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

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#936122
White earwig/mantis like bug  - Oecanthus - male

White earwig/mantis like bug - Oecanthus - Male
Columbia, Lexington County, South Carolina, USA
June 10, 2014
Size: size of small paper clip
Had the rear forked body of an earwig, with the front head and elongated neck of a mantis. Antennae were pointed to the rear of the body and approximately 2x longer than the body and were arched down to where they were touching the ground behind the body. Found at night on the edge of a low flowing creek. Don't know anything about insects but thought this one was rather peculiar and haven't found it listed in any of the state listed insects and would greatly appreciate if someone could ID it for me and tell me whether it's something rare or unique or whether it's just a regular insect not commonly seen

Moved

definitely a male Oecanthus of some sort
Moved from ID Request.

 
Albino?
Any chance it's irregular coloration on an otherwise regular/common oecanthus? Again i know virtually nothing about insects just looked up the term oecanthus, so i'm just speculating as to why this particular insect doesn't seem to be listed on any of the websites documenting north american insects.

 
there does appear to be something off about it
My guess is that it's recently molted. Nancy will let us know what's going on here.

 
I agree it's a male Oecanthus
It appears to have just molted, and possibly lost it's grip on the vegetation from which it was hanging in order to dry off. Can't say for certain if it is O. niveus or O. exclamationis - but those thick white circles on the sides of the abdomen suggests one of those two species.

 
Thanks again
Good to know i'll be sure to post any other mysterybugs i come across

 
Thanks
Thank you very much for your input and quick responses!

Looks like a...
Tree Cricket of some sort.

 
,
Right Order at least!

Maybe some kind of Katydid?
Just guess, but the rear legs and antennae look like they belong to a Katydid. ( and Since I don't know how to remove my comment, I will check back and see what others say!!)

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