AboutEd Saugstad Expertise Will accept most questions in general entomology, including those related to medical entomology, taxonomy, ecology, arthropod surveillance, and pest management.
Experience 21 years in the U.S. Army as a medical entomologist; duties varied from surveillance of pest populations (including mosquitoes, cockroaches, ticks, and stored products pests) to conducting research on mosquito-virus ecological relationships and mosquito faunal studies. Ten years as a civilian analyst for the Department of Defense, primarily on distribution of vector-borne diseases worldwide. Limited experience on surveillance of agricultural insects in North Dakota and Indiana.
Organizations Entomological Society of America, Society for Vector Ecology, National Speleological Society.
Publications American Journal of Public Health, Contributions of the American Entomological Institute, Japanese Journal of Sanitary Zoology, Journal of Economic Entomology, Mosquito News, and Mosquito Systematics.
Education/Credentials B.S. in entomology from North Dakota State University in 1963, M.S. in entomology from Purdue University in 1967.
Expert: Ed Saugstad Date: 7/3/2008 Subject: another mystery bug
Question QUESTION: i currently have a mystery bug in my garden. I am trying to identify them so I can decide if I should leave them alone or relocate them. 1st i have a small 1/2" green worm with a dark brown/black spot inside the middle of it (it was transparent). I keep finding it stuck to my bib lettuce, although I have only found 3 or 4 so far.
QUESTION: I tried to get a picture but it was too small and transparent. I couldn't get one. The dark spot was in the middle like a band. They really seem to stick to the leaves of my squash plants.They have been some holes in the leaves, but i am not sure if it is the small green worms or the random squash bug.
ANSWER: Dear Dawn - Without an image of some kind, it is very difficult for me to do anything other than guess at what it might be. Did it bear any resemblance in shape to the images cited in my initial answer? Syrphid fly larvae lack a true head; if your specimen had a definite head, it might be a small caterpillar (see http://pinker.wjh.harvard.edu/photos/cape_cod/images/inchworm.jpg) or beetle larva (see http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/veg/bean/mexican_bean_beetle_larva.htm) - these have chewing mouthparts, and could make holes in leaves. Fly larvae and squash bugs would not do this sort of damage, as they cannot chew anything.
Hope this helps,
Saugy
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QUESTION: it looks nothing like the 2nd one. it looks like an inch worm, but it does not have a defined head. It is see-through, lime green with a dark brown band around it's middle (maybe plant leaf matter?). i cannot see any legs either
Answer Dear Dawn - If you can see no evidence of either a distinct head or legs, it just about has to be a fly larva of some sort, and the only fly larvae commonly found on leaf surfaces are syrphid fly larvae that prey on aphids. Please bear in mind that this is a very large family with hundreds of species in the US.
Finally, if you tell me your state of residence, I may be able to refer you to a more local source for assistance.
