this post was submitted on 18 May 2024
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What is this thing?

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Let us help you identify that mysterious object you’ve found.

Currently in CHALLENGE mode: If you've got something obscure knocking about, post a picture, and let's see how we do. Please prefix such posts with "CHALLENGE:" so we know we've got a fighting chance.

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[–] Corno@lemm.ee 53 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

It's a green lacewing! It's also known as a "stinkfly" since it produces a foul odour when threatened! I learned that the hard way when I had one of these in my bathroom and humanely got it out of there

[–] DarkThoughts@fedia.io 8 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Doesn't seem to happen when they get squashed.

[–] TheLadyAugust@lemmy.world 31 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Please don't kill these insects. While these only eat pollen, their larvae are highly carnivorous and will eat tons of pests.

[–] Corno@lemm.ee 12 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Yup! They may be a little stinky in their adult form, but their larvae are great at getting rid of pests like aphids! Here's a cool little video of them doing just that

[–] DarkThoughts@fedia.io 2 points 6 months ago

As with most insects, it pretty much always depends on how convenient / inconvenient it is to capture & release them at the time of finding them. If it is very late and they sit in a bad spot then I'm not gonna go through the hassle. If they release some stink bomb shit when feeling threatened then I'm even less inclined to do so.

[–] LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world 0 points 6 months ago (2 children)

You were rescuing it and it felt threatened? stupid bugs.

[–] Corno@lemm.ee 7 points 6 months ago

To give him/her credit, I must've appeared like one of the Titans from Attack on Titan 😂

[–] Etterra@lemmy.world 6 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Dude they're insects. They're not smart enough to know the difference. Most animals aren't smart enough to know the difference.

!whoosh@lemmy.zip

[–] half_built_pyramids@lemmy.world -2 points 6 months ago

bad joke, spiders are not bugs only insects of the order hemiptera classified as bugs and spiders aren't even insects. maybe if you drank fewer beer and spent more time studying you would know that but it's your life

[–] fetter@lemm.ee 28 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Lacewing! Super beneficial insect! I try to grow them every year in my garden. They eat aphids and other pests on plants. It’s a friend :)

[–] SonicBlue03@sh.itjust.works 19 points 6 months ago (1 children)

How deep do you plant them? I might try growing some too.

[–] fetter@lemm.ee 8 points 6 months ago (1 children)

You don’t really plant them, you get eggs on little strips of paper that you hang on your plants. Super easy!

[–] TheLadyAugust@lemmy.world 6 points 6 months ago

You can also plant lots of pollen producing plants or borage to help lacewings thrive. And of course don't use pesticides

[–] zeppo@lemmy.world 17 points 6 months ago
[–] mantra@lemmy.zip 10 points 6 months ago

green lacewing.

[–] BassaForte@lemmy.world 10 points 6 months ago

It's a butterfly (/s)

[–] Muscar@discuss.online 8 points 6 months ago

Get butter bugged!

[–] NegativeLookBehind@lemmy.world 5 points 6 months ago

I don’t know what kind of bug it is but it would probably taste good sautéed in some butter.

[–] SonicBlue03@sh.itjust.works 3 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Mayfly?

Edit: I keep forgetting circle-to-search. Green Lacewing it is.

[–] mihnt@lemmy.ca 5 points 6 months ago
[–] maculata@aussie.zone 1 points 5 months ago

Lacewing. They are the adult form of antlions and similar.

The larvae are really good at muncu BG pests.

These are friends.