Ed. Note: March 3, 2019
After posting this submission, we realized we had not yet selected a Bug of the Month for March, and since Red Headed Ash Borers are prone to emerging from firewood indoors while winter weather is still prevalent, we thought it would be an appropriate selection for March 2019
Subject: Brown and Yellow
Geographic location of the bug: Northwest Ohio
Date: 02/27/2019
Time: 11:55 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: Hi there Bugman, it’s been a little while! I found this small six legged creature in my bedroom and would like to know what it is!
How you want your letter signed: Hanna B.
Red Headed Ash Borer
Dear Hanna,
Do you store firewood indoors? This looks to us like a Red Headed Ash Borer, Neoclytus acuminatus, or another member of the genus. According to BugGuide: “Overwinters in infested tree trunks, probably as pupae; adults emerge in early spring and lay eggs under bark of recently dead trees” and “Larvae are common in downed timber with the bark left on.” When firewood infested with larvae is brought indoors, the heat causes the adults to emerge early. Many members of the family Cerambycidae have markings and coloration that mimic stinging insects like like this Paper Wasp.
Thank you!! I have several houseplants and a lot of driftwood. Perhaps it hatched from one of my pieces! It is still buzzing around in my house and it is still too cold to just put it outside, but there are sources of water in my house and if I keep seeing it, when it gets warmer outside I’ll let it out. I got another, much better picture of it as it perched on my kitten skull display(see attached)
Thanks again for the help!
Red Headed Ash Borer
Hi again Hanna,
Thanks for sending a better image.
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