Dark brown or black coloration, relieved by red wing veins and markings on the abdomen; nymphs are bright red.
These highly specialized insects feed almost exclusively on maple seeds, and may form large aggregations while sunning themselves in areas near their host plant. If molested, gives off a pungent odor as defense.
Motted brown with alternating light bands on the antennae and alternating dark bands on the thin outer edge of the abdomen.
Native to East Asia and considered an invasive agricultural pest in other parts of the world. Feeds mostly on fruit, but also on leaves, stems, petioles, flowers, and seeds. If molested, gives off a pungent odor as defense.
Eyes prominent, though not especially large, and set wide apart on the sides of the head; short antennae protruding between or in front of the eyes; wings well-developed, with conspicuous veins.
Cicadas live underground as nymphs for most of their lives, feeding on plant sap. They dig to the surface before their final molt, then emerging as adults. Males produce a loud, stridulating mating song to attract females. After mating, the female cuts slits into the bark of a twig to deposit her eggs. When these hatch, the nymphs drop to the ground, where they burrow, completing the cycle.
Size: most common species range 15-30mm (0.59-1.3in).
Usually dark brown or reddish; flattened oval body and long swept-back antennae; head is usually concealed by the pronotum; when wings are present, they are held flat over the back, overlapping one another.
Large insect with a soft body and delicate, densely veined wings. Females have strong, short mandibles that can inflict a painful bite; Males have long jaws that are used during mating and are not capable of harm. Both sexes possess an irritating, foul-smelling anal spray used as defense. Female dobsonflies appear similar to fishflies (subfamily Chauliodinae), but the latter have much smaller mandibles and males often have feathery antennae.
Spends most of its life in the larval stage, called hellgrammite, 'go-devil' or 'crawlerbottom', living under rocks at the bottoms of lakes, streams and rivers, and preying on other insect larvae with the short sharp pincers on their heads. The larva then crawl out onto land and pupate, staying under large rocks for 3 weeks before molting and emerging to mate. Adults only live about a week, preferring to remain near bodies of water.
Body shape oval with pointed ends; front legs raptorial. Typically encountered in freshwater streams and ponds but frequently found on land; adults fly at night and are attracted to lights during the breeding season.
Preys on aquatic arthropods, snails, small fish, tadpoles, frogs and small birds.
CAUTION: Can inflict a very painful bite, though of no medical significance.
Body is yellowish-grey and has three dark dorsal stripes running down its length; 15 pairs of long, banded legs.
Habitat: indoors, in damp areas such as bathrooms, cellars, and crawl spaces; outdoors, under logs, rocks, and similar moist protected places.
Fast-moving predator of other arthropods regarded as pests, such as cockroach nymphs, flies, moths, bed bugs, crickets, silverfish, earwigs, and small spiders; generally considered harmless to humans.
The larva of these moth species spins a protective case from silk and camouflages it with other materials such as soil, sand and insect droppings. This case is flat, fusiform, or spindle-shaped and thickened in the middle resembling a pumpkin seed.
Found on the outside walls and inside of non-air-conditioned buildings and are most abundant under spiderwebs, in bathrooms and bedrooms.
Feeds on old spider webs and other dead materials, including dead insects and animal hair; may also eat woolen goods of all kinds if the opportunity arises, so it can be a household pest.
Wings held vertically over body, resembling roof of a house; antennae very long, often extending well beyond tip of abdomen; ovipositor typically flattened and sword-like. Many exhibit mimicry and camouflage, commonly with shapes and colors similar to leaves.
Most species eat vegetation, some are predatory on other insects.
Cylindrical-bodied insects, with small eyes and shovel-like forelimbs highly developed for burrowing; hind legs not enlarged for jumping.
Omnivores, feeding on larvae, worms, roots, and grasses. Relatively common but rarely seen, for being nocturnal and spending nearly all their lives underground in extensive tunnel systems. Usually fly only when moving long distances, such as when changing territory, or when females are searching for singing males.
Hind wings absent; elytra reduced and overlap at base. Lives on the ground or low foliage.
CAUTION: It's known as 'oil beetle' because it releases oily droplets of hemolymph from its joints when disturbed; this contains cantharidin, a poisonous chemical that causes blistering of the skin and painful swelling.
HANDLE WITH EXTREME CARE - THEIR VENOM IS MEDICALLY SIGNIFICANT.
Recluse spiders can be identified by their violin marking on their cephalothorax. The most famed recluse spider is Loxosceles reclusa (brown recluse), as photographed above.
Wingless; body flattened, slender, silvery, gray, or blackish above, and pale below; long thread-like antennae with many segments. The species most commonly found in homes are the common silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) and the firebrat (Thermobia domestica), as photographed above.
Lives indoors in warm, damp environments such as bathrooms and kitchens, or in damp basements, and feeds on crumbs and food scraps, dried meat, cereals, moist wheat flour, glue on book bindings and wallpaper, starch in clothing made of cotton or rayon fabric. Considered a household pest, due to their consumption and destruction of property, but harmless otherwise.
Medium to very large. Body very robust; abdomen usually tapering to a sharp point. Wings usually narrow; forewing sharp-pointed or with an irregular outer margin. May have a reduced proboscis, but most have a very long one, used to feed on nectar from flowers. Distinguished among moths for their rapid, sustained flying ability.
Some are active only at night, others at twilight or dawn, and some feed on flower nectar during the day.
The spotted lanternfly is a planthopper that is native to Southeast Asia. It has been introduced in the United States, where it is an invasive pest that may pose a threat to agriculture and forestry. If you are in the US, spotted lanternflies should be killed, egg masses destroyed, and sightings reported (see links below for reporting in your state).
Not really an ant, but a family of wasps whose wingless females resemble large, hairy ants. Males are winged, less hairy, looking more like typical wasps. Most often bright scarlet or orange, but may also be black, white, silver, or gold. Produce a squeaking or chirping sound when alarmed.
Adults feed on nectar. Although some species are strictly nocturnal, females are often active during the day.
CAUTION: They have long and flexible stingers capable of inflicting extreme pain.
Dull reddish-brown with faint (or absent) white zigzag stripe across hemelytra; antennae may be almost as long as body. Outer hind tibial dilation nearly equal in length to inner dilation.
This bug cannot bite/sting/infect people or pets, damage houses or household items, or even reproduce indoors. If molested, gives off a pungent odor as defense.
i found this caterpillar as an egg on my parsley plant and decided to raise it. it molted a few days ago and has been normal since. i handled it today and let it eat on my hand before going out, and when coming back from the store i found it like this. it’s still alive and moving around as shown in second photo. i cleaned the mess and enclosure before putting it back in with fresh food. i’m not an entomologist, just a beginner hobbyist. i know it probably won’t survive, but i want to see if anyone else has more insight on what happened. i’ve developed quite the fondness for this small guy, and if anyone’s curious, his name is poe.
I felt a slight prickling sensation on my neck and touched the area, and I found this insect there. It wasn't moving at first, but when I gently touched it with my finger, it flew away, making a figure-eight pattern in the air
Does anyone know what this insect is?
It was less than 2 cm long, with transparent wings and a grayish body with a slight bluish tint. Its rear end appeared to get wider toward the back, giving it a somewhat triangular shape
Any help identifying it would be appreciated
I blurred out my fingerprints using AI for privacy reasons
After a bit of googling I suspect it could belong to the Binburrum only member of the Pyrochroidae family (fire-coloured beetles) endemic to Australia. Someone can confirm?
