Freaky Bug found in our Dorm Room
Location: Sarasota, FL
April 14, 2011 12:06 am
Hello,
We are three girls from Sarasota, Florida and we found this hideous bug in our dorm room! We were wondering if you could identify it for us as we want to know if this bug is dangerous and whether or not we need to ask our school to call pest control!
Signature: 3 Girls from Ringling
Wheel Bug Nymph
Dear 3 Girls from Ringling,
Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder, and we just posted a letter from Schoolyard Mom who describe this insect as a Beautiful Mystery. This is an immature Wheel Bug, and though we rarely get reports of people being bitten by Wheel Bugs, your photo nicely illustrates the piercing and sucking mouthparts. Wheel Bugs are predators, and if left in your dorm, it will most likely feed upon any cockroaches that are cohabitating with you. There is no need to call pest control. Wheel Bugs are outdoor insects that may wander indoors, though that would not be their chosen hunting grounds.
¶ Posted 15 April 2011 § ‡ ° Beautiful mystery
Location: Largo, FL
April 14, 2011 6:22 pm
While playing at a park in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, my daughter and I found this beauty. The park was in a very wooded area with slash pines and palmettos. I have been searching the internet, but could not identify this amazing animal. Thank you for any help you can provide.
Signature: Playground Mom
Wheel Bug Nymph
Dear Playground Mom,
When searching for letters to post this morning, we couldn’t resist a request from a Playground Mom to identify a Beautiful Mystery. When we have numerous identification requests, the catchy subject lines are always attractive to us. This is an immature Wheel Bug, and it should be handled with care. Wheel Bugs are predatory Assassin Bugs, and they are quite capable of biting if carelessly handled, though we get very few reports from people who have been bitten by Wheel Bugs.
¶ Posted 15 April 2011 § ‡ ° What is this?
Location: Brisbane, QLD, Australia
April 15, 2011 6:55 am
My friend’s son got bit by this weird looking thing. It caused the boys hand to swell up and has left a brown spot like what a bee sting would leave.
We’re curious as to what this is. If you could help us out that would be great.
Thank you
Signature: .
Assassin Bug
Dear .,
This is some species of Assassin Bug. There is an excellent website dedicated to the Insects of Brisbane, but your relatively drab looking Assassin Bug does not appear to be represented among the colorful Australian species that are pictured there. The Assassin Bug Biology page contains some very general information. Very few Assassin Bugs prey upon warm blooded creatures, and most limit their diets to other insects, however they are quite capable of inflicting a painful bite with their stabbing and sucking mouthparts if carelessly handled or if haplessly encountered. We do get a fair share of reports of people being bitten by Assassin Bugs, but the effects of the bite do not last very long, nor are they life threatening, however, they are often reported to be quite painful.
Never seen this before
Location: Saint Petersburg, Fl USA
April 9, 2011 3:43 pm
Hi bugman, found this crawling around outside on my chair under some trees, it’s about the size of a quarter legs included.. Thanks 
Signature: DeAnna
Wheel Bug Nymph
Hi DeAnna,
This is an immature Wheel Bug, and the adults are quite spectacular crested insects. They are the largest Assassin Bugs in North America and they are well represented on our website. Handle them with caution as they might produce a painful bite.
¶ Posted 09 April 2011 § ‡ ° What bug is this?
Location: Simpsonville, SC
April 9, 2011 11:27 am
I have been watching this little guy on our dogwood tree for over a week now. It sometimes moves to a different blossom but stays on this tree otherwise. I have seen molting remains on surrounding surfaces and it is getting noticeable bigger. We are in Simpsonville SC and it is April. It resembles a mantis but does not have a large head like they do. I have at times thought maybe it is a stilt bug, what do you think?
thanks
Krista
Signature: Krista in SC
Assassin Bug nymph
Hi Krista,
This is an Assassin Bug nymph, and we believe it may be in the genus Zelus. Assassin Bugs are predators and they are considered to be beneficial in the garden.
¶ Posted 09 April 2011 § ‡ ° What the heck is this??
Location: Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Kitchen, house.
April 2, 2011 7:49 pm
Hello!
I recently found this scuttering around on the floor of my kitchen. Currently, I have it trapped inside a cup. Can you tell me what this is and if I should be careful around it or not? Thank you!
Signature: Dan
Masked Hunter
Hi Dan,
This is an immature Masked Hunter. a species of Assassin Bug. Before they become winged adults, Masked Hunters have a sticky surface that attracts dust and lint which camouflages them in their environment. They prey upon other insects. They are also sometimes called Bed Bug Hunters which would imply that Bed Bugs are among their typical prey, in which case they should be welcomed into homes considering that instances of Bed Bug infestations have been getting recent media coverage. We have never received a report of a person being bitten by a Masked Hunter, though that is a possibility if they are carelessly handled. Slide a postcard under the cup and remove the Masked Hunter to the outside if you do not want it patrolling your home for prey.
¶ Posted 03 April 2011 § ‡ ° Shiny beetle, Australia.
Location: Camp Hill, Brisbane, AUS
March 26, 2011 3:55 pm
Hi there. I was sitting on my balcony on a sunny afternoon at the end of March in Brisbane, Australia when I discovered this beetle clinging to my window screen. I can’t seem to find a picture of this exact beetle anywhere and I would really like to know what it is. Thanks very much for your help!
Signature: Heather, Brisbane AUS
Common Assassin Bug
Hi Heather,
This is an Assassin Bug, not a Beetle. The Brisbane Insect Website identifies your insect as a Common Assassin Bug, Pristhesancus plagipennis.
what’s this bug?
Location: thumb of Michigan
March 19, 2011 2:46 pm
I found this bug on my beige carpet. I couldn’t tell it was a bug until it moved. It is almost like a white fruity pebble. It looks like the carpet. Doesn’t appear to fly.
Signature: Kim
Masked Hunter
Hi Kim,
This positively fascinating creature is called a Masked Hunter, and it is an immature Assassin Bug. The nymphs have a sticky surface that attracts lint and dust, masking the predator by making it blend into its surroundings. Several years ago we posted a photo of a Masked Hunter that was covered in blue fibers from a carpet, and now we have your beige carpet fiber individual as well. Nymphs lack wings, but the black adults are winged and capable of flight.
So this makes me worry that we have bedbugs??? If we found this one does this mean there is more? Thanks!
If you have more Masked Hunter, that would be a good thing. They are sometimes called Masked Bedbug Hunters, but we have started using the shortened name since Bedbug paranoia is sweeping the planet. Nearly every Bedbug identification request we receive is actually a Carpet Beetle. Masked Hunters are not species specific predators.
¶ Posted 19 March 2011 § ‡ ° 
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