Spider look like a scorpion?
Thu, Mar 19, 2009 at 8:46 AM
Hello, we currently live in Brunei which is part of Borneo. We have seen this bug many times all around our house. It looks like a scorpion but we think it is a spider. We have two small children so we would like to know what this bug is and if it bites! It is black and about 1cm in length. We really appriciate your help in identifying this creature so we can learn more about it!
J
Borneo, South East Asia
Jumping Spider
Hi J,
This is a Jumping Spider in the family Salticidae. Jumping Spiders are hunting spiders that do not build webs and they are harmless.
Big brown and gray moth with leaf like antenni.
Thu, Mar 19, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Big brown and gray moth with leaf like antenni.
Hello,
Today on my porch I came accross a very large brown and gray moth with large antenni that resemble leaves. There are a couple spots on each wing.
Justin
Texas
Polyphemus Moth
Hi Justin,
Your moth is a Giant Silk Moth known as the Polyphemus Moth. The dorsal surface of the lower wings have large spots that resemble eyes, hence naming the moth after the legendary cyclops Polyphemus from the Odyssey.
What is this Queensland Moth?
Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 9:44 PM
Hey there bugman!
I found this dude in the collar of one of my tee shirts that I had on the line today, and he gave me a little freight since I’ve not seen a moth as big as he is before. However, after my initial shock I decided to get him identified by you. After he’d had enough of the photo shoot he took off, possibly to find another collar to sleep in. He was about the size of my thumb and very fuzzy.
thanks bugman
Pseudo
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Convolvulvus Hawk Moth
Dear Pseudo,
We quickly located your moth on the Brisbane Insects Website and it is a Convolvulvus Hawk Moth, Agrius convolvuli. We located much information on the species, including another website that indicates has a large range and migrates freely in Europe, Asia and Africa as well as Australia. More information and photos can be found on the Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic website.
Convolvulvus Hawk Moth
Strike the pose, amazing moth.
Tue, Mar 17, 2009 at 6:42 PM
Hi guys,
Found this stunning moth and was fortunate enough to have Donald Hobern, an entomologist from CSIRO provide the ID of Eporectis tephropis (Noctuidae: Catocalinae. I could imagine that if it wasn’t against the green surronds that it would look much like a dead leaf. There are no images of this one on the web at the moment but will supply it to Australian Moths Online as well
aussietrev
Queensland, Australia
Owlet Moth: Eporectis tephropis
Hi Trevor,
As always, your images and contributions to our website are a treasure. We can only wonder when you will begin your own site. Thanks for this stunning Owlet Moth image.
What is this Beautiful Bug?
Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 6:09 AM
When I first saw the Bug I thought it was a Big Green Grasshopper. It was about 4inch long 2 to 3 inches across, wider with its wing span. I took the picture’s at night, last May. The Bug was just sitting on the wall of the beach house I was renting in Costa Rica (Limon Provence) close too Boca del Rio Estrella on the Caribbean Sea.
Thank you for your Time,
Beach
Limon Provence, Costa Rica
Eumorpha phorbas
Dear Beach,
Your moth is a Sphinx Moth or Hawk Moth in the family Sphingidae. The family name and Costa Rica led us to a website with many choices. At first, we thought your moth resembled the Gaudy Sphinx, so we decided to try members of the genus Eumorpha. We quickly discovered Eumorpha phorbas on the Costa Rican Sphingidae site. There were photos of mounted specimens, but no information on the site. We then searched the name and were led to Bill Oehlke’s excellent site with photos of live specimens and information. The species, which has no common name, ranges in Central and South America. Oehlke writes: “Eumorpha phorbas broods continuously with adults on the wing every month of the year in Costa Rica and along the west coast of South America as far south as Bolivia. Adults nectar at various flowers. Eumorpha phorbas larvae probably feed upon grapes (Vitaceae), dogbane (Apocynaceae), or evening primrose (Onagraceae) families. ”
flying bug, big eyes, scary face
Tue, Mar 17, 2009 at 6:58 PM
i was outside, in michigan, today, st pattys day, saw what i thought was a bat… swooping under the streetlight. this bug flew to the ground, and i captured it. large back and wings, 6 legs, including 2 arm looking ones in the front. looks like a stinger in front of its face, below its mouth. 2 huge black eyes. very scary looking. please help. its still alive, captured.
included is a picture of it next to a pack of cigarettes so you can get an idea of the size.
thanks for helping!
davison, michigan
Toe-Biter
Though we have no shortage of Giant Water Bug or Toe-Biter images on our site, your vivid description is a welcome addition to our archives. Thanks for the great letter.
UNNECESSARY CARNAGE
Tue, Mar 17, 2009 at 5:55 AM
Hi Bugman,
This basilisk lizard is not a pet. While sitting out by the pond fishing, this female ran over and grabbed the poor caterpillar. It was right in front of me on the ground and I didn’t see it until she grabbed it and it was too late. Do you have any idea what kind of caterpillar it was? It took the lizard around ten minutes to scarf it down. She looked pretty satisfied after she ate her prize.
Jordan
Costa Rica
Basilisk Lizard eats Silk Moth Caterpillar
Hi Jordan,
This is far from unnecessary carnage. That section of our website is devoted to the hapless creatures that are squashed and swatted by humans out of ignorance. This Basilisk Lizard is dining on a Giant Silk Moth Caterpillar as part of the beautiful Food Chain cycle that dictates many creature must eat or be eaten. It is difficult to ascertain the exact species of the caterpillar from the camera angle, but we are relatively certain it is in the family Saturniidae.
Mystery Bug!
Tue, Mar 17, 2009 at 4:38 AM
Hello,
A friend of mine who lives in Temecula, CA, is wondering what sort of bug landed near his computer, one early morning in June of 08.
I have been searching the internet trying to figure out what it might be, but am alas, at a loss. However, I am no insect expert at all, so it may be something simple….. Can you shed some light on this?
Thank you!
mystery2me
Temecula, CA
Mayfly
Dear mystery2me,
Anyone who uses the word alas in a letter is a peach for us. Despite its appearance in June, this is a Mayfly, an insect in the order Ephemeroptera. We are not very good at identifying the specific species of Mayflies, so we hope this general identification will suffice. This may be a Small Minnow Mayfly in the genus Callibaetis as evidenced by images on BugGuide. Mayflies often appear in great numbers near bodies of water when the aquatic nymphs mature into adults and swarm in their annual nuptial flight.
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