Effective Immediately: No Location means your letter will go directly to the Trash!!!!!!
Summer
has Arrived
(07/03/2008) ... and we are swamped. We are getting about 100 letters per day and can only post a few. We can email short answers to a few more. Getting our attention is the luck of the draw. Chances
are quite good that the insect you want identified might
already be in our archives. Please try our search engine
or click the links on the left side of the homepage.
Don't forget to scroll down to see our most recent postings
and you can see the alphabetized archive of links on
the lower left.
We
will be undergoing a Metamorphosis!!!
What's That Bug? will be changing our appearance and
format in the future. We hope you will find our transformation
easier to use and we hope it will make our lives easier.
Watch for the new and improved What's That Bug? in the
near future.
We got a great holiday present last year. One of our
readers was sick and tired of not being able to look
at bugs when she wanted wanted to. The whims of our
server got the best of her and so she put us in touch
with her husband who is WEB-SAVVY down in Florida. He
hooked us up with plenty of bandwidth, so there should
be NO MORE PROBLEMS and our readers are now free to
browse the bugs whenever they feel the urge. THANK
YOU Lisa and Daniel of SHIRTSOFBAMBOO.COM.
PLEASE
VISIT OUR SPONSOR! SHIRTS OF BAMBOO TOOK PITY ON US
AND OFFERED BANDWIDTH! HOW NICE ARE THEY?
Recent
Letters to What's that Bug-
Before writing in, please
browse our recent letters, use our search engine, and take
a look at the list of bugs on the left side of the page
to see if your beast has already been identified!
There
are numerous other pages in the alphabatized list at the
left. Please check out those pages first before writing
to us to see if you can locate your mystery specimen. Then
if your photo is better than one we have, please send it
in with any relevant details. Because we are getting hundreds
of letters a week, we are only able to post four per day.
This is no indication of the quality or urgency of your
query as the letters are chosen at random. If you have a
question about a bug, please take the time to look at our
alphabetized list of bugs on the left column before writing
us. The most popular household intruders we get letters
about are HOUSE CENTIPEDES and PANTRY
BEETLES. Larger frightening creatures that are frequent
letter topics include POTATO BUGS,
DOBSONFLIES and TOE-BITERS.
So please check out those sections if you see something
creepy in your house or yard!
Not Much Help to the Helpless
(10/7/2003)
HELP!!!
Help I have a spider and i want to idenify it! i need to
know it's Family Scientfic name and its order!!
Please help1!!
helpless child
Dear
Helpless,
Give me something to go on. Please send a photo attachment
or a description and a location.
Editor's
Note: Here at What's That Bug? we make every attempt
to identify your mystery visitors, but we need information.
In the event that you don't have a photo, please try to
provide a description including where the creature was spotted,
when, if it was on a specific plant, and please include
your geographic location.
We
do not offer extermination advice.
Bug
of the Month: August 2008
Mating
Great Spangled Fritillaries
(07/29/2008) Attention ... Great Spangled Fritillaries mating
Hi Bugman:
Here are a few photos of mating Great Spangled Fritillaries
(Speyeria cybele) for your collection. They were taken on
a perfect sunny afternoon last weekend in southwest Manitoba,
along a forest trail in mature aspen parkland. The key identifying
features of this species are the reddish background color
on the underside of the wing, except for the relatively wide
and clear yellow/cream band between the last two rows of silver
spots on the underside, and the lack of any black spots or
dashes on the base (inside of the long squiggly black line)
on the upper side of the forewing. Apart from these features
most Greater Fritillaries (genus Speyeria) are very similar
and difficult to tell apart. I believe the curious intruder
was another female (males are generally paler than the females).
Keep up the great work! Regards.
Karl
Hi again Karl,
Thank you for your gorgeous photos and the concise species
identification information for the Great Spangled Fritillary.
Update: (07/30/2008) Speyeria cybele pictures
Hi,
I noticed the Speyeria Cybele pictures on your front page,
I think the identity of the male and female is mixed up. Speyeria
cybele females are generally paler than males, especially
westward and the color of the disc is a little richer brown.
