Subject: Scary bug!
Location: NSW, Australia
January 8, 2014 12:59 am
Hi!
I found this bug in my bathroom just the other day thinking it was a piece of fluff or dust i just left it be. Although the next day when i noticed it walking i was a little worried. It seems to have rather large fang looking things?
And chance you know what he may be?
Signature: Emma
Dear Emma,
What we know for certain is that this is the camouflaged larva of a Neuropteran, a member of the order that included Lacewings, Antlions and Owlflies. In North America, there are many Lacewing Larvae that utilize this style of camouflage, but the mandibles on your individual look much larger. We found this previously posted, but still unidentified camouflaged Neuropteran Larva in our archives. The Owlfly Larvae pictured on the Brisbane Insect website have similar mandibles, but no camouflage. The Antlion Larva pictured on the Brisbane Insect website also has similar mandibles, but again, no camouflage. The best we can provide at this time is that this is the camouflaged Larva of an insect in the order Neuroptera. Hopefully, we will eventually determine a family, genus or even species identity.