Welcome to the BugGuide.Net Forums

beastly scarf - curiously concerned

Hi! First time on a forum!:)
Has anyone come across a house spider (identity unknown)rather small, who has a maggot looking thing wrapped around the space between the prosoma and the abdomen? This is the second one I have found within the last 2 years. After watching it for a while, the spider seems disorientated and has stopped a few times to scratch the area. I have to double check the pictures but it may be the same type of spider that I found about a year or more ago with the same type of beastly scarf.

Thank you!

… Shana Kerr, 6 December, 2018 - 9:37pm

Yes, the wasps keep the spider population in check

… john and jane balaban, 6 December, 2018 - 10:36pm

so maybe a fly larvae of some

so maybe a fly larvae of some kind? I want to doubt that this one is a wasp larvae IN MY HOUSE! The first one I found was in much worse shape and in November 2016. Thank you for the insight!!!!

… Shana Kerr, 7 December, 2018 - 9:38am

Help identify a biting bug

My son and I have been bitten several times by a something that we neither see or feel. We need to eliminate the problem. Here are the particulars of our situation.
1. Home is in Murray Utah, The North Jordan canal is behind the home. The home was purchased 2 years ago. Remodeled through out.
2. There is a steep hill covered with Siberian Elm trees. Debris from trees has been removed. Landscape in back was mess...Redo area.
3. Summer of 2016, My son laid down on the dirt by retaining wall...90 bites on his back. intense burning and itching...Blister formed on each bite. inflamed...lasted for several days. I too was bitter but not as bad.
4. More bites but not as severe until this August.
5. Installing brick pavers...working in the dirt. both of us bitten. Saturday Aug. 11 I have about 25 bites. Saturday Aug 18, 35 bites...very painful Son has bites both days...
6. No bites on exposed skin. always under clothing, bites on back and chest and below the belt. we used repelant all over us.
7. We have not seen or felt anything as it happens. I am going to try a sticky trap

I have researched possibilities on the internet...nothing seems to fit this situation
.
Please help identify the bugs

… Clark Kay, 20 August, 2018 - 8:19pm

There's a discussion on chiggers

here. Don't know if it will help or whether you have them in your area?? :(

… john and jane balaban, 20 August, 2018 - 10:20pm

Camera

Can someone tell me what camera and lens to use for macrophotography of small insects, such as syrphid flies?

… Earl G Brown, 1 June, 2018 - 3:49pm

macrophotography

If you're talking about live insects in the field, you might look at the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000, or later. There's a 2500 generation, and probably another one coming up this fall.

The key thing is that you can make a custom setting to shoot in what Panasonic calls extended zoom. This uses a portion of the sensor instead of just a digital zoom. You get 10 MP photos that look pretty good at a distance of several feet. It compares to using a pair of butterfly binoculars.

… Stephen Hart, 1 June, 2018 - 11:41pm

macrophotography

Many thanks. You've pointed me in the right direction.

… Earl G Brown, 2 June, 2018 - 11:13am

kind of camera

This is one of the category called bridge cameras. They have a single, fixed lens, but can also use supplementary closeup lenses. I use Marumi +5 and +3 sometimes. Of course, that cuts your working distance dramatically.
It works well as a one-piece all-around camera. We often shoot whatever wildlife we see on walks, as well as scenics, flowers, insects and spiders.

Lots of other bugguide photographers use DSLRs, with interchangeable lenses. That's a whole 'nother category of camera kit to carry and cost.

… Stephen Hart, 2 June, 2018 - 11:21am

many choices

difficult to impossible to make a recommendation without more info.
I suggest taking a look at syrphid images, see which ones you would like to emulate and see what the photographer uses.
Tom Murray's PBase pages are a good place to start, check the EXIF data to see equipment he uses.

click here

… A.W. Thomas, 1 June, 2018 - 6:43pm

camera choice

Thanks. I'm not really looking for brands but for the kind of equipment, mostly as to kind of lens or lens attachments.

… Earl G Brown, 1 June, 2018 - 9:50pm

photography

I'm using an Amscope binocular with a MU500 camera attachment. All parasitoid photos, whether in alcohol or air, turn out muddy, unfocused, and unusable. Anyone use similar equipment and is willing to look at some photos and help? I'm new to this and haven't been able to get any help locally at camera stores.

… ed stansbury, 27 May, 2018 - 10:57am

maybe the problem is something else

Do you know that the scope's eyepieces are parfocal with the camera adapter? If they're not and you're focusing through the eyepieces, you'll never get an in focus photo. If your camera has "live view" through an LCD panel on the back, try focusing through the LCD. If you do that and then have to refocus to get a good image through the eyepieces, the two aren't parfocal. If that turns out to be the case you can either work to make them parfocal or just focus through the camera. Other issues to consider are vibration which can be caused by the means through which you trip the shutter, vibrations from a DSLR's mirror, etc., diffraction from using too small an aperture...
The website mentioned by Ed Ruden, photomacrography.net, is an excellent source of information and the regular posters on that site are very knowledgable and helpful. It would be worth visiting the site just for the amazing photographs posted there.

PS: is your binocular scope a stereomicroscope or a binocular compound microscope?

… Steve Scholnick, 31 May, 2018 - 10:51pm

low end binocular

scopes are about the worst equipment to get decent photos. I don't have an Amscope but for such small insects you would have to use high-end binoculars; Canon, Nikon, Leitz I believe in the $12,000.00 or more range.
There are better and cheaper systems, all explained in great detail
HERE

… A.W. Thomas, 27 May, 2018 - 6:37pm

Depth of field

The underlying issue you are having is not related to the quality of your microscope, but the intrinsic relationship between numerical aperture (which determines the resolution limit) and depth of field (range for which things are in focus). This is not a critical issue if you use a microscope to observe directly by eye, since you can simply refocus by hand as you look at different features. For photography, though, this is a problem with bugs especially because they are highly three dimensional. Your only options are to use a lens with an aperture and just stop it way down and live with poor resolution (F/22 is typically what I use for 1X macro images) or do focus stacking (which requires a static subject). The most economical way to do the latter is described at photomicrography.net.

… Edward L. Ruden, 28 May, 2018 - 8:48am

scope quality

ed is photographing parasitoids in alcohol (static subjects). If, as you suggest, the quality of his scope is irrelevant then he can simply make multiple images by simply refocusing and use stacking software (of which 1 is free) to get an acceptable image.

… A.W. Thomas, 28 May, 2018 - 9:02am

Alcohol issues

Yes, that would be a good thing to try. A steady hand is needed so the subject doesn't move, especially with alcohol. There will also be spherical aberration issues beyond NA of 0.15 or so with the alcohol due to the change in medium, unless an immersion objective is used.

… Edward L. Ruden, 28 May, 2018 - 10:39am

You may get a better response...

...if you ask this question in the Photography forum. Just click on "create a new forum topic."

… Ken Wolgemuth, 27 May, 2018 - 12:15pm

Can you kill any insects with

Can you kill any insects with out chemicals. I prefer heat or cold.
Temperature of 130 to 140 for eight hours will do?

… Joseph Jones, 23 May, 2016 - 2:14am

I have a good way to keep cut/picked host plants fresh

You will need:
1 water bottle
A bunch of stalks of the host plant( make sure they are long and stil have the stems
Water
The caterpillars that eat the host plant
First, you fill the bottle with water. DO NOT CUT OFF THE NECK OF THE WATER BOTTLE!!!
You put as many stalks of the host plant in as possible. Make sure that there are no holes in which the caterpillar can climb under and drown. And you have your new home for your caterpillars, and the best part; they seem to think they are still outside in the wild!!!!

… Fluttershy, 9 September, 2015 - 3:59pm

I forgot to add...

The caterpillars will have to calm down after you remove them from the host plant then place them in there new home. They won't eat for about 5 minutes, so don't get too worried. At the most, wait a couple of hours before you watch them.

… Fluttershy, 9 September, 2015 - 4:02pm

Nonagitated caterpillars

I don't remove caterpillars from the host plant. I cut off the stem they're on and put it in a small bottle or jar with water, adding more stems of the same kind of plant. This doesn't disturb them. It's best not to handle caterpillars. Human hands may carry germs that are bad for them but harmless for us.

… R. Berg, 9 September, 2015 - 9:30pm

nonagitated caterpillars

R Berg,

Your method for keeping caterpillars sounds easy enough but don't they sometimes leave the host plant to molt? I guess they would go back to the plant afterward, but I always put the bottle and plants in an aquarium or other enclosure. Could I skip that?

… sbannister, 14 June, 2016 - 11:25am

Molting

Mine have always, as far as I know, stayed on the plant while molting. An enclosure is important. I keep the bottle in a terrarium (old fishtank) with a wire-screen cover that allows ventilation but keeps out enemies of caterpillars, such as parasitic wasps. Even so, ants and small spiders can get in. Another reason for the enclosure is that some species wander considerably far from the host plant when they get ready to pupate. You don't want them pupating in a place that would be dangerous for them (parasites and predators again) or inconvenient for the resident human(s). The terrarium should have some "pupating furniture" that mimics what that species would use in the wild. It might be sticks or piles of leaves or soft paper.

… R. Berg, 15 June, 2016 - 12:11am

Thanks -

… sbannister, 15 June, 2016 - 11:33am

Should one thank someone for making an ID ?

Is it best to Thank someone (or does it just clutter up space) for making an id? I have not been doing it in an effort to be efficient, but I do appreciate it when someone ids an insect for me.
Thanks,
Josh

… josh lincoln, 28 June, 2015 - 8:53pm

Some relevant comments

here

… Ken Wolgemuth, 28 June, 2015 - 8:58pm

Bee sting (s)

Hope I am in the right place..Anyway, up here in the NC mountains I was stung yesterday by what I think were bee's when I stepped off the road to photograph something. They swarmed and attacked me and I was stung many times before I could get away.My question..As of last night and this morning I no longer have any discomfort in my wrists, ankles or toes whereas before the stings, arthritis in these areas was a bother. Does this sound familiar to anybody else and how long should i expect relief? Thanks for your comments.

… b4awl, 27 June, 2015 - 12:31pm

Here's a search

People have reported similar relief from arthritis after being stung. Here's a search that brings up some previous discussions.

Link: http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=arthritis&search=Search

… R. Berg, 27 June, 2015 - 10:22pm

Student needing help

Hi guys! I'm a student taking an entomology course. I have to have a collection of both nonhexapods and hexapods of 30 different individuals.
I have to ID them to order and family and I cannot have any individuals from the same family. Further more, As I am approaching the end of my semester I feel like I am missing some rather common bugs! Keeping in mind that I live in Middle Tennessee near Nashville,
Does anybody have suggestions on where and how is the best(easiest) way to find/catch the following ones??
a mite of Acari
a decent butterfly! from Lepidoptera (moths are the only ones ive got)
a praying mantis from Mantodea
an aphid of somesort from Hemiptera
and I would like to find a dragonfly from Odonata

Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks ya'll!

… lindy_helm, 21 April, 2015 - 1:59am

spider id.

My wife and i found an all red spider in our back yard. It did not have any other color to it. It was about the size of a dime. Color looked blood red all over. Can anyone tell us what kind it was. Could not catch it.no pictures. We live in western ohio. Is it common?

… Rodney Burrows, 5 August, 2014 - 6:02pm

"Red spider" isn't a whole lot to go on. :)

I can only begin to imagine how many different species might fit that general description. You might want to check out this article and see if anything looks familiar.

Welcome to BugGuide!

… Ken Wolgemuth, 5 August, 2014 - 6:25pm

Black Honey Bees???

I'm new to this site and hail from Plano, Texas. Just this year my Texas Lilacs and other flowers have been visited by black honeybees by the hundreds. They are the same size as honeybees but are glossy black. I found a picture of them on this site (don,t remember the scientific name) Are they new here in the Dallas area? Has anyone else seen any?

… Al Beckman, 29 June, 2014 - 11:58am

Unknown Larvae

Hi,
I am new at this but here it goes. I killed a rat in my yard about 30 minutes ago. I hit it with a broom and these LARGE black/dark brown worm things crawled out of this rat there was at least 7. They were VERY large about the size of a cigarette butt only much fatter. Does anybody have a clue what they are? Thanks.

… rottylady1, 11 June, 2013 - 5:32pm

The best way to get an ID...

...would be to get a photo and post it to ID Request. Even a small, blurry shot would be more helpful than a vague description. That said, I can think of one possibility offhand: Bot Fly larvae. Did they look anything like this?

Welcome to BugGuide!

… Ken Wolgemuth, 11 June, 2013 - 5:39pm

New from Italy

Hello, I'm from Italy, sometime I look here for the identification of some insects, just I wanted to know if I can to post insect from Italy, because I read the identification is for US and Canada.

Thanks
Marcello

… Marcello, 16 September, 2012 - 1:55pm

suggest posting your pics on naturamediterraneo.com

there are many more fora that deal with European & Mediterranean insects

… v belov, 16 September, 2012 - 8:55pm

Hi Marcello

You're welcome to post your images. Because they are from outside of our coverage area, they will be moved to "Frass." However, people will be able to see and comment on them for 30 days before they are deleted by the system.

You might also want to look into other sites that accept photos from around the world. What's That Bug? is one that I'm familiar with.

Welcome to BugGuide!

… Ken Wolgemuth, 16 September, 2012 - 6:20pm

Ok, I'll try to post some pic

Ok, I'll try to post some picture here and then I'll look for a European site.

