Wondering what this is?
Location: Bemidji, MN (Northern MN)
January 27, 2012 6:34 am
Hello,
My little 4 year old and I were trying to Google and identify this tonight. We were unsuccessfull so I’m writing to you for help. We took these pictures on 4/25/2011 at 10pm. It was outside our side door of the garage. We lived in the woods, thick with almost 40 year old red pines (planted as a tree farm, and then a couple homes were built within). Within a quarter mile is a small stream and wet land area. Hope this helps.
Signature: Thank you! Krissy H.
Predaceous Diving Beetle
Dear Krissy,
This is a Predaceous Diving Beetle, and as its name indicates, it is an aquatic insect, however, it is also capable of flight if its pond dries out, runs out of food, or it seeks a mate. It is in the family Dytiscidae (See BugGuide) and we cannot provide you with an exact species name, but perhaps Markikavana will write in with an identification. The predatory larvae of Predaceous Diving Beetles are sometimes called Water Tigers.
Daniel,
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it! I think I made a donation to your site the day you sent me this email, now I can’t find a receipt. Can you tell if I indeed made the donation, sometimes I sit down to do something and can finish it due to my 4 year old–he doesn’t like it when I’m on the phone or computer.
Thanks again!
Krissy Hughes
Thanks for your kind intentions Krissy. We will copy our webmaster who keeps track of website finances to see if he can verify the donation.
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Beatle of some sort?
Location: San Antonio, Tx
January 23, 2012 7:55 pm
I sell wood for fireplaces, bbqs, etc. Recently I split some mesquite to let dry out and there are a million of these guys everywhere. I just leave them be not knowing what they are. They seem harmless. They run extremely slow and sometimes will just sit still when I move the wood pile around like they are trying to blend in. just wondering what they could be as I have a 2 yr old curious little boy and don’t want him harmed in anyway if they are dangerous.
Signature: Thank you for your input, Mike
Mesquite Borers
Hi Mike,
You have Mesquite Borers, Placosternus difficilis, a native species that BugGuide reports from Arizona and Texas. Mesquite Borers are Longhorned Borer Beetles in the family Cerambycidae. The larvae are wood borers. You should advise your customers to keep their firewood outside until they are ready to use it or they might find their homes invaded during an emergence of the adults from the wood. Often warm indoor temperatures trigger an emergence in the home. Since this is a native species, transporting the firewood shouldn’t be a problem, but with many invasive, exotic borer insects showing up in North America, people are warned about transporting firewood as this helps to spread an invasion..
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Bed Bug or Carpet Beetle?
Location: Northest/MD
January 24, 2012 6:48 pm
Hi, I live in MD and started finding these little bugs in my carpet (never on my bed) in September. This is the lot I’ve collected since then, and never more than one at a time. I do have itching/biting symptoms mainly at night but sometimes during the day at work, but have not found any bugs, feces, or blood stains on any part of my bed or surrounding furniture, after checking for months now. Nor have I had any of the classic skin symptoms/reactions aside from the itching. So, I’d like to know exactly what I’m dealing with here. Appreciate any direction you can provide!
Signature: Cant Sleep Tight
Carpet Beetle and Larvae
Dear Cant Sleep Tight,
Try to get some rest. You do have Carpet Beetles and not Bed Bugs. While Carpet Beetles are considered household pests that will do damage to organic materials, they do not bite. The second individual from the left in your photo is an adult Carpet Beetle and the others are Larvae.
Bug found in apartment.
Location: Toronto, Ontario
January 24, 2012 4:44 pm
My girlfriend and I moved in to our apartment in east york ontario 3 months ago. Immediately we started noticing ants and after about 2 months started noticing few of these little guys. To me it looks like a weevil but I’d like to be sure. Also, do they bite?
Signature: Thanks, Toothbrush
Weevil
dear Toothbrush,
This is a Weevil and they do not bite. They do infest stored grain products. Try checking the rice in the pantry and we frequently get responses that they have infested stored bird seed.
