(Never seen one like this)
Location: Charlottesville, VA
July 24, 2010 8:08 pm
Hello Bugman,
The bug seen in the picture below was seen while going for a hike on the Ragged Mountain trail in Charlottesville, VA. It was about 3-4 inches long, and was perched on a stick above the water.It did not move while I observed it, so I am not sure if it emerged from the water or how long it had been there. I go hiking in this area and in Shenandoah quite a bit, and while I have seen some odd insects, I have never seen one quite like this (if it even is an insect). Please enlighten me as to the nature of this strange beast. Thank you for your time, and please keep up this ”labor of love” for as long as you are able, it truly is an invaluable service.
Peter Oliver
Crayfish: Simulacra or the Real McCoy???
Hi Peter,
Our co-worker Amy told us to expect your email. This is a Crayfish, a freshwater crustacean that goes by some other local names, including Crawfish, Crawdad, and Clawfish, but our real question is whether it is a real dead Crayfish left behind by a fisherman, or perhaps a Crayfish Fishing Lure made of of rubber, which is our first choice. Crayfish are eagerly eaten by big fish like Largemouth Bass, and we suspect lures are readily available in shops catering to the needs of fishermen.
Ah, I see! No wonder it looks like a prop left over from the first Alien movie; I had a hunch it was an unnatural critter. Thanks for getting back to me so quickly, I think we met at Amy’s wedding but the whole trip is kind of blur. I appreciate your input, and will share it with my fellow hikers who were also puzzled by its presence. Thanks again!
Peter
Mantispid
Location: East Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey
July 26, 2010 8:21 am
Hi guys…hope all is well. I thought you might enjoy this mantispid I had at my mercury vapor light in East Brunswick New Jersey (June 23, 2010). It is Climaciella brunnea. really an awesome insect. It is about 3\4” long and flies very well (discovered after it escaped in my office and immediately flew to the ceiling out of reach). If ever there was an insect that could be used for a sci-fi flick this wasp mantisfly is it! Enjoy, Dave
Dave Moskowitz
www.bugaddiction.com
Mantispid
Hi Dave,
Nice to hear from you again. Also, many thanks for identifying your Mantispid to the species level.
Mantispid
WTBettlebug?
Location: South-central PA
July 26, 2010 8:31 am
I found this beetle? inside my house late at night, 7-25-2010. I live in a rural area with many trees and a stream. He is at least 30mm, mostly brown and has points off body, right behind the head. There are little ”feelers” around the mouth. Clear wingtips are sticking out at the end. I thank you for taking the time to look at my request.
Bethanne Schott
Brown Prionid
Hi Bethanne,
Your beetle is a Brown Prionid, Orthosoma brunneum, and it is found in the Eastern portion of North America. BugGuide reports is as far west as Texas and indicates it “Breeds in poles, roots(?) in contact with wet ground.“
Unknown Agressive bug
Location: So Cal Inland Area
July 26, 2010 12:56 am
While working security at a medical bldg I came across an unknown bug. It was tan/brown in color, body long-thin about 2 inchs. It had 6 legs about 1-1/2 inch long, and 2 feelers about 1-1/2 inch long (about twice as thick as the legs). It moved rather quickly. It stopped in a dark shadow where I took the picture using my cell camera and a flashlight (Sorry bad photo). As soon as I turned on the flashlight it ran fast in the direction of my feet. I followed it for a short time. When it came into contact with other bugs (2 cockroaches, and 1 blackwidow) it would atack and kill them, then move on. Very agressive, a I’ve never seen it before. Best described as a very large ant looking type.
Robert
Solpugid
Insect or Arachnid or Scorpion?
Location: Fort Collins, CO
July 26, 2010 2:33 am
Hey bugman,
I live in Fort Collins, Colorado, and one summer day, this odd bug came crawling at a rather quick speed across my living room carpet. I am beyond curious to know what kind of creature it is, and how/why I have not seen one before or since. It’s about an inch and a half long, was very fast an aggressive when captured, and has eight legs…very odd indeed. What is it and what else is there to know about it?
Andy in CO
Solpugid
Dear Robert and Andy,
You have both submitted nice descriptive letters describing the behavior of a Sun Spider or Wind Scorpion in the order Solifugae. Older texts refer to them as Solpugids, and newer texts use the more taxonomically accurate name Solifugid. These are predatory arachnids that do not possess venom, unlike either spiders or scorpions, other arachnids to which they are often compared. We probably have over fifty letters with images of Solpugids that we have received over the years posted to our site. You can read more about Solpugids on our site as well as on BugGuide. Since both of your letters arrived the same day and they are adjacent in our email box, we are posting them together.