Thanks

Marcello

… Marcello, 17 September, 2012 - 2:47pm

new scarab beetle - need ID

Friday morning 6/16 I noticed a large beetle on the asphalt of the open carport near my car. Other than it probably being some kind of scarab, I have never seen one before and it was not pictured (up to about frame 182) on this site. I did not think to take a picture of it; my bad. I thought it was unique enough that this description would suffice!
Description:
size: at least 1 inch but possibly 1.5 inches long and .5-.75" wide -about size and shape of the first digit of my right thumb (the pix of the grapevine scarab on the fingers looked about the right size but the coloring was wrong.)
color: wing coverts/back - bright frosted silver all over with thin pale gold stripe on each side (maybe two stripes each side); head and thorax bright/clear orange-gold; I think the legs were also orange-ish - I couldn't see them well. I did not notice any 'hair' around body/wing coverts. Head and thorax were shiny.
location: Santa Barbara Calif - nearer mountain than ocean; yard has several types of palm trees, a few orange trees, and several types of flowering shrubs (closest was a fragrant white flower, maybe mock orange? but that connection was probably coincidental.)
Please email comments or ideas/pix if available to konanilei@gmail.com
(I don't do blogs very well). Thanks for your help.//k

… konani, 19 June, 2012 - 2:02am

Need a little help with some ground bees

Hi! I've discovered a group of bees that look very much like honey bees, but they're coming in and out of multiple holes in the ground. The holes are about 1/4" diameter or less; more than one bee enters and exits the same hole. The entire area covered by the holes is about 1.5' diameter. It's at the base of a loblolly pine tree in a heavily wooded area - mixed forest; there is a lot of leaf and pine needle duff on the ground.

Do honey bees ever nest in the ground? Regardless, is there a way to entice bees to move elsewhere without harming them?

Thank you!

… Mir of NC, 8 June, 2012 - 12:58pm

White Spring Moth

I viewed a gorgeous White Spring Moth (I believe) last night at dusk that was the size of a sparrow. Pure white, and breathtaking. This took place in South St. Louis County, MO. on July 25, 2011.

… mmgmmg123, 26 July, 2011 - 9:19am

actias luna in Vermont

I had 5 luna moth males at my porch light between June 10-20...
shall I post the photos? I live in Strafford Vermont and you are not listing Vermont as a state where you have Luna moths. What should I do?

… Donna Hollinger , 24 June, 2010 - 3:01pm

I'd say go for it...

If I was in your situation, I would submit one of the images to get Vermont on the map. To me new state records for BG are important additions even if the species already listed in surrounding states. If there are too many images of Luna Moths on BG already, then some of the "less important" ones should be deleted before new state records are turned down - for example, here are three practically identical shots of the same moth for May in Georgia:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/872

… Natalie McNear, 29 June, 2010 - 1:51am

LOL

Did you read the profile page of that contributor? I don't think those images will ever be frassed :)

… Ron M., 29 June, 2010 - 3:05am

Oops...

I didn't even read to see who the contributor of those photos was when I posted the comment. I think my point is still valid though, hahaha.

… Natalie McNear, 29 June, 2010 - 3:10am

Historic value

Also look at the date of submission, February 16, 2004: Bugguide's birthday.

… Beatriz Moisset, 29 June, 2010 - 3:15pm

It's your call.

If you've got some high-quality photos that would make a good addition to the Guide, feel free to submit them. I wouldn't do it just to "put Vermont on the map," however. The species is well represented, and most people looking at this would probably assume that it occurs in VT as well.

… Ken Wolgemuth, 24 June, 2010 - 6:48pm

leaf footed pine bug

Has anyone else in the Western WA area noticed the increased population of leaf footed pine bugs ? I noticed just a few last year and this year they are thick. I recently counted 14 of them that had crawled into the crack on the bottem of my pickup door and were huddled next to the door seal. This happened a couple weeks ago, just after a spell of very hot weather and on the first day of rain.
I see 3 or 4 of them sitting on the west and south side of the house and garage almost on a daily basis. Have 4 douglas fir trees in the backyard and the neighbor has a 35ft. pine tree in the front yard (I suspect the pine is their food source).

… Kirklandsteve, 4 November, 2009 - 4:48pm

Yes, they are about to overwinter

It's that time of year for them to find nooks and crannies to overwinter in. There are masses of them here around my house, too. It's normal. They just want to find somewhere safe and out of the weather extremes. If you are talking about Leptoglossus occidentalis (the Western Conifer Seed Bug), then yes, some Pines and Firs are a few of their host trees...it definitely does seem like they are coming on heavy this year though.

… Mandy Howe, 5 November, 2009 - 2:39am