I need good Bug Identification sites

bearabull7 · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 30 Location: Lewisville

Does anyone have good websites for bug identifications? Like Good Bugs and Bad Bugs? I have Howards Texas Bug Book, but the bug I'm trying to identify is not in it.

I have not been able to find a really good website with photos with lots and lots of bugs.

Can Anyone Help?

Thanks in advance.

perfumfree :-D

pridgeon · Joined: 11 Apr 2003 Posts: 85 Location: Franklin,TEXAS

The Texas A&M Entomology Dept has a good web site - http://insects.tamu.edu

There are some identification links and you can also e-mail with your questions.

bearabull7 · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 30 Location: Lewisville

Thanks for the site however it didn't have the bug that I have.

Here is a link to some digital images of the bug. Sorry for the quality but I don't have a digital camera, but I put the bug in a ziplock baggy and scanned in the images with my scanner. So if you see a colorful blurring it is because the bug moved while I was scanning it in an enlarged mode.

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/perfumfree2003/lst?.dir=/2270

There are 2 photos. The top of the bug and the underside of the bug. The underside isn't real clear but it does show the bug having a long thin stabbing mouth part that goes completely past the bugs last legs (of its six legs). Howard had mentioned to me regarding another bug issue that bugs with this kind of mouth part is a bad bug. Ok, I've established this is a bad bug. But I need to know what kind of bug this is in order to irradicate it from my Mother in-laws Trumpet Vine.

Thanks for any and all help.

perfumfree :-D :lol:

Dchall_San_Antonio · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: San Antonio,TEXAS

How about putting up a bird house to attract more birds to your property?

sandih · Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Posts: 1093 Location: Dallas,TEXAS

Did you know that Howard has an incredible book called Texas Bug Book? It has great color photos and discriptions and tells you if it's beneficial or not...plus gives info on what the natural preditors are. In the spring and early summer, I used the book everyday.

bearabull7 · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 30 Location: Lewisville

Thanks for tip David about the bird house near by, which actually my inlaws do have one on their property, but I'm still trying to identify the bug.

Thanks Sandih, I have already looked in The Texas Bug Book and this bug is not in it.

I checked out the Texas A&M Entomology site and the bug is not there that I could see.

I've checked other bug sites and still no luck, that is why I've come here for all your help.

So I'm still needing to find out what this bug is.

Thanks for your help.

perfumfree :roll: (a little frustrated)

bearabull7 · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 30 Location: Lewisville

Sorry, for some reason that first link I sent didn't work. It worked yesterday. Anyway try this link and tell me what you think.

The extra leg you see on the second photo is just because the bug moved while I was scanning.

The actual size of the bug is 1/4 of an inch for this smaller one. There were larger ones that I could not catch in the group.

Hope these images help.

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/perfumfree2003/lst?.dir=/Unknown+Bug+Found+on+Trumpet+Vine&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/

perfumfree :oops:

Soils Alive · Joined: 25 Apr 2003 Posts: 42 Location: Dallas,TX

It appears to be an assassin bug (hymenoptera) in an early stage of development. I am not positive but that would be my fairly educated guess. They are a benificial predator of other insects.

sandih · Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Posts: 1093 Location: Dallas,TEXAS

I don't think it's an asassin bug. To be sure, you need to look on it's body for a distinctive diamond shape. Doesn't it sort of look like a squash bug? I don't have my bug books w/ me but I'll take a look tonight.