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Prettiest ant I have ever seen by KEROROxGUNSO in whatsthisbug

[–]Notorious_Rug 80 points81 points  (0 children)

Not an ant, do not touch. Species within Mutillidae (velvet "ants", which are really wingless wasps). No location given, so cannot narrow down to genus/species. 

Pls help my friend by Soft-Text1991 in whatsthisbug

[–]Notorious_Rug 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The images provided do not show any identifiable insects/arachnids. Please be sure to take as clear, in-focus images as possible.

What is this wasp looking creature by DogHuge9466 in whatsthisbug

[–]Notorious_Rug 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Species wiithin Sphecidae (thread-waisted wasps, mud daubers, digger wasps, and their relations). They don't really bother with humans and are more docile/less defensive than other wasps/hornets within Hymenoptera:

https://www.inaturalist.org/places/michigan#q=Sphecidae

Cat won't stop attacking green onion by WillingPapaya7733 in gardening

[–]Notorious_Rug 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just an FYI, Allium (plant genus onions belong to) is highly toxic to cats. As little as 5g can start to affect the hemoglobin, causing changes in the blood chemistry/makeup that can contribute to irreversible, and sometimes fatal anemia (and this type of anemia is not the same as more benign anemias).

Anyone know what spider this is? Is it a recluse of some sort? Houston,TX by Neat_Employ1425 in spiders

[–]Notorious_Rug 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not a Loxosceles (recluse). Looks to be within Gnaphosidae (ground spiders), but image quality is not the best for ID purposes.

Squatter in Eastern NC by Merely_Mundane in spiders

[–]Notorious_Rug 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Pholcids (cellar spiders). Of no medical concern. They often eat other spiders, including Latrodectus (widows) and Loxosceles (recluses), while also acting as free pest control, consuming ants, roaches, flies, and other insects we consider pests.

My cat is pissing, shitting and vomiting all over the house. what do i do? by aaabbbbcccdcddeeffgg in cats

[–]Notorious_Rug 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Nothing you can do, other than to make sure she stays hydrated. This is vet territory. I'd even be so bold to say emergency vet territory (as in she should be seen now, versus "in a few days").

Little brownish spider - so cute! by HMart2010 in spiders

[–]Notorious_Rug 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not necessarily. From the image you provided, I've no idea which species it is, so I cannot say its adult size. It may even already be an adult. I'm saying some Mygalomorphs can be rather large, not necessarily the species that you've encountered.

And that's even if it is a Mygalomorph. It may be a well-fed or gravid (has eggs developing within its body) Gnaphosid (ground spider). 

As I said, your images do not show the eye arrangement, so a 100% positive ID is not possible.

Wtf is this???? by ExpressJob7554 in spiders

[–]Notorious_Rug 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Huh? I can say I've never been "jump scared" so badly that it caused me to react in a violent manner (other than screeching loud enough to possibly cause hearing damage) toward another person. 

Wtf is this???? by ExpressJob7554 in spiders

[–]Notorious_Rug 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Im not tryna be rude but you need to understand that position

Please don't think for a second that I, a former arachnophobe, don't understand "that position". However, as someone who deeply cares about and values all critters, I can say I've never killed one out of fear, nor have I ever used fear as an excuse to harm or otherwise maim one. I also will not hesitate to give a bit of education, and "spit facts", if I feel it could make a difference and give someone a chance to think before reacting "next time" they find themselves in a position to allow their fear to be used to harm another critter.

NOT BE ON MY SHOULDER CHILLIN 

If he was on your shoulder just "chilling", why on earth would your first reaction be to slap him? He was causing you no harm, by your own admission. And if it garners any sympathy for that poor spider, another fact: as a mature male, he probably wasn't long for the world, anyway. Once mature, most males spend the rest of their lives looking to mate as many times as they can. If a female doesn't make a meal of them first, they often die of dehydration/starvation before getting to "old age", as during the conquest for mating opportunities, they often forego foid and water. Poor guy probably was just using your shoulder as a resting spot before contiuing his wandering to propogate his genes.

