Possible African Mantis – Bark Coloured
Location: Zambia – North Western Province
October 11, 2011 3:04 pm
The following bug landed on my wifes foot. She became startled and tried to push it off. It bit her foot. Her foot swelled up and was quite painful for several days. See image 3 which was taken after 24 hours. She saw a doc who gave her an anti-biotic. Her foot got better after 3-4 days but still sore 6 days later. I have seen bugs like this several times in the last 6-8 weeks. Is it a type of African mantis?
Signature: Ken
Unknown African Mantis
Hi Ken,
In answer to your question, Yes, this is a mantis. We don’t recognize the species and African insects can be very difficult to correctly identify. Many are probably not yet described and there isn’t much internet information available on African species. We are surprised to hear about the reaction your wife had to her encounter with the mantis. We are not yet ready to agree that it was a bite. Mantids have sharp spines on their raptorial front legs, and it is our editorial staffs experience that Preying Mantids will stab an attacker before they will bite. We are also curious if this was an individual allergic reaction of if this Mantis actually has some type of defense venom. We have not heard of any venomous Mantids, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. We would be more likely to presume that perhaps there was some foreign substance on the Mantid, like perhaps some plant toxin or other agent, and that caused the reaction.
Reaction to Mantis "Bite"
The red spots at the base of the forelegs should be a good diagnostic feature in our attempts to identify this Mantis. We also hope to elicit the assistance of our readership in this identification.
Unknown, possibly venomous, African Mantis
1
Praying Mantis Cousin?
Location: Port Republic, MD
October 11, 2011 6:30 pm
What a great site! You provide an invaluable service to the web community.
Need help identifying a bug. Not sure how to classify this insect; couldn’t find a resemblance on your site.
Thanks again!
Signature: Jimi
Two Spotted Tree Cricket
Hi Jimi,
Thanks for the compliment. Your insect is a Two Spotted Tree Cricket.
1
Preying Mantis
Location: NW of Nogales, Arizona
October 11, 2011 2:20 pm
I took photographs of an interesting preying mantis near the Mexican border NW of Nogales, Arizona a couple of years ago and would like to identify it. Can anyone help me? See the two photos.
Signature: Glenn McCrea
Grasshopper Mantid
Hi Glenn,
Your fascinating Mantis is one of two species in the genus Yersiniops and they are commonly called Grasshopper Mantids. We quickly identified them on bugGuide which states: “A small species, less than 35 mm long.” Also according to BugGuide, Yersiniops sophronicum is sometimes called the Horned Ground Mantid, and we suspect that since your individual has more pronounced horns, it is likely the Horned Ground Mantid. The other species, Yersiniops solitarium, has less pronounced horns according to the photos posted on BugGuide.
Horned Ground Mantid
1
More bug love
Location: s. indiana
October 11, 2011 7:33 pm
Found these little guys doing the deed on the hood of my SUV. Are these are regular house flies?
Signature: brian
Mating Flesh Flies
Hi Brian,
These are not House Flies. We believe they are Flesh Flies in the family Sarcophagidae. According to BugGuide, they are: “Similar to blowflies, but generally blackish with gray thoracic stripes (never metallic); 3 black racing stripes on a gray background” and they often have red eyes.
October 13, 2011 5:54 am
You are right these are flesh flies
Signature: brian
Ground beetle?
Location: Northern Central NJ
October 11, 2011 2:38 pm
I saw this guy running in the grass and managed to shoot him twice … with my camera, of course. He (she?) is fairly large, perhaps a good inch long. I tried researching it but I’m not seeing any black long beetles with the knobby bent antennae. It seems to be some sort of ground beetle, but …?
Signature: Jackie
Ground beetle? NOT!
Location: Northern Central NJ
October 11, 2011 7:18 pm
In searching around, I found the identification of the beetle whose two photos I sent in earlier today. It’s not a ground beetle. It’s a black blister beetle. Thank you for running this site! It’s a treasure trove of bugs!
Signature: Jackie
Oil Beetle
Dear Jackie,
Since our editorial staff is gainfully employed, we generally respond to questions early in the morning prior to heading off to work. We are happy to learn that you self identified your Oil Beetle or Black Blister Beetle on our site. Thanks for the compliment.
1
weird one
Location: Baguio City, Philippines, Southeast Asia
October 12, 2011 1:33 am
Hi bugman. I live in the Philippines and I have encountered this alien-like insect with its upper body being an ant and the lower end is a caterpillar’s. It’s less than an inch long and I got it from a guava tree. Could you please identify this one?
Signature: Reply details through e-mail.
Lobster Caterpillar
The very distinctive Lobster Caterpillar, Stauropus fagi, is a morphologically unusual caterpillar that doesn’t resemble any other members of the Prominent Moth family. The species ranges across Eurasia from England to China. This is a young instar that will molt several times, growing after each molt, until it eventually pupates and emerges as an adult moth.
Lobster Caterpillar
Wow. Thanks a lot for the info, sir… I appreciate it.
1
What is this bug?
Location: Encinitas, CA 92024
October 11, 2011 10:01 pm
I took a photo of this insect in Encinitas, CA. I can’t find it anywhere on the internet. Is it a new species (hopefully 
).
Signature: bugman
Harlequin Bug Nymph
Nymphs of the Harlequin Bug, Murgantia histrionica, are quite colorful. This distinctive Stink Bug is not rare and it ranges across North America from coast to coast, especially in the south, though it is also found in along the eastern seaboard. BugGuide does not contain any reports from the Pacific Northwest, New England or Canada. According to BugGuide, it is “Native to Mexico and C. America, invasive in our area (first detected in TX, 1864) and now widely established across the US (ME-SD to FL-CA) bur rarely found north of PA-CO(1)(2); the northern limits of the established range fluctuate markedly depending on winter severity; migrates northward during spring and summer.” We are surprised to learn that it is not considered a native species. Though this is a very pretty insect, it is considered to be a significant pest of crops in the cabbage family.
1
Steatoda grossa?
Location: Western New York
October 11, 2011 11:07 pm
I found this spider in a web above my window. Looking at pics of Steatoda grossa, it seems to be a match. But I am asking a pro, to satisfy my own curiosity.
Signature: Tim from Fredonia, NY
Cobweb Spider
Hi Tim,
We believe this is one of the Cobweb Spiders in the family Theridiidae, but we cannot confirm that is is the False Widow, Steatoda grossa, which is pictured on BugGuide. The family also contains the notorious Widow Spiders in the genus Lactrodectus, but we feel confident that we can exclude them from the possibilities for your individual’s identity. We believe the strongest contenders are the members of the genus Theridion, also well represented on BugGuide. Perhaps one of our readers more skilled in spider identification will be able to provide something more definitive.
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