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#100 Recently, I have found 4 of these beetles in my apartment. I live in a basement apartment in the Toronto area, so I am used to the usual variety of creepy-crawlies, but this one looks out of place and I have never seen them before 2 or 3 weeks ago. They are quite fat, and make a loud buzzing sound when flying. They have a hard outer shell, and sound quite loud when they bump into things while flying around. They fly fairly slowly, and I usually find them stationary on the floor (they don't fly away until I try to catch them). They also have a fuzzy "belly". I think these beetles probably found their way in here by accident, because they look out of place compared to the spiders, millipedes and roly-polies I usually see down here. Any suggestions as to identification? Thanks! Toronto
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This is a June Bug. They have tons of them in TX. In fact, my friend and I got out the ping pong paddles one night and had to sweep up the mess in the morning. We swept up ~500. They are completely harmless. They tend to like areas where cows are bred. Axton

#99 What is this guy. This flew onto my back porch. I am in Alpharetta, GA. This was found in mid-July. We have very tall pine, oak and other trees in the area. Thanks, Axton
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I found out what this critter is, an ichneumon wasp. Here are some links to other pictures.
Information: http://ca.essortment.com/ichneumonwasps_rwum.htm
Pictures: http://www.visualsunlimited.com/browse/vu304/vu304628.html
http://www.colostate.edu/depts/Entomology/images/megarhyssa.jpeg

# 98 I had a number of these bugs on my window and was wondering if you knew what they were. There were observed in Ottawa, Canada on July 11^th, 2004. They are about 2 inches long. It has a split tail with 2 antennae. It seems to have 2 sets of wings and 4 legs. Thanks, Paul
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This one is easy! Common Shadfly.
In Jackson's point the lake road sometimes would get 1" deep with shadflies when they do their mating thing. We played an outdoor concert there one summer night, and made the mistake of wearing white. They were attracted to the lights and kept landing all over us and bursting. They seem to have almost no exoskeleton and turn to mush if you look at them wrong.
Al in Udora.           More information and photos on this web site: http://www.shadfly.com/newpics.html
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Number 98 is a Mayfly.   Scott.

#97. Cincinnati, OH. Observed lengths: 1/16 -3/16 inch.
Found on fence post under maple tree - almost no direct sun.
Found in groups of different-sized individuals.
The tail is actually split. On the largest one, the tail was light blue.
They "posture" (rock left and right). I have pics of them ganging-up on another insect defensively, without attempting to injure it. Troy.
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I can t be entirely certain, but they appear to be the nymphs of treehoppers (Homoptera: Membracidae) however, membracid nymphs usually have the thorax armed with spines or tubercles. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist. Sinks Grove, WV

#96. I take photos of wildlife, starting to work on locating snakes and other creatures. I was fishing in Harriam State Park in New York about 60 miles north of New York City. Found this on a log overhanging a big hole, which was closed up by webbing. This was the best photo I took. Please advise me of the species that the below spider may be. I am entering a contest I need info on this. Thank you. Helena
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A female fishing spider (family Pisauridae) with her egg sac. Female fishing spiders usually carry the egg sac around with them in their chelicerae (‘fangs’) until the eggs are ready to hatch, at which time she places them in a silk-lined ‘pocket’ where they hatch. In the closely related wolf spider family (Lycosidae), the female carries the egg sac attached to her spinnerets until they hatch, and the young spiderlings then ride her back for a while. Such active maternal care appears unusual among spiders in general.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist. Sinks Grove, WV

#95 Hi there: These spiders usually pop up through the sink, shower, and laundry room drains in the fall when it gets colder. The body is about 1cm in length, with legs extended it is about 3cm in length. I have seen ones twice as big as this. I have had them fall from the ceiling on me, crawl up on my shoulder. They are extremely quick and can be aggressive sometimes. Anyone know? Thanks. Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Appears to be a species of Wolf Spider.   When the weather turns cold they tend to move indoors to warmer surroundings.   Paul
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Sorry Paul, not a wolf spider. It is either a Domestic House Spider or an Aggressive House Spider (aka Hobo Spider). Can’t quite tell from the picture. If it has “banding” on the legs it is a Domestic, and yes they can get quite large. Watch out if it’s the Hobo, they are aggressive and can leave a nasty sore if you yet get bitten. Thanks - Shannon

