Are these Bed Bugs?
Sat, Jul 4, 2009 at 4:39 AM
I found some bugs in my bed a few months ago and concluded that they were bed-bugs. I found a lot of them under the matress, so I sprayed an insecticide to get rid of them.
They seem to be back, but much smaller now. In the photo, you can see one larger bug (which I guess is a bed-bug), and two smaller ones. Are these just young bed-bugs, or something else?
Tim
Paris, France
Bed Bugs
Hi Tim,
Sadly, your identification is correct. All three insects in your photo are Bed Bugs, and their immature status indicates you must have breeders nearby as well. Ordinary spray insecticide will not rid your place of Bed Bugs. You should seed professional assistance for the eradication of your infestation. If you rent a flat, inform the landlord. Bed Bugs often hide under the mattress, behind pictures, and between the baseboards and the wall. Consult BugGuide for more information on Bed Bugs. Since Bed Bugs feed on blood, they are most troublesome.
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Posted 04 July 2009
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Bedbugs
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What’s ON that bug? Ranatra w/ orange bumps
Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 3:12 PM
I recently tracked down the ID of this odd insect in a local pond as a Water Scorpion (Ranatra spp.), but all of the individuals I’ve seen so far are covered in strange, orange bumps that do not appear to be “normal” or common. Do you have any idea what these might be caused by? The pond is next to the building I work in and appears to be the result of dam work by the local beaver’s union. There is plenty of food for these guys with damsel flies, tadpoles in the thousands and other small, crunchy things. The other wildlife in the area does not appear to be suffering from any apparent disease or sicknesses and the vegetation around the pond appears to be thriving.
Eric Snyder
Issaquah, WA 98027
Water Scorpion with Phoretic Mites
Hi Eric,
Congratulations on identifying the Water Scorpion in the genus Ranatra. That is not an easy identification. The orange bumps are Aquatic Mites. The Aquatic Mites often use flying aquatic insects to get from one body of water to another, a behavior known a phoresy. Some time back when we posted an image of a ToeBiter with mites, we got this comment from a reader.
Previous Comment on similar posting: Mites on the toe-biter?
Hi Daniel and Lisa Anne,
About the email on the Toe Biter from Tom on (01/27/2007) who talks about having 12 red mites on his Toe Biter? I remember seeing mites on aquatic insects, looking suspicious, and so I looked it up, and it turns out that *all* of the more than 5,000 known species of aquatic mites (Hydracarina) are partly parasitic. When they are larvae, aquatic mites are parasitic on aquatic insects, but as adults the mites become free-swimming and predatory. Winged aquatic insects, such as the toe biters, fly around of course, and that way the mites are spread from one body of water to another. You can read a lot more interesting stuff about them at:
http://www.tolweb.org/Parasitengona
And at :
http://www.tolweb.org/Hydracarina
Best to you as always,
Susan J. Hewitt
western manitoba – beetles mating on columbine
Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 9:03 PM
Hello there. Could you help me identify these lovely bugs mating on some columbine in our Riding Mountain National Park official gardens. I took the photo just today – it’s July 1st.
Their lower backs seem to be silver or transparent.
Thank you so much for your time.
M.M.
Clear Lake, Manitoba – Riding Mountain National Park
Mating Twice Stabbed Stink Bugs
Dear M.M.,
These are not mating beetles, but mating Twice-Stabbed Stink Bugs, Cosmopepla lintneriana. According to BugGuide, it is “Formerly Cosmopepla bimaculata , and still listed that way by most guides.” BugGuide also indicates: “Adults suck plant juices from many different plants: thistles, mints, goldenrods, ragweeds, columbines.” The Columbine is our favorite flower, and we want to post your photo uncropped, but we are also cropping in closer to better showcase the Twice Stabbed Stink Bugs.
Twice Stabbed Stink Bugs Mating
unknown insect spotted in the flower bed
Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 4:47 PM
I snapped this photo of a strange insect in my flower bed. I have no idea what it is. This was the one and only time I’ve seen it. The paddle like front legs are interesting. You may have to zoom in a bit on the photo.
Mr. Rob
Eastern NC nearFayetteville
Ambush Bug
Dear Mr. Rob,
You have photographed a Jagged Ambush Bug in the genus Phymata. Ambush Bugs were originally in their own family, but they have recently been reclassified as Assassin Bugs in the family Reduviidae, and the Ambush Bugs subfamily Phymatinae. Ambush Bugs often wait on flowers in order to ambush and eat pollinating insects.
six legs, scorpion end, black & red/orange, walks like a walkingstick
Fri, Jun 26, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Hello!
