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Wheel Bug

What’s that bug?
Location: Indiana, USA
October 6, 2011 4:53 pm
I saw this bug today when I was getting ready to leave my apartment. It was about 2 inches long and at first I thought it was a spider! When I first found this site, I thought it might be a Western Conifer Seed Bug, but it has a prickly spine along it’s back and the Western doesn’t. Really curious about this bug, I’ve never seen anything like it before!
Signature: Drensik

wheel bug drensik 300x206 Wheel Bug

Wheel Bug

Dear Drensik,
Though they are both in the same insect order, the Western Conifer Seed Bug is a plant feeding Leaf Footed Bug while your Wheel Bug is a predatory Assassin Bug.  Wheel Bugs move slowly, and they will not attach people, however, they can deliver a painful bite if threatened or carelessly handled.

1

What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Toe-Biter

Large brown beetle or bug of sorts
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan
October 6, 2011 1:45 pm
Hello my name is Austin and my girlfriend found this insect in a childrens play structure at work.
Signature: Austin Asmundson

toebiter austin 300x202 Toe Biter

Toe-Biter

Dear Austin,
We have received numerous recent identification requests for Toe-Biters, also known as Giant Water Bugs or Electric Light Bugs.

1

Giant Western Conifer Seed Bug terrorizes Michigan

the other Michigan invader?
Location: Lansing, Michigan
October 5, 2011 7:11 pm
Hello,
Since early spring, I’ve seen a certain species of insect that I’ve never seen in MI. It’s some sort of beetle, loves windows, walks extremely slow and flies when necessary. There’s been a lot of talk regarding the Stink beetle but I don’t think this the same insect. I’ve seen big ones and little one and they are everywhere. What is it?
Signature: paw print

leptoglossus michigan 257x300 Giant Western Conifer Seed Bug terrorizes Michigan

Western Conifer Seed Bug

Dear paw print,
We love your photo that reminds us of a scene from a 1950s era science fiction film of giant bugs terrorizing the world.  The culprit is a Western Conifer Seed Bug, and though it is a Leaf Footed Bug that is not in the same family as the Stink Bugs, they are members of the same suborder Heteroptera.  The Western Conifer Seed Bug is native to the Pacific Northwest, but since the 1970s, it has been expanding its range to the east and in the early 21st millenium, it was accidentally introduced to Europe where it has naturalized.

Daniel,
You have solved my year-long mystery!
Thanks!
Amariliz

1

What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Western Conifer Seed Bug invades Slovakia

Strange bug
Location: Slovakia, Central Europe
October 3, 2011 7:52 am
First of all sorry if I make any mistake, I am not from English speaking country.
So to the point, this bug started appearing right after our building got renovated. I`ve never seen this kind of a bug in my whole life and now it is everywhere. It is getting really annoying to get rid of them many times a day. Just out of sheer curiosity, what kind of bug is it and/or how can I possibly get rid of them?
Signature: Thank you, Lukas Brath

leptoglossus slovakia lukas 300x206 Western Conifer Seed Bug invades Slovakia

Western Conifer Seed Bug

Hi Lukas,
Your English is perfectly understandable.  We can tell you for certain that this is a Leaf Footed Bug in the genus
Leptoglossus, and we are relatively certain that it is a Western Conifer Seed Bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis.  The Western Conifer Seed Bug is native to the Pacific Northwest, and beginning in the 1970s, it began to expand its range across North America in the northern latitudes.  While it doesn’t seem to be much of a problem in its native range, once it became established in other areas, people began to complain that it entered homes to hibernate as the weather began to cool.  We learned that in the early years of the 21st millenium, the Western Conifer Seed Bugs was accidentally introduced to Europe and is has become established there as well.
There is much information on the spread of the Western Conifer Seed Bug in Europe available on the internet, including a scholarly article entitled “Will the invasive western conifer seed bug
Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann (Hemiptera:  Heteroptera: Coreidae) seize all of Europe” by Jerzy A. Lis, Barbara Lis & Jerzy Gubernator.  That article begins with the compelling statement:  “In our day, thanks to high-speed transport systems, people are moving living species (intentionally or not) across ecosystems and countless borders.  As we know, most introduced species usually do not survive, because they find neither a tolerable environment nor an available ecological niche.  Sometimes, successful establishment may also require multiple introductions (Balcom 2004).”   You should be able to find all the information you desire now that you know this is a Western Conifer Seed Bug.

