I live in Clearwater FL, recently we have been seeing these bugs, but they usually are small like the size of a quarter or a tad bit bigger, but this bad boy is huge, a good 4+inches wide. Really it's creepy, sorta like a beetle fly thing. Other helpful information may be we were recently swarmed with these tiny green worms/caterpillars, like really small, maybe a little bigger than a grain of rice. Now these are here. I wont let my kids play outside because I don't know if these sting, bite, and/or poisonous. Not sure if the small worms and this are related but people in my neighborhood say those green worms come every spring, I've been here 5 years and never saw them before. I am also a Florida native, and in my 38 years I have never seen these bugs before. Hope someone can help me! I have more pictures of it but it would only let me upload one.
CLOSED: Scared: WTH is this bug!!
yovillageidiot - add more photos, one at a time, by posting replys to your own thread. Need to see other shots in order to make an ID.
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My guess would me Acanthocephala femorata. Also known as the Florida Leaf-footed Bug.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/16073
Notice the Red Antennae
I agree, I thought it looked like a true bug, but the back legs had me thrown off a little lol.
They don't bite, but they can spray a disgusting smelling liquid if harassed.
And it doesn't come off with soap and water lol.
Pests to citrus trees.
It does seem like maybe this is it, but IDK if it's just the angle the photos were taken on the link you shared, or if maybe the bug I saw was just not fully grown (which omg I can't imagine it getting bigger) but the legs seem much fatter on the link photos than the ones I see hanging in our neighborhood. But idk a thing about bugs and insects. Thank you so much, and I am so happy to hear they don't bite or sting, lets hope we dont disturb one and get sprayed, lol. TY guys for ur help.
OK this I believe is it, I googled it and found more images and ones with the skinnier looking back legs, lol. Thank you for your replies and answers and solving this bug crisis for me, I really appreciate it. Take Care
There are several Acanthocephala that have red antennae, including Acanthocephala femorata, but also Acanthocephala terminalis, and Acanthocephala confraterna. All of these could be found in you area.
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