Beautiful Caterpillar
Location: North Carolina, USA
August 21, 2011 1:44 am
My two sons and I found this beautiful caterpillar last night. We like to find and photograph strange insects at night. I have tried to identify it with no luck. We hope you can help. We would love to see it on your great site. Thanks for any help you can offer.
Signature: Rick Thompson
Spun Glass Slug Moth Caterpillar
Hi Rick,
The Spun Glass Slug Moth Caterpillar, Isochaetes beutenmuelleri, also known by the ponderous common name Beutenmueller’s Slug Moth, is listed on BugGuide as being “uncommon” and it is also indicated that it feeds on “swamp oak.” Many Caterpillars in the Slug Moth family Limacodidae have stinging hairs and spines and they should be handled with extreme caution.
8
House Centipede
Location: Portland, OR
August 21, 2011 1:52 am
Heya,
I know this is a house centipede, but I am curious if I should avoid picking them up? I realize they are ”harmless” in the sense that their venom is very mild, but is it recommended to use a cup rather than hands to gently place them outside? Love the site, btw.
Signature: J
House Centipede
Hi J,
Thank you for submitting your question. Our favorite way to remove potentially stinging or biting insects from the home is printed in Daniel’s book, The Curious World of Bugs. Trap the creature in an inverted martini glass and then slip a postcard between the opening of the glass and the home surface. The creature can then be safely relocated. For years we have been claiming that House Centipedes are perfectly harmless, but we concede that they might bite if handled. More detrimental to the House Centipede would be losing some legs due to careless handling. The martini glass method ensures that both the House Centipede and the Bug Humanitarian (yes you were tagged because of your question) will remain safe.
1
Moth Buckskin colored with Magenta bars
Location: Gladstone, IL.
August 20, 2011 2:54 pm
Yesterday I saw this brightly colored moth in the grassy area near a lake that was made from an abandoned sand pit. The unusual color and antenna intrigued me. Thanks for your help today and in the past! I was only able to get one view.
Signature: Randy Anderson
Chickweed Geometer
Hi Randy,
This is a Diurnal Inchworm Moth in the family Geometridae and we have identified it as the Chickweed Geometer, Haematopis grataria, by using BugGuide as a resource. The plumose antennae identify your individual as a male.
Update from Randy
Chickweed Geometer Moth
Location: Gladstone, IL.
August 22, 2011 2:54 pm
I wanted to thank you for ID of the Chickweed Moth yesterday. Today I saw two more in the same area at Gladstone Lake. One had the under wings towards me and the other had his upper wings towards me.I think they were both males. Thanks again!
Signature: Randy Anderson
Chickweed Geometer Moth
Thanks for the update Randy. We have added this to the posting from yesterday.
2
Sphex nudus?
Location: Hawthorne, CA
August 20, 2011 6:02 pm
Hi,
I think, thanks to a hint that Eric Eaton posted on bugguide.net, that I have this properly identified as a Sphex nudus (Katydid wasp). Can you please confirm?
Signature: Thanks, Anna Carreon
Spider Wasp
Hi Anna,
Goodness, you have sent us a few tough identifications, and though we spent some time trying to research identities, we didn’t have much luck. We are not sure which comment attributed to Eric Eaton has caused you to believe this is a Katydid Wasp, but we are not certain the Katydid Wasp is found in California based on the BugGuide distribution map. There are similarities between your individual and the Katydid Wasp, and it is possible it is a similar looking relative that is not represented on BugGuide. We wish you had a photo that showed the face better. We believe this is most likely one of the Spider Wasps in the family Pompilidae, however, we were unable to find a match on BugGuide. These are the family characteristics that have influenced our opinion: “Typically dark colored with smoky or yellowish wings; a few are brightly colored. Slender with long and spiny legs, hind femora typically extending beyond tip of abdomen. Tibiae of rear legs have two prominent spines at apex (distal end, next to tarsi).” We will contact Eric Eaton to try to get his opinion.
Spider Wasp
Eric Eaton provides Spider Wasp identity
Daniel:
Your first instincts are correct. This is a spider wasp, Episyron coterminus posterus:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/146243/bgimage
Nice images, too.
Eric
Hi Daniel,
I’m sorry to have sent you tough identifications. You know, as I continued looking at distribution maps and the faces of the Katydid Wasps, I started to doubt my identifications. I figured I’d just wait to hear from you. Thanks very much. If you have a chance, will you please also thank Eric Eaton for me?