More generally in the genus Speyeria males of most species
including cybele have darker scaling along the forewing veins,
so I think in the top picture the female is on top while the
male is on bottom and in the second picture both of the butterflies
showing their topsides are males.
Mike
Response: (07/31/2008)
Thanks Mike.
You were quite correct and I did have the sexes reversed.
I should have checked again. To add to your comments, many
references do say that the female of the species is darker
topside, but this is an overall visual effect caused by the
heavier black (or dark brown) markings on females relative
to males. The orange background color is always more vivid
in the male. This difference is only slight in Manitoba, but
increases as you go west, as you suggest (in Alberta the females
can be almost black and white). Good call, and thanks again.
Karl
Ed. Note: (08/01/2008)
Choosing our Bug of the Month each month is sometimes a difficult
decision, but we try to use a very recently submitted photo.
The photos that Karl sent of the mating Great Spangled Fritillaries
are positively gorgeous, and they brought back fond memories
of the Dog Days of Summer in Ohio, and the numerous Fritillaries that
would visit roadside wild flowers like milkweed and Joe Pye
weed among others. These beautiful and noble butterflies were
also among the favorites of Vladimir Nabokov, one of our favorite
authors.
Male and Female Black Witch Moths from Hawaii
(08/18/2008) Black Witch Moths - Male & Female
Both sexes on the same screen!
Enjoy Keep the Spirit of Aloha alive!
Michael F. O'Brien
Waikoloa, HI
Hi Michael,
We we first read your very short email, we thought you had
a photo of a pair of Black Witch Moths on the same window
screen. Upon opening the photo files, we realized the screen
you have in mind is the computer screen. We are also surprised
that you manage to meticulously lable the file names on your
digital photos with much information, yet your communication
to us is quite spare. We know that collected insects without
information regarding the circumstances of the capture are
relatively worthless, so in the interest of credibility, we
are including your label information here. The darker male
Black Witch has the label: "P1070967(72) Black Witch Moth
(male) - HALE o O' - WAIKOLOA VILLAGE - SOUTH KOHALA - BIG
ISLAND - 27 JULY 2007 1" and the female with her zigzag lighter
traverse stripe is labeled thus: "P1180580 Black Witch Moth
Female (Ascalapha odorata) - HALE o O' - LIVINGROOM CEILING
- WAIKOLOA VILLAGE -SOUTH KOHALA "
Preying Mantis Peeping Tom
(08/18/2008) Smiling Mantis
Daniel,
I found this Praying Mantis peepin in my bedroom window in
Dayton, Ohio. He looks as if he is smiling. lol. I thought
maybe you would like to add this photo to your archive
of smiling Mantidae. I thought it was a good close-up. Thanks
again for your wonderful site.
Terry in Dayton, Ohio
Hi Terry,
Your "Peeping Tom" Preying Mantis photo is pretty funny. We
can't help but wonder: "whatever were you doing to capture
that mantid's attention?".
Spottede Apatelodes Caterpillar
(08/18/2008) fuzzy white caterpillar
We found this caterpillar in our back yard here in Oak Harbor
which is in the Northwest region of Ohio. Can you help
us identify it? It is about 1.5 - 2 inches long, very
fuzzy (my husband said, "like an Old English Sheep dog")
and has reddish orange feet. The end with the two clumps
of long black hairs is the head end.
Brian & Kay Ewing
Rabbit Hill Farm
Hi Brian and Kay,
In the past few weeks, we have gotten several images of Spotted
Apatelodes Caterpillars, but we did not post any as we have
numerous images in our archive. We think perhaps it is time
to post a new example, and your photo is quite nice. The scientific
name is Apatelodes torrefacta.
Painted Grasshopper
(08/18/2008) Is this a painted grasshopper
We found this guy on our door sill in Rio Rico AZ. Are
they poisonous? Thank you,
Barbara Kuzara
Hi Barbara,
Your identification of a Painted Grasshopper, Dactylotum bicolor.
Though many brightly colored insects, including the African
Milkweed Grasshoppers, advertise toxicity with color and pattern,
to the best of our knowledge, the Painted Grasshopper is not
one of them. The Painted Grasshopper is also known as the
Rainbow Grasshopper or Barber Pole Grasshopper according to
BugGuide.