This is my first submission of a picture to you, I think. Though I have used your site for years. Thanks! 
We live in West Lafayette, Indiana and we found this bug on June 26th, 2009. We took several pictures – do with them what you like. I found this bug crawling up the side of an interior door frame in our house. At first glance, I was sure it was a spider. Then I could only find six legs and two long antennae. I also thought of a scorpion as its rump went up in the air. The way it walked reminded me of a walkingstick or praying mantis. It was black and bright red/orange. We tried to take pictures of it inside, then finally took it outside and got a few shots.
Please, do you know what kind of bug this is?
Thanks! -Anne
Anne
West Lafayette, Indiana
Wheel Bug Nymph
Hi Anne,
This is an immature Wheel Bug and it is one of the Assassin Bugs. Most Assassin Bugs are beneficial predators, but they are also capable of biting painfully if mishandled.
Red and black what I think is a beetle eating a bumble bee
Sat, Jun 20, 2009 at 1:42 PM
I was outside working in my yard when I looked up on my awning and saw what I thought was a bumble bee holding a flower, but then I saw some liquid drop and I decided to look closer. When I did, I saw that it was a bunch of small red and black beetles eating the bumble bee. I was kind of shocked. I just moved to northern North Carolina and have seen some strange bugs, but these ones eating the bumble bee is the strangest. If you could, please tell me what this is.
Angelica
Reidsville, NC
Florida Predatory Stink Bugs eat Bumble Bee
Hi Angelica,
These are immature Florida Predatory Sting Bugs, Euthyrhynchus floridanus, sometimes called Halloween Bugs because of the black and orange coloration of the adults, which are winged. According to BugGuide, they are: “Predatory on other insects, including caterpillars, beetle. Nymphs, and to some extent, adults, are gregarious, and may attack large prey in groups.” Your photo nicely illustrates this. Despite what your photo illustrates, the Florida Predatory Stink Bug is a beneficial insect because of the caterpillars and beetles it consumes. We are guessing Bees, since they can easily fly away, are not commonly eaten.
Update: From Eric Eaton
Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:12:31 -0700 (PDT)
The predatory stink bugs appear to be scavenging the remains of a dead carpenter bee (it is missing both hind legs, so who can say for certain…). Many hemipterans, even plant-feeders, will scavenge dead insects on occasion.
Eric
Nuttall’s blister beetle and true bugs
Thu, Jun 18, 2009 at 6:33 AM
Hi Lisa Anne and Daniel, when I took this photo I was focused on the blister beetle. But I am now intrigued by the true bugs which I am unable to identify. Can you?
Thanks so much.
Dwaine
Pine Mtn, west of Casper, WY
P.S. Nuttall’s
Thu, Jun 18, 2009 at 6:58 AM
Sorry, I know better. They are on Golden Banner (Thermopsis rhombifolia).
Dwaine
Pine Mtn
Nuttail's Blister Beetle and unknown Plant Bug
Hi Dwaine,
Thanks so much for sending us your photo of Nuttail’s Blister Beetle. Lytta nuttalli. We believe the Hemipteran in the photo is a Plant Bug in the family Miridae. We looked through many photos on BugGuide, and we believe your bug most closely matches a posting of the genus Hadronema. Interestingly, there is a photo posted to BugGuide of a Plant Bug in the same subfamily, Orthotylinae, Aoplonema nigrum, that is associated with a Blister Beetle. We will contact Eric Eaton to see if he agrees with our identification. Perhaps the plant bugs gather the blistering agent, cantharidin, as a defense mechanism.
Update: from Eric Eaton
Daniel:
The swamp milkweed beetle ID is right on. I don’t have the time at the moment to research the plant bug beyond family level, and that is also correct (Miridae).
Eric
Colorful orange bug found in Tennessee
Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 9:12 AM
Hi there. I just found your fantastic website. I love it! I dug out this old photo of a bug I saw when walking on a mountain Trail in Tennessee one summer several years back. This bug was about an inch and a half long, moved very slowly and so bright orange that I could not miss it. What do you think?
