metalmark or something else? And infected haploas
Location: Kane County, Illinois
January 29, 2012 3:21 pm
Hi bugman,
Wondering what this small (maybe half inch) butterfly is? I thought it was a Nais Metalmark but the patterns are slightly off and the Nais metalmark doesn’t live anywhere near me… I found this butterfly in a prairie next to a small pond. It allowed me to get really close to snap the pic. It was mid may but really hot. … Thanks guys!
Signature: Sam

Bronze Copper

Hi Sam,
Since your two requests are unrelated, we are splitting your email into two distinct postings and dealing with them separately.  Your butterfly is not a Nais Metalmark.  It is one of the Coppers in the genus Lycaena.  At first we thought it might be the American Copper, but the markings on the undersides of the lower wings more closely resembles the markings on the Bronze Copper, Lycaena hyllus, based on photographs posted to BugGuide, so we believe that is the correct identification.  The Bronze Copper also ranges in Illinois according to the data map on BugGuide.

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Weird bug moulting
Location: Southeast Brazil
October 21, 2011 6:09 pm
I’ll be happy if anyone can tell me from which order does this bug belongs, I’ve found it during a nocturnal outing in a brazilian rainforest, seems to me like the emerging bug is a katydid nymph but the old skin looks like a lepidoptera!
Signature: João P. Burini

Unknown Insect Metamorphosis

Dear João,
We apologize for the lengthy delay, but we just remembered seeing your submission previously and we didn’t have time to respond.  Then your email got buried in our unanswered email pile.  We haven’t a clue what this creature might be, but we will post it in the hopes that one of our readers can supply some information.

Unknown Insect undergoes metamorphosis

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what is this
Location: maryland
October 24, 2011 5:04 pm
we have tons of these spiders all over our house some with the leg span mind you can get up to the size of a soft ball, they are all in our garage and now finding them in the house. can you please help? are the venomous? i have little kids. so just wondering
Signature: mary shoemaker

Wolf Spider, Hogna baltimoriana we believe

Dear Mary,
Wolf Spiders like your specimen are not considered to be harmful spiders.  Nearly all spiders have venom, but very few spiders have venom that is dangerous to humans.  We believe we have identified your spider as Hogna baltimoriana based on photos posted to BugGuide, though we would not rule out that it is another member of the genus.  We hope we can convince you to allow these spiders to cohabitate with you because the advantages they provide as predators that will keep undesireable creatures from prowling around your home far outweigh your arachnophobia about them.  Perhaps if we name them the Baltimore Wolf Spider after the scientific name might convince you to see them in a more positive light.

The "Baltimore" Wolf Spider

link to a “famous” reader question
October 4, 2011 3:54 pm
I am trying to locate an older  question/reply to a woman asking how to exterminate ALL the bugs on her property.
The response was a perfect description of how the many species of insects in a yard benefited the food chain as well as humans.
The question and reply was in a featured spot on the old (?) website and I learned a lot when I read it.
Could you please provide a link to it as I would like to share it with my Environmental Science classmates.
Thank you very much,
Trish
Signature: Trish

Hi Trish,
We believe you are referring to our sarcastic “Nuclear Bomb” response.

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