Flower Longhorn: Stenelytrana emarginata
(08/18/2008) Coppery beetle in NY - brown prionid?
Here's a bug that appeared on an old maple tree in central
New York state. The size is what surprised us when it
flew. It's huge! I tried to identify it, and it
may be a brown prionid, but only its back is bronze.
The rest is black. The bronze sparkles in the sun. This
was on your website. It has similar wings and antennae,
but this one is all brown, and the one I saw was only brown
on the wing covers. Can you tell what it is? Thanks!
We love your site - amazing!
Leslie
Hi Leslie,
Your beetle is in the same family as the Prionids, but a different
subfamily. This is a Flower Longhorn in the subfamily Lepturinae.
We believe it is Stenelytrana emarginata based on photos posted
to BugGuide.
Sadly, this gorgeous beetle does not have a common name.
Pleasing Fungus Beetle
(posted 08/18/2008; submitted 07/26/2008) Blue beetle
I found this in Flagstaff, AZ, while I was on a hike. It was
on an Aspen tree. I've never seen a beetle like this before.
Can you tell me what it is?
Molly
Hi Molly,
When we first received your letter, we couldn't immediately
identify your Pleasing Fungus Beetle, but we remembered the
photo. Today, while researching larvae of the Pleasing Fungus
Beetles, family Erotylidae, we stumbled upon photos of the
adult Gibbifer californicus on BugGuide,
and it matches your submission. So, after three weeks, we
have an answer for you and we apologize for the delay.
Longhorn Beetle from Thailand: Aristobia approximator
(08/17/2008) Bug from Thailand
I am a eucalyptus farmer here in Thailand and discovered a
new beetle yesterday munching on my trees. Can you please
identify it for me? Thanks in advance,
Don
Hi Don,
Before you decide to spend money to eradicate the Cerambycid
Beetle or Longhorn Beetle, Aristobia approximator, from your
eucalyptus grove, you should know that we located a framed
mounted specimen online for $109.00, which may make raising
the beetles more profitable than raising the trees.
Bee-Like Robber Fly
(08/17/2008) Bee Identification
We came across this bee while hiking on Cougar Mountain near
Newcastle, WA. I must have upset it somehow as it swarmed
me, flying around my head and finally landing on my leg.
Luckily my keys were in my pocket where it landed, so I'm
not sure if it tried to sting at that moment or not.
I was able to shush it away so it landed on a nearby bench.
I took a close photo so I could try to identify this guy when
I got home but have been finding it very hard to do so by
looking at many sites including yours. Please help me
out. It looked really mad and, from the looks of its
backend, I'm really glad it didn't sting me.
~Mark in Tacoma, WA
Hi Mark,
This is not a Bee, but a Robber Fly in the family Asilidae.
We don't immediately recognize your species, and we cannot
at the moment research this more thoroughly, but you may have
luck researching the BugGuide
archives. It is also possible one of our readers will provide
the answer. Flies don't sting, they bite.
Thank you for the clarification. I researched it more and
found it most likely to be a Laphria thoracica. I appreciate
the help in identifying this species of fly.
Mark
Hi again Mark,
We believe you have the genus correct, but this looks more
to us like a male Laphria astur, also pictured on BugGuide.
All the photos on BugGuide are collected specimens, so it
is wonderful to have a photo of a living example. Collectively,
the Laphria species are known as the Bee-Like Robber Flies.
Wheel Bug
(08/17/2008) Did You See?
Greetings:
Won't bug you again with this, (pun intended) but a while
back I sent in a pic of a Wheel Bug that landed on the mirror
of my 18 wheeler and was giving me the stink-eye as I took
his (her?) picture. Anyway, I have been looking on your website
and I just don't think there is a better image of one up close
and personal. Maybe I am biased, but I think it's a cool image,
the way he's looking at the camera. Well, I just thought you
may have missed it in the pile of images you receive every
day. So, here it is one more time and if it doesn't get posted
I will figure my idea of a decent shot might not be as good
as I thought it was. Either way, happy trails
Dave
Hi Dave,
We generally post lateral views of Wheel Bugs so that the
distinctive wheel or cog on the thorax is plainly visible.