#94 This critter is about 5-7 mm long with long antennae, 6 legs and a thin black appendage that protrudes from it's belly out between the rear legs. While I was taking pictures of it on the citronella candle, it took a defensive position. It then continually maneuvered as to always be facing me. Rather slow moving. Very curious creature. What is it? The undisturbed environment in my backyard is filled with Pine and Maple trees. Ground cover is Ivy, Mosses, Fungi and Pine needles. Tends to stay rather damp through out our hot summers. A. Getting. North Shore Long Island, NY.
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I am an organic gardener in North Central Texas. I suspect that this is a Wheel Bug nymph, which is the biggest member of the Assassin Bug family. He is beneficial in the garden and hunts several insect pests, but they say that the bite is very painful and nasty to humans. We just found a large hatch of these on a catnip blossom and are raising them in a fine screened habitat to release into our fall garden. Yep, we're sure careful not to handle them! I'm interested in any more information anyone has. Donna

#93 I discovered this guy walking down the hallway of my home in Surrey, British Columbia. Should I be concerned? I have small children and am wary of the brown recluse. It is about 5/8 to 3/4 of an inch long. Does not seem aggressive but moves quickly. Has trouble climbing the sides of the glass I caught it with. Thanks! Kelly
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I'm across the river in Coquitlam and have one of these guys in a jar. He has made a small web and I'll try to toss in a few bugs. He was staggering around as if he had a hangover, so he was easy to catch. I'm concerned though, looks nasty. I've never seen one before, and I've lived in the Vancouver area for decades.
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The beastie you found on the wharf is probably a solfugid, also called "sun spiders" or "wind spiders" (so-called because they run like the wind). They are more closely related to scorpions and, although not venomous in the sense that spiders are, can still inflict a painful bite if you mess with the wrong end. Their jaws are really modifications of what became pincers in the scorpion, and (this is so cool!) work up and down rather than sideways the way most arthropod mandibles do.
They are most common in desert environs, but, of course, in B.C. there's a desert in the interior. Nice drawing of a solfugid at   http://ag.arizona.edu/urbanipm/scorpions/solpugids.html Hugh Baker, DVM
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The picture definitely depicts NO sulifugid as they have 10 legs and not 8 like the SPIDER depicted. Nevertheless, nice try....for a detailed identification one would need a larger image. Stein

#92 We have found this beetle (I think) in our house in Airdrie Alberta Canada. They only appear in the spring and summer. We cannot track where they are coming from. They are black in color and about ¼ inch long. Any help on controlling/identifying this beetle would be appreciated. One of the pictures is without flash and has a Bic pen tip in it to give some scale. Thanks, Chad

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It's a type of weevil, there are many kinds, it's a common creature in our neck of the woods (Calgary, Alberta). These are one of my son's favorite insects, they play dead when you touch them. They migrate in the spring and go "through", not "around", everything in the way, including your house.... totally harmless. Catherine

#91 I live in Northeastern Ontario near Sudbury. Yesterday I found a large bee-like insect on our driveway; it looked like it was dying. The "bee" has 2 pairs of wings, six long and heavy legs, though the lowest part (4 parts) of the legs is slim. It it black except for two spots of yellow on its back behind where the wings attach, the foremost spot being three times as big as the other. The end of its body is reddish brown all around. Its length from head to tail is a little over 3 cm (maybe 3.2). Its wingspan at death is a little over 4 cm. The first pair of legs are probably 2.5 cm extended; the middle are over 3 cm and the back pair of legs are probably close to 4 cm extended. The bee's antenna are orange and 1 cm long. It appears to have some kind of a hole at its tail-end. I can not tell if the hole is the result of a stinger being detached or if the bee is naturally constructed this way. Alex
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I love your site! After some further inquiries I have found out this is an adult male elm sawfly. This is the largest sawfly in North America. The adult is harmless and can not sting but can pinch with their mandibles. Apparently the adults are rarely seen. The larvae are 1 1/2 - 2 inches long and feed on elm and willow. I have attached a photo of the larvae/caterpillar. More info at: http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/trees/f1192-3.htm#Elm20%sawfly

This insect is actually a butterfly. I am only familiar with European species, but the family is Sesiidae or waspbutterflies. Herman

