From the monthly archives: "September 2007"
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Thread Legged Bug

On · Category: Assassin Bugs · 1 Comment

Walking stick identity
We found this insect inside our house. It appears to be a walking stick, but much smaller and finer than the ones we usually see. It is a little over two inches long including its folded legs in front. It has light colored speckles/stripes on its back sets of legs. Could you tell me what species it might be? We are in Asheville, NC in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Thank you,
Angie

Hi Angie,
This is a Thread Legged Bug in the Assassin Bug subfamily Emesinae, probably Emesaya brevipennis.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Wheel Bug eats Paper Wasp

On · Category: Uncategorized Tagged With: · Add Comment

Wheel Bug eating a wasp.
I got some good photos today of a wheel bug enjoying its wasp lunch. Here are the two best ones. I hope you enjoy them.
Mike D.

Hi Mike,
All Assassin Bugs are effective hunters, and Wheel Bugs, probably the largest North American Assassins, can take significantly larger prey. This Polistes Paper Wasp is a good example.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Milbert's Tortoiseshell

On · Category: Butterflies and Skippers · Add Comment

All sorts of bugs
Hey there,
I just discovered your site, and it’s wonderful! Just by browsing through your pages I’ve managed to identify many of the unknown bugs I’ve photographed over the last few years. (I have loads of butterflies, a fair number of dragonflies, and plenty more; many of which I’ve managed to identify over the web or in books, but plenty more are still a mystery to me.) I figured I’d pull out a few of my favorites to send to you–hopefully you can help me identify several of them, and the rest are ones I’ve identified but didn’t see on your site. (Please feel free to edit this, remove some photos, etc.) … This guy’s a Milbert’s Tortoiseshell (pretty hard to mistake these for anything else!) I encountered at Logan Pass in Glacier National Park, Montana, last summer. I didn’t see any photos of these in your butterfly pages, so I figured I’d share. I encountered quite a few butterflies as well as other beautiful insects in the alpine meadows there, but the Milbert’s Tortoiseshell is definitely the most striking. … Anyway, I hope you enjoy my photos and can identify/confirm them all. I have plenty more where they came from, so if your inbox isn’t too flooded already, I’d be happy to send more!
Susan B

Hi Susan,
We edited the content of your letter and are posting the Milbert’s Tortoiseshell to our site. In the future, please only submit one identification request per letter than includes any helpful information and will will get back to you if time permits. Thank you for your enthusiasm.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Pandorus Sphinx Caterpillar

On · Category: Hornworms · Add Comment

Caterpillar
Hi!
This caterpillar was found in Port Severn Ontario, we found it near some sumac trees we were clearing. We had never seen anything like him and thought he was photo worthy.
It’s about 1/2″ diameter and 4″ long when he was fully extended. Can you tell us what it was? The only similar image of a caterpillar I found was from Mexico and there was no name listed for it. Thanks so much
Courtney

Hi Courtney,
This is a Pandorus Sphinx Caterpillar, Eumorpha pandorus. It will become a lovely green moth that is of described by our readership as the camouflage moth.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Hickory Horned Devil

On · Category: Silkworms · Add Comment

Large Horned caterpillar
We found this caterpillar on a tree in our yard. We live close to Houston, TX and have never seen a caterpillar this large before. Can you identify it and let us know what it is?
Marlys Dow

Hi Marlys,
The spectacular Hickory Horned Devil will become the equally spectacular Royal Walnut Moth.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination