black and orange in Virginia
I found this crawling across the blacktop at my house. I’ve been led to believe bright colors indicate poison, but, after reading your website, I have found that isn’t necessarily true. I saw some awful scary looking harmless spiders. Do you know what this is?
Sue
Hi Sue,
Sorry I can’t give you an exact species, but your orb weaver is harmless. We hope it is still alive.
A couple of bugs for you!
Hi,
After you so superbly identified a beetle larvae for me earlier this year I made the mistake of telling my mother about your site – upon which she produced an entire packet of unidentified bug pictures. If you get a chance could you have a look at the pics attached and let me know what you think? I’ve searched your site and am unable to find either of them. (I apologise about the quality of the pics but they are digital photos of her prints).
Many thanks,
James Stratton.
Hi James,
We would love to satisfy your mother’s curiosity. The moth is a Geometrid Moth which gets the family name from the caterpillars which are sometimes referred to as Inchworms or Measuring Worms.
A couple of bugs for you!
Hi,
After you so superbly identified a beetle larvae for me earlier this year I made the mistake of telling my mother about your site – upon which she produced an entire packet of unidentified bug pictures. If you get a chance could you have a look at the pics attached and let me know what you think? I’ve searched your site and am unable to find either of them. (I apologise about the quality of the pics but they are digital photos of her prints).
Many thanks,
James Stratton.
Hi James,
We would love to satisfy your mother’s curiosity. The green bug is an immature Stink Bug from the family Pentatomidae. It is difficult to positively identify the species in immature phases.
whats my spider?
Hi, I saw this particular spider last year around this time and this year I see what seems to be the same spider as before. What kind of spider is this and is it poisonous?
While all spiders have poison glands, your unidentified Orb Weaver from the genus Araneus poses no threat to you, however, it does seem adept at capturing and dispatching small winged insects.
What is it?
I new one for me….a beetle larvae?
We can’t identify your beetle larva more specifically, but one of our beetle experts will probably eventually write in with something more concrete.
Bug query
Hello. We’ve found 2 of these bugs in our home so far. they resemble cockroaches with an elongated snout. They fly. Do you have any idea what they are? We have found them upstairs in our spare bedroom and our computer room in the window sill. They are apx 3/4 inch long. These were the best pictures that I could take. Thank you very much. I have looked on the ‘net to get an idea as I live in the lower mainland of BC. We have not found any in any food areas. We keep our kitchen clean. They have been found during the daytime. Thank you very very much.
Heather Lee
Hi Heather,
We have good news. They are not cockroaches, nor are they household pests. They are Coreid Bugs, also known as Leaf-Footed Bugs. They suck the juices from plants with that elongated mouthpart, and they are probably just seeking a place to hibernate inside your home. They will not infest your house.
black caterpillar with a red horn
We saw this caterpillar along side the road in British Columbia. I went through most of the sites that you’ve linked to on your page, but I think this guy’s out of range for those sites.
Any ideas?
Thanks!
Lea Ann
p.s., I also included a pretty clear picture of what I think is a Common Clear-Wing Moth… (Taken in Mayo, Yukon)
Hi Lea Ann,
WE have been trying unsuccessfully to properly identify your unknown black sphinx caterpillar with the red horn. We will continue to try. Your Hummingbird Clearwing Moth is a welcome addition to our site as well.
Do you have an id for this one?
Hi,
Checked through your website with great interest, but didn’t find my caterpillar there. This guy lived on a yellow blossom lupin branch this last Spring in Bodega Head (northern California above San Francisco). I’ve been unable to identify the pretty thing. Got any ideas? Sure would appreciate your help.
Thanks, Alice Steele (San Francisco)
Hi Alice,
The best we can do is tell you it is a Wooly Bear caterpillar, the larva of a Tiger Moth. Sorry it is so general.
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