Driver Ant, AKA Sausage Fly from Rwanda

On · Category: Ants Tagged With: · 4 Comments

Subject: Flying bug from rwanda
Location: Kigali, rwanda
December 7, 2016 4:31 am
Hi,
I curious what this is. It was attracted to light and seemed to lose their ability to fly.
I understand some locals eat it and call it inanani, but I can’t find anything online about it.
Signature: Mcat

Sausage Fly

Sausage Fly

Dear Mcat,
This interesting creature is a Sausage Fly, a male Driver Ant in the genus Dorylus.  We have a lengthy explanation about it in this Sausage Fly posting from our archives.  According to Myrmecos:  “Most people who see Africa’s ‘sausage flies’ wouldn’t pick that they are actually ants. In fact, these monstrous insects are males of the common Dorylus driver ants. They fly at night to gain a chance to mate with a queen from another colony.”  We could not locate any information on “inanani” but we are really appreciative that you informed us they are eaten by locals.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Giant Mesquite Bug from Mexico

On · Category: Leaf Footed Bugs · Add Comment

Subject: Mexican Red Abdomen Winged Beetle
Location: Puebla, Mexico
December 6, 2016 9:06 pm
Hi! I have been searching around using different key words but I don’t have the knowledge to sufficiently describe at least the curious antennae of this winged beetle found in Mexico in the state of Puebla. It would be amazing if either you know the beetle and its genus/latin name, and I would be very Very curious to read your scientific description of the beetle. The language for these descriptions are fascinating (something we take for granted all too often). Whenever possible, I’d love to know more. Thank you in advance and my sincere appreciation for your support!
Signature: Sean Aguirre Buckley

Giant Mesquite Bug

Giant Mesquite Bug

Dear Sean,
There are very few online images of Giant Mesquite Bugs from the genus Thasus online that show the red abdomen, but we did locate this image on BugGuide.  The Giant Mesquite Bug is a True Bug in the family Coreidae, the Big Legged Bugs or Leaf Footed Bugs, not a beetle.  We get numerous requests to identify the colorful nymphs of Giant Mesquite Bugs that tend to feed in groups.

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Kissing Bug from Mexico

On · Category: Assassin Bugs · Add Comment

Subject: A bug I had not met…
Location: Puerto Escondido Mexico
December 1, 2016 11:48 am
Hello, are you able to tell me what type of bug this is? We found him in our porch today while on holiday in Mexico (in early December)
Thanks
Signature: David

Kissing Bug

Kissing Bug

Dear David,
You should exercise caution in your encounters with this Blood-Sucking Conenose Bug or Kissing Bug in the genus Triatoma, a group that is connected to the spread of Chagas Disease, especially in the tropics.  According to the Central Washington University site:  “Triatoma (Reduviidae: Triatominae), are blood sucking insects that transmit the single-celled parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae), which infects mammals, including humans, throughout much of Latin America.”  Though humans are not the primary host for Kissing Bugs, when other hosts, especially rodents are not available, human blood provides a ready substitute.  Based on image on the Central Washington University site, your individual might be  Triatoma longipennis.

Thanks very much!
All the best
David

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Cockroach

On · Category: Cockroaches Tagged With: · 3 Comments

Subject: Bug
Location: All areas inside house
December 6, 2016 11:22 am
What is a brown bug, an inch plus long and has wings. I keep finding them in my house.
Signature: Deena Williams

Cockroach

Cockroach

Dear Deena,
It sounds like Cockroaches are thriving and reproducing in your home.

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Green Lacewing from Australia

On · Category: Neuropterans: Lacewings, Antlions, and Owlflies Tagged With: · Add Comment

Subject: Bug
Location: Melbourne Australia
December 6, 2016 5:53 am
Hi have never seen anything like this before can you identify it for me
Thanks Kelly
Signature: Bug person

Green Lacewing

Green Lacewing

Dear Kelly,
Because both adult Green Lacewings, and their larvae which are known as Aphid Wolves, consume large quantities of insects, including Aphids, they are considered beneficial insects in the garden.

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Ground Assassin Bug bites girl in Australia

On · Category: Assassin Bugs Tagged With: · 1 Comment

Subject: This has bitten my daughter. Is it a type of Assasian Bug?
Location: Canberra, Australia
December 5, 2016 11:45 pm
Hello, thank you so much for your help in advance. This has just bitten my young daughter on her wrist. It’s left a red bite that has swollen into a huge welt very fast. She certainly screamed and screamed so it must have been very painful.
I think it is a type of Assasian Bug but I’m not quite sure. If it is .. is that dangerous? Ive given her some bite cream to use and an antihistamine tablet.
We live in Canberra, Australia.
Thank you
Signature: Fiona Crispin

Ground Assassin Bug

Ground Assassin Bug

Dear Fiona,
This is indeed a Ground Assassin Bug, Ectomocoris patricius, a species we identified on the Brisbane Insect website where it states:  “We found those orange and black assassin bugs running very fast on forest floor. This bug will bite if handle by bare hand. The insect has very strong front pair legs. All its legs are orange in colour. Its orange colour body and black pattern are the standard assassin bug warning colours. ”  This appears to be a wingless female.

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