Found in my kitchen but not in my bug books
Sat, Mar 7, 2009 at 4:25 PM
I found this guy trapped inside a casserole bowl in my kitchen. It looks something like an earwig, but the pincers in front and what looks like likes wings on the back.
Rich Guthrie
upstate New York – near Albany
Bristletail
Hi Rich,
This is a Bristletail in the order Microcoryphia. It is a primitive insect related to Silverfish. Bristletails are nocturnal and secretive, generally found outdoors, though some species are found in houses. Current taxonomy has Bristletails and Silverfish in distinct orders, but some old texts lump them together.
mystery bug #1
Sat, Mar 7, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Greetings! And thanks in advance for your help with this. I first noticed this sort of bug after Hurricane Ivan blew through the Florida Panhandle a few years back. They are plentiful in the summer, eating my tomatoes, among other things. I noticed this one today. It has a long black proboscis tucked under its head, a bright red narrow body, and has white dots on its back. What a beautiful creature! I hope you can see the long slender black legs and antennae. In the side view, the proboscis is highlighted in the light and looks white, but it is black. the body length is approximately 1 cm, and width about 3 mm. I am curious if this bug changes color throughout its life cycle because I have seen bright orange ones as well. Thanks again- I am looking forward to hearing from you!
Miriam Craft
Gulf Breeze, Florida
Immature Milkweed Assassin Bug
Mystery bug #2
Sat, Mar 7, 2009 at 6:49 PM
Mystery bug #2
Here’s another one I saw this morning. This one is new to me. The picture shows iridescent wings in green and black, a bright orange and black body with long slender black legs and antennae. I got him on my glove, but couldn’t see if he had a proboscis before he flew away. I am also curious as to the life stages of this insect, and corresponding colors. Thanks again!
Miriam Craft
Gulf Breeze, Florida
Milkweed Assassin Bug
Hi Miriam,
Both of your photos are the same species. You have a flightless nymph and winged adult Milkweed Assassin Bug, Zelus longipes, a predatory species that is capable of inflicting a painful bit if carelessly handled. Its coloration is quite distinctive and it is found in the Southern states. You may read more about the species on BugGuide.
Food Chain of Events
Thu, Mar 5, 2009 at 9:50 PM
Hi guys,
It appears these two small flys were having an argument and didn’t notice the lynx spider coming to make a meal of both. One of the flys looks like a common long legged fly but the bright blue one is a new one for me. It appears to have two large forward facing eyes, reminiscent of a jumping spider, set into a metallic looking carapace. Strange one eh?
aussietrev
Queensland, Australia
Lynx Spider gets Two-fer
Hi Trevor,
Your photos always amuse us. This tangle of bodies is quite wonderful. Seems as though the Spider got a double meal, though it is uncertain that is will suck the fluids from both flies.
Lynx Spider eats two flies
“Illegal” spiter at Port of Miami
Thu, Mar 5, 2009 at 8:53 AM
Hi Bugman:
Found this spider in a container of crushed aluminum cans inbound from El Salvador at the port of Miami, the body is approximately 1 inch. The spider does not show aggression at all. I know that identifying spiders is not easy, but I do not want to send her to the extension service in alcohol, so your help is in appreciated it for the safe release of the spider. Just want your opinion if it is safe to release.
Roberto
Miami, FL
Huntsman Spider
Hi Roberto,
We are relatively certain this is a Huntsman Spider in the family Heteropodidae. One of the most widely ranging Huntsman Spiders is Heteropoda venatoria, but we are not certain your specimen is that species. Heteropoda venatoria is a harmless nocturnal hunter. We understand that some tropical Huntsman Spiders are quite poisonous.
what kind of bug is this!!!
Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 4:19 PM
i found this bug sitting on the walkway to my house. it’s march 4, 2009. i already have a scorpion infestation. i don’t want to look forward to something else. please help me identify what kind of bug this is. and also, if you have any tips of getting rid of scorpions, do tell!!!
lacey micallef
chandler, arizona
Valley Carpenter Bee
Hi Lacey,
This is a harmless male Valley Carpenter Bee, Xylocopa varipuncta. The female is larger and black. If Valley Carpenter Bees become extremely plentiful in an area, the females may cause damage to wood if large numbers of them carve brood burrows in structures. Telephone poles are quite attractive as nesting sites. We don’t offer extermination advice.
Segmeted pencil-lead sized 12″ long
Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 10:05 AM
I have seen these at my house at least four times in the past eleven years. They have been on the driveway or walkway after a rain. I kept the first one in moist dirt in a baggy but it died.
The distal end is bifurcated with grippers. The proximal end is smooth and probing.
Laurie
N 35.50162694, W120.69228172
Horsehair Worm
Hi Laurie,
Thanks for the detailed coordinates, but we haven’t a GPS device to get a named location. Seems like we are probably talking San Luis Obispo, California. This is a Horsehair Worm or Gordian Worm. It is an internal parasite that preys upon Potato Bugs and other Orthopterans. We have also received reports in conjunction with Camel Crickets and Spiders.
¶ Posted 05 March 2009 § Worms ‡ ° Short, Flat, Red, and Tiny
Tue, Mar 3, 2009 at 11:04 PM
Recently my girlfriend and I have been finding these in our apartment every few days, and we’re a little concerned. We took two photos:
I squished one in kleenex the other day and it seemed like lots of blood was inside of it.
Save us from the insect overlords,
San Francisco, CA
Bedbug
Dear Sir or Madam,
You and your girlfriend have cause for concern. This is a Bedbug, and indications are that there is currently an epidemic of Bedbug infestations in many large cities. Bedbugs feed on human blood, and they can survive for long periods of time without a meal. Bedbugs often hide by day under the mattress, between the wall and baseboards, or under picture frames. They emerge at night when the human inhabitants are asleep. The bite of a Bedbug can get red and itchy, but often the first indication of an infestation is the dark stains on the sheets from the bug’s excrement. The Bedbugs also emit a foul musty odor. Bedbugs can be difficult to eradicate. On a positive note, Bedbugs are not known to be disease vectors.
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