Arthropod Museum, Dept. of Entomology, University of Arkansas

Arkansas Arthropod Photo Gallery


	Striped bark scorpion Arkansas scorpions are easy to identify becasue there is only one species, the striped bark scorpion, Centruroides vittatus. Adults are about 2½" long, and they have 2 broad, dark longitudinal bands on the dorsal side of the abdomen. The appendages of the post- abdomen are uniform yellowish brown, except for the tip of the sting, which is black. This species is the most widespread scorpion. Click on the image for more information about the striped bark scorpion.

	Deer ticks Adult deer ticks are about the size and shape of a sesame seed when not fed, increasing to about 0.13 – 0.25" (3 - 6 mm) when engorged with a blood meal. They are dark reddish brown, and the hard dorsal plate (scutum) is uniformly colored. Lyme disease is a non-contagious, inflammatory condition caused by the spirochete bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted by the bite of the deer tick. Click on the image for more information about deer ticks.

	Trapdoor spider Trapdoor spider burrows are often foudn on sides of forested ravines. The silk-lined, underground burrows are hidden under hinged trapdoors that are camouflaged with soil and bits of plant material. The spiders are nocturnal, holding the trapdoors ajar at night waiting to ambush passing prey. Click on the image for more information about trapdoor spiders.

	Arkansas chocolate tarantula The Arkansas chocolate tarantula, Aphonopelma baergi (formerly identified by many researchers as Dugesiella hentzi) is Arkansas' only tarantula. Females of this hairy spider average 2" long, and males average a little over 1½". The body and legs are uniformly dark brown. Tarantulas occur in dry, rocky glades, where they inhabit silk-lined burrows in natural cavities. Click on the image for more information about the Arkansas chocolate tarantula.

	Brown recluse spider Arkansas is at the center of the natural distribution of brown recluse spiders. These spiders are variable in color, but usually yellowish brown, and they reach to about 3/8” long, excluding the legs. They have 6 eyes arranged in 3 pairs, rather than the 8 eyes found in most spiders. A distinctive violin-shaped dark marking is present on the cephalothorax of this and other recluse spiders. Click on the image for more information about brown recluse spiders.

	Common house spider Dusty cobwebs hanging from ceiling corners are remnants of this species’ work. It has a cosmopolitan distribution and has probably been transported around the world by man. It is a common and characteristic species of houses, barns, and sheds. Rarely have common house spiders been known to bite humans, and their bites apparently do not result in serious symptoms. Click on the image for more information about common house spiders.

	Black widow spider For many years, the black widow was thought to be single species, but it is now known to represent several species, at least 2 of which occur in Arkansas. The southern black widow, Latrodectus mactans, is probably the most common species in this state. The posterior portion of the red hourglass on the underside of the abdomen may appear more like a rounded rectangle than a triangle. Click on the image for more information about the black widow spider.

	Triangulate cobweb spider This small household spider is easily overlooked as it weaves cobwebs in the dark corners of houses, basements, and outbuildings. This species is common in towns and cities, in and around man-made structures, in dark corners of walls, lower angles of windows, and under eaves. There are no known cases of human envenomation by the triagulate cobweb spider. Click on the image for more information about the triangulate cobweb spider.

	Hentz's orbweaver In late summer and early autumn, the commona and abundant Hentz’s orbweaver spiders become conspicuous elements of the Ozark landscape. Females make large webs, often with more than 20 radii or spokes, in relatively open, shaded areas, such as open woods, among garden shrubs and trees, and under overhanging roofs of houses in wooded areas. Click on the image for more information about Hentz's orbweaver.

	Spined micrathena The dark-spotted, whitish abdomen surrounded by 5 pairs of black-tipped spines distinguishes the female of this common woodland spider. Males do not resemble females and are only a fraction of the size, have a flattened, elongate, whitish abdomen. Micrathena gracilis is found in dense deciduous forests in eastern North America south to Costa Rica. Click on the image for more information about the spined micrathena.

	Yellow garden spider This brightly colored and conspicuous species is frequently observed in open, sunny areas, especially in late summer and early fall. Females can reach a length of one inch or more. The yellow and black abdomen is oval, and it bears of pair of humps near the base. Yellow garden spiders are familiar sites around homes and in gardens and old fields throughout the United States. Click on the image for more information about the yellow garden spider.

