Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Wordless Wednesday #3 - Mystery Bug



If anyone knows what this bug is, please enlighten me. I found it on our orange tree. I would love to know. And...sorry the second picture is blurry, my phone camera doesn't do up close shots very well.

For more Wordless Wednesday, go here or here.

28 comments:

  1. That is one furry looking insect. It looks huge! Hard to tell from the photo if it's some kind of caterpillar or other creepy crawler. Good luck finding out what it is. Happy WW

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  2. I'm at a loss on this one. Looks like a bunch of fur. You sure it was moving?

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  3. lol! I'm no bug expert but my motto is to stay away from insects that are unfamiliar. They might give you a poisonous sting.

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  4. I have no idea - it doesn't even look like a bug - stay away! :)

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  5. Looks like runaway dryer fuzz. Very interesting. Did you Google "weird white furry bug"? Happy WW and take care.
    -Kiki

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  6. Looks like a feather to me. The color is really different from other bugs though. :)

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  7. What a weird bug. I've never seen anything like it!

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  8. That's so gross! I've never seen one of those before. I think it's this thing though... http://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Thistle-Down-Velvet-Ant

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  9. It's a white creepy many legged thing and I'm glad it's at your house and not mine!

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  10. Ewww. Sorry, but I don't like mystery bugs! Interesting, though. And I know my son would love it! :)

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  11. Nice textures in the bottom photo.

    It looks like a caterpillar from the photo.

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  12. Not a clue, but it looks pretty creepy!

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  13. I thought it was a feather. There sure are a lot of weird bugs in the world!
    Thanks for stopping by my blog!

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  14. So cool!
    I have no idea what bug is it, but looks really interesting :D

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  15. eww, looks like a feather or something... gross!

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  16. It doesn't even look like an insect...I thought it was a feather or maybe a catepillar but then again you don't find catepillars on trees (or do you?)mostly on leaves.

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  17. I can't really tell but maybe it's a type of centipede. :) Cool bug, god luck figuring it out.

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  18. UGHHHH! That is terrible, I'd be running for the hills!

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  19. Oh that is a strange looking critter. I have no idea what it is but hopefully it isn't hurting your orange trees.

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  20. I left this comment to a real knowledgeable scientist and good friend:

    On another note OC can you look at this link and leave a comment if you know what this white bug thing is Wordless Wednesday #3 – Mystery Bug Thank you my friend

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  21. Thom sent me (as you see directly above).

    This thing may be ugly, but if I have it right, it's friendly. I think it's a mealybug destroyer larva. The mealybug destroyer is related to ladybird beetles and were imported from Australia to control citrus mealybug.

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  22. Becca, thanks for stopping by at my place. It was apparent from your two photos that the insect was moving far too quickly to be a mealybug. Also, a mealybug placed where it was (on the bark of the tree) would starve before it got to where it could feed itself (leaves).

    The mealybug destroyer larva is practicing a form of aggressive mimicry - it looks like its prey for its own protection (principally from ants) and possibly as a disguise. The "wolf in sheep's clothing" (from the mealybug's point of view) metaphor fits.

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