A dorsal view does not accentuate this distinguishing feature.
In making that decision in the past, we realize that dorsal
views of Wheel Bugs are noticeably absent on our site, and
your photo fills a void. As far as choosing who has the best
Wheel Bug photo, we don't really want to go there because
we have no desire to pit our readership against one another.
Feather Legged Fly
(08/17/2008) Wasp Moth?
Hello Bugman:
I live in the Williamsport, Pennsylvania area. Here are some
photos of a bug I have taken in the past few days. He is seen
feeding on the goldenrod amongst many other bees and wasps.
It is a little over an inch long. I can't tell if it
is a bee, wasp, moth or some combination. Any help would be
appreciated.
Thanks,
Alex
 
Hi Alex,
This beauty is a Feather Legged Fly, Trichopoda pennipes,
one of the Tachinid Flies. According to BugGuide:
"Adult female lays one to several eggs on a hemipteran host.
The larvae hatch from the eggs and burrow directly into the
bug's body, though only one larva will survive within each
host. The larva feeds on the host internally and eventually
a large cream-colored maggot exits from body of the bug (which
soon dies). The maggot pupates in a dark reddish-brown puparium
in the soil and emerges as an adult about two weeks later.
There are up to three generations a year depending on location,
and larvae may overwinter in the bodies of overwintering hosts."
and "Often used as biological control of hemipteran pest species
such as squash bugs, stink bugs, and plant bugs. May hover
above squash plants in search of prey." The black tipped abdomen
is a signal that this is a female fly.
Female Fishing Spider in her Nursery Web
(08/17/2008) spider
I am not certain what this is--glancing over your photos,
my closest guess was Wolf spider but as those don't make webs,
it can't be the case. As you can tell, this fellow makes
a web--turning the entire top of this plant into a death trap.
It's a good sized spider--its body the length of the diameter
of a nickel, maybe bigger. If you want, I have a few more
pictures of
This is a female Dolomedes Fishing Spider in her Nursery
Web. Fishing Spiders belong to the Nursery Web Spider family,
and they are hunting spiders that do not spin webs to catch
prey. The female Fishing Spider carries her egg sac in her
jaws until she finds a suitable place to spin her nursery
web. She continues to guard the nursery web even after the
spiderlings hatch. Thanks for the wonderful photo.
Fourth
Recipient: Nasty Reader Award
(08/15/2008)
Email
Why is it that it is near to IMPOSSIBLE to find your email
address CLEARLY displayed on your website? Are you guys COMPLETELY
DAFT???? Since when is this an email address: Email the bugman
AT Whatsthatbug.com ?????????????????????????????? ???????????
Are you truly dorks?
-----ja
jonathanayres@mac.com
Dear Jonathan Ayers (who can be reached at jonathanayres@mac.com),
While the majority of the emails we receive are complimentary,
occasionally we do get unsolicited derogatory and inflamatory
letters that trouble us deeply. In an effort to confront our
demons, we have created the Nasty Reader
page and we want to congratulate you on being awarded
the fourth installment of the award. Your prize include a
high profile posting on our homepage as well as a permanent
position in our archives. So that our readership will have
no problems locating your email address (jonathanayres@mac.com),
we will make sure we link to it several times. You must be
suffering from severe performance anxiety as well as personal
inadequacy since it is apparent that a large majority of the
web browsing public has no problem writing to us by simply
clicking the Ask WTB link prominently featured at the top
of each and every one of our individual pages. We do receive
over 100 emails a day. We strongly suggest you seek some rage
management treatment and perhaps our readership has additional
suggestions for you. Our readership can email you directly
at jonathanayres@mac.com,
and hopefully copy us on their letters so we can post their
views as well. Have a nice day.
Comment: (08/16/2008) How does it feel to be (in)famous?
Isn't that what you wanted-- to vent unneccessarily at the Bugman and his Mrs?
What is wrong with you people? Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning or are you naturally this nasty? You need a lesson in anger management and good manners, along with giving them an apology.
They don't have to have this wonderful page for us. I check it numerous times a day myself. I love the beautiful pictures that people send in and the commentary every day. Having this website is a wonderful gift to all of us, and you don't appreciate it.
