Subject: What’s this bug?
Geographic location of the bug: Connecticut
Date: 08/13/2018
Time: 04:19 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: Hey there!
I’m a horticulturist at a brewery in Connecticut. This insect is resting on one of my etrog trees in my citrus greenhouse. It’s about 2” long from wingtip to antennae. Thanks much!
How you want your letter signed: Chloe
Hi Chloe,
Because of your request, we learned that an etrog is a type of citrus. Your insect is a male Summer Fishfly, Chauliodes pectinicornis, and you can verify that by comparing your image to this BugGuide image. According to BugGuide: “prefer shaded, woodland habitats” which might have led it to your greenhouse. Of the genus, BugGuide notes: “larvae in slow-moving waters with lots of detritus, esp. decaying logs” so we suspect you have a sluggish stream nearby. It poses no threat to your etrog or to any other plants in your greenhouse because BugGuide notes: “adults may not feed” and “Adults live a week or less.”