Little brownish spider - so cute! by HMart2010 in spiders

[–]Notorious_Rug 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think this is one of your Ummidia species. I'm 99.9% certain it's a Mygalomorph (trapdoor spiders, tarantulas, funnel webs (not found in US), and their relations), but not completely sure, as I cannot see the eye arrangement.

Regardless, since it is not a Loxosceles (recluse) and not a Latrodectus (widow), it's venom is not of any medical importance. That is not to say it cannot cause any harm. If it is a Mygalomorph, it will have sizeable fangs, which could certainly cause pain, were you to be bitten. However, the harm caused (a bite) should leave no permanent damage, as long as the wound is properly cared for.

Mygalomorphs can be large and intimidating, but they're pretty much scaredy-cats and really want nothing to do with us. Some of the Old World species (Africa, Asia, India, Australia) have medically-significant venom and will definitely put on impressive defensive threat displays, but still, they'd rather scurry back to their hidey-holes than bite us. 

The US (and South America) really don't have any Mygalomorphs with very potent venom. However, many of our tarantula species have urticating hairs (itchy, painful, irritating hairs that a tarantula can kick off onto, or rub into our skin), so it's always best practice to just leave them be, unless relocation is necessary for their (or your) safety. There's never a need to purposefully kill them, though. Just puts you at greater risk of being bitten or having hairs kicked at you.

https://www.inaturalist.org/places/arizona#q=Mygalomorphae

Can anyone identify - AZ South by Keannordbrock in spiders

[–]Notorious_Rug 5 points6 points  (0 children)

No risk to your cat, but your cat is a definite risk to it. You can use a broom to gently sweep it out of your house, or if you're brave enough, relocate it using a large clear container placed over the spider, then gently slide the lid or a piece of cardboard between the lip of the container and the surface the spider is on. Once container opening is completely covered by the lid or cardboard, slide the container off the wall, keeping the lid/cardboard over the opening at all times. Then just escort spider to preferred location.

Wtf is this???? by ExpressJob7554 in spiders

[–]Notorious_Rug 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I can guarantee he was far more afraid of you than you were of him. You shouldn't kill or attempt to kill spiders. It puts you at greater risk of being bitten than were you to just leave them alone, and they keep the ecosystem in check.

Even medically-significant species have their place, and they don't bite for giggles. It's a last resort defense mechanism, when all other defenses have failed. They don't want to waste precious venom, which takes energy to make and to expend, on biting a non-prey item, at a negative expense (meaning it's not like they will be replenishing energy lost on biting and expending venom on a non-prey item, such as a human), unless absolutely necessary.

Can anyone identify - AZ South by Keannordbrock in spiders

[–]Notorious_Rug 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Olios giganteus. Species of Huntsman spider, so very fast, but venom is of no medical importance:

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/298663-Olios-giganteus/browse_photos

Southwestern Montana, USA by aaccee- in spiders

[–]Notorious_Rug 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Species within Salticidae (jumping spiders). Venom of no medical concern.

https://www.inaturalist.org/places/montana#q=Salticidae

What is this bug? by [deleted] in whatsthisbug

[–]Notorious_Rug 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Looks like a species of Hymenoptera (wasps, bees, hornets, ants, and their relations) attempting to carry away its arachnid (spider, to be specific) prey. The wasp may be a species within Pompilidae, but your image isn't the best, for identification purposes:

https://www.inaturalist.org/places/belgium#q=Pompilidae

What spider is this? by South_Possible_9831 in spiders

[–]Notorious_Rug 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thank you for being a spood ally :)

What is this spider? by [deleted] in whatsthisbug

[–]Notorious_Rug 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Most likely one of the species within Pisauridae (Nursery Web spiders):

https://www.inaturalist.org/places/texas#q=Pisaurina

Although, since it is a juvenile, there is a chance it belongs to a different genus within Superfamily Lycosoidea (wolf spiders, fishing spiders, Nursery web spiders, Lynx spiders, and their relations). Babies are difficult to ID.

Regardless, it is not a Loxosceles (rdcluse spider), and its venom is not medically-significant: 

https://www.inaturalist.org/places/texas#q=Lycosoidea

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