Spider like ants with orange abdomens
April 27, 2010
Hi, Im sorry if this email was sent twice, I’m not sure if the first sent, my pc is acting up. Anyway, I took these pics in April of 2010, these ants were found on a small willow tree in my yard. They have been more or less in the same spot, around a honey comb looking structure on the tree for several days. At first I thought they were spiders, untill I noticed only 6 legs instead of 8.
Chris M
North East Texas, west of Fort Worth
Wheel Bug Hatchlings
Hi Chris,
Each spring we get numerous images of Wheel Bug hatchlings, but your photos might be the best ever. The Wheel Bug is North America’s largest Assassin Bug.
Wheel Bug Hatchlings
Daniel Marlos,
Thank you very much, not only for sharing your information and replying so quickly, but also for your complement on my photos. I actually took those pics on a cheap 80-90 dollar digital camera.
I take many pictures of insects that I have never seen before now that I live in Texas. And now that I found your site, I’m sure I’ll be sending more.
Thank you once again.
Chris M
Hi again Chris,
We often tell our photography students, that though it is great to have wonderful equipment and state of the art technology, it is far more important to be a talented and aware photographer. We look forward to getting future submissions, but keep post-production manipulation to a minimum.
¶ Posted 28 April 2010 § ‡ ° Preying Mantis
April 26, 2010
It’s becoming spring time around here in Missouri USA. I was coming back to my bedroom when I saw this little guy on my computer monitor. I think it’s a preying mantis but can’t tell forsure. Its about as big as a dime. We have him in a glass at the moment. He tried camaflodging himself with the leaf decorations on the glass. Took a few for me to get a decent picture as it moved a lot. Not fast though.
Peaches
Kansas CIty Missouri
Immature Assassin Bug
Hi Peaches,
There are several different insects that are frequently mistaken for Preying Mantids, and your immature Assassin Bug is one of them. We believe your individual is an Assassin Bug in the genus Zelus. Other insects frequently mistaken for Preying Mantids are Mantisflies and Water Scorpions.
¶ Posted 26 April 2010 § ‡ ° What kind of bug is this?
April 21, 2010
This bug is from a neighbor. It measures about one inch in length. Through handling it has lost some body parts. Date of bugs death is April 21, 2010.
Daryl
Southeast South Carolina
Assassin Bug
Dear Daryl,
This is an Assassin Bug and we have identified it on BugGuide as Sirthenea carinata. BugGuide indicates it is “Predatory on other insects, including mole crickets” and it “Allegedly takes prey underground. Apparently comes to lights in late summer/fall.“ We suspect this poor Assassin Bug did not die of natural causes, and we are tagging it as unnecessary carnage. Assassin Bugs may bite if they are handled carelessly, but only a few species suck blood from mammals, and this is not one of them.
Assassin Bug
Mantid? Stick insect?
April 19, 2010
Hello again,
I’m sorry to send these in again, but this guy continues to puzzle me with his strange shape and patterning. The closest thing I found to it was a juvenile walkingstick, but I’ve never seen an adult walkingstick anywhere around my house, and I’ve seen more than a few of these. One of them (not this one) waved his front legs at me (like a mantis?) when I bothered him trying to get a picture a few years ago.
Stephen C
North Carolina
Assassin Bug Nymph
Assassin Bug Nymph
Thank you very much! I would never have guessed that! Funnily enough, just a moment ago I saw him (or one like him), apparently advanced to a later state of growth, looking much more like an assassin bug with wings and coloring and whatnot. Unfortunately the lighting wasn’t right for a good shot, but I did get a few pics. A very handsome insect.
Assassin Bug
Hi again Stephen,
Our original answer to you was quite brief because we feebly attempt to answer as many letters as possible, and some just get names as responses. Since you took the time to send a followup report, we have pieced together your emails and posted what we believe to be Zelus Assassin Bugs.
¶ Posted 21 April 2010 § ‡ ° What is this bug?
April 5, 2010
I discovered this creature on my bed. I originially thought it was a tick or a bed bug, but it seemed too large and also has six legs. It is dark brown with black spots outlining its body. It seems to move slowly, as it remained in the same place all day. What is this beast?? Help!
sam&elm
South Alabama
Immature Bloodsucking Conenose Bug
Dear sam&elm,
You have a bit of a problem. This is an immature Bloodsucking Conenose Bug or Kissing Bug in the genus Triatoma, and you do not want to get bitten as they are a known vector for Chagas disease. You may read more about the Bloodsucking Conenose Bugs on BugGuide.
¶ Posted 05 April 2010 § ‡ ° Black insect with raised, red sides; four ridges on top of abdomen
March 19, 2010
Last spring I found this insect while out exploring and I am curious as to what it is. I tried my insect field guide but could not identify it. It was found on a rock midmorning in April in Riley County, Kansas.
Danielle
Riley County, Kansas
Black Corsair
Hi Danielle,
This is an immature True Bug, and guide books rarely depict immature specimens in photographs. We wish your photograph showed the face of the bug. At first we thought this was an Assassin Bug, possibly an immature Bee Assassin in the genus Apiomeris as depicted on BugGuide, but its legs are rather hefty, so we would not discount that it might be a Big Legged Bug in the family Coreidae.
Correction Courtesy of Eric Eaton
March 28, 2010
Hi, Daniel:
Here are a couple of other corrections:
The”Immature coreid bug? Or immature assassin bug?” is actually an adult female assassin bug called the “black corsair,” Melanolestes picipes. Adult females have only the vestigial wingpads shown in the nice image. Males are slightly more slender, fully winged, and fly well. The males are often attracted to lights at night. These bugs can deliver a very painful bite if handled or swatted, so brush them off gently if one alights on you.
Keep up the great work, Carlos…I mean Daniel:-) LOL! I loved that post from Lisa….
Eric
P.S. Hey, next year, when your book is out, we should go in on a table at the Bug Fair and do signings!
¶ Posted 19 March 2010 § ‡ ° Insect with dragon heckles
February 9, 2010
Found dead on top of a box in my garage in Missouri in October (begin of fall). Has small head with what looks like a slender thorn coming from its mouth. Body looks like a piece of a stick cut on a diagonal. Has what looks like a stinger on it’s butt and the scariest part is the dragon heckle on it’s back.
suppies
Missouri in the fall (October)
Wheel Bug
Dear suppies,
This is a Wheel Bug and it is the largest North American Assassin Bug. The Wheel Bug is a predator that uses its mouth to pierce its prey and then suck the fluids from its body. It is capable of biting a person if it is carelessly handled, but it has no stinger.
¶ Posted 09 February 2010 § ‡ ° Insect with Fungus?
February 3, 2010
Is there an insect that normally looks “dusty?” Or is this fungus?
This insect was alive in December when it was found inside a house. No others were found. It was about 6 mm long. It may have been more plump before it was kept in a pill bottle for over a week.
Doug Cheever
Dubuque, Iowa
Masked Hunter
Hi Doug,
The surface of an immature Masked Hunter is sticky and it attracts lint and dust which helps to camouflage this predator.
¶ Posted 03 February 2010 § ‡ ° 
rss
I like This