Red Bug: Introduced species spreading in California

Mystery bug
Location: San Diego, CA
October 1, 2011 8:54 pm
Dear WTB,
These bugs have recently appeared in large amounts and are prolifically mating. It is late September and the weather has been hot and dry. I have recently planted a field of Protea flowers. Can you tell me what they are and if they will harm my plants?
Thank you!
Signature: Darwin

red bug darwin 300x215 Red Bug:  Introduced species spreading in California

Red Bug

Hi Darwin,
The Red Bug,
Scantius aegyptius, is a non-native introduced species that was first reported in California in 2009.  According to the UC Riverside Center for Invasive Species Research website:  “The most noticeable impact of S. aegyptius in California will likely be the presence of large numbers of nymphs and adults migrating from drying annual weeds into adjacent developed areas.  These migrations consisting of thousands of individuals can be very conspicuous and lead to large aggregations on small patches of host plants causing concern to local residents who notice these obvious aggregations.“  That would indicate your Protea flowers are not in danger.

Cuckoo Wasp and Ambush Bug from Canada

2 interesting bugs
Location: Kitchener Ontario Canada
September 29, 2011 2:55 pm
Hi, Bugman
I have 2 bugs that I am curious about..
The first was found deceased on my windowsill, even so very pretty insect.
The 2nd Yellow bug I found today has the shape of an assassin bug almost from the top but I noticed mantis like hooked forelegs when viewed from the side.
Thanks
Signature: Martzart

cuckoo wasp martzart 296x300 Cuckoo Wasp and Ambush Bug from Canada

Cuckoo Wasp

Dear Martzart,
The beautiful metallic blue insect you found dead in your car is a Cuckoo Wasp in the family Chrysididae.  Your yellow insect is an Ambush Bugin the subfamily Phymatinae.  In the not too distant past, Ambush Bugs were classified in their own family, but recent taxonomy has reclassified them as a subfamily of the Assassin Bugs.

ambush bug martzart 300x206 Cuckoo Wasp and Ambush Bug from Canada

Ambush Bug

 

1

Green Assassin Bug Nymph

Strange lime green insect
Location: Portland, OR
September 29, 2011 3:21 pm
Hi there I live in Portland, OR and discovered this bug the other day in a friends back yard. I don’t know if you can tell but it is rather small, that is a mason jar behind it. There is also a proboscis(sp)thing that you cant really see form this picture. It is really pretty and I am curious what it is I have never seen anything like it.
Thanks -Eric
Signature: Eric

green assassin nymph eric 300x226 Green Assassin Bug Nymph

Green Assassin Bug Nymph

Hi Eric,
You should handle this Assassin Bug nymph with caution as many members in the family will bite if provoked or carelessly handled.  We don’t recognize the species and we have the energy to research the species tonight.

1

Bed Bug, NOT Delusory Parasitosis Perhaps

Ed. Note October 4, 2011:  This posting was originally entitled:  What’s That Bug? does not correct our contributors’ grammar.
Continued correspondence with “need2relax” has caused us to speculate that there is a greater problem here that we are not qualified to address.

Psychologically messed up..Please help.
Location: couches
September 29, 2011 3:43 pm
I am quite paranoid. In jun we had kept discovering bites and servile of them and our baby was getting bite everyday i automatically though bed bugs called 4 exterminators with in two weeks and non of the 4 seen anything or evidence?..Time went by figured it was mosquitos or spiders bites lowered..
Then in the last week of august starting getting bit BAD and it was scary. Inspected my beds inspected couches and had professionals seek and found nothing..Every time though we site on the couch we get bit my husband was wide awake watching a movie while talking to friends and he seen a little brownish black bug and had bites..i inspected the couch seena spiderish looking teeny tiny bug WEIRD nothing else though..
Was in a nother living room and seen a yellowish looking tan color bug when i smashed it black goo came out it was fast not scared at all i was wide awake and it was maybe the size of a rice grain..Dont have fleas maybe mites? or just the rainy weather living next to the beach and have a lot of lanscaping around just bugs? idk what to do i cant sleep i panic al night making sure no bed bugs but thank god no bites ever while sleeping and no bugs in bed ever..please help
Signature: need2relax

psychotically messed up 300x224 Bed Bug, NOT Delusory Parasitosis Perhaps

What's That Bug?

