From the monthly archives: "September 2019"

Flag Footed Bug from Panama

On · Category: Leaf Footed Bugs · Add Comment

Subject:  Strange bug on driveway
Geographic location of the bug:  Highlands of Rep of Panama,Boquete specifically
Date: 09/28/2019
Time: 10:24 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Could you please look at this and identify him/her. Suggestion given by neighbours is a harlequin bug but I don’t think so, the ‘leaves’ on the legs don’t seem to be on any photos I looked at for Harlequins.
How you want your letter signed:  Carol

Flag Footed Bug

Dear Carol,
This is a Flag Footed Bug, Anisocelis flavolineata.  The species is pictured on Project Noah.

Related posts:

Immature Leaf Footed Bug from Brazil Immature Big Legged Bug Western Conifer Seed Bug Immature Leaf Footed Bug

Electric Light Bug

On · Category: Toe Biters and other Aquatic True Bugs · Add Comment

Subject:  Large Bug/Beetle?
Geographic location of the bug:  South Central Kentucky
Date: 09/28/2019
Time: 01:21 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  I would really appreciate any info about this bug. It was about 2.5 inches and the weirdest thing was that its head moved in an in and out motion like it was vibrating. It also fluttered on the ground but never flew. It did not like light. It was kind of a green/gray color. Ive lived here for ten years and have never seen one before.
How you want your letter signed:  James

Electric Light Bug

Dear James,
The Giant Water Bug or Toe-Biter is also commonly called an Electric Light Bug because they are attracted to electric lights, often in large numbers in areas like outdoor football stadiums.

Related posts:

Bug of the Month: June 2008 – Giant Water Bug Giant Water Bug Toe-Biter Toe-Biter

Banded Tussock Moth Caterpillar

On · Category: Woolly Bears · Add Comment

Subject:  Fuzzy Wuzzy Friend
Geographic location of the bug:  Holly Springs, MS
Date: 09/27/2019
Time: 10:01 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Hi again Daniel!
A previous Bug Queen here. I have a new friend I have since freed to the yard. Would you please be so kind as to identify my fuzzy wuzzy pal?
How you want your letter signed:  Your biggest fan, Stephanie

Banded Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Dear Stephanie,
This looks like a Banded Tussock Moth Caterpillar, Halysidota tessellaris, to us, and though it is a variably colored caterpillar, it does match the individual in this BugGuide image.  According to BugGuide:  “Larvae feed on leaves of alder, ash, birch, elm, hazel, hickory, oak, poplar, tulip tree, walnut, willow.”

Related posts:

Garden Tiger Moth Caterpillar Probably Woolly Bear Cocoon Spotted Oleander Caterpillar from Dominican Republic Probably Tiger Moth Eggs, hatching in Germany

Carolina Mantis and European Mantis

On · Category: Preying Mantis · Add Comment

Subject:  Unknown Mantis at work
Geographic location of the bug:  Johnson city, tx
Date: 09/26/2019
Time: 12:23 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Hey! I found what I believe to be two green European Mantids at my place of work a couple weeks ago but this morning I found this dark colored mantis hunting a fly. I’m not sure if it’s just a color variant of the same species or something different? I also will attach pics of my self identified Eurpean Mantids because I’m not 100% on my ID. Thanks!
How you want your letter signed:  Lisa Keys

Female Carolina Mantis

Dear Lisa,
We agree with your identification of the European Mantid which can be distinguished from Chinese Mantids which have striped faces as indicated in this BugGuide image.  Your image of a female European Mantis does not show the distinguishing black spot or black spot with a white bull’s eye where the foreleg meets the body on the ventral surface as indicated on BugGuide.  The darker Mantid in question is a female Carolina Mantis, a smaller native species.  Both European Mantids and Chinese Mantids can be purchased as ootheca or egg cases for gardeners who want to control insects without spraying, which is a noble idea, however, both species are much larger than native Mantids that they will prey upon.  We do not endorse introducing non-native Mantids to the garden as we promote the preservation of native species.  Here is a BugGuide image of a Carolina Mantid.

Female European Mantis

Interesting! I thought it might be a Carolina mantis but she was so big, around 3-3.5 inches, that it threw me off a bit. I currently keep these guys as work pets since I knew the first was a non native species at least. I’m sure keeping one or two doesnt have much effect on their population if they are already in the area but I have always enjoyed keeping and caring for mantids even when I was younger. Thanks for your help!

Related posts:

probably female Grasslike Mantis Preying Mantis nymph Arizona Unicorn Mantis Immature Chinese Mantis

Spider Wasp and Prey

On · Category: Nursery Web Spiders, spider wasps Tagged With: · Add Comment

Subject:  Is this a spider wasp?
Geographic location of the bug:  Conyers GA
Date: 09/24/2019
Time: 04:07 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Just wondering what type of bug this is. It was dragging a very large spider as it went along.
How you want your letter signed:  Belinda

Spider Wasp and prey

Hi Belinda,
This is definitely a Spider Wasp.  Based on this BugGuide image, it appears to be Entypus unifasciatus. The prey appears to be a Fishing Spider in the genus Dolomedes, and according to BugGuide:  “Females dig a burrow that ends in a terminal chamber off of the side of a mammal burrow or large crack in the ground. The serrations on the hind tibiae are used to aid the movement of soil out of the burrow entrance. The position in which the egg is laid is unknown. Larvae feed on one large spider and, as in all Pompilids that have one generation per year, overwinter as pupae.”  Most images of this Spider Wasp are with prey that are Wolf Spiders like this BugGuide image, but Fishing Spiders surely constitute “one large spider.”  Perhaps an expert in Spider Wasps will be able to provide comments regarding the prey.

Related posts:

Probably Fishing Spider eating Dragonfly Fishing Spider eats Tree Frog Spider Wasp and Spider from Malaysia Spider Wasp with Prey

Bed Bug

On · Category: Bedbugs Tagged With: · Add Comment

Subject:  Bug Beetle or what is it
Geographic location of the bug:  New England and eastern Canada
Date: 09/25/2019
Time: 08:31 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  We have found several of these in the material on the headboard (bed) in our Motor Home.  We have been in the New England States and the Maritime Provinces in Canada for the past 3 months.
How you want your letter signed:  RT

Bed Bug

Dear RT,
We take no pleasure in being the bearers of bad news.  This is a Bed Bug.

Related posts:

Bed Bug found in Canada Bed Bug Bed Bug and resulting Bites Bed Bug