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Bug from Bartlett, IL
We found this bug on a tree in Bartlett, Illinois last August and have seen another few again this August. What is it? Great site; Thanks.
Jason Wilen
Hi Jason,
This female Pigeon Horntail, Tremex columba, has been photographed in the act of laying eggs. She uses her ovipositor to lay eggs inside th wood of dead or dying trees. The young are wood borers and they are preyed upon by another wasp relative, the Giant Ichneumon.
What’s this caterpillar?
Can anyone identify these caterpillars for me? Two different colourations of the same caterpillar. Found in southeastern Manitoba, Canada.
Dear Mysterious Writer with bilingual tax information,
We currently have an image of a Cimbex Sawfly Larva on our homepage, and in the past we have received images of both chartreuse and salmon colored individuals, but your photo is the first time both color variations were present in the same photograph. Though they look like caterpillars, they are actually in the order of insects that contains wasps, bees and ants.
any idea what kind of caterpillar this is and what it will turn into?
Thanks for any suggestions. Found this walking around in Ogunquit
Wayde
Hi Wayde,
This is not a Caterpillar. It is a Cimbex Sawfly Larva. Cimbex Sawflies belong to the same order as wasps, bees and ants.
What is this??
I live in western Washington about 45 miles from Canada and caught this insect at work flying around the construction site. I really don’t know what it is. I thought it might be some type of ichneumon. I have only seen this insect at work and nowhere else. One of my friends collect insects so I was going to as him but he’s not around right now. Any info would be great. Thanks,
Josh
Hi Josh,
This is a species of Horntail commonly called a Wood Wasp in the genus Urocerus. Now you can impress your friend when he returns. Update: Eric Eaton just provided us with the following species correction. “First, that female horntail wasp is a grand specimen of Urocerus californicus, not U. gigas. I’d love to have the specimen if the person can’t find the other interested party:-) I never saw one alive when I lived in Oregon, though they are apparently not uncommon….”
Unknown fliers
Hi Daniel,
Glad to hear that you’re up and running. I’ve taken a few shots of some flying insects that I’m unable to identify. You’re help is, as always, greatly appreciated. We found the first fly on the side of our pool. I’ve looked through your fly pages, and haven’t been able to find any matches to the first two fly pictures I’ve sent.
Thanks again!
Yvonne
Barrie, Ontario
Hi Yvonne,
Flies have just two wings. We are requesting Eric Eaton’s assistance with this Hymenopteran. Here is what Eric has to say: “The specimen in question is a sawfly, and it looks to be in the family Argidae, if the last antennal segment is very long, as it appears here. Argids include one recently-introduced species currently found ONLY in Ontario, and this may be it. Would like to have the submitter post it to Bugguide as well, if possible. Thank you. Eric”
Wellsville Critter
Good morning, I’m hoping these photos are adequate for you to tell what these critters are. Unfortunately our camera is kind of old for close-ups. They were found in Wellsville, New York located in the southwestern part of the state near the PA border. One of the guys was splitting wood that had been taken down due to it being a dead tree [possibly and Ash] and these were inside of it. They appear to have a long stinger at the end that they try to push out at foes. They have not been seen to fly but they do have wings. They are very pokey and don’t seem to have much energy at this point. The guys are concerned about getting stung and bringing them near their houses if they are serious threats to wood houses. Thanks for any information you can provide.
Kier Dirlam
Hi Kier,
These are Pigeon Horntails, a type of Wood Wasp. The female uses that stingerlike ovipositor to deposit eggs in dead wood. The larvae bore in the wood. The larvae are a favorite food of the Giant Ichneumon. Though Pigeon Horntails are related to wasps, they do not sting. They would chew their way out of the wood and fly off when metamorphosis was complete.
Cimbex in Quebec Canada
Hello.
Hi, we found this in Quebec; it’s a huge and beautiful fly no!
Philippe de France
Hi Philippe,
Your Cimbex Sawfly is beautiful. Thank you for resending it as we were unable to open your first attachment.
Cimbex Sawfly
Hi, found this huge Wasp/Hornet(We thought at the time) and took some photos of it. Was able to identify it as a Cimbex Sawfly because of your site so I thought I’d send you a few of them. Found Sunday, June 18/2006 at about 8:00pm. Great site,
Thanks.
Andy Kowalski
Hi Andy,
Thanks for sending in your image of a Cimbex Sawfly. The clubbed antennae are a distinguishing feature.
Help!
Hello,
Please identify this bug for us. It came in a shipment, alive, from Switzerland.
Mike J. Zimmer
Northbrook IL.
Hi Mike,
We believe this is a Wood Wasp.
unknown buggs
was hoping that you might be able to tell us what type of bug this is , it was photographed this summer in Atlin BC Canada and so far we have not been able to find anyone up here that can make an identification.
Thank you
John and Tracy Mackenzie
Whitehorse Yukon Canada
Hi John and Tracy,
What a great photo of a female Horntail Wood Wasp, Urocerus gigas flavicornis. She lays eggs in dead and dying trees with that fierce looking ovipositor.
Somky Horntail, Northwest Pacific Coast
We discovered what my son and I believe to be a Smoky Horntail in my Lacey (Olympia), WA home on 15 February, 2006. She is pictured in a Gerber baby food jar with a moist paper towel and a bit of honey. She is about to visit Mountain View Elementary School with my son Luke to share with his class. She is about 1 inch and was battered about by my cat, Oliver. I Googled your excellent site and thought that this my contribute to your collection. It seems that the Smokey variety of Horntail Wasps is less represented to the Pigeon. I referenced her in the *National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders (Audubon Society Field Guide) page 805, plate 477. Thank you for your service.
CJ
Hi CJ,
We are happy to post your letter and photo. The Smoky Horntails, genus Urocerus, are most commonly found in the western US and Canada especially where timber has been left on the ground. When Eric Eaton noticed this posting, he wrote in the following correction: “the horntail wasp is not a Urocerus, but is likely Xeris spectrum. A friend, who is an expert on the family, ID’d one for Bugguide recently, or I’d have never known, either. Eric” Eric’s comment then lead us to this site.
What is this thing?!
Dear Bugman,
During the summer of 2004, my wife and I took a snapshot of this strange bug crawling around in one of our planter boxes on the patio. It was about 3 to 3-1/2 inches long with a stinger-like tail. I have lived in Michigan practically all my life and never saw anything like it. However, just last August while attending an outdoor party, I came across another. My friend practically jumped 3 feet in the air as it flew around him! He thinks it was some kind of wasp. Is he correct? Thanks in advance for any info may have.
Jerry
Hi Jerry,
The Pigeon Horntail, Tremex columba, is a wasp relative that does not sting. That ovipositor is used to deposit eggs in trunks of trees where the grubs tunnel and feed.