3
Unknown Gorgeous Butterfly
Location: Eastern Ohio
July 25, 2010 10:10 pm
Yet another beauty found out on the trails in Eastern Ohio. Its about 3-3.5 inches wide, and as you can see has amazing color! An ID would be superb!
Knaet
Tiger Swallowtail
Ed. Note: The following email arrived about five minutes after the first.
Tiger Swallowtail?
Location: Eastern Ohio
July 25, 2010 10:15 pm
Here are two excellent photos of what I believe is a Tiger Swallowtail, as identified by WTB. Verify for me, oh great bug identifiers!
Knaet
Tiger Swallowail
Hi Knaet,
The butterfly images attached to both of your emails are Tiger Swallowtails. The individual in the first email appears to be puddling at the site of some moist soil. We are uncertain if the second set of images is of the same specimen, which you correctly identified in about five minutes, or if you thought there were two different species of butterflies. We suspect the former, in which case you should be congratulated on the proper identification.
Big Bug in Malibu!
Location: Malibu California, in the hills.
July 25, 2010 4:46 pm
Hello, we were at the top of Latigo Canyon in Malibu and were able to get this shot of a rather large bug. It flew to a flower, presumably for nectar and I was able to get it as it flew away. The body alone was 2.5 to 3 inches long, huge with the trailing legs and antenna. Thanks for any info!
Richard
Tarantula Hawk
Hi Richard,
What a beautiful image of a Tarantula Hawk leaving a stand of Matilija Poppies. Matilija Poppies are magnets for pollinating insects, and Tarantula Hawks are frequently seen on flowers, especially Milkweed. Tarantula Hawks are probably North America’s biggest wasps, and they are Spider Wasps in the family Pompilidae. As the common name implies, female Tarantula Hawks hunt and paralyze Tarantulas and Trapdoor Spiders to feed to their young. Your Tarantula Hawk is most likely in the genus Pepsis (See BugGuide).
Tarantula Hawk
July 25, 2010
We’ve been Bitten …
… but we are not sure by what. Last night, after returning from the movies, we laid down on the couch before crawling into bed. About 12:30 AM this morning, we awoke to an itchy hand, so we doused it with Witch Hazel. Today it is a bit swollen and tender. It also feels warmer than the other hand. At first we suspected Mosquito Bite, and then Flea Bite, but now we are suspecting Spider Bite. About 13 years ago, a suspected Spider Bite on the foot put us in the hospital for a few days. If the hand doesn’t improve tomorrow, we are paying a visit to our General Practitioner. Hopefully, no drastic treatment will be required.
Update
July 26, 2010: 6 A.M.
Last night, we applied a poultice of baking soda and water with a splash of apple cider vinegar on the site of the bite before going to bed. The hand is still a bit swollen, but at least it isn’t any worse. Also, it doesn’t feel quite as warm. We have several meetings this morning, and after that, we will decide if a visit to the GP is necessary.
Update
July 26, 2010 6:49 PM
We have been prescribed an antibiotic for the presumed Spider Bite.
Update
July 27, 2010 7:13 AM
At Dr. W’s advice, we have been soaking our hand in warm water with Epson Salts. The swelling is going down and it appears we are on the road to a speedy recovery.
Green thing eating a fly?
Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
July 25, 2010 4:21 pm
Saw this bug on a walk today. Looks like it’s eating a fly. It’s summer and I live in Ontario Canada.
Brittany
Ambush Bug eats Flesh Fly
Hi Brittany,
My, this is a beautiful photograph of an Ambush Bug eating a Flesh Fly. Ambush Bugs in the subfamily Phumatinae (See BugGuide) have recently been downgraded from having their own family status to being considered a subfamily of the Assassin Bugs. Ambush Bugs wait on flowers to ambush their prey, often insects that pollinate the flowers. The fly in your photograph looks like a Flesh Fly in the family Sarcophagidae. Our own Mt. Washington, Los Angeles offices have recently been host to Flesh Flies which seem to enter when the doors are open. We find several indoors every week. Flesh Flies maggots feed on rotted meat, be it animal carcasses or putrefied meat from the market. Adults feed on sweet fluids including nectar (hence the ambush on the blossom), sap and fruit juice. See BugGuide for more information.
I like This
