Skip to content

Update: We’re finishing a Book

In January, we first posted the announcement that we are writing a book. Our book will not be an identification guide and it will not be a scientific text.  To quote from our proposal “Rather than using the Q&A format, the book will be a compendium of accumulated information, and instead of concentrating on species identification in the way a field guide does, the What’s That Bug? book will be more of a general overview of groups of bugs.”  Because of surgery and commitments at work, we missed our November 1 deadline, and we have received one extension through the end of the month.  We still need to write approximately 15 to 20 thousand words, and we are feeling very confident, but writing the manuscript interferes with the number of letters we are able to read and post each day.  Hopefully, our book of curious facts, myths and insect lore will be completed by December 1.  Please be patient as we try to shift some of our attention to meeting our commitment to our agent and editor and making good on our promise.  Chances are quite good that if you have a question, using our in site search engine should lead you to an answer.  If your direct question does not receive an answer, please do not take it personally.  It is because of our own time constraints.

Posted Site News § Administrative ‡ Comments (2) °

Bug of the Month November 2009: Halloween Bug or Florida Predatory Stink Bug

We received the following letter in such a timely manner that we thought we would choose it for the Bug of the Month for November.  Sadly, Halloween will have already passed, but adult Florida Predatory Stink Bugs will continue to appear.  We are combining that letter with a previous letter that shows the radically different immature insects that are known to feed in packs.  Curious readers can also turn to BugGuide for more information on the Florida Predatory Stink Bug or Halloween Bug.

Black/orange “jack o’lantern” beetle
October 26, 2009
We spotted this beetle on our trash toter lid on October 23. He was apparently out for a stroll – did not fly while we watched. His markings are striking – a built-in Halloween costume!
Patrice and Allen Sigmon
High Point, NC

Halloween Bug
Halloween Bug

Dear Patrice and Allen,
Though you did not realize it, you actually correctly identified your insect.  The Florida Predatory Stink Bug, Euthyrhunchus floridanus, is frequently called the Halloween Bug because of its coloration and markings as well as its timely appearance.  It is also the time of the month for us to select a Bug of the Month for November 2009, and we plan to use your letter and photo as a point of departure, and include an image of the startlingly different immature insects as well.

Immature Florida Predatory Stink Bugs communally feeding on a Carpenter Bee

Red and black what I think is a beetle eating a bumble bee
Sat, Jun 20, 2009 at 1:42 PM
I was outside working in my yard when I looked up on my awning and saw what I thought was a bumble bee holding a flower, but then I saw some liquid drop and I decided to look closer. When I did, I saw that it was a bunch of small red and black beetles eating the bumble bee. I was kind of shocked. I just moved to northern North Carolina and have seen some strange bugs, but these ones eating the bumble bee is the strangest. If you could, please tell me what this is.
Angelica
Reidsville, NC

Florida Predatory Stink Bugs eat Bumble Bee
Florida Predatory Stink Bugs eat Bumble Bee

Hi Angelica,
These are immature Florida Predatory Sting Bugs, Euthyrhynchus floridanus, sometimes called Halloween Bugs because of the black and orange coloration of the adults, which are winged. According to BugGuide, they are: “Predatory on other insects, including caterpillars, beetle. Nymphs, and to some extent, adults, are gregarious, and may attack large prey in groups.” Your photo nicely illustrates this. Despite what your photo illustrates, the Florida Predatory Stink Bug is a beneficial insect because of the caterpillars and beetles it consumes. We are guessing Bees, since they can easily fly away, are not commonly eaten.

Update: From Eric Eaton
Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:12:31 -0700 (PDT)
The predatory stink bugs appear to be scavenging the remains of a dead carpenter bee (it is missing both hind legs, so who can say for certain…). Many hemipterans, even plant-feeders, will scavenge dead insects on occasion.
Eric

Aggregation of Immature Florida Predatory Stink Bugs

Aggregation of Immature Florida Predatory Stink Bugs

Posted § Stink Bugs and Shield Bugs ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Courting Robber Flies from Texas

Saw this (possible) mating ritual…
November 24, 2009
Although I saw the two bugs interacting for some time, I have no idea what they are after having looked here and there for an answer.
Stingrey
Big Bend National Park

Robber Flies

Robber Flies

Hi Stingrey,
These courting Robber Flies are gorgeous.  The male is flying.  We believe they are in the genus Laphria, but we cannot find an exact match on Bugguide.  The closest is Laphria trux but it has black legs, not red ones like the individuals in your photo.  Last week we got assistance from an expert in Robber Flies, Dr. Robert A. Cannings, Curator of Entomology from the Royal British Columbia Museum.  We are writing to him again for assistance.

