Real Fear of Bugs
November 7, 2009
Hi WTB,
I am taking a General Biology II course at a university and part of our grade includes presenting an insect collection. I cannot understand why we even have to do it for many reasons. First, we have to go out and find and kill 35 species, from at least 10 different orders, and key out 17 different families. This is not an entomology course whatsoever, just a biology class that entails the study of evolution, and the different Domains and Kingdoms. Only 2 days out of a semester were even discussed about insects.
Can someone please tell me how anyone can stand insects and bugs? Or am I missing out on something here? I am scared of “bugs” in general because I have had too many frightening encounters with them crawling on me and yes, biting me. I’ve always told my husband that when I die, to please cremate me just because I hate bugs and do not want them around me even when I am dead.
So the Insect Collection, to me, is a waste of my time since I am killing what some believe are just co-habitants of our world; and, because after 10 weeks, I still don’t like them. I guess this is supposed to teach me to appreciate them, but the more photos I see of insects during my countless hours of trying to identify and classify them, the more I fear them. Perhaps I was killed by insects in my previous life, I don’t know. I just don’t get it.
And I know you’ll hate me for mentioning this part, but the one thing that I have learned from my project is how to kill them. Otherwise, what do you suggest for someone like me to truly overcome the fear of them? Are there any bugs that you do suggest killing? To me, it’s fair game, if a bug is inside my house, it’s a dead bug. I certainly hope that statement won’t “come back to bite me.”
Just Don’t Like Them
Southern Nevada
Midge
Dear Just Don’t Like Them,
We doubt that we would have any more luck trying to convince you of the virtues of insects than we did last night trying to convince our coworker Sharon the Speech instructor of the value and savoriness of eggplant as a culinary ingredient. Sharon dislikes eggplant and you dislike insects, period. As to the merits of the insect collection in your biology class, we hesitate to question the academic freedom of a fellow educator. We can say that it is far easier to teach taxonomy through an insect collection than through a bird collection. We do not hate you for your comment about killing, and we doubt that this activity will continue once the semester is completed. We don’t know how to help you overcome your fear, and we do not think your phobia warrants psychiatric attention provided it does not seriously affect your ability to function, which clearly by your letter it does not. In the end, while you may never develop any love for the insect kingdom, and while your fear may never dissipate, we hope that at least you will appreciate the necessary niche that insects fill in the subtle balance of the web of life on our planet. Good luck with your class and your collection. We suspect that you are probably at the top of your class when it comes to assessing the performance rates of your fellow students.
Fly With Green Eyes, Green Body
October 22, 2009
My friends and I do alot of macro pictures of bugs and came across this fly with large green eyes and a metallic green body. Can you tell us what it is?
Bob in Florida
Tampa Bay Area of Florida
Hover Fly
Hi Bob,
After unsuccessfully searching BugGuide, we were going to post your photo and enlist help from our readership, but one last ditch effort led us to Ornidia obesa, a species of Syrphid Fly, commonly called Flower Flies or Hover Flies. Seems this species has a somewhat dubious reputation. According to BugGuide: “It breeds in human latrines and other semiliquid wastes” and “It is known to carry bacteria of public health importance (Salmonella, Shigella and Mycobacterium). The species is also beneficial as the maggots can convert coffee-production waste products into useful protein sources for cattle feed.” We found reference that this species from the New World tropics has spread to the Old World Tropics as well.
Can you help me identify this bug?
October 20, 2009
Found and took a photo of this bug with long legs, wings and a pointy rear end. Can you please identify him for me? Thank you.
Alex Tosh
Presidio, San Francisco, CA
Crane Fly
Hi Alex,
This is a nice detailed image of a Crane Fly. They are harmless.
Fake Bumblebee?
October 19, 2009
On Saturday (October 17th) our local Audubon club came across a rabbitbrush in full bloom. There were a lot of bugs visiting the bush, including what we first assumed were lots of bumble bees. As we got closer it became obvious they weren’t bumblebees, and we were undecided if they were actually bees or flies.
