Big Assassin Bug from the Amazon!
December 19, 2009
Found this amazing specimen on a hike in the amazon, about two hours downstream from Iquitos, Peru. It was about the size of A. cristatus, maybe a little bigger.
Sebastian
About two hours downstream from Iquitos, Peru
Assassin Bug from Peru
Hi Sebastian,
That is sure one impressive Assassin Bug. We don’t think we will be able to find a species name for you, but perhaps one of our readers will have luck in that department.
What type of bug is this?
December 18, 2009
Hi, my husband found this bug crawling up his leg. After his initial shock he snapped a photo. We were camping on the Nullabour Plain, South Australia. The climate there is very dry and hot, with little vegitation and very little water. The bug was about 40mm in length. It would be great to put a name to this amazing bug.
jackie
Nullabor Plain, South Australia
Unknown Newly Metamorphosed Moth
Hi Jackie,
This is a newly metamorphosed Moth whose wings have not yet expanded. We believe it may be a Tiger Moth in the family Arctiidae, but we are not certain. Perhaps one of our readers can supply a species identification.
Parasidic spider lays its eggs on my head
December 18, 2009
It started with my hair line being covered in brown sticky goo. And my hair, which was down to my waste, was being rolled around and egg or eggs and then tightly ‘glued’ to my scalp. I would touch the back of my head and the hair seemed gone and it felt like alligator armored skin. And It looked frosted like a flocked tree. I would keep pulling the hair back down from my head though it usually just broke off. What did not break was eventually chewed off for egg nesting elsewhere in my home. 6 months ago this started. I am between bald and crew cut now as I pack to escape the horrors and pain of having my head used as a nursery My poor dog also. her wrinkles were filled with eggs and her ears filled with the hard brown cocoon material. Almost like wasp nests. First t he millions of minute eggs, then the larva iand finally, a container/pod that hardens while half embedded in my scalp. Then they would hatch There larva could be removed so eventually I would be raking my head with my nails to pulled the small bugs out of my scalp. It’s like popcorn kernels Sharp and painful. .I would be rid of them maybe a week and then I would wake up egged again. A living night mare this has been. I am now getting what i absolutely need and escaping my trailer in the dead of winter and can not even see family for Christmas because every seem, crease, nook and cranny in this trailer is filled with millions of eggs and larva. I am terrified of Iinfecting family or friends am disabled, My SSDI pay has been drastically cut so this is a major thing. There is no getting another trailer or house. I am now soon to be homeless and I pray that I can escape this plague of spiders by boarding my dog at the vets for a week so that we have a chance of being rid of t his parasite. I have never in my life seen such foulness from a spi der.
Spider: possibly Amaurobiidae species
Brown stickiness every where and larva has replaced my insulation. In the last 6 months I have been treated for lice, then thy said scabies, then they said i must be on drugs and seeing things. from across the room mind you. I had been up in Washington photographing the rain forests there just before this all started. But I also live on the coast in the redwoods of California. I don’t know where it has come from but I would like to know what it is that is driving me from my home out into the cold wet winter. And if I have a chance of maybe coming back in a month or two should they die out or leave with out there favorite host. Or should I have the trailer burned and warn neighbors that vicious woman biting, hair eating, life stealing spiders are on the loose? I understand you are busy, but I will check often for a reply at the library so that I know what I am dealing with here. So far, not even bombing the house has fazed them. I found a few dead but it only slowed thing s down a bit. Will I ever escape this nightmare? I need to know if I can, how long should I leave all my clothes and electronics in storage? What can be done for my dog?
Advantage and flea shampoo has not helped at all. I am sorry I can not donate anything or the help i am asking for, this whole experience has devastated me physically, mentally, and financially. I would be grateful for anyone’s help in this nightmare…Thank you.
Spider Woman
Del Norte County, California Redwood coast
Possibly Hacklemesh Weaver
Dear Spider Woman,
While we sympathize with many of the symptoms you have so chillingly described in your letter, we would like to try to exonerate the spider that is the alleged culprit. Spiders do not have larvae, they have spiderlings that look exactly like the adults, but in miniature. We contacted Eric Eaton who said this about your images: “I think the spiders are something in the family Amaurobiidae, which can certainly make their homes in ours, but usually on the exterior of buildings. I have never, ever, heard of a legitimate case of them residing in someone’s hair. They also do not lay millions of eggs, just strewn about….. The image of the “larvae” in the dog’s ear just looks like wax to me.“ Spiders in the family Amaurobiidae are known as Hacklemesh Weavers according to BugGuide, and Wikipedia also uses the names Tangled Nest Spiders and Night Spiders. Spiders are not parasites, and we do not believe the spiders are connected to your health crisis. We have no idea what the brown sticky goo might be. We are just amateurs and we are not qualified to give any professional health advice. We would recommend that you post a comment to your posting and you will be notified if any of our readers have suggestions. We believe you need to seek some professional help.
Dog's Ear
No Idea
December 18, 2009
Hello. Found this bug in east of Napa. It was about and inch and half long. Very docile.