You need to get a grip along with getting a life.
Oh, in case you're that ignorant and can't find the email address, you're supposed to click Ask WTB. DUH!
SJ
Another Reader Comment (08/17/2008)
Dear Jonathon
Does your mommy know you're on the internet?
Your email to WTB makes me think you are 8 or 9 years old. Even if you are older, I think you ought to be supervised.
Get a clue.
Joanne
Faithful Reader gets nasty with Jonathan (08/17/2008)
Dafty Dork Frustrations
Dear Jonathan,
Being that on a daily basis 100s of us are able to find the means to e-mail "What's That Bug", it leads me to the conclusion that it must be you who is the dork and a dafty dork at that!!
And ... when you apparently did locate the address, instead of feeling pride in your brilliant accomplishment, you didn't share your insect pics, but instead chose to chastise the wonderful folks who provide this amazing website.
This is what I envision occurred... it's the only explanation for such rage and frustration:
You wanted to share your bug pics, but said bug was up your arse. You set up a tripod, positioned your butt, attempted to get your camera in position. The lighting wasn't quite right, you're itchy and uncomfortable , what with the bug hopping around in there, just refusing to sit still for a photo.
Finally , after 10 minutes or so, poor bug settled down, the lighting adjusted, butt position at perfect angle to camera, you got it!
After all that work & discomfort, to not be able to find an e-mail address is certainly justification to spew venom at our Bug Folks friends.
I hope your bug has been released and you feel calmer. Although no photos were shared, I thank you for the entertainment.
Best wishes,
A very loyal "What's That Bug" fan
More proof that What's That Bug? fans are a loyal group!!! (08/17/2008)
Oh Jonathan Ayres...what a hefty mistake you've made...
Tsk, tsk. Your email to the Bugman, specifically your overuse of punctuation and lack of manners, points to the fact that you are probably a pre-pubescent boy with little to do other than use mommy's computer while she's at work. Clearly she needs to impose more parental controls, and may I suggest for you a class in basic respect. I think they call it boot camp. Perhaps you ought to be practicing your "Yessir", for if that note is any indication of your ability to control your anger, I see extended jail time in your future. I vote you "Most Likely to End Up in a Tijuana Prison"...and my guess is you have very few friends to bail you out.
M. Doy
Macintosh Representative takes issue with email abuse!!! (08/18/2008)
To jonathanayres@mac.com
Macintosh is one class act! You have displayed you have none! I am Macintosh certified and am embarrassed for Macintosh that such garbage be associated with their name. I will make sure to pass this on to all the nice wonderful people at Macintosh and see if we can't disassociate you from their name. Hope you have fun with that!
Frank
Overkill:
Sphinx Moth sprayed to death!!!
(08/15/2008) is it as dangerous as it looks?
Hi,
my little brother saw this bug upside down on our porch in
Italy. He killed it with wasp spray, so it's all wet, which
might make it a little harder to recognize. I hope you can
still get an idea of what it is... Thanks a lot!
Esther
Hi Ester,
If ever the word "overkill" could be used regarding the use
of pesticides, your photo ranks a close third after the global
use of DDT and the statewide spraying of Malathion against
the Med Fly in California in the 1980s. It appears your brother
used an entire spray can of foaming pesticide to dispatch
one harmless Sphinx Moth. This is textbook unnecessary
carnage.
Lecture at the Getty: Maria Sibylla Merian
(08/14/2008) fanmail
Daniel,
Now that I am back in New Hampshire, I am still basking in
the memory of my trip to California. On July 18, when
I checked your website to research a Fritillary butterfly
and send you a picture to confirm it, I saw your announcement
that you were giving a lecture on the Maria Sibylla
Merian exhibit at the Getty Museum in LA on July 25. What
a great coincidence that I was flying to Los Angeles on July
22 to visit my daughter and son-in-law. I was delighted
that you answered my email, and told me to introduce myself
if I came to the Getty lecture. You know the rest of
the story. They brought me to the Getty so we could
attend your lecture. Wow!! What an exciting experience!
Your "Point of View" lecture was most interesting--telling
us about Merian's life in the 1600's, and her beautiful watercolors
of insects and flowers--as we walked through the exhibit.
