From the yearly archives: "2017"

Assassin Bug from India

On · Category: Assassin Bugs Tagged With: · 2 Comments

Subject:  What is this bug name
Geographic location of the bug:  India
Date: 12/28/2017
Time: 10:27 PM EDT
Hi ,
Can please let me know what bug it is
How you want your letter signed:  Yes [Prakash]

Assassin Bug

Dear Prakash,
This is a very beautiful Assassin Bug in the family Reduviidae, but we have not had any luck finding a matching image online that identifies the species.  This image from Alamy is similarly colored, but it has spines your individual lacks.  Handle Assassin Bugs with care.  They might bite.  Perhaps one of our readers will be able to provide a species identification.

Related posts:

Correction: Feather Legged Assassin Bug from Australia Assassin Bug from Guyana Feather Legged Assassin Bug from Australia Assassin Bug from Madagascar

Unknown Australian “Fly” might be female Yellow Headed Parasitic Snail Blow Fly

On · Category: blow flies Tagged With: , · 3 Comments

Subject:  What Is this wierd fly?
Geographic location of the bug:  Nsw, Sydney, Australia
Date: 12/19/2017
Time: 07:09 PM EDT
It has yellow spots on one side, and a sliver green surface (like a fly) on the other side.its overall shape is that of a fly, But the head is in the form of a wasp with it being yellow. It also has the wings of the fly. Overall, It is also prettt big, and It looks like a hybrid of a fly and a wasp. What is it?
How you want your letter signed:  S.A

Unknown “Fly”

Dear S.A.,
Alas, your image is far too blurry for us to identify, but we are posting it.  Perhaps one of our readers will take a stab at an identification.

Update:  We can’t believe Cesar Crash provided what seems to be an excellent possibility:  a female Yellow Headed Parasitic Snail Blow Fly that is pictured on Brisbane Insects.

Related posts:

Wood Moth from Tasmania, not Ghost Moth Unknown Hemipteran Nymphs from Australia Possibly Male Orbweaver from Australia Unknown Geometrid Moth from Australia

Immature Scentless Plant Bugs

On · Category: Plant Bugs · Add Comment

Subject:  What is this bug?
Geographic location of the bug:  North Carolina
Date: 12/27/2017
Time: 06:59 PM EDT
My nephew found this bug and is very curious about it.
How you want your letter signed:  Deanna Money

Scentless Plant Bug Nymphs

Dear Deanna,
These immature Scentless Plant Bugs, Niesthrea louisianica, have no species specific common name.  They are frequently found on Rose of Sharon as your image documents.

Related posts:

Mating Red Shouldered Bugs Scentless Plant Bugs Red Shouldered Bug Giant Red Bug from India

Common Assassin Bug from Australia

On · Category: Assassin Bugs Tagged With: · Add Comment

Subject:  Unknown beetle
Geographic location of the bug:  Buderim, Queensland, Australia
Date: 12/29/2017
Time: 01:15 AM EDT
Can you identify this beetle please ?
How you want your letter signed:  Steve Ormerod

Common Assassin Bug

Dear Steve,
This is not a Beetle.  It is an Assassin Bug and we believe we have correctly identified it as a Common Assassin Bug, Pristhesancus plagipennis, thanks to images posted to the Brisbane Insect site where it states:  “As all other assassin bugs, Common Assassin Bugs have the long head with powerful proboscis. They use the powerful proboscis to puncture their prey. Their legs are long so that they have long attack distance. Adult bugs are brown in colour with transparent wings. Nymphs are dark brown to black with brightly orange abdomens.”  We would advise you not to attempt to handle Assassin Bugs.  They might bite.

Dear Daniel,
Many thanks for your prompt reply and your identification of this insect.  It is very much appreciated.
Kind regards,
Steve Ormerod

Related posts:

Assassin Bug bites boy in Australia Default ThumbnailAustralian Assassin Bug Nymph Assassin Bug from Australia Spiny Assassin Bug nymph

Giant Asian Mantis from Hawaii

On · Category: Preying Mantis · Add Comment

Subject:  Praying mantis
Geographic location of the bug:  Oahu, Hawaii,  USA
Date: 12/29/2017
Time: 12:57 AM EDT
Hello I was wondering what type of mantis these are. I have searched your website and haven’t found it exactly. Using google images I’ve determined it is in the hierodula genus but not the exact species. In the past week I have found five or six of them all of them being female and I have not found any males in all the time I’ve lived here so I am curious if they are parthengenic. Thank you in advance for helping me
How you want your letter signed:  Colin

Giant Asian Mantis

Dear Colin,
One of the biggest problems with trying to identify Insects and Arthropods sighted in Hawaii is that many if not most creatures, especially on Oahu, are introduced from other parts of the world.  Based on this FlickR image from Hong Kong, we believe you have correctly identified the genus Hierodula.  This unidentified individual from Hawaii on Leigh Hilberts site also looks very much like your individual.  Mantidforum does picture males from this genus, so we do not believe you have a parthenogenic species.  It is more likely you have not encountered males that generally do not live as long as female Mantids.  Your submission is our first new posting since our editorial staff returned from holiday.

Giant Asian Mantis

Comment from Brian Fridie on Facebook:  Hierodula patellifera. I would love it I could help in correctly IDing many of the mantids on your site.

We would love to take advantage of Brian’s offer.  In the future, please post a comment on the actual posting and we can include corrections and identifications on our site.  The editorial staff does not communicate via Facebook.

Giant Asian Mantis

Related posts:

Mantis Hatchlings Carolina Mantis Brunner's Stick Mantis Male Grizzled Mantis

Seeds found in Home

On · Category: Rodents, Seed Pods Tagged With: · 2 Comments

Subject:  Several Mistery Stashes of what looks like brown seeds
Geographic location of the bug:  Windham, New York
Date: 12/15/2017
Time: 10:07 PM EDT
Hello!
Thank you for taking the time to read/look into our issue.
My wife and I recently acquired a vacation home on the Catskills in Windham, New York. We have discovered in a few locations very small stashes of what looks to me like seeds of some kind, but I am no longer sure what we are finding.
It is always inside a bed, or folded towels, or folded blankets or laundry.
We do know there are mice in this area, but from what I understand, they wouldn’t be just seeds but no droppings. We have setup mouse traps and will continue to setup more, but again we only find seeds and no droppings. Not around the house or along the walls or any if that.
There is snow on the ground outside, so my gut tells me it may be a squirrel or chipmunk, but haven’t heard any noises nor have we found any acorns.
I am submitting a couple pictures to try to help solve the mistery.
How you want your letter signed:  George & Elena

Seeds

Dear George & Elena,
Our best bet on this is that a rodent is stashing seeds inside your home as a winter meal.  You wouldn’t necessarily find droppings near the food stash.  We will be postdating your submission to go live to our site while our editorial staff is away for the holidays.

Seeds

Related posts:

Unknown Black Things found in Home probably a Rodent’s Stash of Pokeweed Seeds Unknown Black Things found in Drawer probably Rodent’s Stash of Pokeweed Seeds Black Seeds found in Home probably Rodent’s Stash Mouse’s Food Stash: Pokeweed Seeds