From the yearly archives: "2015"

Human Louse

On · Category: Louse Tagged With: · 2 Comments

Subject: Weird bug on my face
Location: New York Queens
December 11, 2015 9:20 pm
I was just casually sitting in my room at around 11 pm and I go to use the bathroom and look in the mirror and see this on the side on my face. What is it? This is the clearest picture of it. It was still alive and was moving so it was difficult to take the picture.
Signature: -Amy

Human Louse

Human Louse

Dear Amy,
This is a Human Louse, a blood-sucking external parasite.  If there was one, there may be more.  There are many over the counter treatments available at the pharmacy.  Your submission will go live to our site over the holidays when we are away from the office.

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Antlion Larva from Australia

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

Subject: What on earth is this
Location: Perth western australia
December 10, 2015 9:04 am
I found this on my back porch and ive never seen it before
Signature: E. Broughton

Antlion Larva

Antlion Larva

Dear E.,
This is some species of Neuropteran larva, and we believe it is an Antlion larva in the family Myrmeleontidae.  There isn’t a great website for Western Australian insects, but the Brisbane Insect site has many species of Antlions represented and some of those may also be found in Western Australia.  We will be postdating your submission to go live during our holiday absence.

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Wasp Moth from India

On · Category: Tiger Moths and Arctiids · Add Comment

Subject: Can you identify please?
Location: 14°53′54″ N and 15°40′00″ N and longitudes 73°40′33″ E and 74°20′13″ E.
December 13, 2015 9:03 pm
Hi,
I am back once again for a request to identify some lovely bugs. I live in Goa. India. It is a smallest state in India – located on the west coast.
Goa i/ˈɡoʊ.ə/ is a state located in the South western region of India; it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast. It is India’s smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population.
Goa is a former Portuguese province; the Portuguese overseas territory of Portuguese India existed for about 450 years until it was annexed by India in 1961.[4][5]
Goa is visited by large numbers of international and domestic tourists each year for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture. It also has rich flora and fauna, owing to its location on the Western Ghats range, which is classified as a biodiversity hotspot.
Goa encompasses an area of 3,702 km2 (1,429 sq mi). It lies between the latitudes 14°53′54″ N and 15°40′00″ N and longitudes 73°40′33″ E and 74°20′13″ E. Most of Goa is a part of the coastal country known as the Konkan, which is an escarpment rising up to the Western Ghats range of mountains, which separate it from the Deccan Plateau. The highest point is the Sonsogor, with an altitude of 1,167 metres (3,829 ft). Goa has a coastline of 101 km (63 mi).
Signature: Sucheta Potnis

Wasp Moth

Wasp Moth

Dear Sucheta,
Because you have multiple species included in your submission, we need to separate them for posting purposes.  Your first attachment, the most colorful of the three moths, is a Wasp Moth in the tribe Euchromiini, and we believe it is Euchromia polymena.  Wasp Moths get their common name as many members of the tribe are excellent mimics of stinging insects, though they are themselves harmless.  They are also diurnal in habit.  This image from TrekNature supports our identification.  We will be postdating your submission to go live during our holiday absence from the office later in the month.

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Unknown True Bug Hatchlings from Australia

On · Category: Leaf Footed Bugs Tagged With: , · 2 Comments

Subject: unknown ant/spider
Location: Sydney, Australia
December 14, 2015 2:09 am
Hi
These were found on my front verandah about to crawl into my daughters bedroom.
Never seen them before. Tiny in size so babies or just hatched – maybe quarter of an inch or half a centimetre long.
It’s summer here in Australia anf I live about 2km west of the harbour.
Would love to know what you think they are.
Kind regards
Signature: Michelle

Heteropteran Hatchlings

Heteropteran Hatchlings

Dear Michelle,
These are hatchling True Bugs in the suborder Heteroptera, and we have not been able to quickly locate any matching images online, but we suspect they are in the Leaf Footed Bug or Twig Wilter family Coreidae.  Perhaps one of our readers will be able to assist in the identification.  We will be postdating your submission to go live during our absence from the office during the holidays.

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Western Conifer Seed Bug, NOT Kissing Bug

On · Category: Leaf Footed Bugs · 1 Comment

Subject: Kissing bug?
Location: San Diego, CA
December 13, 2015 3:49 pm
Found this wee beastie in my back yard in Southern California some time ago. With all the media attention on kissing bugs it made me wonder if that was what I caught….and if that means there could be more lurking outside. Should I be worried?!
Signature: BH

Western Conifer Seed Bug

Western Conifer Seed Bug

Dear BH,
In the past several weeks, we have received around 50 requests to identify suspected Kissing Bugs and not one of the submitted images was of a Kissing Bug.  The Western Conifer Seed Bug, like the one in your image, is the most frequent suspect, followed by the Wheel Bug.  Kissing Bugs are known to spread Chagas Disease, but none of their impostors pose any threat to humans.  We are postdating your submission to go live to our site during our holiday absence.

Thank you!  Didn’t think it was but figured it was worth asking. Appreciate it.
Cheers
Blair

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Golden Orbweaver lays three egg sacs

On · Category: Eggs, Orb Weavers · Add Comment

Subject: Golden Orb Spider
December 20, 2015 6:03 pm
Want ed to thank you for all the info on the Golden Orb Garden Spider.  My son who is 30, and I have enjoyed watching the one we have on our porch most of all this year and she has just laid her 3rd egg sack!!!  I  thought they only had one, but she produced another one that she worked on all night.  Our weather has been good  through December so she may live a little longer.  Your information was helpful, especially in removing my fear of spiders, lol.  Thanks again and take care.  Jennifer King
Signature: Jennifer King

Golden Orbweaver with Egg Sac

Golden Orbweaver with Egg Sac

Dear Jennifer,
Thanks so much for your very sweet comment.  Since you did not provide an image, we have taken a nice image from our archives showing a Golden Orbweaver with her Egg Sac to accompany your posting.

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