December 2012 - What's That Bug?

From the monthly archives: "December 2012"

Lacewing Larva

On December 31, 2012 · Category: Neuropterans: Lacewings, Antlions, and Owlflies · Add Comment

Subject: Weird bug.
Location: Texas
December 30, 2012 6:59 pm
Found this little guy on my sons binoculars. Grossed me out. I’ve never seen a bug like this. I asked friends and family if they’d ever seen a bug like this and they all said no. I would live to know what kind if bug was on my 6 yr olds binoculars. This was not in our house, thank goodness.
Signature: Becca

Lacewing Larva

Dear Becca,
This is the larva of a Lacewing, and it is considered a beneficial predator that can help control Aphids and other garden pests. We have personal knowledge that the bite of a Lacewing Larva, while not dangerous to humans, will result in an itchy annoyance for several days.

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Tick from Costa Rica

On December 31, 2012 · Category: Ticks · Add Comment

Subject: Bug stick on my leg returning from costa rica
Location: Guanacaste, Costa Rica
December 31, 2012 3:22 pm
I returned from costa rica yesterday, and that bug was stick hard to my leg.
Mesuring about half of a centimeter.
We did a lot of hiking in the guanacaste region. Just want to ensure that it is not dangerous.
Thanks a lot
Signature: email

Tick

This is a Tick. Ticks are blood suckers that are known to spread pathogens. Some Ticks are disease vectors like the Deer Ticks of North America that spread Lyme Disease. You might want to seek professional help if you experience any unusual symptoms.

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Pseudoscorpion from Canada

On December 31, 2012 · Category: Pseudoscorpions · Add Comment

Subject: Small bug in Canada
Location: Canada
December 31, 2012 2:45 pm
Hello,
I just spotted this bug crawling on my shirt (ugh). My shirt was just taken out of my closet. I’m located in Ontario, Canada where the temperatures are quite cold right now. Never seen a bug like this before, so am hoping you can help identify it. Sorry for the low-quality pictures…we took the bug off and it crawled onto bubble wrap.
Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide!
Signature: An

Pseudoscorpion

Dear An,
We just finished posting another Pseudoscorpion submission and you can read about this harmless and beneficial predator in that posting.

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Pseudoscorpion

On December 31, 2012 · Category: Pseudoscorpions · 4 Comments

Subject: Tiny with large pinchers/antannae
Location: Rhinelander, WI
December 30, 2012 10:24 pm
I found this on the wall in a cabin in northern Wisconsin. I was struck by the large pincer/antannae-like things in front. It was about 1-2mm minus the long things. Does anyone have any idea what it is? I don’t know much about bugs, but no one in my family had ever seen anything quite like it before. Thanks!
Signature: KO

Pseudoscorpion

Dear KO,
This is a harmless Pseudoscorpion. Pseudoscorpions are not considered Household Pests. They are generally outdoor creatures, but since they are so small, they are rarely noticed outside. Only when they enter homes do they become more visible. They can survive indoors where they feed on a variety of unwanted Household Pests like cockroaches and other undesirable intruders, so they can be considered beneficial. Unlike their namesakes, Pseudoscorpions do not possess venom and they pose no threat to humans, pets or household furnishings.

Thanks for taking the time to reply! Happy New Year!

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Early Instar Ruby Spotted Swallowtail Caterpillars from Mexico, we believe

On December 31, 2012 · Category: swallowtail caterpillars · Add Comment

Subject: Worms on trunk of citrus tree
Location: Central coast of Mexico
December 30, 2012 11:23 pm
These worms all line up next to eachother and stick together making a wide band around the trunk of my citrus trees. They move at night and eat leaves off the tree leaving the branches leafless. The pictures show small ones, but sometimes they’re as long as 2” or more.
Signature: Dobie

Ruby Spotted Swallowtail Caterpillars, possibly

Dear Dobie,
We believe these are early instar Ruby Spotted Swallowtail Caterpillars, Papilio anchisiades. The species is common in Mexico, and its caterpillars are feed on citrus and are social, most likely for protection. Butterflies of America has nice images of the life cycle of this lovely butterfly.