As you said: "It was beautiful and well worth seeing."
We had never been to the Getty before so I'm so glad
to have had the opportunity to see it too. We went back
a second time to see more. And, of course, I was lucky
enough to meet the "bugman," and to top it off,
you were kind enough to have your photo taken with me.
Your faithful fan, Mary Goode
Hillsborough, NH
Hi Mary,
It was so wonderful meeting you and your family. The Merian
lecture was one of my best experiences this summer, and I
am thrilled that you enjoyed it. Whenever I am asked how the
lecture went, I launch into the account of answering your
letter and meeting you. It reinforces our claim that What's
That Bug? is trying to develop a global sense of community.
Please continue to write when you have interesting new photos
or just for the sake of writing.
Daniel
Eastern Hercules Beetle: Available to Collectors!!!
Write To: mrsjackson@charter.net
(08/13/2008) Holy Crap!!!
Ok- so tonight I'm at my 11 year old daughters cheerleading
practice in Morganton, NC. My 6 year old son is sitting
beside me in the grass happily mouthing the cheers along with
the girls. All of a sudden he jumps up (I thought he
was cheering) and moves to the other side of me and just points
down at the grass. I look down to see this huge scary
looking bug. I mean it has big ol' horns coming out
of its head. I thought surely it wasn't real. I
dared my husband to pick it up. After I balk balked
like a chicken he got a stick and poked it. It didn't
move so he poked it with his finger (and jerked his hand back
REAL fast). Still didn't move so he picked it up. It
was dead and little ants were eating it. I have NEVER seen
anything around here even close to this. As soon as
I came home I got on the internet. I couldn't find it til
I came across your site. It's a Hercules Beetle. I know
you already have pictures of one but I think mine are a little
more detailed. And I just gotta show this to someone!
So attached are pictures feel free to use them. Thanks
for the info on your site!!
Leslie Jackson
P.S. What should I do with it? I'm not a collector. Would
someone else be interested or are they easy to come by? I
hate to just throw it away.
Hi Leslie,
Your letter is quite humorous. We do not want to act as in
intermediary between you and prospective collectors, but we
are certain there are many people out there who would love
to get your Eastern Hercules Beetle. We are not inclined to
post your email address without your permission, so if you
grant it, we will place your email address with this posting.
Yes feel free to post my email address. I'd love for someone who appreciates bugs more than I do to have the beetle.
Leslie Jackson
mrsjackson@charter.net
House
Centipede from Fuerteventura, Africa
(08/12/2008) House centipede, close picture
Hi, think I have just found a House Centipede on the pool
cover outside our holiday villa in Fuerteventura, an Island
off the West coast of Africa. Saved him from drowning with
a piece of paper and a cup after I took that pic!
Rob
Hi Rob,
Though we have no dearth of House Centipede submissions from
around the world, we are thrilled to post your photo from
Fuerteventura, Africa, a first for our site.
Cicada
Killers Mating and Nesting
(08/05/2008) Cicada Killer Photos
Hi!
I saw these Cicada Killers and had no idea what they were...
Being curious, I got online, found your site, and learned
lots of stuff! I would have killed these things for
sure had I not found your site and others telling me not to
worry, they won't sting. Anyway, its mating season, and these
two seem to be stuck together. I saw the male try to
fly off, and he couldn't! She was holding him down,
even though his body was completely airborne! I had
a pic of that, but it was too blurry. I don't know how
to take good action shots. Thought you might be able
to use these pictures. Some mating, and some of the
burrows in my kids' sandbox. Too bad they can't play
in it for a couple more weeks. Thanks for your site.
Chad
 
Hi Chad,
Your letter makes us happy for several reasons. First, we
like hearing that you took the time to research before acting
upon any extermination instincts. Second, your submission
is a wonderful counterpoint to the recent Cicada Killer carnage
image we posted, and third, we are thrilled to hear we were
helpful. We are not certain how successful this second male
is going to be with regards to perpetuating his gene line,
but we are impressed with his efforts. These Cicada Killers
are lucky to have moved to such a tolerant location.
 
Update: (08/03/2008) Cicada Killers in Dayton
Ohio
Hello Bugman...
