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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Bed Bug

On · Category: Bedbugs Tagged With: · Add Comment

Subject:  Heeeeeeelp
Geographic location of the bug:  Morehead Coty, NC, USA
Date: 12/10/2018
Time: 02:24 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  I believe this is what has been biting me. I’m pretty sure it’s a bedbug, but I want to make sure before flipping out. Thanks
How you want your letter signed:  TheChamp

Bed Bug

Dear TheChamp,
You are correct that this is a Bed Bug, a blood-sucking insect that will infest homes and feed on sleeping humans.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Wheel Bug

On · Category: Assassin Bugs · 1 Comment

Subject:  unusual bug
Geographic location of the bug:  Charleston, SC
Date: 12/11/2018
Time: 08:06 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  My daughter sent me this picture asking what it was. I’ve never seen anything like it.
How you want your letter signed:  jim

Wheel Bug

Dear Jim,
This is a predatory Wheel Bug, the largest Assassin Bug in North America.  Though we rarely get reports of Wheel Bugs biting people, they should nonetheless be handled with caution as they might deliver a painful bite if carelessly handled.  Wheel Bugs are relatively common in eastern North America.

Wow. That’s quite a beast. Thanks for identifying it.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Big Legged Bug from Colombia appears to be Curtius marginalis

On · Category: Leaf Footed Bugs · 2 Comments

Subject:  What bug is this?
Geographic location of the bug:  Tolima, colombia
Date: 12/03/2018
Time: 12:38 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Is this big connected to chagras parasite? Is this a triatomine bug?
How you want your letter signed:  Violet

Big Legged Bug

Dear Violet,
This is a Big Legged Bug in the family Coreidae, and along with Assassin Bugs in the family Reduviidae that includes the subfamily Triatominae, they are classified together in the suborder Heteroptera, which explains their physical similarities, but Big Legged Bugs are not a threat to humans and they do not carry the Chagas parasite.  Your individual is magnificent and very distinctive looking, but despite our efforts, we have only located this image on FlickR and this image on FlickR, but alas, neither includes a species identification.  Perhaps one of our readers, like Cesar Crash who runs Insetologia, might write in with a species identification.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Sycamore Assassin Bug

On · Category: Assassin Bugs · Add Comment

Subject:  What’s this bug?
Geographic location of the bug:  Tulsa, OK
Date: 11/30/2018
Time: 07:34 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  About 1/2 – 3/4 of an inch long.
I’ve had this little bug hanging out in my kitchen for several days. It startled me a few times because I thought it was a spider at first.  Just curious what it is! Never seen a bug like it before.
How you want your letter signed:  Kenzie

Sycamore Assassin Bug

Dear Kenzie,
This is a Sycamore Assassin Bug.  It is an outdoor, predatory insect and it will not infest your home.  Like other members of the family Sycamore Assassin Bugs should be handled with caution as they might bite if carelessly handled or if accidentally encountered in a situation where they feel threatened.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Bug of the Month December 2018: Immature Assassin Bug

On · Category: _Featured, Assassin Bugs Tagged With: · Add Comment

Subject:  Bug
Geographic location of the bug:  Oklahoma, USA
Date: 11/30/2018
Time: 03:13 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Found this bug on my head after doing yard work yesterday.  What is it, can it hurt me.  Thought it was a katydid at first but don’t think it was.
How you want your letter signed:  Sammie B

Assassin Bug nymph

Dear Sammie,
This is an immature Assassin Bug, probably in the genus Zelus.  This is a genus that is prone to biting folks when the insects are carelessly handled or accidentally encountered, and you are lucky you did not encounter a painful bite.  Though painful, the bite is not considered dangerous.  Because of your timing, we have selected your submission as our Bug of the Month for December 2018.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Big Legged Bug

On · Category: Leaf Footed Bugs · Add Comment

Subject:  Bug from outer space?
Geographic location of the bug:  North central Florida -Alachua Co
Date: 11/09/2018
Time: 10:56 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Unusual fellow here – we can’t Id – help please .  Beneficial bug?
Photo taken late October.
How you want your letter signed:  Always Learning

Big Legged Bug

Dear Always Learning,
This is a Big Legged Bug in the genus Acanthocephala, is native to Florida and definitely NOT from outer space.   Because of the orange tipped antennae and your location, we believe it is Acanthocephala terminalis.  You can check BugGuide to verify our identification.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination