Sent a donation!
May 23, 2010
Dear WTB,
I identified “my bug” of interest,thank to your photos,and descriptions.Also I was looking it up,because I had a bit of insomnia last night,since a loved one is in the hospital ( gonna be fine) but anyway,after fulfilling all my bugelicious curiosity,I am not quite sleepy..MUCH better than a sleeping pill. Thanks!
OH,and my critter was a snake bug! Our little vineyard welcomes them!
Leslie in Penn Valley,Ca 95946
Hi Leslie,
We are happy the site was helpful and that things are well with your ailing relative. Thanks for your kind donation.
Tick like insect, green body, with red rear/underbelly, possibly holding blood.
May 23, 2010
I live in Florence, SC and it in the summer time. It was around 84 degrees F when I found them, Overcast Skies, barely any sun coming through the clouds. It rained the day before. I found the insect on my glass door and they were all huddled together. They were also scattered around the perimeter of the door frame. Raid worked, sadly i had to kill them because I didn’t know what they were and there are kids around my house and I didn’t want them hurt.
Jonathan Smith
Florence, SC
Florida Predatory Stink Bug Nymphs
Dear Jonathan,
These are nymphs of the Florida Predatory Stink Bug, Euthyrhynchus floridanus, which BugGuide reports to range as far north as Virginia, and as far west as Texas. The Florida Predatory Stink Bug, also called a Halloween Bug because of the coloration and timing of the adults in the fall, is an important predatory species, and BugGuide reports it to be: “Predatory on other insects, including caterpillars, beetle. Nymphs, and to some extent, adults, are gregarious, and may attack large prey in groups.”
Thanks for the quick answer. Now that I know what they are and have researched it, I can tell for future reference that they are in fact beneficial.
Is this a bed bug
May 23, 2010
I woke up this morning and wanted to clean my sheets. I tore off my bedding and when looking under the mattress I found this guy curled up. I thought he/she was dead but upon prodding he/she woke up. I placed him/her a glass and took this picture. I live in Brooklyn and I have had friends with bed bugs so I am curious if this is one. He/She doesn’t look like a bed bug because he/she isn’t that flat nor does it want to start sucking blood.
I searched the surrounding area all around the wood frame and cluttered parts of my room. I haven’t found any more guys yet.
A man in Brooklyn
Under my matress
Spider Beetle
Dear man,
While under the mattress is a good place to look for Bed Bugs, it is not a typical habitat for Spider Beetles, like the one in your photo, which typically infest stored foods. Perhaps you eat in bed and the crumbs accumulate.
Mama Spider
May 23, 2010
Hi Bugman, This giant spider was on my front porch one evening. My initial thought was “what an ugly, huge, lumpy, hairy spider.” I then realized part of her hugeness, lumpiness and hairiness was due to the fact that her body was COMPLETELY COVERED by baby spiders! I left her alone, realizing that she and her brood would be most helpful in controlling the local insects. Her body was about 1 1/2 inches long (not counting legs or baby spiders.) Any idea what kind she might be? Thanks for your help!
Friend to Spider Families
Gainesville, FL, USA
Carolina Wolf Spider with Spiderlings
Dear Friend,
This maternal behavior is distinctive to Wolf Spiders in the family Lycosidae. The orange chelicera are barely visible in your photo, and that distinguishing feature coupled with the large size indicates that this is the Carolina Wolf Spider, Hogna carolinensis, which BugGuide indicates is: “Considered to be the largest wolf spider in North America.“
sackens bee robber?
May 23, 2010
around beehives, 5/8th of an inch
Andrea
southern ohio
Mating Golden Backed Snipe Flies
Dear Andrea,
This is a gorgeous photo of mating Golden Backed Snipe Flies, Chrysopilus thoracicus.Golden Backed Snipe Flies were not in my Field Guide of Insects & Spiders , Closest picture I found was of the Sacken’s Bee Hunter.
This morning there were probably 30 flying about, I was hoping they were not honey bee predators since they were all in the general area of a hive & I have never noticed this insect before the hive was installed
I can research now that I know what they are
Thanks!
Andrea
what’s eating my greens?
May 22, 2010
It’s a long and slender beetle with a red head, sleek black body with white stripes. A pretty bug, really. Striking and bold. But should I kill them? I assume they’re eating my garden, along with those damned flea beetles. What to do?
Green Gardener
NW Washington DC
Mating Leaf Beetles
Dear Green Gardener,
These are Leaf Beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, and they appear to be mating, not eating. We believe we have correctly identified your beetles as Calligrapha californica based on images on BugGuide. BugGuide indicates “Larva feed on beggarticks (Bidens sp.) and possibly other plants” and that “The British Columbia Cranberry Growers Association considers Calligrapha californica beneficial, as it feeds on weeds in their cranberry bogs.“
What bug had made this?
May 23, 2010
I clicked this picture thinking it was a screw.. Then someone corrected me saying that its probably an insect which makes a cocoon out of twigs. Can you tell what it really is… ‘coz its definitely not a screw that I shot!
brinda
Muscat, Oman
Bagworm we believe
Hi Brinda,
The only conclusion we can draw is that this must be some species of Bagworm, a group of moths in the family Psychidae. Many North American species are represented on BugGuide. We decided to search online in an effort to be more specific with your individual. The closest we found is a Bagworm from Singapore with a bag construction similar to your example, but with an interesting twist. Some photos are on a Blog about Singapore (scroll about 3/4 way down) and one of the photos is also posted on Flickr. Bagworms begin constructing a bag when they are young caterpillars, adding to the bag as they grow. The bag acts as a means of shelter and protection and the caterpillar does not leave the bag, eventually pupating inside. The bag is constructed from silk and plant material, generally from the plant upon which the caterpillar feeds. Many female Bagworms are wingless and legless, and they never leave the shelter of the bag. The male seeks the female out when she is sexually mature and mates either inside the bag or in the entrance to the bag. Perhaps one of our readers will have better luck identifying the species for us.
Hey,
Thanks a bunch.. I did a bit of research myself on bagworms..but still a bit lost on which type is this one. Most of them are on leaves or branches, but this one was on a concrete block on the side of a road.
I’m going to try and dig a bit more on bagworms in Oman.
Thanks again!
Regards
brinda
Assasain bug?
May 23, 2010
There are several of these on my Lima bean plants. They do not try to escape when approached. I think one was chewing on a new bean pod. On pic is juvenile and one more mature.
Roamer
Orlando, FL
Immature Katydid
Dear Roamer,
Having Assassin Bugs on your bean plants would be beneficial since they are predators, but your insect is an herbivore, an immature Katydid. Katydids will eat leaves, and in our garden, they also eat rose petals. Katydids are generally not numerous enough to present a problem. Since you do not eat the leaves on the bean plants, and since loss of a few leaves will not negatively impact the yield of your plants, you probably do not need to be concerned.
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