No fancy photos from Ohio, but rest assured we have gained
great knowledge from your site. After spending the entire
day researching these "hornets" in our back yard....I have
concluded they are, in fact, Cicada Killers. Imagine my delight
when I was able to impress my husband with my new found knowledge
when as soon as we stepped into the back yard and I was describing
what they were......One flew right past with cicada in tow!!!
I am still a little creeped out and won't go out there much....*wink*.....but
I am not terrified and wondering what "Curse of biblical
proportion was being thrust upon us", She said with tongue
very much in cheek. Great site...thank you, thank
you!!!
E.M.
Update:
(08/09/2008) To Chad with Cicada Killers in kids sand box...
Daniel,
correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t cicada killer larva pupate in the chambers where they feed? If so, Chad’s kids may be without their sandbox for more than a few weeks. It would be next July before the cicada killer adults hatch out and start looking for cicadas of their own. Could he dig up the pupa and bury them in other loose soil nearby?
Just wondering!
Liz Wickard, CHI
Interpretive Naturalist
City of Aurora/Parks and Open Space
Morrison Nature Center
Aurora CO
Hi Liz,
Your bring up a very good point. Relocating the Cicada Killer pupae would most likely be detrimental to their lives.
Electric Light Bug
(08/03/2008) giant water bug?
I live in Dowagiac Michigan. About a hundred yards from Indian
Lake. Their is a road between me and the lake. We found this
big bug in our lawn. What is it? Our lawn is not watered and
it has not rained in this part of Michigan for over two weeks.
My book says it is a giant water bug, is it? I love your sight.
I look here often to help me identify bugs I find in the woods.
Thank you
Shirley Larson.
Hi Shirley,
We just recently removed the photo of a Giant Water Bug in
the genus Lethocerus from our homepage since we received so
few identification requests this summer and we needed the
room. Normally, we get numerous requests for this distinctive
insect, also known as an Electric Light Bug and the potentially
misleading Toe-Biter. Toe-Biter implies that the Giant Water
Bug stalks people for the purpose of biting, when in fact,
bites occur when mishandling or accidentally through contact.
The bite is painful enough to warrant the moniker Toe-Biter.
Mating Boxelder Bugs
(07/05/2008) Boxelder bugs.
Hi folks!
Two pictures, one of Boxelder Bugs (Boisea trivittata)
mating for your Bug love page, and one of a box elder nymph.
Sending you the full sized pics so you may crop as needed.
They're also called Garage Bugs, and oddly enough, these bugs
were on my garage door!
Cheryl-Anne Miller
 
Hi Cheryl-Anne,
Thanks for contributing to our Boxelder Bug archive.
Comment: (07/02/2008) THANK YOU..
hahah im so glad you guys answered the boxelder bug question 9078787697867657956 times. i spent all day trying to figure out what they were to see if they were harmful and your site is the only one that helped me.
p.s. im also glad you don't offer extermination advice. i love bugs. keep up the good work guys.
Potato Bug
(04/15/2008) My first potatobug encounter
I encountered this critter the other day whilst digging in
my sorry excuse for a garden. It's the biggest bug I've
ever seen- even after spending my childhood chasing after
various bugs. The part I really wanted to mention though:
I've told more than a few people my favorite bug was the potatobug
because I thought they were cute and I always played with
them when I was little. This has never failed to illicit
looks of disgust and I never understood why. -Now- I
know why, thanks to your website... it was woodlice I liked.
Not potatobugs. I'm a city gal, can you blame me? Enjoy
the juicy pic. I swear it was probably a 5-pounder.
Angela
Hi Angela,
We are afraid to ask what the "wtf" title of your photo stands
for since we strive (sometimes unsucessfully) to be a G-rated
site. Thanks for your interesting Potato Bug anecdote.
(5/21/03)How
can one get rid of crickets that have found their way into
the house?
Catch
them and release them.
Check
out Eric Eaton's new Book!!!
Our Readership is constantly inquiring about
a great field guide for insect identification. Eric Eaton's
new book, Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America
is now in its second printing. Look for it at your local bookstore
or buy directly from Amazon.