	Dark fishing spider When the dark fishing spider shows up in Arkansas homes, it can cause much excitement. With legs outstretched, the animal can measure over 3” long. The fangs are certainly able to penetrate human skin, but reports of humans being bitten are rare. A single known report indicates immediate burning pain at the site of the bite, followed by redness and minor local tissue necrosis. Click on the image for more information about the dark fishing spider.

	Agrarian sac spider Sac spiders are the probable cause of more spider bites than any other kind of spider. The agrarian sac spider is often found on trees, shrubs, and low vegetation bordering open expanses, such a fields. Their chelicerae are long and powerful, and the fangs can easily penetrate human skin. Most bites occur when people are gardening or performing other kinds of outdoor activities. Click on the image for more information about the agrarian sac spider.

	Bold jumping spider The jumping spiders, Family Salticidae, are bold daytime hunters with acute vision. The bold jumping spider, Phidippus audax, is a grassland and prairie species and a common predator of many crop pests. These spiders are mostly black, and typically the top of the abdomen has a rather large white to red central spot and a pair of smaller posterior spots. The chelicerae are metallic green. Click on the image for more information about the bold jumping spider.

	Giant redheaded centipede These fast moving and aggressive titans are among the largest centipedes. They attract a great deal of attention because of their size and fierce appearance. Specimens average about 6½” in length. They have been known to deliver painful bites, but symptoms seem to disappear quickly. Females lay eggs and care for their young until they can fend for themselves. Click on the image for more information about the giant redheaded centipede.

	House centipede The house centipede is often seen darting across floors at high speed. It is an inhabitant of damp places, such as bathrooms, moist closets, cellars, crawl spaces, and piles of fire wood. Although house centipedes are not aggressive, they will sometimes bite in self-defense. Severe swelling and pain can occur, but in most cases the bite is no worse than the sting of a bee. Click on the image for more information about the house centipede.

	Silverfish The silverfish is a common household pest in many parts of the world. It is scaly, has a silvery sheen, and it is about half an inch long at maturity. It is active at night and hides during the day, and it prefers cool, damp situations. Individuals frequently attain an age of well over 3 years and under favorable conditions may lay an average of about 100 eggs. Immature and adult stages consume items containing carbohydrates and protein. Silverfish are primary pests of paper and paper products containing starch, dextrin, casein, gum, and glue. They will also attack leather, furs, carpets, and starched fabrics. Click on the image for more information about the silverfish.

	Woods roach The woods cockroach, Parcoblatta pennsylvanica, is a fairly large, harmless, native species. It normally lives outdoors in hollow trees, under bark, or in piles of dead wood, such as firewood. In the spring, the males sometimes invade homes in moist woodland areas, such as the Ozarks. The large males, up to an inch long, with wings that cover the tip of the abdomen, are attracted to lights. Click on the image for more information about the woods roach.

	Chinese mantid The Chinese mantid is a large species. Some individuals reach 3.5 inches in length. They are variable in color, from brown to green, but most Arkansas specimens tend to be mostly brown, with green stripes along the leading egde of the front wing. The species has only one generation per year. Adults are present in late summer and fall, and females dies after producing eggs in the fall. As many as 200 eggs are embedded in a Styrofoam-like egg case called an ootheca. The eggs overwinter and hatch the following spring, with most eggs hatching simultaneously. Click on the image for more information about the Chinese mantid.

	Camel cricket Camel crickets get their common name from their arched, tan or brown bodies. Adults are wingless and up to 1½” long. The antennae are very long and fragile, and the long hind legs with enlarged femora give them the ability to jump strongly. These crickets usually occur in humid, concealed areas, and they are active mostly at night. They are incidental pests around the home. Click on the image for more information about camel crickets.

	Post-oak locust The post-oak locust occasionally appears in outbreaks of devastating local abundance in oak forests of the eastern United States, and then populations subside to levels of near rarity. Nymphs and adults spend most of their time in host trees or shrubs, where they feed on the foliage. Trees can be completely defoliated, but they rarely die. These grasshoppers prefer oaks of the red oak group, such as red oak and black oak, rather than the white oak group, and they also attack foliage of hazelnut. Click on the image for more information about post-oak locusts.

	Common meadow katydid This katydid frequents dry weedy fields, gardens, and lawns. The male's songs, produced by structures on the bases of the leathery forewings, attract females and help maintain local territories free of other males. Females lay eggs in the stems of a number of plant species. Oviposition activity has been known to damage sorghum in Arkansas and raspberry canes in Illinois. Click on the image for more information about common meadow katydids.

