Subject: Unidentified Moth
Location: Linn county, Oregon
August 21, 2013 6:45 pm
Hello, I was just trying to figure out what kind of moth this is? It was found in linn county, Oregon up in the hills. Thanks for any help.
Signature: Justine
Striped Morning Sphinx
Dear Justine,
This is such a regal portrait of a Striped Morning Sphinx or Whitelined Sphinx, Hyles lineata.
Subject: Possible Longhorn beetle?
Location: Provo, Utah
July 22, 2013 12:33 am
My sister sent me these pictures yesterday for me to try to identify them. I have never seen this insect before in CO, but it reminds me of Longhorn beetles
Signature: Jake Schafer
Banded Alder Borer
Dear Jake,
We love this photo. It is so quirky. This distinctive insect is a Banded Alder Borer.
Subject: Bug!
Location: Mansfield, Ohio
February 23, 2013 8:24 pm
Hi guys!
I apologize for sending my bug identification query with the wrong section of your site.
This is the insect; He has a one and a half inch or so thorax that is arrow shaped. His thorax is about a three quarters of an inch wide. His head is small and directly attached to his thorax. He has six legs. He has wings but doesn’t appear to be capable of sustained flight. They appear in all parts of the house but mainly around windows. His back area is brown but speckled with gray.
We live in central Ohio and have had these little visitors since mid fall until now (late winter.)
Thanks bug guys!
Aaron
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Hi Aaron,
This is a very artful photograph of a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. If we ever do a calendar again, this would be a wonderful image of an invasive species that invades homes. Ground Zero for this Asian species is suspected to be Maryland. It was a Bug of the Month several years ago and we have numerous other postings on our site. Just use our search engine to find all the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug postings. BugGuide has wonderful information on the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug or Interstate Bug or Asian Stink Bug.
Subject: What is this huge flying bug?
Location: Escondido CA
August 13, 2012 1:43 am
Please help me identify this huge flying bug. I found it at night in my swimming pool. I thought it was dead but after I fished it out it started walking around.
It was ~2.5-3” long and had what looked to be 2 sets of wings.
Signature: Thanks, Matt
Ponderous Borer
Hi Matt,
This is one of the large Root Borers in the subfamily Prioninae. We believe it is the Palo Verde Root Borer, Derobrachus hovorei and according to BugGuide, they are attracted to lights. Perhaps the pool light caused this individual to fly into your pool.
Ed. Note: Suspecting we might be wrong, we get a second opinion from Eric Eaton
Hi Eric,
Seems I have been confusing the Palo Verde Root Borer with the Ponderous Borer lately. I believe this is the Palo Verde Root Borer. Can you confirm?
Thanks
Daniel
Eric Eaton provides correction and explanation
Daniel:
Nope, this is a Ponderous Borer. Note the fine teeth on the midsection (thorax). The thorax of the Palo Verde Root Borer has very large, prominent teeth, almost spike-like. You also won’t likely find them together. Palo Verde Borers are in desert habitats with palo verde trees. Ponderous Borers bore in coniferous trees, so occur at higher elevations.
Eric
Subject: Giant wierd bug
Location: Grantham, NH
August 1, 2012 8:11 pm
Found this on our fake turtle. The bug was about 1 inch long. It was scary looking. What is it? It died a day later.
Signature: Tony
Dogday Harvestfly
Hi Tony,
This hitchhiker is a Cicada in the genus Tibicen. We believe it is the Dogday Cicada or Dogday Harvestfly, Tibicen canicularis, based on comparing the markings on the head and thorax with this image on BugGuide. If you would like some very detailed and specific information, turn to BugGuide. The loud grinding call of the Dogday Harvestfly is a common summer sound throughout much of its range.
Dogday Harvestfly
Subject: found on wood pile
Location: Middle of North Dakota
July 8, 2012 9:03 pm
Local camper brought this into my office about two weeks ago. It is not something we see around here. Just curious what this is. It is vibrant purple with a yellow head. It was returned to the area it was found. It was not aggressive,very sluggish.
Thanks for any help
Signature: Mal
Stump Stabber: Megarhyssa atrata
I found a photo of one =) Giant Ichneumon – Megarhyssa atrata
Dear Mal,
This iconic parasitic wasp is commonly called a Stump Stabber or Giant Ichneumon, Megarhyssa atrata. A female, like the one in your photo, uses her Ovipositor to lay eggs in dead and diseased wood that is being eaten by the larvae of the Pigeon Horntail. Your Stump Stabber appears to be exhausted.
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