Posted 24 November 2009 § Robber Flies ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Checkered Beetle

Not a Lady Bug, but a ???
November 23, 2009, 5:52 PM
Found this beetle bug dying in our house today. I have noticed several of these beetles on the vinyl siding of our house, but this is the first one I have seen inside. We recently treated our carpets with pyrethrins as the kitty brought flees in with her. The pics were taken as the beetle was dying and penny added for scale.
A bit more info about our location. We are in central Kentucky and recently bought a house that backs up to a farm that has planted soy beans for the past two years.
Any help ID’ing this critter would be greatly appreciated as I want to make sure it is not a destructive type of pest.
Worried in KY
Central KY

Checkered Beetle

Checkered Beetle

Found it!
6:04 PMNovember 23, 2009
Found the info about the beetle that came inside and died. It is a checkered beetle and I am assuming that since we had an ice storm last year they are feeding on the wood borers that are chewing on the dead wood in the tree line between our house and the soybean field. Thank you for your help!
Not Worried in KY
Central KY

Checkered Beetle

Checkered Beetle

Dear Not Worried in KY, formerly Worried in KY,
We are thrilled to see that within 12 minutes, you correctly identified your Checkered Beetle on our website.  More information on the Checkered Beetle family Cleridae can be found on BugGuide.

Posted 24 November 2009 § Checkered Beetles ‡ Comments (0) °

Water Striders

More Water Striders
November 24, 2009
Hi Bugman,
I saw your comment about the dearth of water striders on WTB, so I thought I’d send these your way. The first one I’m pretty sure is Aquarius remigis based on images on BugGuide and its large size. According to BugGuide this is one of the largest and most common water striders in North America. The second one looks like something different though, based on the white markings on the thorax and abdomen. My best guess is something in the genus Gerris but there’s only one image on BugGuide that looks close. Both of these were found in August 2008, running around on Cascade Creek, Minnesota in large groups.
Joel Gardner (clickbeetle)
Cascade Creek (near Grand Marais, MN)

Water Strider: Aquarius remigis

Water Strider: Aquarius remigis

Hi Joel,
Thanks so much for your wonderful contribution of additional Water Strider images for our website.

Water Strider: Gerris species

Water Strider: Gerris species

Posted 24 November 2009 § Water Striders ‡ Comments (0) °

Female Jumping Spider

pregnant phidippus mystaceus jumping spider
November 23, 2009
Hi,
I was out in my backyard a few days ago when I came across this female /Phidippus mystaceus/. Her abdomen was huge, and looked like she was carrying eggs. Enjoy the pictures.
Josh Kouri

Female Jumping Spider: Phidippus mystaceus

Female Jumping Spider: Phidippus mystaceus

Hi Josh,
Thanks for sending us your wonderful photos of a female Phidippus mystaceus.

Female Jumping Spider: Phidippus mystaceus

Female Jumping Spider: Phidippus mystaceus

Posted 24 November 2009 § Jumping Spiders ‡ Comments (0) °

Water Striders from Ghana

November 20, 2009
The following water bug pix were taken at Hans Botel Cottage, Cape Coast, Ghana.
AJ

Water Striders from Ghana

Water Striders from Ghana

Dear AJ,
The spareness of your words is amusing.  Our readership tends to be hungry for information, and your succinct entries just leaves them salivating for more.  These are Water Striders, aquatic True Bugs that skate on the surface of ponds and other bodies of water, waiting for insects to fall in which they feed upon.  Though Water Striders in the family Gerridae are quite common in North America and other places around the world, this posting represents a brand new category for our site that previously experienced a noticeable dearth of Water Strider images.

Water Striders

Water Striders

Posted 23 November 2009 § Water Striders ‡ Comments (0) °

Green Lynx Spider

Spider on our lavender bush
November 22, 2009
We first noticed this spider on our lavender bush sometime in the spring. It was very green. Now it is brown and is holding what looks to be a ball of yarn, but we think it’s an egg sack. Is this spider dangerous? We have 3 small children who like to play outside.
A.A.
Southern California

Green Lynx

Green Lynx

Hi A.A.,
This beauty is our favorite spider, a Green Lynx.  It is harmless, though she will act aggressively if her egg sac is threatened.  Your children are perfectly safe.