As I read more on this wasp, I’m surprised at how long it held still for me – almost 5 minutes. I really do have to think about getting a little better camera.
Anna
Wasp type creature in back yard
Location: Jackson, MS
August 20, 2011 11:59 am
I found two of these dead in our back patio. I have no idea where they are coming form or why they are dead, but I’m glad! If you need another picture, let me know.
Signature: Rebecca
What Killed the Cicada Killer???
Hi Rebecca,
Your wasp is a Cicada Killer, but we are very intrigued as to what might be causing these deaths on your patio. We have two theories, and we will begin with the more offensive one. Perhaps they are being poisoned by one of your neighbors. Cicada Killers are large and scary, though they are not aggressive. They build underground nests which the female provisions with paralyzed Cicadas to feed her brood. Many people are frightened by the nesting activity and they try to eliminate the wasps. We have also received a large number of reports of large Robber Flies this year. Robber Flies are predators that take prey on the wing. They have mouthparts adapted to sucking fluids from their prey, so they would not leave bite marks nor would they chew the prey. Perhaps these Cicada Killers are falling prey to a large Robber Fly.
What’s That Arachnid/What’s That Wasp
Location: Central Alabama
August 20, 2011 8:35 am
Dear Bugman:
It is August in Alabama and I feel like I live in the Amazon. It’s hot, humid, and all of the giant spiders and bugs have come out to play. I found this spider in the corner of my porch next to some type of wasp nest. Could you help me identify both? Thank you!
Signature: Southern Belle Besieged By Bugs
Fishing Spider and Paper Wasp Nest
Dear Southern Belle BBB,
What a crazy photo this is. The spider is a female Fishing Spider in the genus Dolomedes, and they are generally found not far from water. The wasps are Paper Wasps in the genus Polistes.
1
Yellow Insect
Location: Newton, New Jersey, weeping cherry tree
August 20, 2011 10:09 am
I am hoping you can identify this little guy. I found him on a weeping cherry tree in our yard, in northern New Jersey (mid August.) He seemed to be the only one there. When I first saw him he appeared to be stalking a small fly, so I am thinking he may be carnivorous?
Signature: Debbi
Assassin Bug Nymph
Hi Debbi,
Your suspicions are correct. This is a predatory Assassin Bug. In our opinion, it is a Sycamore Assassin Bug, most likely Pselliopus cinctus based on BugGuide photos.
Thanks, Daniel! I have been trying to find out what this is since I took the picture last week. I tried Googling “yellow bugs” but that got me … exactly nowhere! The tree he was on is also teaming with wasps, yellow jackets and a host of other winged critters, including hummingbirds. Amazing to me that nature would make this little guy so colorful – you’d think that bright color would make it attractive to birds.
Thanks again – great website you’ve got here.
Debbi
Identify beetle from Costa Rican jungle
Location: Caribbean lowland rainforest, Costa Rica
August 19, 2011 8:33 am
Hello,
I photographed this beetle in caribbean rainforest (La Selva) in Costa Rica. If anyone could identify it I would be most grateful!
Signature: Adrian Hepworth
Unknown Weevil
Hi Adrian,
This is some species of Weevil, though we have not been able to find a matching photo online. Weevils are sometimes called Snout Beetles or Bill Bugs because of the shape of their heads.
Many thanks Daniel – I had the same problem! Much appreciated anyway.
Adrian
Perhaps one of our readers will eventually provide an identification. Sometimes this even happens years later.
Karl provides an answer
October 27, 2011
Weevil from Costa Rica – August 19, 2011
Hi Daniel and Adrian:
I believe it is a Straight-snouted Weevil (Brentidae) in the sub-family Brentinae (tribe Arrhenodini). The general shape, color and pattern appear to be quite common Brentids globally, but I think I can narrow this down to one of two very closely related genera; Arrhenodes or Estenorhinus. Both have representative species in Central America but online photos are difficult to find. Based on the text description and illustrations found in the Electronica Biologia Centrali-Americana (see Figure 11), I am leaning towards E. guttata. The irregular black patches on the sides of the thorax are apparently diagnostic for the species. I can’t be certain but I believe that is getting pretty close. Regards. Karl
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