Steatoda grossa?
Location: Western New York
October 11, 2011 11:07 pm
I found this spider in a web above my window. Looking at pics of Steatoda grossa, it seems to be a match. But I am asking a pro, to satisfy my own curiosity.
Signature: Tim from Fredonia, NY
Cobweb Spider
Hi Tim,
We believe this is one of the Cobweb Spiders in the family Theridiidae, but we cannot confirm that is is the False Widow, Steatoda grossa, which is pictured on BugGuide. The family also contains the notorious Widow Spiders in the genus Lactrodectus, but we feel confident that we can exclude them from the possibilities for your individual’s identity. We believe the strongest contenders are the members of the genus Theridion, also well represented on BugGuide. Perhaps one of our readers more skilled in spider identification will be able to provide something more definitive.
Scorpion with Babies
Location: Huachuca Mts., southern Arizona
October 11, 2011 2:22 pm
I took a photograph in southern Arizona a few years ago of a scorpion with babies on its back. Can you identify the species from this shot? Thanks.
Signature: Glenn McCrea
Arizona Bark Scorpion with Brood
Dear Glenn,
In our opinion, this is an Arizona Bark Scorpion, Centruroides sculpturatus. According to BugGuide, “‘sculpturatus’ describes the sculptured appearance of the tergites (dorsal plates)” and that is a distinguishing feature, however, in your photograph, the tergites are hidden by the substantial brood of young.
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Are these Lasius Flavus?
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
October 11, 2011 1:27 am
My wife noticed these ants flying around (not particularly well) in our basement. We pulled stuff away from the hole that’d been cut in the wall some time previously for access to find these ant coming out from under the pavement around these pipes. The photos were taken Oct 10, 2011. It was fairly cold but then record warm on the weekend, I wonder whether that has something to do with their emergence? We think tree roots are coming up under the house, we believe that we can actually see some around the pipe, would that be why they ended up where they were? The ones with wings were about 1cm in length and had an abdomen the same colour as the ones without wings.
Signature: Mark
Swarming Citronella Ants
Hi Mark,
We just posted a photo that we believe to be swarming Citronella Ants and they look very much like your ants. When ants swarm, they will often do so over a great portion of their range simultaneously, which lends credence to the possibility that you also have Citronella Ants. From our brief research, Citronella Ants are in the genus Lasius and the subgenus Acanthomyops according to BugGuide. According to BugGuide, Lasius flavus is in the subgenus Cautolasius. We don’t feel comfortable taking this to the species level, but we do believe the genus is correct. Perhaps someone with more knowledge on Ants can clarify the identification.
Citronella Ant Alate
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¶ Posted 11 October 2011 § Ants ‡ ° Do you know what kind of bug this is?
Location: Charlotte, NC
October 9, 2011 11:10 pm
Hi there,
This bug was outside my door yesterday. I live in Charlotte, NC. Any idea what it is?
Thanks,
Charlotte
Signature: Charlotte, NC
Glowworm
Hi Charlotte,
Had you turned off the lights, you might have been treated to seeing this Glowworm in the genus Phengodes glow, like this image from our archives.
Thank you so much! My friends thought it was a palmetto bug egg/larvae, etc. Whew. I am relieved!
Young Palmetto Bugs look just like adults, but smaller and without wings.
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Pest or Pedestrian: Black bug found walking on curtain rod
Location: Seattle WA, USA
October 10, 2011 12:09 pm
What species of insect is this? What I really want to know: Is this a pest I need to control, or a harmless individual that lost its way?
A few days ago, my cat heard this thing making some noise (I didn’t hear it) in the livingroom.
The cat and I looked up to watch the bug, which was perched was on a curtain rod, 7 feet (2.something meters) off the floor.
It didn’t run when I captured it. It may not have wings.
I took it outside, set it on a paper towel with a US quarter and took some pictures.
Then I set the paper towel on the back yard fence.
The bug was not in a hurry to leave.
I watched it just sit there, sunning itself for a couple of minutes.
I looked a few hours later and it had wondered off.
I tried to find it amongst the pictures on www.whatsthatbug.com, but I didn’t find a doubtless match.
-Jon
Signature: Jon
Rough Stink Bug
Hi Jon,
This is a Rough Stink Bug or Tree Stink Bug in the genus Brochymena. Many Stink Bugs seek shelter indoors in the fall when the weather cools so they can hibernate. This is probably true of the Rough Stink Bug, but it will not harm you or your house. You can read more about Rough Stink Bugs on BugGuide.
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Backyard swarm
Location: North New Jersey
October 10, 2011 8:49 am
Hi. I found these bugs pouring out of a hole in my backyard. There are at least two types. I think they are both ants, but could also be termites. (My next step is to see if I need to treat my house.) Thanks in advance.
Signature: Jim
Citronella Ant Swarm
Hi Jim,
This is a beautiful photo, but we haven’t the necessary skills to identify the ant species. Your photo contains both the winged reproductive alates and workers of the same species. They are not carpenter ants, so we don’t believe it is necessary to treat your house.
Thank you for the reply. I also sent the picture to Viking Pest Control who said they appear to be citronella ants, a “nuisance” and treatment not necessary unless inside the house. Whew!
jim padykula
Hi again Jim,
There are many questions about Citronella Ants on BugGuide, and all those appear to be in the genus Lasius and subgenus Acanthomyops. The common name refers to the smell the ants give off when smashed. The yellow color is also indicative of the genus Lasius according to BugGuide. Thanks for writing back with that information.
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¶ Posted 11 October 2011 § Ants ‡ ° CREEPY A**ED BUG OGLES CHEERLEADERS!
Location: North-east PA
October 10, 2011 11:08 pm
Monday, October 10th, 2011. Sunbury, PA, 6:30pm, Practice Field.
Fortunately our girls are made of sterner stuff because even I was a bit weirded out by this alien looking bug. He/she was rather large, bug-wise, about 1 1/2-2 inches long (not counting his/her veeerrry long legs). Its’ head was disproportionately small and narrow compared to its’ body. Hopefully the pics are clear enough to see what I mean. I thought maybe it was some kind of nectar bug until I saw some of the pics you have of hunter-types. It has a very long spear-looking ”tongue” but I couldn’t get a clear enough shot to see if it had pincers, too. It had wings but didn’t seem to care to fly, even when I coaxed it onto a pencil to move elsewhere. What on Earth is it?? I can’t find anything listed even with the odd ”razor-ridge” along its’ back.
Signature: Hannah Lewis
Wheel Bug
Hi Hannah,
The cheerleaders were wise to not try to pick up this Wheel Bug, because though they are not aggressive, they are predatory Assassin Bugs and they might bite if carelessly handled.
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