	True katydid True katydids are 1.5-2.5-inch, flightless inhabitants of deciduous treetops. Their green wings mimic leaves. Nymphs mature and adults start calling in July. Males produce raucous chirping sounds resembling the word katydid at night with their forewings. Calling males seem to remain at approximately the same place in a tree throughout adult life. Adults are killed by autumn frosts. Click on the image for more information about true katydids.

	A southeastern grass leafhopper This southeastern grass leafhopper, Cuerna costalis, was first shown to transmit phony peach diesease in 1949, and in 1962 it was shown to vector Pierce’s disease in grapes. However, Cuerna costalis feeds primarily on grasses. Females lay eggs in the lower surfaces of grass blades. There are at least two full generations per year, and in some areas there is a partial third generation. This species normally winters as adults sheltered in matted grasses in open fields, orchards, and woodland margins. Click on the image for more information about Cuerna costalis.

	Bed bugs Until recently, few living Americans – including entomologists – had any experience with bed bugs. Although they have been associated with humans for thousands of years, the pests had been kept under control by synthetic insecticides since the last world war. However, within the past decade, there has been an alarming resurgence of bed bugs. The bugs hide in crevices, in folds in bedding, and in other tight spaces. They move rapidly when disturbed. At night they feed on blood of mammals and birds using their sharp beak to painlessly pierce the host's skin. Click on the image for more information about bed bug bugs.

	Large milkweed bug Although they might be considered a nuisance by gardeners trying to propagate milkweeds, and they sometimes congregate in large numbers on or near buildings like the boxelder and golden raintree bugs, large milkweed bugs are not usually accorded pest status. However, they have been widely used as research animals because they are easy to rear and manipulate in the laboratory. Their aposomatic coloration warns potential predators the they are unpalatable. In the process of feeding on milkweed seeds they sequester toxins from the host plant. Click on the image for more information about large milkweed bugs.

	Golden raintree bug Also known as the soapberry bug or redshouldered bug, the golden raintree bug feeds on seeds of native and introduced plants of the soapberry family. The bugs amass on or near hosts and buildings and may enter homes in the fall, while searching for a place to spend the winter. They are a nuisance but not dangerous, and they cause little damage, except some staining when crushed. Rapid adaptive evolution and development of allopatric host races has followed the colonization of recently introduced, non-native soapberries. Click on the image for more information about golden raintree bugs.

	Boxelder bug The boxelder bug is sometimes found entering Arkansas homes in fall. In natural settings, it passes the winter in forest litter and other protected places, but homes also offer an attractive alternative. The species feeds almost exclusively on the boxelder tree, especially the developing seeds. Inside homes, it is not likely to find anything to eat. However, the bugs can be a nuisance, especially when they begin to wander about on warmer winter days. Click on the image for more information about boxelder bugs.

	Garden fleahopper The garden fleahopper can be an important early season pest in many legume, vegetable, and fruit crops. These true bugs suck the contents of plant cells, causing pale speckling of the foliage and possibly stunted growth or even death of seedlings. Infestations can reach large proportions in alfalfa fields, and the leafhoppers may spill over into nearby gardens, where they are especially attracted to beans, beets, cucumbers, eggplants, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, squash, and tomatoes. Click the image for more information about garden fleahoppers.

	Phlox plant bug Lopidea davisi is considered a pest on cultivated phlox in the eastern United States. As early as 1925 it became a serious pest of cultivated phlox in Arkansas, Missouri, Minnesota, and West Virginia. It breeds on wild phlox, but it may fly to cultivated varieties nearby. A spring generation appears in May and June. The summer generation appears in July and lasts to late September. The bugs suck sap from the phlox foliage, causing the leaves to turn brown, curl, dry out, and drop. Click on the image for more information on the phlox plant bug.

	Fourlined plant bug Fourlined plant bugs damage many species of herbaceous and woody plants, causing immediate damage, which may be severe in areas where bug populations are dense. Nymphs can develop on many species of plants. More than 250 species in 57 families have been reported as hosts, but the bugs seem to prefer certain species in the mint, nightshade, and the aster families. Click on the image for more information about fourlined plant bugs.

