Oddly large and long insect
Location: Troutdale, Oregon.
August 26, 2010 3:02 am
I was outside picking up after my children this evening. It was dark, and I noticed this oddly large and long insect, it seemed to be rather aggresive when I scooped him/her up to take a picture. It was crawling over a graveled area next to my lawn. (there is quite alot of grass and weeds growing through the gravel) I spent nearly two hours online trying to identify the critter with no success. I would be very interested to know what type of insect this is, as I have never before scene one. It was approximately 1 inch long, with large mandibles, and the tail section curved upwards when threatened, like you would see a scorpions tail do, along with the mandibles opening.
Thank you so much for your assistance.
Jason
Troutdale, Oregon
Devil's Coach Horse
Dear Jason,
Though it looks more like a larva, this Devil’s Coach Horse, Ocypus olens, a species of Rove Beetle, is actually a mature adult. It was introduced from Europe in the mid twentieth century. These are predators and we have read that they will eat snails and slugs.
3
¶ Posted 26 August 2010 § Beetles ‡ ° Moth that looks like a catfish
Location: Sarasota, FL
August 25, 2010 10:55 pm
This moth was just chillin on the door frame outside of my house this morning. He didn’t move. I couldn’t see his eyes. Very weird. I’ve never seen it before, so I posted it’s picture on facebook. No one could tell me either. Good luck!
Sarah Hutchinson
Mournful Sphinx
Hi Sarah,
We don’t know why we have such a difficult time remembering that this unmistakable looking moth is a Mournful Sphinx, Enyo lugubris. We have to look up its name each time a photo is submitted to us. Bill Oehlke’s website is the best place to search for Sphinx Moths in the family Sphingidae.
Our first sighting of the Great Swallowtail, I think
Location: Clearwater, Florida
August 25, 2010 6:39 pm
This butterfly visited our papaya flowers last week and posed so beautifully, I had to take its photo. At first I thought it was a Schaus butterfly but the book I looked into said no.
Linda from Organic Living
Giant Swallowtail
Hi Linda,
You have photographed the largest butterfly in North America, the Giant Swallowtail, Papolio cresphontes, which you may learn about on BugGuide. To get a better idea of the subtly beautiful markings on the Giant Swallowtail’s wings, see this BugGuide image.
What kind of Mantis is this guy?
Location: Tucson, Arizona
August 25, 2010 5:20 pm
Hey, I live in Arizona. It’s a mild high-90’s day in Tucson, and we’ve had lots of rain, and I came home to find this guy on my door. It doesn’t look exactly like any mantis I’ve seen before. Was only about 2 1/2 – 3 inches long.
Curious, Jonathan
California Mantis
Hi Jonathan,
We believe your mantis is a California Mantis, Stagomantis californica, and we believe it is an individual female because the wings are so underdeveloped and because of the shape of the abdomen. According to BugGuide there are: “Green, yellow, brown color phases. Abdomen has dark bands. Body form similar to other members of its genus.” You may compare your image to images on BugGuide, but there are no green specimens on the website at the stage of development of your individual.
buggies
Location: port orange, FL USA
August 25, 2010 4:21 pm
hello, i found 2 larva? maybe in my backyard, and i have no idea what they could be. they are light brown/ beige in color with black spots and have no visible mouth or eyes or any other hole for that matter. one end moves and has a spike-like thing on the tip. the other end is hard. i found them both underground, and they came up when i was doing some gardening, in the afternoon. i would love to know what they are and what they will become.
the green thumb
Tersa Sphinx Pupa
Dear the green thumb,
This is the pupa of the Tersa Sphinx, Xylophanes tersa, and you may compare your photo to an image posted to BugGuide and you may read additional information on the BugGuide information page.
Dolomedes scriptus or tenebrosus, maybe?
Location: Fairfield, Maine USA
August 23, 2010 12:23 pm
Dear Bugman,
I was heading fishing and found a colony or family of fishing spiders on the side of the dock. I think they were all the same type, but I could not be certain. The longest legged one was carrying an egg sac.
Thank you,
James R
Fishing Spider with Egg Sac
Hi James,
If we had to chose between the two species, we would guess that your Fishing Spider is Dolomedes scriptus based on this photo posted to BugGuide.
Fishing Spider
Hi Daniel,
Yes, that does look correct. Thanks a bunch and keep up the great work on the site!
James
¶ Posted 25 August 2010 § Spiders ‡ ° Hummingbird Moth
Location: Solsberry,Indiana
August 24, 2010 9:10 pm
Hi,
I thought you might like the these images. Pretty sure these are hummingbird moths though I’m not certain what type. These are fun to watch in the evening…beautiful.
Love your website!
Holly Sciscoe
Carolina Sphinx
Hi Holly,
This is a Sphinx Moth or Hawkmoth in the family Sphingidae, the members of which are frequently mistaken for hummingbirds. This is one of two species in the genus Manduca. We believe it is the Carolina Sphinx, Manduca sexta (see Bill Oehlke’s website), though it might be the Five Spotted Hawkmoth, Manduca quinquemaculata, also on Bill Oehlke’s website. Both species have caterpillars that feed on the leaves of tomato plants. Your photos are awesome and quite detailed action images.
Carolina Sphinx
White Ladybug?
Location: Michigan
August 25, 2010 10:18 am
I found this ladybug crawling on one of our kayaks in Michigan (not to worry, I moved it before I went out onto the water). I’ve never seen a white ladybug before, so I have to ask, what is it? Is is a species separate from red ladybugs, or some kind of albino insect?
(Also, I apologize if you receive multiple emails from me. I attempted to send this earlier, but the photograph may have been too large and it didn’t seem to send properly, so I cropped the image and tried again.)
Kevin
Ashy Gray Lady Beetle
Hi Kevin,
We believe this is an Ashy Gray Lady Beetle, Olla v-nigrum (See BugGuide), though we would not discount it being another species.
Correction: November 23, 2010
WE just received numerous corrections of Lady Beetle identifications including this Fifteen Spotted Lady Beetle, Anatis labiculata. The Discover Life website has some nice matching photos.
¶ Posted 25 August 2010 § Beetles ‡ ° 
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