MB, Butler, PA
Tennessee Mountains
Freshly Molted Wheel Bug
Hi MB,
We are certain that this is an Assassin Bug, and are nearly certain that it is a newly metamorphosed Wheel Bug, Arilus cristatus. When Wheel Bugs first metamorphose into adults, they are orange, but as the exoskeleton hardens, it darkens to dark gray or black. We found a matching image on BugGuide to support our identification.
Brightly Colored Beetle?
Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 5:43 PM
This past weekend was warm and sunny, so I decided to hang a comforter out to dry on our back porch railing. Musch to my suprise, later that day I discovered 20 or so bright colored bugs congregating on my comforter! They were crawling around in a small area and would stay very close to one another regardless of my probing and prodding. Later in the day, they dissappered and I’ve not seen them since! What were my mysterious visitors??
Curious, Glen Allen, VA
Glen Allen, VA
Florida Predatory Stink Bug Nymphs
Dear Curious,
We have just returned from a week in Ohio visiting family, and we have volumes of email to address. We plan to just skip around and select subject lines that catch our attention. Since we also have a neglected garden and some Euonymus, Golden Chain Tree and Iris from Mom’s garden to plant , we decided to only post one email to let our readership know that we are back. Your subject line caught our attention. Your photo of Florida Predatory Stink Bug nymphs, Euthyrhynchus floridanus, will be our only posting until much later. We love your photograph with the strong directional lighting. When Florida Predatory Stink Bugs first hatch, they stick together, but they will eventually become solitary hunters that are quite beneficial in the garden since they feed on caterpillars and beetles. This species is also sometimes known as the Halloween Bug, according to BugGuide, because of the adult black and orange coloration. We can’t help but wonder what the other side of your comforter looks like and if it is a family heirloom.
Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 8:00 AM
Thanks so much for your response! I’m glad to hear that these bugs are beneficial, and was facinated learn of their social qualities. I’ll keep an eye out for these when they ultimately mature to their black and orange adult forms!
That comforter was actually a gift from my Mom some years ago and it has held up for 15 years or so. Definately not an heirloom, but maybe it will be someday!
Exotic looking insect
Tue, Jun 2, 2009 at 11:45 AM
I saw these in my backyard and have no idea what they are. I am sending this pic because describing them would not give a clear picture as to what they are.
Eric
Pennsylvania
Wheel Bug Hatchlings
Hello Eric,
We just posted a letter and photo of a Wheel Bug nymph, and we mentioned that we often get sightings of Wheel Bug hatchlings in the spring. Hours later, your photo of Wheel Bug hatchlings arrived. Wheel Bugs are a species of Assassin Bugs and they are beneficial predators in the yard, but they can bite if provoked. Hatchling Wheel Bugs are often described as antlike or spiderlike, and they look very different from the winged adult with the coglike structure of the thorax which resembles a wheel.
In Georgia – Black with Red Back
Mon, Jun 1, 2009 at 5:35 PM
I have never seen this insect here in Georgia before. Image attached.
Thanks.
AJS
Atlanta, Georgia
Wheel Bug Nymph
Dear AJS,
This is an immature Wheel Bug, one of the Assassin Bugs. In the spring, we often get identification requests for hatchling Wheel Bugs which resemble ants and stay in a group, and beginning in mid summer, photos of adult Wheel Bugs will begin to appear in our mail. Your photo is of an older nymph that has ventured from its siblings. Wheel Bugs can bite if provoked, and the bite is painful, but they are advantageous predators.
Unidentified fly (?) in AZ
Fri, May 22, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Found this evening while pruning hybrid Chilean mesquite; overall length is ~16mm. Compared with images from your website, but could not find any matches. Any idea what it might be?
AJ
Phoenix, AZ
Metallic Wood Boring Beetle
Hi AJ,
This isn’t a fly, which might explain your difficulty with the identification. It is a Metallic Wood Boring Beetle in the family Buprestidae. We believe it is in the genus Chrysobothris. BugGuide pictures a group from this genus known as the femorata species group, and there is a photo from Arizona that looks quite close to your specimen. We are not sure if Eric Eaton will be able to respond to us at the moment, but we will contact him for his opinion. The second insect in your first photo is an immature Assassin Bug, probably in the genus Zelus.
Metallic Wood Boring Beetle
Daniel:
I don’t even know if that buprestid is a Chrysobothris. I’ll try and get folks on Entomo-l listserv to respond to you, but it is the holiday weekend, of course….
Eric
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