Dear need2relax,
We don’t know what you have.

Did you get the pictures?

Ed. Note:  We referred Aussietrev’s comment and then received this reply.

Thank you. That is probably it.
And also I was thinking biting midges or noseeums. See lots of those.

Update:  October 3, 2011
This is the last email.
I also want to include I had 4 exterminations and none of witch did not see any evidence Nether have I just bites. Then I seen a large bug on the back of my head board. Like a size of a quarter or a half dollar. Could that be bb? Maybe it wasn’t a bug??? Ease help. No ink stains or blood anywhere. And no smell no other bugs tore up the whole house. Please please help.

Update:  October 3, 2011
Hey. I’m sorry to bug you. LOL. Do you think this is bed bugs!!

bug need2relax 300x223 Bed Bug, NOT Delusory Parasitosis Perhaps

What's That Bug?????

Dear need2relax,
We cannot discern any details in your photos.  If four exterminators did not find anything, you might want to seed professional attention for a syndrome known as Delusory Parasitosis.  We have no professional credentials.  We are not entomologists and we are not able to help you.

UPDATE:  October 6, 2011
My last email. I promise. Just answer please.
Cherry red blood came out. And it was teeny tiny. Roundish brownish black. Please help

whatsthatspot1 300x224 Bed Bug, NOT Delusory Parasitosis Perhaps

What's That Spot???

Dear need2relax,
You are obviously quite troubled, but we are unable to discern any details in the blurry photos you have sent to us.  Perhaps you might want to hire a professional photographer to document the things you are finding in your home.

Yes I am. It’s just I keep seeing weird little things and no one understands. And I know your not a bug specialist and I’m sorry to drive you nuts. I just seen this little tiny almost invisible black bug and when I smashed it cherry red blood came out. I dont think it had antennas? It had remarkably small legs.. What could this be? Is it just a harmless little outdoor bug that wondered in? Or is it a mite or a be bug a very small blackish brown sitting in the seam of my blanket very slow motion moving bug. Any ideahs. ( yes I will seek psychological help ) thank you.

What you describe does not sound like a Bed Bug.  Mites could be a possibility.  Some Mites infest the nests of birds and rats, and if such nests are in your attic, the Mites might find their way into the home when the young birds or rats leave the nest.  See this posting and others in our Mite category.

UPDATE:  October 12, 2011
Bed bug right?
Or could this be a mite. Like a clover mite. It busted red like blood.

bedbug need2relax 300x224 Bed Bug, NOT Delusory Parasitosis Perhaps

Bed Bug

Dear need2relax,
This does indeed look like a Bed Bug.  We apologize for suggesting that you might have Delusory Parasitosis.  Your earlier photos were unrecognizeable as insects.  Often times, many small insects find their way into beds.  Carpet Beetles and Pantry Beetles do not bite, but they are often found between the sheets.  This latest photo has enough detail to be identified as a member of the order Hemiptera which includes Bed Bugs.  There is not enough detail for a conclusive identification, but we can at least speculate that since it was found in the bed, and since it contained blood, and since you are being bitten, that a Bed Bug is an excellent candidate.  You might want to take the actual specimen to your local disease vector headquarters or to a local exterminator to give you a more certain identification.  If you have Bed Bugs, you will have to begin an extensive eradication program.  Start by searching under the mattress, along the baseboards, under pictures hanging near the bed, and other likely hiding places.  Good luck with your eradication efforts and again, please accept our apology for our initial reluctance to confirm you had Bed Bugs.

 


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