Manitoba Blue Spotted Salamander
April 13, 2010
Finally I got some photos of our house guest – one of many who live in our sub-basement (covered in root cellar that they stay in during the winter because they do not truly hibernate). This is a rare/uncommon and shy (well okay supposedly!) salamander that not much is known about. We have seen a few, rescued a couple, this last one from some fresh redicrete. She is pretty friendly and likes her house – when it’s time for a new meal worm she comes out and stands up and looks at anyone coming in the room she stays in as if to say, “Hey servant food time for the beautiful Salamander over here”. Like all Sally’s she only eats live food and no you cannot fool her either.
Thought you’d enjoy another lovely critter for your AWESOME GREAT SUPER page!
Take care,
Shanyn Silinski
SE Manitoba
“The most important things in life are NOT things!”
Manitoba Blue Spotted Salamander
Hi Shanyn,
Thanks so much for sending us your photos and relating the poignant story of the rescue of this lovely Manitoba Blue Spotted Salamander. When we were determining the subtitle for our book, we insisted on using “things that crawl” as opposed to “insects and arthropods” as a definition for bugs. A Salamander isn’t really a bug, but it sure does crawl, and we started an amphibian page long ago to house our own photos of California Salamanders.
Manitoba Blue Spotted Salamander
Massive swarm
April 13, 2010
We were hiking the highest ridge in Friedrich Wilderness Park, just northwest of San Antonio, when we encountered a large swarm of small black insects covering the limestone rocks. This is the video I took of their swarming behavior: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALFe1ul5Qa4
This was in early January, but the weather was unseasonably warm, probably near 70 degrees F. It was late afternoon, and the trails were very muddy from recent rains. The altitude there is about 1200′.
The insects themselves were very small, maybe 1/8″ long. I couldn’t get any idea of their appearance until I zoomed in on the digital pictures I took–it should be Image 2 here.
I sent this same information to a local entomologist, but never got a reply 
John
Northwest of San Antonio, TX
Springtails
Hi John,
You had an encounter with Springtails, most likely in the genus Hypogastrura, which includes Snow Fleas and which can be viewed on BugGuide. Snow Fleas can be found on sunny days during the winter, often congregating on the surface of the snow. Entomologists are often quite busy with their jobs, but amateurs like us do this as a labor of love.
Springtails
Interesting Costa Rican Wasp Moths – Part 2
April 13, 2010
The Ctenuchid moths (Arctiidae: Ctenuchinae, if you ignore recent taxonomic revisions) are often referred to as Wasp Moths for their tendency to mimic wasps. This mimicry is not always obvious, but it certainly is in the case of Isanthrene crabroniformis. In fact, this female had me completely fooled when a photographed it and it was not until I was reviewing my photos that evening that I realized it was actually a moth. This individual was one of several I spotted at the Las Cruces Biological Station/Wilson Botanical Gardens, Costa Rica. They were quite large, with an estimated wingspan of about 40-50 mm. The species does not appear to be well documented, not unusual for a tropical species, and the published range is given as Panama and Colombia. I suppose Costa Rica could be added to that list, and I suspect that its actual range may extend to other countries as well. Regards.
Karl
Isanthrene crabroniformis
Hi Karl,
My, your photos of Costa Rican Arctiids are stunning. Thanks for doing the identification and sending us the photos.
Apartment Bug – Manhattan NYC
April 12, 2010
Hi Thanks for your help! I live in a newly renovated apartment in Manhattan, New York and keep coming across these bugs. (image attached). I am concerned that they might be ticks or bed bugs? I usually find them crawling the walls, but found a bunch in a light fixture. Any help identifying them or any risk they may pose? Thanks so much!
Bob from NYC
West Harlem, New York, NY
Spider Beetles
Hi Bob,
You have a sizable infestation of Spider Beetles, Gibbium aequinoctiale. You should check your stored foods as they often infest items in the pantry.
Small Floating Worms in My Warm Water Aquarium
April 13, 2010
Whats that bug please help…i have been an avid reader for at least 3 years now and have seen your both grown to what it is now…i live in Sierra Madre Ca near you if i recall in some posts…. ok to the point i have small worms in my warm water aquarium 82 – 83 degrees they are about quarter inch in length and do nothing but float around and wiggle…what are they?..and how can i get rid of them? …the tank is about 20 gallons and houses 3 algae eaters 1 peacock eel and 2 red crabs..i have another tank same size same temp. no worms only difference is the sub-straight in the tank w/ worms is sand ..please assist . P.S i have no image due to the size and resources to capture the image .. TY
Long time reader first time caller…Sean
Sierra Madre Ca
Unknown Aquarium Worms
Hi Sean,
Your aquarium is freshwater and we don’t know if it has plants. We also don’t know where the sand came from or if there are snails present. We also don’t know how long the tank has been established, when the worms first appeared, or if there have been any recent introductions to the aquarium. An aquarium is a closed system, and anything in the aquarium is introduced when things (including plants, animals, furnishings or water) are added by the aquarist, and sometimes organisms may be introduced because they are airborne. Worms are interesting creatures. They sometimes develop from encysted larvae like the Gordian Worm or Horsehair Worm. The North Dakota Department of Entomology website has a good explanation of this phenomenon. Some parasitic worms prey upon snails, and it is possible that your worms were introduced with snails. We don’t have a conclusive answer for you, but we will continue to research this topic.
We had some additional thoughts. You may want to collect a sample and try to have it identified. You can try Nathalie at Pasadena Tropical Fish on Colorado Boulevard. If that fails, the Natural History Museum in Exposition Park may be able to answer your questions. Since your email indicates that they are free-swimming, they may also be the larvae of some species of fly. They may also be Planaria. See the AquariumFish website for additional information.
Dinosaur grasshopper?
April 12, 2010
Hi WTB,
On my hiking trip to Eastern Samaria (north-east of Jerusalem, Israel) on April 9-10, 2010 I saw this large grasshopper nymph. It looks like something from a Spielberg movie with that ridge on its back.
Hoping you’ll help me identify it!
Ben
Eastern Samaria, Israel
Unknown Grasshopper
Hi again Ben,
Like your other unknown Grasshopper, we are going to contact Piotr Naskrecki for assistance.
Unknown Grasshopper
Unknown grasshopper from Israel
April 12, 2010
Hi WTB,
I saw lots of these grasshoppers on my hike to Eastern Samaria (north-east of Jerusalem, Israel) on April 9-10, 2010. I had no luck in finding a name for them. Both nymphs and adults have distinctive yellow and black markings on the inner thighs of the rear (large) pair of legs, and the adults have reddish hind wings. Otherwise they have excellent camoflage as rocks.
Ben
Eastern Samaria, Israel
Unknown Grasshopper
Hi Ben,
We are going to try to contact Piotr Naskrecki, an expert in Katydids, a related group of insects, to see if he recognizes this desert dwelling Grasshopper.
Unknown Grasshopper
Hi Daniel,
Thank you!
I know I sent lots of bug pictures, it was that kind of hike. Spring, everything is alive and active before it gets too hot here. I was hoping you’d have the time to post two or three of my submissions. I never expected you to post so many! So again, thank you! And thanks for the help in identification. I try to do the research before I send them, but I’m not always successful. There are a few websites that help, but no really comprehensive guide to Israeli or Middle-Eastern insects.
Ben
Unknown Grasshopper
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