Bug Love Poster
View
Poster
(09/12/2006) Ed. Note
Recently, Dave, who worked on the radio transmitter project
to track the migration of Anax
junius, the Green Darner Dragonfly, proposed selling his
awesome Retro posters of Bug Love on our site. A percentage
of the proceeds goes to insect conservation. What's That Bug?
fully endorses this ad and these beautiful posters and we
are not making any profit off of the sales. So, contact Dave
via his email... and tell him What's That
Bug? sent you.
Read Dave's entire letter on our Fanmail
2 page.
Help!
I have these bugs that are invading my home! My husband
and I find at LEAST 5 every morning. Eww! They are the "pincher
bugs". Something else we've discovered in our house
are these dark brown spiders that love to just hang out
on the top of our ceiling. Our newly purchased home in Southern
California is crawling with creatures who've roamed free
in the unattended soil for 50 years. What is the best way
to get rid of insects? We have some yellow jackets that
fly around along with mosquitoes. In our ground though we
have pincher bugs by the thousands and also pill bugs. We
are in the process of ripping out plants, trees and
shrubbery to replant the entire yard. How do we kill off
all the insects!?
Any suggestions would be MOST appreciated!
Thank you!
Rebecca
Dear Rebecca,
Nothing short of a nuclear bomb will rid your property of
all your dreaded insects, but considering the current political
climate, you just might get your wish. In the event that
that doesn't happen, you just might have to learn to live
together. We at What's that Bug? do not advocate getting
rid of all insects since we would be out of business.
(08/27/2005) Hi Daniel and Lisa Anne!
JAW DROP!!!!!
WOW!!!!!!!!!!
I just had to write you two, your site is the best bug site
I have ever seen! Your main page helped me identify a bug
that was posted at our forum, and I must admit that some
of the pictures submitted to your site are so absolutely
beautiful that I had to capture them for my screen saver!
In exchange I wish to offer some photos of my own, taken
in my yard in Santa Ana California. I have included 10 photos
that I took with my digital camera, you may use them as
you see fit I would also like to reply to Rebecca from Southern
California who wishes to know how to get rid of all of her
bugs, if a reply is allowed.
Hi Rebecca!
I live in Southern California too, and I have all the things
you described in my yard as well. If they are getting into
your house, then you probably have openings around windows
and doors that should be attended to. You do not want to
kill the bugs in your yard, they provide very necessary
functions to keep your yard healthy. Ants are your cleaning
crew, they dispose of dead things. Earthworms are what make
the earth that your garden grows in, and their castings
contain an enzyme that repels white flies. Wasps are your
predators, they eat the caterpillars that eat your plants.
Caterpillars are your butterflies and moths, and they pollinate
your flowers so they bloom again next year. Robber flies
are your wasp controllers, they keep wasp populations down.
Potato bugs, pill bugs, earwigs and click beetles are your
compost engineers, they recycle leaf litter and break it
down so the earthworms can turn it into healthy soil. Possums
are your snail controllers. Garden snails are not native
and have no other predator than possums here in California.
Spiders are your general insect controllers, you should
capture and take outside any that wander into your house.
There are many other insects that you will find in your
yard as well, but they are all pretty harmless and will
avoid you if you just give them time to move out of your
way. Your yard is its own ecosystem, with its own checks
and balances. Learn to love your bugs, explore them, research
them, discover the benefits they give to you and the beauty
of your yard. If you get stung by a wasp or bee, or bitten
by a mosquito, simply dissolve a real aspirin in your hand
with a few drops of water and apply directly to the site,
the pain and itch will be gone within a matter of seconds.
If you want to help control your mosquitoes, simply place
a container of water under a bush which is easily accessible
to you and leave it there, check it every day, when you
see the larvae swimming around just dump the entire container
of water on the ground. The larvae will die. Refill the
container. Insure that there is no other standing water
on your property. Keep an eye out for Black Widows, they
are the only bugs in your yard that can actually harm you.
Hope this helps :)
Sincerely,
Cathy :)
Thank you Daniel and Lisa, for such a wonderful site! I
have it bookmarked and will be back here often!
Letters
and images sent in to What's That Bug? may be published online
as well as in print in future What's That Bug? publications.
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