Paul
Napa County, California
Uncommon Longhorn: Synaphaeta guexi
Dear Paul,
We are nearly certain this is Synaphaeta guexi, a Flat Faced Longhorn Beetle in the subfamily Lamiinae. It it one of the Longhorn Borer Beetles in the family Cerambycidae. We found a nearly identical view on BugGuide, but sadly, there is no information on the species. One posting on BugGuide calls it the Spotted Tree Borer. One posting to BugGuide from November 2009 states: “this is indeed an uncommon beetle that seems to consistently evade experienced insect enthusiasts: ALL of its images we have on BG to date have been posted by first-time contributors!“ There are also some images on the BugShutterbug website. It appears we are currently experiencing some difficulty with new images appearing live, and we hope this is quickly remedied.
I’d agree, though this is certainly not the best angle to tell conclusively….They are not terribly small beetles from what I understand. Was a size estimate given?
Eric
An inch and a half.
That fits, you have my full endorsement:-)
Eric
What kind of spider is this?
December 17, 2009
I keep finding these little spiders in my house, specifically in my bathroom. They seem to like to be on the ceiling above the shower and I always freak out when I see one while I’m in there because I don’t know what kind of spider it is and whether or not they are of any danger to me. They are usually about the size of a nickel and very pale in color. Can you tell me what kind of spider this is and a little bit about it please?
Jessica
Providence RI
Yellow Sac Spider
Dear Jessica,
This species that has been introduced from the Mediterranean, Cheiracanthium mildei, is known by several common names, including Yellow Sac Spider, Black Footed Spider, and Cream House Spider. The spider will bite, most often when it is trapped in clothing. It was once believed that the bite of the Yellow Sac Spider was associated with blisters and lesions, but this has not proven to be the case, and the species should be removed from the medical concern list according to BugGuide. You may read more on the ASTMH website of the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
Our faithful reader R.G. Marion just sent us this lovely holiday greeting card with an enhanced image of a moth in the genus Tolype. We believe this is the first holiday card our website has ever received.
Greeting Card with Tolype
Butterfly identification
December 16, 2009
I tried sending these photos last week but I don’t think they uploaded so I’m trying again. I encountered these butterflies while hiking along the Tenaru River near Honiara in the Solomon Islands. These images are frame-grabs from a video. Hope you can help identify them.
Bruce Carlson, Atlanta
Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal
Diurnal Moth: Callidula species
Hi Bruce,
The quality of two of your images is quite poor, with cropping lines, and we would request that you resend them without the marks, one at a time, and with any description that is relevant. Our already confusing archives are easier to organize if individual species get their own postings, or if postings are confined to closely related species. Meanwhile, we will post the image of the unknown yellow butterfly in the hopes that one of our readers is able to identify it. We can tell you that the third image you sent contains a Milkweed Butterfly.
Thanks. The images are frame grabs from an HDV video converted to jpeg. I can try to de-interlace them and will resend as you suggest one at a time.
Thanks for your help with this!
Bruce
Update from Karl
December 18, 2009
Daniel:
It really is a lovely creature, but I don’t think it is a butterfly. The shape of the antennae suggests that it is a moth and I think it may belong to the family Callidulidae, the Old World butterfly-moths. There are only three subfamilies and eight genera, restricted to tropical regions stretching from Madagascar to the Solomom Islands. If I am right, then this one probably belongs to one of four genera in the subfamily Callidulinae. According to Wikipedia “The mainly day-flying Callidulinae can be distinguished by their resting posture, which is the most butterfly-like, with the wings held closely over the back. Resembling the butterfly family Lycaenidae, these moths can be told apart by their antennae which taper to a point or may be very subtly clubbed.” Most species are Asian and not as brilliant as the one in Bruce’s photo, but Pagenstecher (1902; in German) described at least two species from the Solomons that are characterized as mostly yellow on the underside, with outer red bands. The underside of both wings of Callidula [=Cleis] hypoleuca is described as predominantly golden yellow with a reddish/blackish distal band, and the yellow areas marked with distinct black spots. A narrow submarginal band of pearly-white spots is also described for several species. His list and description of species is incomplete so I can’t be certain, but I think this is very close. Callidulidae images on the internet are almost all of Asian species which look very similar to Bruce’s photo, except for coloration. As an example you can check out Callidula attenuata from Taiwan. Regards.
Karl
Wide, Flat, brown/grey bug with 2 antennae at front and six legs
December 16, 2009
Hello bugman,
I’ve been living in an apartment for 3 years and have just recently started seeing this bug about a month ago.
I’ve since seen 5 of them in my apartment all within the month.
They are big, wide, and sort of flat. They have 2 small antennae (about half the size of its body) pointing forward and six legs. I’ve seen it fly…and due to the large nature of the bug, it’s make a rather obvious buzzing sound.
Scared of Bugs
Westchester County, New York
Tree Stink Bug
Dear Scared of Bugs,
Though your photos are all quite blurry, this identification is easy. This is a harmless Tree Stink Bug or Rough Stink Bug in the genus Brochymena. This is the second letter we have received and are posting today regarding this genus. Tree Stink Bugs frequently enter home as the weather cools. They will hibernate and emerge in the spring, and they will not harm the home, its contents, or the human or animal inhabitants, though they are predators and they do feed on other insects.
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