Posted 23 November 2009 § Green Lynx ‡ Comments (0) °

Female Imperial Moth

Giant moth?
November 22, 2009
This guy was resting on a wall in some woods I frequent for work in South Jersey. It was alive and did’nt seem to mind me taking photos of it. It was a decent six inches across and it was just impressive to see.
Tom Weightman
Haddonfield NJ

Imperial Moth

Imperial Moth

Hi Tom,
This gal is a female Imperial Moth, and she sure is a big specimen.

Imperial Moth

Imperial Moth

Posted 23 November 2009 § Giant Silk Moths ‡ Comments (0) °

Sexton Beetle covered in Phoretic Mites

COVERED IN OTHER BUGS OR SPIDERS!!!!
November 18, 2009
Found this bug outside my house this summer(sept23) in schreiber, ontario canada. I also have video i am willing to send ( you can see the small bugs/spiders moving around). Is this the bugs babies or are they killing it?!?!
Monica
Northern ontario

Sexton Beetle with Phoretic Mites

Sexton Beetle with Phoretic Mites

Hi Monica,
The beetle is a Sexton Beetle or Burying Beetles.  The hitchhikers are Phoretic Mites.  Amazingly, this is a mutually advantageous situation.  Sexton Beetles bury small dead animals and lay eggs on the corpses and the beetle larvae feed on the putrefying meat.  Rotting flesh also attracts flies that lay eggs that hatch into maggots that compete with the beetle larvae for food.  The Mites hitch a ride on the beetle, since mites cannot fly, an act known as phoresy.  The mites eat the maggots, ensuring there will be more food for the beetle larvae.  We have seen images of Sexton Beetles covered in so many Phoretic Mites that it seemed impossible that they could fly.

Posted 22 November 2009 § Carrion Beetles § Mites ‡ Comments (0) °

Spiny Assassin Bug Nymph

Brown bug beachside
November 20, 2009
I took this at a beachside campground in the South Carolina LowCountry. He was not quite a half inch long.He was very content and did not mind my presence.Could you tell me what it is?
macroguru62
South Carolina LowCountry

Immature spiny Assassin Bug

Immature spiny Assassin Bug

Dear macroguru62,
This is a spiny Assassin Bug nymph in the genus Sinea.  BugGuide has many images of this genus.  Your photo is wonderful.

Posted 22 November 2009 § Assassin Bugs ‡ Comments (0) °

Poinciana Longicorn? or other Prionid from Australia???

Need more information
November 21, 2009
Hey bugman,
I’m from Woodford, Queensland in Australia, and have recently had an increasing (then decreasing) number of what I have found out (from your site) to be Brown Prionids. A good deal of my room is made of timber from the timber yard next door, and I have a full length porch made from said timber around my room. Just wondering if these beetles are dangerous in any way. The pincers on these buggers are freaking my missus out BIG TIME! And the little buggers have flown across the room, brushed my face while lying down, and freaked my missus out a few times. Any further information than that I have already read about them on this site would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance,
Nathan from Brisbane
We don’t see bugs like this in Australia, really…. :-S
Woodford, Queensland

Poinciana Longicorn we believe

Poinciana Longicorn we believe

Hi Nathan,
Though our website has gotten you a subfamily identification, we actually believe your species may be local for you.  In our opinion, this may be a Poinciana Longicorn, Agrianome spinicollis, or perhaps some closely related species.  When you say your room is made from the timber from the timber yard next door, you did not indicate when the room was constructed.  Often fresh timber is milled with beetle larvae inside, and if the wood is not treated, the adults may eventually emerge.  Also, if you live in an area where milled wood is produced, you may just be attracting the beetles because many Prionids are attracted to lights.  The mandibles on Prionids are quite strong since they need to chew their way out of the trees they have been boring in during the larval stage.  A bite might even draw blood, but it will heal as there is no poison.  Perhaps someone will write in an confirm that our identification is correct.  We posted a photo of a Poinciana Longicorn several years ago, and there is also a link to a site with some photos.  Your specimen seems a richer color than the images we found online.  Sadly, the Brisbane Insect website has nothing devoted to the subfamily Prioninae.

Posted 22 November 2009 § Longhorn Beetles ‡ Comments (0) °

Page 1 of 75912345»102030...Last »