Pam Wheeler
Saint George, Utah
Spiny Tachina Fly
Hi Pam,
Your fake bumblebee is actually a Tachinid Fly. Tachinid Flies are parasitic on other insects, and according to BugGuide, caterpillars are a common host. We are not certain of the exact species as there are many similar looking possibilities, including Adejeania vexatrix and Hystricia abrupta, though our top choice is the Spiny Tachina Fly, Paradejeania rutilioides. According to BugGuide, Spiny Tachina Fly: “Adults take nectar, especially from late blooming Asteraceae.
Larval host: the arctiid moth Hemihyalea edwardsii (at least in part of its range …)” The other insect in the one photo appears to be a Sand Wasp, probably in the subtribe Bembicina, though exact species identification may be impossible.
Sand Wasp and Spiny Tachina Fly
Daniel,
Thank you! I think our Audubon group will be very interested to learn what they were- even though we are mostly bird nerds 
Thanks!
Pam
suicidal tiny fly with spotted wings & sharp stinger
October 11, 2009
i spotted this on the bathroom sink. it looked like it had antlers instead of wings. upon closer inspection with the assist of a macro image i was surprised to see what appeared to be a sharp stinger. it stayed still for quite a while, then it suddenly hopped into the toilet and disappeared with an eventual flush. it was too late to save it. i hope it wasn’t some endangered species of a fly.
guilty for flushing it away
western north carolina
Flutter Fly
Dear guilty,
This is some species of Fruit Fly in the family Tephritiae. There are may species posted on BugGuide but we did not locate a match for your image. What you have mistaken for a stinger is the ovipositor of the female Fruit Fly.
Daniel:
The “unknown fruit fly” from western North Carolina is actually a “flutter fly” in the family Pallopteridae, closely allied to the true fruit flies. Not much is known about them because they are not of great economic importance.
Eric
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Posted 12 October 2009
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Bee looking fly.
October 12, 2009
Found this summer during August and during the day.
Jonathan Campos
Los Angeles, CA.
Hover Fly
Hi Jonathan,
This is a Flower Fly or Hover Fly in the family Syrphidae. We have matched it to the species Eristalinus taeniops by comparing your images to photos posted to BugGuide. The species is only listed in California according to BugGuide.
Hover Fly
Robber Fly
October 8, 2009
I believe this is a robber fly but would like to get your expert opinion. I have not seen one with green eyes.
m zapata
Flower Mound, Denton County, Texas
Hanging Thief
Dear m zapata,
Yes, this is a Robber Fly. We are nearly certain it is a Hanging Thief in the genus Diogmites. Though it does not look like an exact match, it does resemble Diogmites discolor which is pictured on BugGuide. We will check with Eric Eaton to see if he can identify the species. Your photos are stunning and this is an exquisite creature.
Hanging Thief
Update from Eric Eaton
Daniel:
No, I don’t know robber flies that well, but if it is not a species of Diogmites then it is certainly a closely-related genus.
Eric
Small orange and black bug sucking on nectar of goldenrod
October 6, 2009
Hi. I came across this bug at my home in Sayville, New York. There were many individuals sucking the nectar from some goldenrod flower heads. I have never seen this bug before. What is this?
Derek Rogers
Sayville, New York
March Flies
Hi Derek,
These are March Flies in the family Bibionidae. We believe they are Dilophus spinipes, a species represented on BugGuide with several images taken in New York a few days ago. Those specimens were also pictured feeding on yellow flowers. For some reason, we are unable to access any additional information on BugGuide this morning. March Flies often appear in a very small window of time, and they appear in great numbers. The infamous Love Bugs from the Southern States are a prime example.
March Fly
What are the larve all over the kitchen floor ?
October 5, 2009
Hi, about once every couple of months we get this spread of larve crawling all over the kitchen ceramic floor. They don’t seem to be coming from the pantry, but we have found the grub making their way into a bag or raisens in the pantry but not much more. The also seem to like to congregate near the bottom of our dirty broom ( do they like grease ?). What is their insect form ?
Geoff Brimhall
San Diego, CA
Maggots in the Kitchen
Hi Geoff,
These fly larvae are Maggots, and they feed on decomposing organic matter, perhaps in the kitchen garbage can. Try emptying the trash more often to see if this curbs your problem.
micro bugs living in house, stinging for 2 years!