Insect ID
Location: ???? but a sticker in plastic casing says Columbia
January 23, 2012 5:21 pm
Hi Bugman,
I teach a 4-6 Special Needs Class and have come across this insect that I would like to ID for my students. It is in an acrylic case. Can you help?
Body…..5 cm long…2.5 cm wide…1 cm thick
Color…..Black and Brown
Antenna…..10 cm long with segments (about 9)
Wings…..looks like 1 pair (hard to tell)
Feet look like they have 2 toe-like extensions
Thanks
Signature: D. Jimenez
Harlequin Beetle in Lucite
Dear D. Jimenez,
This is a Harlequin Beetle, Acrocinus longimanus, and it does range in Columbia as well as other places in Central and South America. They are much more impressive and beautiful alive.
Striped Beetle??
Location: North-East Goldfields, Western Australia
January 24, 2012 6:15 pm
Hi,
I’m currently working in the Goldfields of Western Australia. This is on a new mine development in a very remote location to the north east of the city of Kalgoorlie. I found this interesting specimen. I think its a beetle and a rather attractive one with its strips. Its currently summer time here, but we have had a fair bit of rain. Hope you can help me identify it!
Signature: Josh
possibly Rhytiphora macleayi from Australia
Dear Josh,
This strikingly beautiful beetle is a member of the family Cerambycidae, commonly called Longhorns, Longicorns or Bycids. Our initial search has not turned up a conclusive species identification. Insects from the more populous eastern parts of Australia are more available on the internet.
We continued to search after posting and stumbled upon the Silver Striped Beetle, Rhytiphora dallasi, on the Shell Picture Card website which states: “Card data: “This is another magnificent Longicorn – a native of Western Australia. It measures about 1 1/2 inches in length and has a distinctive silvery white body adorned with black lines. This beetle is only found during the warm months. Its grubs are borers in native timbers. Family:
Cerambycidae. ” Comments: Nothing appears to have been written on the biology of this species since publication of the Shell Picture Card series.” The Antennae of the specimen on Csiro or the pair on the Worldwide Cerambycidae PHoto Gallery don’t seem to match as they are not striped like your individual. The related Rhytiphora macleayi from the Agriculture of Western Australia website seems a better match.
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moth? with flash
Location: new zealand
January 24, 2012 4:45 pm
I found this specimen sitting quite still on the garden path at night. it was apparently not bothered by the camera flash.
Signature: greg
Other enquiries suggest that it’s a Huhu beetle: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/insects-overview/8/2/1
HuHu Beetle
Dear Greg,
We are happy to hear you self identified your HuHu Beetle, Prionoplus reticularis. We have at least one previous submission of a HuHu Beetle in our archives, and we are very happy to include your letter and gorgeous photo as well.
Help me figure this out! Small beetle? in Florida
Location: Central Florida
January 20, 2012 1:26 pm
I was bit by some kind of bug three times last night, and I think this is the culprit. I have seen this bug in my room several times before (live in a cheap apartment in central Florida) and whenever I do, I seem to wind up with a bug bite.
I’ve found these mostly in the edges or corners of my carpeted room, where the wall and floor meet. Today I found this one alive in my carpet – not okay. They blend in very well. I have seen them over time on my curtain, on the tile in my bathroom, and in the corners of walls where they meet. Please help me figure out what this is so I can GET RID OF THEM! Any tips on removal would be helpful! (I’m also posting another picture of a different bug from my room today)
Thanks for your help!
Signature: K
Carpet Beetle
Dear K,
All indications are that this is a Carpet Beetle in the family Dermestidae, a group that causes damage to museum specimens, household furnishings made of wool and other natural fibers, and infests stored food products. We cannot conclusively identify the species or genus, but we believe your individual resembles the genus Trogoderma pictured on BugGuide. Though they are considered household pests, we do not believe the bites you are getting are related to the Carpet Beetle sightings.
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