Cute Little Guys
Location: Tucson, AZ
August 6, 2011 10:27 pm
Hello,
I’ve been seeing these bugs flying around/in my house for several months–probably since mid April. I think they’re cute. They’re about 1/2 to 3/4 inch long and brownish black. I couldn’t see its pincers with the naked eye, but they’re visible in the photo. I just can’t figure out what they are! Hopefully you can.
Signature: Thank you, Danielle Brugnone
Good morning Danielle,
You are being visited by Webspinners from the order Embiidina, which you can verify on BugGuide which indicates that they live in: “silk galleries are spun under stones and bark, in debris, cracks in soil or bark, among grass roots, lichens, mosses, and epiphytic plants winged males of some species are attracted to artificial light”. BugGuide also remarks that they are: “rapid runners, often run backwards; live in colonies (in galleries of spun silk) and exhibit limited maternal care for eggs and young.” They are benign insects that feed upon: “dead plant material plus lichens and mosses found around their galleries” according to BugGuide.
We found a wingless bug in our bathtub that really looks like one of these. The problem is, we live in Washington. The range maps I find show these in California, but not further north. Are there records of ones in Washington? Is there something that lives here that’s similar? It looks like an earwig, but the tail is wrong.
We suspect you may have found an Earwig. Not all species of Earwigs have the pronounced forceps.
Ah! Thanks for posting this. I also live in Tucson and had taken to calling all of these insects “Fred” (one stayed around for a while so I gave it a name). Nice to have the actual name, but I think I’ll still call them Freds. I agree that they are cute. Something about them reminds me of dogs. The attraction to light explains why they kept hanging around the computer monitor and made for adorable Internet buddies 🙂
I live in Lake Havasu City Az and it took me over a year to identify them..I googled “cute little bug that flies and turn it’s head to look.. They hang on around my computer and keep me company when i work.. i also have a lot or earwigs which are equally endearing.. they remind me of those self propelled robot vacuum cleaners,, going one way running into something and the going another direction.. always confused.. I have two great pictured.. one of an earwig and roach sharing a piece of food and the other of an earwig devouring a cricket if you would like them
Ok I have found several of these living in my house plants. Are they bad for them or should I remove them?