October 3, 2009
Neighbor kid went to Florida. Kid brought back invisible stinging bugs (not bedbugs). Neighbor kid came to visit and brought her stuff and then we were both infested. They got rid of them with kerosene after a long struggle. I am afraid of using kerosene and gasoline in my house. OTC pesticides are ineffective. They only bite me and my one daughter.
No sleep in TN
Current TN came from Florida.
Scuttle Fly
Dear No sleep in TN,
In our humble opinion, you should not blame the neighbor kid for this situation. It looks to us like you have Biting Midges in the family Ceratopogonidae, which are also called Punkies or No-See-Ums because of their tiny size. Since they are so small, they can enter homes through the mesh in window and door screens. According to BugGuide, they are found near “salt and freshwater marshes, forests, edges of ponds and streams.” and “larvae develop in moist or wet sand, mud, and decaying vegetation of salt and freshwater marshes, ponds and streams.” They would not be breeding inside your home, so they are entering from the outside. BugGuide also indicates: “Many species, mostly in Culicoides, bite humans and can be very annoying.“ We will contact Eric Eaton to see if he concurs with our identification and our conclusions about the source of the problem. Tennessee is part of the normal range for Biting Midges known as No-See-Ums.
Scuttle Fly
UPDATE
addendum to micro bugs living in house, stinging for 2 years!
I took the shots with a 100X microscope, so the wasp looking insect is very tiny. It also has a larval form that is round and white with feelers and a pupa from which the black “wasp” hatches. All very tiny.
No sleep in TN
TN
Correction from Eric Eaton
Daniel:
Thanks to the outstanding close-up images, I can easily tell that the “no-see-ums” are actually non-biting flies in the family Phoridae (”scuttle flies“). The larvae breed in decaying organic matter. So, unless the neighbor kid brought spoiled food into the home, he is not to blame. Phorids can be abundant in just about any home. I have had them surviving on residue in the kitchen sink garbage disposal. Since they do not readily carry diseases, and they do not bite, I don’t pay much mind to them. Simply discarding whatever decaying matter they are infesting should end the problem immediately, or very quickly.
Eric
Black wasp / hornet / fly (?) with red paws
October 2, 2009
I’ve found this insect on the beach of Portmahomack (Scotland). It was there on a rock near the sea. I saved it from drowning in a little amount of water between the rocks in which the sea was washing in and out.
M
Portmahomack, Scotland
Heather Fly
Dear M,
About six weeks ago, we identified a very similar St. Mark’s Fly or March fly in the genus Biblio as the Heather Fly, Biblio pomonae, with the help of Karl who frequently contributes identifications to our site.
That’s him. Thanks!
I forgot to mention, but the picture was taken in august, indeed. In their peak season (as mentionned on that link you gave me).
Flying Ant or Fly
September 23, 2009
This little guy hangs around my computer and other places on my desk “washing his hands and feet”, “scratching his head” and staring at me all day long. He is not timid of me at all. I can put my finger in front of him and he will walk up onto it. He seems to be content sitting still for long periods of time, then abruptly he will scatter. He is very quick when he wants to be. He didn’t seem to like me taking his picture either. I have also seen him riding inside my truck on the rearview mirror when I go on road trips. What is he and what does he want?
Weirded Out In Florida
Panama City Beach, FL.. Northwest Florida Panhandle
Stilt Legged Fly
Dear Weirded Out,
WE believe this is a species of Long Legged Fly in the family Dolichopodidae, but sadly, we have been unable to find a species match on BugGuide. Long Legged Flies are predatory species that prey on small insects, so they are beneficial and will not harm you.
Eric Eaton Responds
Daniel:
No trouble, but I’m answering from a friend’s computer….The fly is a “stilt-legged fly,” family Micropezidae. Easy to get them confused with longlegged flies, family Dolichopodidae.
Eric
Update
BugGuide indicates this of Stilt Legged Flies: “Odd little flies, known for their displaying (?) behavior of walking around and lifting their prominently marked front legs. Abdomen attached to thorax by ‘wasp-waist’. Likely ant or wasp mimics. The posture of the forelegs may imitate ant and/or wasp antennae and provide them with some protection from predators.” Also, we believe it looks like it might be Compsobata univitta.
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Posted 27 September 2009
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