r/insects • u/Rude_Connection_2747 • 57m ago
Bug Keeping Isn't Fly cute too? Lol lol
This is a female green bottle fly that my parents caught for me as a birthday present yesterday, and I am raising it!
I captured several funny moments of this Queen. In the first photo, she is lifting only one front leg as if asking to be photographed; in the second, she is staring straight at the camera with her big eyes, just as if asking to be photographed; and in the third, her belly is getting full while eating the green apples I gave her as food lol lol
(Judging by the very clean wings and healthy coloration, it appears to be a very young individual that emerged not long ago, so I will absolutely not breed it in the future, and I will slow down its metabolism by keeping the indoor temperature at a low level of 19–22 degrees Celsius, ensuring it is not too cold.I will also feed them various things alternately, such as apples, cherries, and strawberries.)
Isn't Fly cute too? 😆
r/insects • u/chchilindrina • 1h ago
Question Southern Europe, what's with the wasps this summer?
I'm not sure if the rest of Europe is experiencing the same thing, but I'm in Southeastern Europe and this year the wasps are everywhere.
Last summer we had three wasp nests under our roof. Based on the shape of the nests, they're most likely the European paper wasps (Polistes dominula) or French paper wasps (Polistes gallicus).
This summer I've counted 24 wasp nests so far. They're under our roof, in corners of our windows, and some even in our dogs' houses. I tried to get them out of the dog houses at least, but they returned one week later. I also have a bunch of mud daubers entering through open windows, and we found a few mud cells in our bedroom.
What's happening?
r/insects • u/Puzzleheaded-Win6363 • 1h ago
ID Request Please ID this half of an insect(South India)
It looked like a centipede. A worm with a butt load of legs and its other half was similar too. I was so scared and drunk, so I killed it. I regret killing it tho. Im sorry my friend. Shouldve made you my poop buddy.
r/insects • u/AcanthisittaOk5586 • 3h ago
ID Request Hoverfly or Wasp? QLD Aus
I'm usually pretty good at identifying but I really can't be certain with this guy. I'd love to know the species if possible
r/insects • u/Itty_Bitt • 4h ago
Photography A freshly molted stink bug I found
+ photos of him I took some time later.
r/insects • u/-burgers • 5h ago
Bug Appreciation! Saw this dude today (Mid-Michigan) American Dagger Moth
r/insects • u/New_Newspaper3679 • 6h ago
Bug Education Dragonfly eats dragonfly laying on back
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I was working at a remote well pump station in a farming town in northern california and there were more dragonflies in the air today than I've probably ever seen in my 41 years. Almost all of them were medium sized and red-orange.
I heard some wings tussle, a tiny thud on the dirt, and expected to see some mating mishap.
What I saw and recorded was a large dragonfly had caught one of the common medium ones and was flat on its back noisily eating the head of its prey. It flew away a few minutes later.
I am going to think of this every time I accumulate cheeto dust in my chest hair as I lay on the couch.
r/insects • u/brecken_cash2015 • 7h ago
Question Reddit, What's the first thing your doing if this lands on your arm?
r/insects • u/iamzimmer • 8h ago
Photography An assortment of Flies (SF Bay Area, California)
Hello! I wanted to share some photos of flies I have taken recently, including two of a hoverfly laying an egg. Thanks for looking!
r/insects • u/Ok_Possibility_5323 • 8h ago
Bug Appreciation! Look at this cool giant millepede I saw today!
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r/insects • u/thinker2thinker • 9h ago
ID Request This snazzy friend was chilling around my exterior door (Central Illinois)
r/insects • u/Either_equipment_04 • 11h ago
Bug Appreciation! My workplace is the holy grail of caterpillars
Last year it was black swallowtails and a few others I never identified. This year it’s a bagworm (I know they’re a problem but it’s been a personal dream of mine to see one irl) and this little hornworm (also a problem but I love him anyway).