Hi Dan,
Yes, the first photo in the link shows them exactly the way they look here. The butterflies are very common here. I’ve seen lots of them, and also the tiger swallowtail. It’s nice to learn how the butterflies start out and what they change into. Fascinating. Thank you so much for your quick reply and your wonderful website!
Happy New Year,
dobie

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Unknown Robber Fly from South Africa

On December 31, 2012 · Category: Robber Flies · 2 Comments

Subject: what is this bug?
Location: St Lucia, Kwazulu Natal, East Coast, South Africa
December 31, 2012 12:36 pm
I found this on a walk through a butterfly santuary
Signature: any

Unknown Robber Fly

Dear any,
You submitted two nearly identical emails, and on the first you stated: “I found it inside a butterfly dome.” Between your two emails, we are concluding that this was an enclosed structure with butterflies, in which case this unknown Robber Fly might present a bit of a problem. Robber Flies are predators that take prey on the wing, and we suspect this individual might be preying upon butterflies in the enclosure. We haven’t been able to identify which species of Robber Fly this is, but hopefully we will eventually be able to provide a species.

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Bug of the Month January 2013: Sycamore Assassin Bug

On December 31, 2012 · Category: Uncategorized Tagged With: bug of the month · Add Comment

Subject: orange bug with black stripped legs
Location: spotsylvania virginia
December 31, 2012 10:52 am
Found on a window screen. Tried search but no luck.
Signature: barbara from virginia

Sycamore Assassin Bug

Hi Barbara,
This is a Sycamore Assassin Bug in the genus Pselliopus and since it is the second individual from the US that we received in the past two days, we suspect there are other Sycamore Assassin Bugs showing up in the area. The Sycamore Assassin Bug from Tennessee was found in the kitchen sink. You didn’t clarify if your individual was on the inside looking out or the outside looking in. According to BugGuide there are three eastern species and they look quite similar. We don’t feel too confident trying to identify your Sycamore Assassin Bug to the species level. BugGuide states: “Adults hibernate under rocks, bark, sometimes in groups” and there is no mention of them trying to hibernate in homes, but through the years, we have gotten enough reports of them being found indoors in the winter that we can make that assumption. Pselliopus barberi is found in Virginia and according to BugGuide, it “overwinter as adults.” Another eastern species is Pselliopus barberi and according to BugGuide, it is: “Dull orange, marked with black and white, especially legs and antennae (1). Pselliopus cinctus and Pselliopus barberi appear to be the two widespread species in the eastern United States. Dull-orange adults from this area are likely (?) cinctus, and bright orange ones are likely (?) barberi. This guide is being written somewhat provisionally at the species level.” Based on that information, we are guessing that your individual is most likely Pselliopus barberi. BugGuide also indicates: “Adults likely overwinter.” Since it is the last day of the year and the month, it is time to select a Bug of the Month for January, and since we have had two sightings in two days of Sycamore Assassin Bugs, we have decided to feature your submission as Bug of the Month for January 2013.

Thank you! He was inside. Stinky when I had to squish hIm. No others sited (yet).

Thanks for the clarification Barbara. This particular species of Assassin Bug did not pose a threat to you or your home, however, many Assassin Bugs deliver a painful bite if carelessly handled. We cannot recall any incidents of folks writing to us about being bitten by a Sycamore Assassin Bug.

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Cabbage Tree Emperor Moth Caterpillar

On December 30, 2012 · Category: Uncategorized Tagged With: Edible Insects: Tasty Morsels · Add Comment

Subject: Caterpillar
Location: Amboseli, Kenya
December 27, 2012 11:39 am
Hi,
Please can you help me identify this species. It’s a caterpillar found in East Africa and is about 3-4 inches long and about as thick as a man’s thumb.
Signature: curious conservationist

Cabbage Tree Emperor Moth Caterpillar

Dear curious conservationist,
This is the caterpillar of the Cabbage Tree Emperor Moth or just plain Emperor Moth, Bunaea alcinoe. You may verify our identification on the African Moths website. We learned from David Gracer, who runs Small Stock Foods, that they are edible.

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Lacewing Larva

Tick from Costa Rica

Pseudoscorpion from Canada

Pseudoscorpion

Early Instar Ruby Spotted Swallowtail Caterpillars from Mexico, we believe

Unknown Robber Fly from South Africa

Bug of the Month January 2013: Sycamore Assassin Bug

Cabbage Tree Emperor Moth Caterpillar

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