	Harlequin bug The harlequin bug is an important pest of cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and related cruciferous crops.The bugs suck sap from the plants, causing them to wilt, turn brown, and die. Harlequin bugs exhibit aposematic, or warning, coloration, advertising their toxic qualities. They sequester toxins – mustard oil glycosides – from their host plants. When adults are squeezed, they expel toxic liquid from the sides of the prothorax. Click on the image for more information about harlequin bugs.

	A common leaf-footed bug Acanthocephala terminalis is readily recognized by the distinctive shape of the leaf-like dilation of its hind tibia. It is frequently encountered in Arkansas, where it can be seen resting and walking on vegetation, especially trees and shrubs along woodland margins and in weedy fields. Nymphs and adults suck sap from various plants, but unlike some relatives such as the squash bug, they are not pestiferous and do not harm cultivated plants. Click on the image for more information about common leaf-footed bugs.

	Squash bug Squash bugs attack nearly all cucurbits, such as pumpkin, squash, watemelon, cucumber, and muskmelon, but they have a distinct preference for pumpkin and squash plants as egg-laying sites. Plants or parts of plants that are under attack by squash bugs dramatically wilt, die, and turn brown and crisp in midsummer. Click on the image for more information about squash bugs.

	Caterpillar hunter This brilliant, metallic-green beetle is sometimes found in large numbers during the Arkansas spring, being attracted to lights at night. It may cause alarm because of its large size (it reaches 1 - 1½" in length) and the odor it emits to ward off predators and careless humans. However, Calosoma scrutator is a highly beneficial species that climbs trees in search of caterpillar prey. Click on the image for more information about caterpillar hunters.

	Green June beetle Sometimes called the fig eater because of the adult’s fondness for figs and other ripe, thin-skinned fruits, the green June beetle is native to and widely distributed in the eastern United States from Connecticut to Florida and Kansas to Texas. Adults feed on and damage many kinds of ripening fruits, including peaches, grapes, blackberries, apples, and even tomatoes. The beetles are attracted to decaying organic matter as oviposition sites. Green June beetle larvae are considered only minor pests. They mechanically damage turf through their burrowing activity. Click on the image for more information about green June beetles.

	Japanese beetle Both adult and immature Japanese beetles are highly destructive pests. Adults emerge in July and August and skeletonize foliage and gouge fruit of hundreds of species of plants. Larvae, which are among the many kinds of “white grubs” found in lawns and pastures, feed in the roots of grasses and other plants. They are the most widespread turf-grass pest in the United States. Click on the image for more information about Japanese beetles.

	Eastern Hercules beetle The eastern Hercules beetle, relatively common in Arkansas, is the most massive beetle in the eastern United States. Adults range in length from 1.5 to 2.5 inches. Males have horns that project forward from the pronotum and head. Larvae are found in cavities at bases of oak trees, where they feed on collected granular debris. Development may require 2 to 3 years. Click on the image for more information about eastern Hercules beetles.

	Odd beetle This aptly named beetle is the most bizarre member of the family Dermestidae. Males and females bear little resemblance to each other. Larvae normally feed on dry animal matter and can be serious pests of museum collections, especially damaging dry, pinned insect specimens. Click on the image for more information about odd beetles.

	Drugstore beetle The drugstore beetle is one of the most common household pests in Arkansas. The larvae can extensively damage a wide variety of plant and animal materials stored in the home, but they most commonly infest dry foodstuffs, such as pasta, bread, crackers, cereal, pet food, spices, flour, sauce mixes, dried fruit, dried fish, and fish meal. The North American common name is derived from the beetles' habit of feeding on prescription drugs. Click on the image for more information about drugstore beetles.

	Foreign grain beetle Foreign grain beetles are brown and tiny, only about 1/16 of an inch long. They are found in association with a wide range of moldy foodstuffs, including grains, cocoa, oilseeds, dried fruit, herbs, spices, and roots. It is often seen as a pest in brand new homes in Arkansas, usually in the heat and humidity of midsummer. After sheetrock is plastered, mold forms in the wall voids, and this provides a food source for the beetles. Click on the image for more information about foreign grain beetles.

	Ebony blister beetle Blister beetles produce a substance called cantharidin, which can cause blistering of skin and mucous membranes and irritation to the digestive and urinary tract. Adult beetles usually respond to disturbance by feigning death and bleeding cantharidin-laden hemolymph from certain leg joints. The ebony blister beetle is among the most pestiferous species of Epicauta. Although the larvae consume of eggs of the destructive differential grasshopper, the adults are sporadic pests of gardens and crops in Arkansas. Click on the image for more information about the ebony blister beetle.

