Trying to Identify….
Location: Slidell Louisiana
March 31, 2011 8:15 pm
This cluster of black caterpillars was on my oak tree & I cant figure out what its name is. Any Help would be appreciated.
Signature: Thank You Karen
Buck Moth Caterpillars
Hi Karen,
Though your photo does not have much detail, we believe that based on the general appearance of the caterpillars, their communal feeding, and the host tree of Oak, that these are Buck Moth Caterpillars, Hemileuca maia, based on photos and information posted to BugGuide. Handle Buck Moth Caterpillars with caution as they are a stinging species.
Boxelder nymph?
Location: Hidalgo County, TX
March 31, 2011 5:01 pm
Found this guy and some others which were much smaller than it running across my backyard garden.
Photo taken 3/30/2011 at 6:21pm.
Searching around, the closest I can tell is that it might be a Boxelder bug, but the markings on the abdomen are a bit different. As it is not a fully mature adult, I’m not sure what it is, hence the supposition of it being a Boxelder Nymph.
Signature: Kevin Ramsey
Large Milkweed Bug Nymph
Hi Kevin,
Many immature True Bugs are difficult to distinguish from one another, but we agree that this is not a Boxelder Bug Nymph. We believe it is the nymph of a Large Milkweed Bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus. You can compare you image to this image on BugGuide.
What is this bug?
Location: New York City
March 30, 2011 8:30 pm
I have found two in my apartment in the past week crawling on the walls. I know this is certainly not a bed bug. It has a large back section with a lump of sorts. Dark brown to black. When killed it makes a cracking sound or small pop.
Signature: Daniel H
Might this be a Carpet Beetle or Spider Beetle?
Dear Daniel,
A properly exposed and carefully focused image of high resolution is very helpful when it comes to proper identification. The image you have supplied has none of those qualities, and if this image was submitted by one of our students of photography, that student would not receive a passing grade for the assignment. An exact identification is nearly impossible in this case. When the photos are lacking, often the information provided in an email can assist us in an identification. Many insects make unique sounds that can also be used toward an identification, but most bugs will crack or pop upon being smashed so that auditory description is not much help either. Since it is small and has been found indoors, we suspect this is most likely either a Carpet Beetle or a Spider Beetle and you may find some excellent images of both in our archives.
Dear Daniel-
Yes, upon further inspection it appears it is a spider beelte. I will try to take a better shot next time. Thanks you for taking time out to help me.
Daniel
Unknown Caterpillar
Location: Sarasota, Florida. (South West Florida)
March 30, 2011 1:10 pm
I was looking through some of my books on caterpillars but couldn’t find this one and also looked on your site but also didn’t come across it and would like to know what it is! It’s a brown/grey color with red spots along the sides. Found it in my backyard. Wasn’t on a plant, but when you pick it up it goes straight like a stick. Found it on 3/30/2011; Afternoon; Currently Humid and windy.
Signature: Shelby
Inchworm
Hi Shelby,
Your caterpillar is in the family Geometridae, and it is commonly called an Inchworm, Spanworm or Measuringworm because of its unusual manner of locomotion. It crawls forward on its six true legs and the loops the rear portion of its body forward with its two pairs of prolegs. Inchworms are also called Loopers. Most caterpillars have five pairs of prolegs, but Inchworms have only two which necessitates this unusual manner of locomotion. We will try to identify your species if we have time by browsing the hundreds of possibilities on BugGuide. Interestingly, we decided in the past few days that the featured Bug of the Month for April 2011 is the Inchworm, so your identification request is quite timely.
Red bug thing
Location: Austin, TX
March 30, 2011 12:56 pm
Can you please help me identify? We live in Austin, TX and these seem to be infesting the yard and wooded areas… clustered in large groups.
Signature: Sarah Warland
Boxelder Bug Nymph
Hi Sarah,
This is an immature Eastern Boxelder Bug nymph, Boisea trivittata. Adults and nymphs can become a nuisance because they often form large aggregations and they often enter homes in the fall where they hibernate until warm weather returns. They will not harm the home, but most folks do not want to share their dwellings with great quantities of insects. They feed upon the seeds of boxelder and other maples, so they also do not have a direct negative impact on the plants themselves. They are benign insects, but again, they are considered a nuisance since they can become quite plentiful. Depending upon your political affiliation, you may or may not find it amusing that they are also commonly called Democrat Bugs.
Cool! Thanks so much… we do seem to be infested but I am glad to know they are not harmful.
Much appreciated!!
What is this thing?
Location: Sarasota Florida
March 30, 2011 3:01 pm
I found my Calliandra haematocephala a.k.a. Dwarf Red Powder Puff covered with a ton of these unknown insects this afternoon. Help!!!!
Signature: Peter Sowka
Thorn Treehopper
Hi Peter,
We matched your photo to that of an immature Thorn Treehopper, Umbonia crassicornis, on BugGuide. Adults will have fully developed wings. BugGuide also provides some interesting information, including: “Both young and adults feed on the same trees. Many times both are found together in clusters on branches” and “The female actively tends her brood or colony, which can number from 15 to 50 individuals.”
2
A very big & gracious……….THANK U SO VERY MUCH
March 30, 2011 11:10 am
I’m an absolute virgin to the internet, but am very grateful to your site. I have identified that I have an infestation of the varied carpet beetle (NOT bed bugs as was my 1st thought). My QUESTION is: How do I deter and remove them from my home without KILLING or HARMING them in anyway? ….. Also ….. what outside habitat do the prefer, IF – I’m able to find them.? I do know & understand u r a small group of volunteers, that you have a lot of work to do for your site and u cant possibly read or reply to all the questions & queries sent to u. If u do happen to read this it would be most appreciated if u dont have the answers if can give me another web address where I can find my answers. Yours Truly & Utterly Grateful, from Shelley,frae SCOTLAND. U.K.
Signature: Shelley
Carpet Beetles
Hi Shelley,
Your complimentary email touched us and we want you to know that we do not frown upon “internet virgins” visiting our website. We are happy to hear you had a good experience. We have chosen a photo from our archives of Varied Carpet Beetles, Anthrenus verbasci, taken by Tina, to accompany your letter. This particular photo shows the adults in their preferred habitat, the garden. Adult Varied Carpet Beetles feed upon pollen, and were it not for the potentially destructive tendencies of the larvae, which feed upon organic fibers, they might be considered a beneficial species. Varied Carpet Beetles have adapted to living with humans, and they are one of the most commonly encountered species to be found in the home. Because the larvae may damage woolen rugs and other articles made of fur and feathers they are considered a household pest, but they also feed upon accumulated pet hair in the home. Adults are most commonly noticed on window sills. They need to get outside to feed upon pollen, and the adults will not damage the home. We would suggest a small whisk broom and dust pan for capturing the adults so that they may be released outdoors. Frequent vacuuming under beds and under couch cushions and similar locations will minimize the presence of the larvae and then reduce the numbers of adults you find indoors. Identification requests of both adult and larval Carpet Beetles have been among our most common queries this year. We seriously contemplated making the Carpet Beetle the Bug of the Month again this past winter. Instead, we have been regularly highlighting it in our relatively new featured section at the top of our home page.
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