Sunday, April 29, 2018

What on earth IS this thing?

Last week as I was splitting firewood, I glanced down at the ground and saw a revolting creature.


It was about an inch and a quarter in length, and as you can see, had a big oversized head which "pulsated" in a manner reminiscent of a miniature Star Trek monster -- you know, one of those predators from Planet Zortog or whatever.


You can see its mandibles which open and shut in a suitably fearsome manner, making me glad I was a zillion times bigger.


I haven't the faintest clue what this thing is. Anyone have any ideas?

19 comments:

  1. My husband says kill it now! It is a flat headed bore worm that gets six inches long and an inch around. They may not get that big where you are, but they eat wood. (And they look icky.) Gwen in Roswell, NM

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  2. I am no expert, but it looks like it may be an early larval stage of the grub worm. Found a few pictures that are very close to what your creature looks like.

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  3. I don't know either. I hope it isn't invasive and destructive. Maybe the chickens will find it tasty.

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  4. http://www.weekendgardener.net/garden-pests/flathead-borers-011001.htm

    I agree it could be a flat headed bore worm. Don't want it anywhere near your orchard. Best of luck to you.

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  5. Found it's photo and it is supposed to be a flathead borer, my husband said it is great fishing bait. Also your chickens may think it is the treat of the century, our chickens love to hang around when we do our wood chopping.

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  6. In Northern CA, I find them in the fir trees that have been killed by fir Beetles. Maybe a larva from them?

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  7. When it grows legs it will be an Alien Face hugger...

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  8. Similar critters are found in dead pine trees. Those turn into grey beetles. I assume this is some other species of beetle larvae.

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  9. WOW!!! I was looking for this the other day on the internet , some old B movie when we were kids had a "monster" with the brain the size of a human , I was telling my kids I dug one up 50 years ago under the wood pile..and that these are real! LOL!! Thanks for the help with a mystery solved !.Karen Jones

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  10. Nuke it from obit. It's the only way to be sure.

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  11. Pine Sawyers or Ponderosa Pine Borer. We have them here in the south-western part of the state. When we dug out the dying poplars that were along our ditch there were quite a few borers that came out of the rotted trunks and rotted roots.

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  12. ROFLMAO on the nuke it comment.

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  13. Say! We had one of those disgusting creatures near our woodstove-inside the house! Could not find and images of it on the internet and am strangely thankful you had one, too, and solved the mystery. Blech! Grandma Kathy

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  14. Say! We had one of those disgusting creatures near our woodstove-inside the house! Could not find any image of it on the internet, am strangely thankful you had one, too, and solved the mystery. Blech! Grandma Kathy

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  15. It's ugly is what it is. Bear Grylls would call it dinner.

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  16. Fatheaded Borer Larva of a Jewel Beetle..

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  17. It's so gross! You got to see it in real life but I was looking at in huge detail on my computer screen! EWWW!

    Chopsmath

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  18. Congratulations on the discovery of another precious life sharing our Mother Earth.

    This letter is to inform you that he/she (To be determined) is hereby protected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with the Endangered Species Act. Please vacate your property for a period of 90 days by 12:00 Zulu time today. A team of international experts has been assembled at your mailbox and ready to begin search and rescue operations. Have a nice day.

    Dock Guy

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  19. Beetle Family Buprestidae . . . the flat-headed borers. Each part of the country often has different flat-headed borers, than other geographical areas. So Google the Buprestidae for your area. I enjoy your writing, and wish you the best.

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