	Cottonwood leaf beetle Adults and larvae of the cottonwood leaf beetles feed on foliage of poplars, willows, aspens, and alders, sometimes causing severe damage to the trees. Young larvae feed together and skeletonize leaves. Older larvae and adults feed individually, chewing holes or consuming entire leaves, except for the larger veins. The quarter-inch adults are yellow with a distinctive black pattern. Click on the image for more information about cottonwood leaf beetles.

	Sawtoothed grain beetle Both sawtoothed grain beetles and merchant grain beetles are common pests of stored foods. The sawtoothed grain beetle prefers cereal-based products, such as breakfast foods, flour, corn meal and buscuit mix, whereas the merchant grain beetle prefers nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. Adults beetles are around 1/10" long, flat, and reddish-brown, with 6 teeth on each side of the prothorax. Click on the image for more information about sawtoothed grain beetles.

	Moth flies, drain flies Moth flies are very small flies covered with a furry covering of fine setae that renders a resemblance to tiny moths. Indoors, they may become pests in bathrooms, kitchens, locker rooms, and other areas provided with water service and drains. Larvae live the gelatinous material that covers filter stones at sewage plants and the insides of drain pipes and overflow areas of indoor plumbing. Click on the image for more information about moth flies and drain flies.

	Snake-worms Mass migrations of the larvae of some species of darkwinged fungus gnats have been well documented, but their purpose remains unknown. Progression of the long, slender snake-worms is accomplished by individual larvae crawling forward on top of the bodies of their comrades. Snake-worms are usually little more than a foot long, but at least one observer reported a morm five feet long. Click on the image for more information about snake-worms.

	Mydas flies These large, common Arkansas flies mimic spider wasps. They are probably territorial, chasing away nonresident flies of the same species. Adults apparently consume nectar. Larvae are associated with decaying stumps and logs, where they feed on scarab beetle larvae. Click on the image for more information about mydas flies.

	Robber flies Robber fly males and females, adults and larvae, are rapacious predators of other insects. Adults are easily recognized by the depression at the top of the head between the eyes and by the moustache, or "mystax," over the mouthparts. They pounce on their prey and drain its body fluids. Larvae are found in soil, fallen leaves, and decaying wood, where they feed on other insects. Click on the image for more information about robber flies.

	Purple small-headed fly Lasia purpurata is a large, pilose, metallic blue fly with strong purple reflections that occurs in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. In Arkansas, the larval stage apparently parasitizes tarantulas, feeding on the spider’s tissues while obtaining air from the spider’s book lungs. Click on the image for more information about purple small-headed flies.

	Bagworm Bagworms have been recorded feeding on more than 125 different species of woody plants in 45 families, placing them among the most important pests of ornamental trees and shrubs in the eastern United States. The caterpilars construct conical cases - or bags - around themselves and enlarge them as they grow. The cases consist of silk with attached bits of vegetation from the host shrub or tree. Click on the image for more information about bagworm

	Ailanthus webworm moth Colorful Ailanthus webworm moths can be seen visiting flowers during daytime. Larvae of various ages feed gregariously in communal webs on Tree of Heavan foliage. The species is multivoltine, and it apparently does not diapause. It is unlikely that it overwinters in the northern part of its range. Rather, it migrates north across the United States to southern Canada each year. Click on the image for more information about Ailanthus webworm moths.

	Indian meal moth The Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella, is one of the most important household pests in Arkansas. It often infests dried fruits, nuts, cereals, powdered milk, chocolate, birdseed, and dry pet food, and it is considered the number one moth pest of dried fruits in storage. The larvae of these moths seldom attack whole kernels. They prefer broken grains and processed cereal products. Click on the image for more information about the Indian meal moth.

	Stinging rose caterpillar The stinging rose caterpillars the bizarre larva of a handsome early summer green and brown moth that has a wing span of about an inch. The caterpillar is said to be aposematically colored: its bright orange background with brilliant yellow spines warns potential predators of its poisonous qualities. The moth is widespread in the forests of the eastern United States, but it is not particularly common. In fact, in some areas, such as New York State, it is considered a species of conservation concern. The caterpillars are known to feed on foliage of rose, dogwood, apple, cherry, bayberry, hickory, maple, poplar, and oak. Click on the image for more information about stinging rose caterpillars.