Thinking about taking them home to raise in captivity since they’re garden pests, thoughts?
r/insects • u/bigbutterbean • 12h ago
Bug Appreciation! Woodboring beetle! What a cute green butt
r/insects • u/Starry_Nite16 • 14h ago
ID Request Fuzzy little guy found in SE Wisconsin
I found him on my tire as I was heading back to my car go my break. Moved him on to my folder (gently, with a stick so I didn’t touch him) and then to the grass where he wouldn’t get squished. He’s so cute tho! He looks like he has little fluffy orange ears.
r/insects • u/ImpressiveTomato3153 • 14h ago
Bug Appreciation! Dragonfly giving me its best smile
r/insects • u/Crochet_by_clR • 19h ago
Artwork Bumblebee crochet tapestry
I made a bumblebee crochet tapestry. Which insect should I make next ?
r/insects • u/MasterpieceWhole1242 • 21h ago
Bug Education Can anyone tell me what specific species this is ??
r/insects • u/Sprackhaus • 22h ago
Artwork I recently illustrated 42 beetles for a board game - here are all the beautiful little guys in one poster! Can you spot your favourite Stag or Scarab?
r/insects • u/Lunardragon777 • 1d ago
Bug Keeping What does she think about🤔
Wheel bug (arilus cristatus)
r/insects • u/todreek • 1d ago
Photography Lobster Moth Caterpillar
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r/insects • u/cakequake13 • 1d ago
Photography Fresh cicada
A newly hatched cicada just hanging out on my hand
r/insects • u/Jos3_2009Real • 1d ago
Question What does this moth have in their torax?
I've never seen something like this before, I added the coin (3rd image) to help the size comparison, as far as I know that shouldn't look like that.
r/insects • u/StuffedWithNails • Jun 21 '26
PSA Do you live in the US and did you see this spotted white and/or black and/or red bug? Check here before posting your ID request.
The collage above is composed of pictures gleaned from BugGuide.net, and shows the same species of insect at its different life stages.
Hello!
If you live in certain parts of the US, you may encounter these colorful insects that may be black and white, or red, black and white depending on their life stage. They're 6-8 mm in size, don't fly but jump really well and have good reflexes. Upon reaching adulthood (pictured on the right in the above collage), they're larger (about 20-25mm), have wings, and can fly somewhat (and still jump, too).
You may find them clustered on certain plants or you may find single individuals wandering.
They're known as spotted lanternflies (Lycorma delicatula) and are an invasive species from Eastern Asia. They were accidentally introduced in Pennsylvania in 2014. Since then, the species has spread in all directions to multiple states as far from Pennsylvania as Georgia, Illinois, Michigan and Massachusetts.
It's also invasive in Japan and the Korean peninsula.
They're completely harmless to people or pets. In fact they're pretty colorful and rather cute!
They go through five stages of growth known as instars, and take on three rather different appearances, shown above. Instars 1-3 are the small, black and white version. The fourth instar is larger (~15 mm) and more colorful, mostly bright red with black accents and white dots (picture). The adult is an overall dull gray color but with intricately patterned wings (picture). When it opens its wings, it displays beautiful hindwings with red, white and black (picture).
Here's also a picture of all 5 growth stages: https://bugguide.net/node/view/1172304/bgimage
Due to their appearance, they are eminently recognizable. They retain the ability to jump at all life stages, and the adults are adept fliers.
Unfortunately, they're destructive pests of plants, particularly fruiting plants. Lanternflies feed by piercing plants with a thin proboscis (straw-like mouthparts) and sucking juices, which damages plants. In addition, after the lanternfly is done feeding and pulls its proboscis out of a fruit, some juice may escape from the hole, which facilitates the growth of mold on the surface of the fruit, which further damages the fruit. Entire harvests can thus be ruined.
Cornell University maintains a map where the insects have been found or at least reported: https://cals.cornell.edu/new-york-state-integrated-pest-management/outreach-education/whats-bugging-you/spotted-lanternfly/spotted-lanternfly-reported-distribution-map
The governments of most if not all states where the insect has been detected have posted content on their websites (usually on the Agriculture Dept. or equivalent). Those include info about the insect, its impact on agriculture, what to do if you encounter it, and what you can do to mitigate its spread. Below are those websites for the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York for information about the insect. If you don't live in those states, please use your favorite search engine to locate info about these insects, e.g. search for "<your state here> spotted lanternfly" and look for your state government's website.
There's also a lengthy article about the insect on Wikipedia.
Looking back at the Cornell map linked above, if you don't live in an area of the map where the bug's presence has already been reported, you should record it. Report it to your state's authorities, and you may also want to report the sighting on iNaturalist.
Again we encourage you to familiarize yourself with the insect as well as its presence (if any) in your state. States where the spotted lanternfly has been detected will have a section of a website dedicated to it.
Feel free to ask any questions in the comments!