Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

HELP! Odd 2 headed bug? Never seen before? NEED IDENTIFICATION (If it was ever recorded)

Honest to god, I don't know if this has ever been even identified as a bug yet. I am hoping it is already because if it hasn't been, then I missed the chance to identify it as I have no pictures. It flew away before I could grab my phone.

Alright. Where do I start.
I was letting my dog inside the house, but on my screen door I noticed this huge long bug that she was sniffing at. At first I thought it was a large caterpillar (that is how long it was), but then I noticed wings. Not one set of wings though, 2 sets of wings making for 4 total wings. They were brown, transparent, kind of like wasp wings. But then the major part. This thing had 2 complete bodies. One body up top facing upwards, one body on the bottom facing downwards. The bugs themselves kinda looked like giant wasps or something, I don't know to be honest. Both bodies had what looked to be yellow stripes on them, but don't quote me on that. There was a little connection in between both bodies that kept them together. So I thought these wasps had an accident or something and got their stingers stuck together or something, but then I saw how they act. They walk, fly, and just act as one specimen as a whole. They both always walk in the same direction and took flight at the same time when my dog decided to jump up and try and eat it.

Honestly, I don't know if these are just 2 bugs that had an accident down the road or if this is something never seen before. Also, I don't know if each individual body looked like a wasp, they seemed kinda large for it, all I know is there were these light brownish, yellow, connectors on both of their bodies that were hooked onto each other that made them a single insect.

I am so, so sorry I didn't get pictures. I really wanted to get some pictures of this potentially new insect, but as soon as I was about to turn away to grab my camera, my dog scared it away.

Search for 4 wings insects on
Search for 4 wings insects on Google.May be you will get some idea.

A Pair Of Wasps, Perhaps?
Try having a look at images of 'ichneumon wasps mating'--there's at least one on this very site in the short-tailed ichneumon wasp listing. I think this may be what you saw...

Actually, stoneflies may be an even better fit. I think they sit on top of each other while mating and they're loooonnnng insects. Dragonflies and damselflies also assume some pretty wonky positions whilst engaged in the deed, but I'm guessing you're already familiar with those.

Mating?
Some insects mate in the position you describe. If you google "mating insects" and go to images you may find something similar to what you describe here. At that large size, I don't know what they could be. Craneflies come to mind, but they are smaller; google that one too.

 
Another possibility
Moths also mate end to end.

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.