	Silver-spotted skipper Adults select many kinds of summer flowers, especially pink, red and purple flowers, as nectar sources. Black locust is the preferred host of the Cateripillar. The caterpillars cut and fold leaflets of compound-leaved legumes to create shelters, abandoning older shelters as they grow. Larger and more mature individuals require larger shelters, which can consist of several leaflets. This species has more than one generation each year, and it seems that adults are present all summer after their first appearance in the spring. Click on the image for more information about silver-spotted skippers.

	Black swallowtail caterpillar (parsleyworm) Caterpillars of black swallowtail butterflies, Papilio polyxenes, are various shades of green, with narrow black bands on each body segment. The black bands are interrupted by yellow-orange dots. The caterpillars consume leaves and flowers of various plants in the carrot family (Apiaceae), including cultivated carrot, parsley, dill, and celery. Older larvae often prefer the inflorescence. Click on the image for more information about black swallowtail caterpillars.

	Luna moth Adult luna moths are often seen flying around lights on spring and summer evenings in Arkansas. . Larvae are fairly sedentary, actively wandering only when searching for a pupation site. In the South, hickory, walnut, sumac, persimmon, and sweet gum are preferred food plants. Click on the image for more information about luna moths.

	Snowberry clearwing Snowberry clearwings are regarded as important pollinators, and they are a common sight in Arkansas gardens. They dart quicly from flower to flower, sipping nectar in fulll sunlight. Their wings beat rapidly, giving the animals the appearace of large bees or small hummingbirds. The species has a large range, encompasising much of the United States and Canada, and its coloration varies seasonally, geopraphically, and individually. This variation historically caused much confusion, with the naming of many forms as dicfferent species. Click on the image for more information about snowberry clearwings.

	Copper underwing Solitary copper underwing caterpillars feed on many species of woody plants, including apple, ash, basswood, birch, blueberry, cherry, chestnut, currant, grape, breenbrier, hawthorn, hickory, lilac, maple, oak, poplar, raspberry, redbud, rhododendron, viburnum, Virginia creeper, walnut, and willow. However, they are not considered to be pests. Click on the image for more information about copper underwings.

	Mallow or hibiscus sawfly Plants especially susceptible to attack by the mallow sawfly include the popular ornamentals hollyhock (Alcea rosea), rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos), and some other Hibiscus species. The mallow sawfly shows little or no interest in some other economically important malvaceous plants, including cotton, okra, and rose of Sharon. The species occurs from New England south to Florida, and west to Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas. Click on the image for more information about mallow or hibiscus sawflies.

	Cicada killer Cicada killers are large wasps, nearly 1¼" long, resembling large yellow jackets or hornets. They are common in areas where annual cicadas are prevalent. Adult wasps appear about the first week of June in Arkansas, at about the time when cicadas begin to emerge. They mate and then excavate nests in the ground, usually in full sun where vegetation is sparse and the soil is light and well-drained. Click on the image for more information about the cicada killer.

	Organ-pipe mud-dauber Organ-pipe mud-dauber females build elongate, tubular mud nests under bridges and eaves, on protected rock faces, in tree holes, and on other smooth, shaded surfaces with a nearby source of mud and adjacent woods. The nests are often built as clusters of contiguous mud tubes resembling organ pipes. The females provision each cell of the nest with paralyzed spiders as food for their offspring. Click on the image for more information about organ-pipe mud-daubers.

	Carpenter bee Carpenter bees cause alarm because they are large insects – up to about an inch long – resembling bumble bees, the territorial males harass humans and other animals that enter their terrain, and they are often found boring holes in structural timbers, such as rafters and fascia boards. The males lack a stinger, but females have been known to deliver potent stings. They are common in Arkansas. Click on the image for more information about the carpenter bee.

	Red velvet ant; cow killer Females of these wasps superficially resemble very large ants, up to an inch long. Their stings are reputed to be extremely painful, thus the common name cow killer. Their aposematic coloration warns of this dangerous quality. Red velvet ant larvae are external parasites of bumble bee larvae and pupae. Click on the image or more infomation about red velvet ants.

	European hornet The giant European hornet, measuring up to 1.5 inches long, was first detected in Arkansas in 1999. It appears to be nesting and breeding in the northwestern counties. It usually builds paper nests in hollow trees, but in urban areas it will nest in homes and other structures. Its sting is said to be painful, and it can cause severe reactions in people who are allergic to wasp and bee stings. Click on the image for more information about the European hornet.



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