a box elder nymph. Sending you the full sized pics so you may crop as needed. They're also called Garage Bugs, and oddly enough, these bugs were on my garage door!
Cheryl-Anne Miller



Hi Cheryl-Anne,
Thanks for contributing to our Boxelder Bug archive.


Comment: (07/02/2008) THANK YOU..
hahah im so glad you guys answered the boxelder bug question 9078787697867657956 times. i spent all day trying to figure out what they were to see if they were harmful and your site is the only one that helped me.
p.s. im also glad you don't offer extermination advice. i love bugs. keep up the good work guys.

Potato Bug
(04/15/2008) My first potatobug encounter
I encountered this critter the other day whilst digging in my sorry excuse for a garden.  It's the biggest bug I've ever seen- even after spending my childhood chasing after various bugs. The part I really wanted to mention though: I've told more than a few people my favorite bug was the potatobug because I thought they were cute and I always played with them when I was little.  This has never failed to illicit looks of disgust and I never understood why.  -Now- I know why, thanks to your website... it was woodlice I liked.  Not potatobugs.  I'm a city gal, can you blame me? Enjoy the juicy pic.  I swear it was probably a 5-pounder. 
Angela



Hi Angela,
We are afraid to ask what the "wtf" title of your photo stands for since we strive (sometimes unsucessfully) to be a G-rated site. Thanks for your interesting Potato Bug anecdote.


(5/21/03)How can one get rid of crickets that have found their way into the house?

Catch them and release them.


Check out Eric Eaton's new Book!!!
Our Readership is constantly inquiring about a great field guide for insect identification. Eric Eaton's new book, Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America is now in its second printing. Look for it at your local bookstore or buy directly from Amazon.


Bug Love Poster
View Poster
(09/12/2006) Ed. Note
Recently, Dave, who worked on the radio transmitter project to track the migration of Anax junius, the Green Darner Dragonfly, proposed selling his awesome Retro posters of Bug Love on our site. A percentage of the proceeds goes to insect conservation. What's That Bug? fully endorses this ad and these beautiful posters and we are not making any profit off of the sales. So, contact Dave via his email... and tell him What's That Bug? sent you.
Read Dave's entire letter on our Fanmail 2 page.


Help! I have these bugs that are invading my home! My husband and I find at LEAST 5 every morning. Eww! They are the "pincher bugs". Something else we've discovered in our house are these dark brown spiders that love to just hang out on the top of our ceiling. Our newly purchased home in Southern California is crawling with creatures who've roamed free in the unattended soil for 50 years. What is the best way to get rid of insects? We have some yellow jackets that fly around along with mosquitoes. In our ground though we have pincher bugs by the thousands and also pill bugs. We are in the process of ripping out plants, trees and
shrubbery to replant the entire yard. How do we kill off all the insects!?
Any suggestions would be MOST appreciated!
Thank you!
Rebecca


Dear Rebecca,
Nothing short of a nuclear bomb will rid your property of all your dreaded insects, but considering the current political climate, you just might get your wish. In the event that that doesn't happen, you just might have to learn to live together. We at What's that Bug? do not advocate getting rid of all insects since we would be out of business.


(08/27/2005) Hi Daniel and Lisa Anne!
JAW DROP!!!!!
WOW!!!!!!!!!!
I just had to write you two, your site is the best bug site I have ever seen! Your main page helped me identify a bug that was posted at our forum, and I must admit that some of the pictures submitted to your site are so absolutely beautiful that I had to capture them for my screen saver! In exchange I wish to offer some photos of my own, taken in my yard in Santa Ana California. I have included 10 photos that I took with my digital camera, you may use them as you see fit I would also like to reply to Rebecca from Southern California who wishes to know how to get rid of all of her bugs, if a reply is allowed.
Hi Rebecca!
I live in Southern California too, and I have all the things you described in my yard as well. If they are getting into your house, then you probably have openings around windows and doors that should be attended to. You do not want to kill the bugs in your yard, they provide very necessary functions to keep your yard healthy. Ants are your cleaning crew, they dispose of dead things. Earthworms are what make the earth that your garden grows in, and their castings contain an enzyme that repels white flies. Wasps are your predators, they eat the caterpillars that eat your plants. Caterpillars are your butterflies and moths, and they pollinate your flowers so they bloom again next year. Robber flies are your wasp controllers, they keep wasp populations down. Potato bugs, pill bugs, earwigs and click beetles are your compost engineers, they recycle leaf litter and break it down so the earthworms can turn it into healthy soil. Possums are your snail controllers. Garden snails are not native and have no other predator than possums here in California. Spiders are your general insect controllers, you should capture and take outside any that wander into your house. There are many other insects that you will find in your yard as well, but they are all pretty harmless and will avoid you if you just give them time to move out of your way. Your yard is its own ecosystem, with its own checks and balances. Learn to love your bugs, explore them, research them, discover the benefits they give to you and the beauty of your yard. If you get stung by a wasp or bee, or bitten by a mosquito, simply dissolve a real aspirin in your hand with a few drops of water and apply directly to the site, the pain and itch will be gone within a matter of seconds. If you want to help control your mosquitoes, simply place a container of water under a bush which is easily accessible to you and leave it there, check it every day, when you see the larvae swimming around just dump the entire container of water on the ground. The larvae will die. Refill the container. Insure that there is no other standing water on your property. Keep an eye out for Black Widows, they are the only bugs in your yard that can actually harm you. Hope this helps :)
Sincerely,
Cathy :)
Thank you Daniel and Lisa, for such a wonderful site! I have it bookmarked and will be back here often!


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