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Post by Captain Spencer on Jul 8, 2023 15:47:52 GMT
I'm trying to indentify this small black bug that always gets in my house every July. I always see a few of them this time of year. When it flies it looks like a wasp, and when it lands it just stays in that spot without moving. I don't know if it bites or stings, but it has what looks like a small stinger. I've tried Goolgling but nothing comes up. It does look similar to the blister beetle but I don't think it's actually that, because blister beetles are always found on plants and don't infest homes. This is what a black blister beetle looks like:  So can anybody tell what this mystery bug is that I'm talking about? |
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Post by The Herald Erjen on Jul 13, 2023 10:57:10 GMT
Sounds like it might be a spider wasp.  |
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Post by Captain Spencer on Jul 13, 2023 20:30:05 GMT
Sounds like it might be a spider wasp. I looked up spider wasp and the research indicates that they didn't usually invade homes, so I doubt that's the bug. But thanks just the same. |
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Post by The Herald Erjen on Jul 13, 2023 20:39:29 GMT
Sounds like it might be a spider wasp. I looked up spider wasp and the research indicates that they didn't usually invade homes, so I doubt that's the bug. But thanks just the same. You're welcome. I do believe I've seen them in my home a few times. If you can get a picture of it someone at a university could probably identify it for you. |
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Post by 99999 on Jul 14, 2023 19:23:21 GMT
Captain Spencer, The Herald Erjen, That is what I usually do if I find an unknown invader. I save the body in a small container for viewing. 1. Ask a pest control service. That is if you already have a contract with them, it is the easiest way to do it. 2. Pack the insect up and mail it to the Department of Entomology at you local University. Call first if they can help you. This has worked for me in the past.
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Post by Captain Spencer on Jul 14, 2023 19:31:12 GMT
Captain Spencer , The Herald Erjen , That is what I usually do if I find an unknown invader. I save the body in a small container for viewing. 1. Ask a pest control service. That is if you already have a contract with them, it is the easiest way to do it. 2. Pack the insect up and mail it to the Department of Entomology at you local University. Call first if they can help you. This has worked for me in the past. Thanks, 99999. I agree with you and Herald that contacting a university is the way to go. |
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Post by mecano04 on Jul 19, 2023 21:26:35 GMT
Do you have a cellphone or a camera or any way to take decent pictures of the insect? If so, you can create a INaturalist account: www.inaturalist.org/It's free and when you upload a picture, the system will generate suggestions as to what it might be then people will eventually validate it. If you're curious or enjoy taking pictures of any living thing (beside portraits of people) this site will let you upload and identity any mammal, bird, insect, plant... I use it for insects mostly. |
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Post by politicidal1 on Jul 20, 2023 1:36:56 GMT
Do you have a cellphone or a camera or any way to take decent pictures of the insect? If so, you can create a INaturalist account: www.inaturalist.org/It's free and when you upload a picture, the system will generate suggestions as to what it might be then people will eventually validate it. If you're curious or enjoy taking pictures of any living thing (beside portraits of people) this site will let you upload and identity any mammal, bird, insect, plant... I use it for insects mostly. I feel like birdwatchers might consider that cheating. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2023 10:32:44 GMT
Dont doxx Harry Skywalker ![[frown]](http://storage.proboards.com/6870873/images/FySwlyxIVZHczdwVyYqH.gif) |
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Post by mecano04 on Jul 20, 2023 22:25:05 GMT
Do you have a cellphone or a camera or any way to take decent pictures of the insect? If so, you can create a INaturalist account: www.inaturalist.org/It's free and when you upload a picture, the system will generate suggestions as to what it might be then people will eventually validate it. If you're curious or enjoy taking pictures of any living thing (beside portraits of people) this site will let you upload and identity any mammal, bird, insect, plant... I use it for insects mostly. I feel like birdwatchers might consider that cheating. Honestly, the Inaturalist app is pretty bad and struggles to work properly. It's better to use the website from a computer but when it comes to mushrooms, it's not doing such a great job. It's fine for insects, mammals, birds and other stuff as long as you have decent angles and a decent resolution.
As for birdwatchers, have you ever heard of the Merlin app? ( merlin.allaboutbirds.org/) It's entirely free and there is even a sound ID where the app records the bird(s) singing and then gives you suggestion as to what it might be. Not perfect but generally pretty good, especially if you have the geo-positioning ON. Then the suggestions will be more precise about what can be found in your area. Or, you can simply use the app for its encyclopedia part.
It's from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which is also behind the EBird site: ebird.org/home You can link Merlin with your Ebird account so you fill your observation lists on the field. Both Merlin and Ebird are free.
Honestly, you'd be surprised by how many birdwatchers simply start the app and walk down the alleys and paths and list everything the app suggested. The sound recognition is good but it's far from perfect. Personally I use it to record rare birds so I have a proof to help validate my sighting or to verify I was right about the song I heard.
I would consider myself an average bird watcher. I still have a lot to learn but I'm getting better with identifying local birds from their songs. I have better eyes than ears though. One friend can probably tell apart 150-ish species just from hearing them but he has been a bird watcher for over 40 years. One of his old-time friend has been watching birds for a bit over 50 years now and is among the top observers in the province and he has observed 418 species just in the province of Québec alone.
I'm sitting at 209 species in the province but I began bird watching in 2018. It's getting pass 350 species that is usually the challenge since you then need to drive around quite a bit.
Anyway, if you have more questions about the subject or gear for bird watching, I might be able to provide some answers.
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Post by The Herald Erjen on Jul 21, 2023 6:42:29 GMT
Oh, incidentally, those spider wasps that don't invade homes, I saw one in my home yesterday.
They don't attack people, but they're hell on spiders, of which my old house has many, unfortunately.
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Post by bomtombadil on Jul 21, 2023 13:23:04 GMT
OMG! Those things are huge! Obviously a giant space beetle of some sort. Well I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords.
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Post by notoriousnobbi on Jul 21, 2023 14:49:40 GMT
Captain SpencerWould You please give us a pic of the real thing? and: It's helpful to know where You live (don't dox Yourself exactly... ) and in which time of the year You see the bug Then I might be helpful
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Post by Captain Spencer on Jul 21, 2023 16:37:53 GMT
Do you have a cellphone or a camera or any way to take decent pictures of the insect? If so, you can create a INaturalist account: www.inaturalist.org/It's free and when you upload a picture, the system will generate suggestions as to what it might be then people will eventually validate it. If you're curious or enjoy taking pictures of any living thing (beside portraits of people) this site will let you upload and identity any mammal, bird, insect, plant... I use it for insects mostly. Thanks mecano04! I do have a cellphone and the next time I see this bug (which I'm sure I will) I'll take a picture and try out this website. |
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Post by Captain Spencer on Jul 23, 2023 16:04:17 GMT
I do believe I solved the mystery of this insect. Yet another one of these buggers invaded my man cave, so I took a picture of it and put it on iNaturalist as mecano04 suggested. The match I came up with is a bug known as the Masked Hunter. According to Wikipedia these things do deliver a painful sting like a bee. Anyway, I'm waiting for somebody on iNaturalist to confirm this but I'm pretty sure this is the Masked Hunter. Here's the picture of it on my carpet:  |
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