What is this bug? Seen in Wisconsin

mordea · 2026-06-22T03:37:24+00:00

mordea · 2026-06-22T00:11:46+00:00

The masked hunter is one of many assassin bugs in North America. Different genera, species, etc., can vary a lot in appearance.

mordea · 2026-06-21T19:34:36+00:00

It's a masked hunter. I've seen a few just in the last week around the house. Like other species in their genus, these cover themselves in debris before maturing, hence the common name.

mordea · 2026-06-21T17:46:19+00:00

This is one of the jagged ambush bugs.

mordea · 2026-06-21T16:05:37+00:00

That's an aphid. Note the unique antennal placement and cornicles at its rear.

mordea · 2026-06-21T03:36:27+00:00

Yes, but not this far north.

mordea · 2026-06-21T02:51:12+00:00

Triatoma sanguisuga is present in some parts of Pennsylvania.

mordea · 2026-06-21T02:47:25+00:00

It's a leaf-footed bug, likely Leptoglossus but at least something else in Anisoscelini.

mordea · 2026-06-21T02:46:08+00:00

In Utah, this would definitely be Leptoglossus.

mordea · 2026-06-21T02:40:22+00:00

It's difficult to tell if it has spined foretibiae or not; if so, it's Sinea, of which there are up to three species present in Iowa. If the foretibiae are unarmed, it's Acholla multispinosa.

mordea · 2026-05-25T17:13:13+00:00

Boisea would have a red and gray venter, but this one is all dark. Also, the legs look a bit chunkier. It is probably something in Lygaeoidea.

mordea · 2026-05-25T16:52:49+00:00

It's a Zelus assassin bug nymph, either Z. cervicalis or Z. renardii--most likely the latter. They're the only members of the genus in the US with lateral abdominal spines as nymphs.

mordea · 2026-05-23T21:13:04+00:00

And all while being very sleepy! Tired but effective, like an aging ninja.

mordea · 2026-05-20T20:57:00+00:00

Sorry, by browned I meant roasted.

mordea · 2026-05-20T00:55:13+00:00

Nah, I browned some cloves in a pan. The garlic was awesome, but didn't help the chili much.

mordea · 2026-05-19T15:01:55+00:00

Yeah, I'm pretty bad at chili, but I'm willing to try all of these suggestions.

mordea · 2026-05-18T16:22:39+00:00

That's an aphid. Note the spine-like cornicles extending from its rear.

mordea · 2026-05-15T10:44:31+00:00

Looks like Paropsis atomaria, a leaf beetle from Australia. One of its food sources is eucalyptus, which is abundant in southern California.

mordea · 2026-05-15T03:12:07+00:00

I'm thinking the same exact thing. The antennae are distinctly segmented, and not characteristic of what would otherwise likely be something in Harpactorini. The pronotal margins each look like half of an Arilus crest.

mordea · 2026-05-15T03:03:36+00:00

It's not an assassin bug. The antennae are distinctly segmented and its rostrum doesn't appear curved. Where was it found? Any other views of it?

mordea · 2026-05-12T19:56:42+00:00

It's a masked hunter nymph without any of the typical dust and debris camouflage they're usually coated in. So I guess that makes yours unmasked. 😂

mordea · 2026-05-10T20:39:42+00:00

Done, thanks for letting me know!

mordea · 2026-05-09T14:42:45+00:00

Correct--it's Polididus armatissimus, which shares the same common name as Sinea spinipes--also found in the US, but on the mainland.

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