Subject:  What’s this bug?
Geographic location of the bug:  Olympia Washington
Date: 09/06/2017
Time: 03:37 PM EDT
This is the oddest bug I’ve seen.
S/he is roughly an inch and a half long and maybe 4mm wide. I was told it might be a soldier beetle?
How you want your letter signed:  Tammi

Snakefly Larva

Dear Tammi,
This is a beneficial, predatory larva of a Snakefly.  According to BugGuide:  “Both larvae and adults are predatory, though they are capable of catching and killing only small and weak prey. Snakefly larvae feed on eggs and larvae of various insects, as well as adults of minute arthropods (e.g. mites, springtails, barklice, and homopterans). Adults typically prefer aphids but may eat a wide variety of arthropods. Adults take efforts to clean themselves after feeding.”

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Subject: Long bug with clear wings
Location: San Mateo CA
April 30, 2017 9:29 am
This bug was on our bathroom mirror this week. We have never seen such a bug. When I googled it, I get Mayfly or snake fly. We would like your expert clarification please. We are on the San Francisco Peninsula.
Thank you!
Signature: Curious

Snakefly

Dear Curious,
This is an awesome image of a Snakefly in the order Raphidioptera.  According to BugGuide:  “Both larvae and adults are predatory, though they are capable of catching and killing only small and weak prey. Snakefly larvae feed on eggs and larvae of various insects, as well as adults of minute arthropods (e.g. mites, springtails, barklice, and homopterans). Adults typically prefer aphids but may eat a wide variety of arthropods. Adults take efforts to clean themselves after feeding.”

Hi Daniel,
Thank you! Wow… so cool! I asked all my local friends who grew up here and no one knew. Now we do thanks to you!
Much appreciated.

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Subject: 2 bugs to identify
Location: Petaluma, CA
February 7, 2017 11:38 am
These are 2 bugs that I saw in my garden March 2016. Please identify them for me. Thank you so much!!
Signature: Sharon Risedorph

Molting Snakefly

Dear Sharon,
This is an Earwig, and it appears to be injured.

Thank you so much Daniel!!!
All the best,
Sharon

Eric Eaton provides a Correction
Hi, Daniel:
Female snakefly trying to shake off the pupa molt.
Eric

WOW!!  Thank you!

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Subject: Ant/Caterpillar Crossbreed!
Location: Napa, Calfornia
December 29, 2016 8:35 pm
My wife found this insect on the floor of our kitchen while sweeping. My best guess is that an ant (or termite) and a caterpillar had a forbidden love affair that resulted in this unusual creature. Dark, flat head and thorax, six legs, long mottled abdomen that has small hairs on it, large jaws. When it moves it walks with its legs, and the long abdomen expands and contracts like an caterpillar to keep up, though it moves very rapidly. I’ve lived my whole life in California and never seen an insect like it. In addition, we are in the middle of winter, so a very unusual time to find a new insect. You will impress me indeed if you know what this is.
Signature: Jesse

Snakefly Larva

Dear Jesse,
Based on this BugGuide image, this is a beneficial, predatory, Snakefly larva, and we think the adult Snakefly is much more unusual looking than is the larval form.

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Subject: Centipede baby?
Location: Nevada
September 25, 2016 4:29 am
I found this little guy crawling up my leg I live in Reno NV
Signature: Miss mack

Snakefly Larva

Dear Miss Mack,
This is the predatory larva of a harmless Snakefly, and this image from BugGuide is a nice comparison.  According to BugGuide:  “Both larvae and adults are predatory, though they are capable of catching and killing only small and weak prey. Snakefly larvae feed on eggs and larvae of various insects, as well as adults of minute arthropods (e.g. mites, springtails, barklice, and homopterans). Adults typically prefer aphids but may eat a wide variety of arthropods. Adults take efforts to clean themselves after feeding.”

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Subject: Creepy Bug
Location: Lake Oswego, OR
May 17, 2016 2:27 pm
Hello!
This little guy greeted me outside my car window today. Just wondering if its poisonous or I need to worry. This is the first time I have seen it. Thanks!
Signature: Thank you

Snakefly

This is a harmless male Snakefly.  We get numerous identification requests of female Snakeflies as the stingerlike ovipositor makes many folks nervous, though like her mate, the female Snakefly is also perfectly harmless.  They are predators that feed on small insects like Aphids.

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