#90 Hi. I live in Massachusetts about 1/2 hour south of Boston. We have a bunch of tall perennial yellow daisy like flowers (Heliopsis) whose stems are covered with these very red bugs. I have attached 2 photos, although they don't look red in the photos. One photo shows a penny for scale. The other is somewhat magnified. What are they and what should I do? Thanks in advance. Gretchen Meinke
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These are aphids (sometimes called plant lice), order Homoptera, family Aphididae. Many species are pests on flowers, vegetables, shrubs, and trees. As they are quite fragile, in many cases they can be washed from the plant with the spray from a garden hose. Also, there are products such as insecticidal soaps that are quite safe to use around the home that will help control them. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist, Sinks Grove, WV

#89 Now that spring/summer as arrived we have noticed these little bugs crawling around in different areas of our home. They are 6-7mm long have little hair on their body and their body are coloured in segments of dark and lighter brown. Can anyone help us identify them so that we may get rid of them!!! Thanks Location: East of Ottawa On..

Looks like a carpet beetle larvae. Carpet beetle information

#88c While not an insect (yet), I hope you can help on this one. Several ends of our maple trees' branches have fallen to the ground, which happens each year (though this year more than in the past). Judging by the branch ends and other observations, I'm pretty sure these are from squirrels building nests. However, something other than squirrels is laying eggs on the leaves.
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The twigs indeed look as if they had been chomped through by a squirrel or a similar creature. There are wood-boring beetles called twig girdlers where the female beetle lays her eggs beneath the bark of a twig and then proceeds to girdle the twig so that it eventually falls from the tree. The beetle larvae then complete their development in the fallen twig. However, if that were the case here, I would expect to see the cut ends of the twigs with a neater job of cutting. As for the leaves, those are not eggs, but rather galls – plant tissue caused to proliferate in an abnormal manner by a substance introduced by a small insect (usually Cynipid wasps or Cecidomyiid flies) or mite (usually Eriophyids). In your case, I rather suspect that the culprits are mites. Although unsightly, the galls usually do not cause serious harm to the tree.

Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist, Sinks Grove, WV
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As an arborist, it looks as if you have gall producing mites on your silver maple. There is usually no treatment required.
Judith Gardiner B.A,, ISA Certified Arborist ON -615. Gardiner Tree Trimming & Removal Ltd. 613-623-3780, www.treedoctor.ca

#88b After removing several inches of damp mulch and half-rotted leaves, several hundred of these ants were clearly visible. Many were carting objects that were similar in appearance to grains of white rice. My best guess so far is "Yellow Ants". This maple tree is about 40' from our house. My main concern is that they pose no threat to people, pets, or our home. A fair abundance of earthworms would seem to indicate that the soil here is healthy.
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Ok, Picture 88b

The ant in question is a Ant of the genus Acanthomyops (citronella ants), they are fairly harmless, but will make there nest in rotted wood. These ants are temporary social parasites of Lasius ants, The newly mated queens of this species enter an already established host colony and kill the queen and take over the colony... The white rice shaped things are cocoons or pupae. Inside is an unborn ant. This ant has a lemony scent when crushed and is relatively harmless unless you have rotted wood. Bob B.

#88 I only spotted one of these slow-movers. I'm just curious what it might be. Ant conveniently included for scale (insect in question is about 3 cm long). My main concern is that this isn't a queen of a species that might pose a threat to people, pets, or our home.

#87 hi i took this picture of this moth in my bathroom. I live in Birmingham in the u.k and i was wondering what type it is. there was also another moth right by it with the same markings. Thanks a lot. Paul

This is a Zygaenidae moth, especially in Europe they have the nice red marks and they fly during day. There is a nice book out about these moths: http://www.apollobooks.com/Zygaenidae1.htm They are harmless and they rarely fly into houses. Martin Hauser, University of Illinois

#86 Here is a picture of a CREATURE That I pulled off of my body. I awoke to feel a pinching on my skin in the left flank area. Upon reaching back to this area I felt something gummy / sticking to my skin and thought for some reason it was like a price sticker. So I reached a second time because it did not come off with just rubbing my finger over it ....and lo and behold I was holding this round...rubbery type little sucker ..( literally...little sucker) .Within 30 minutes I had the size of a quarter purple circle where this thing had hung onto me...The area became hard and a bit wider. almost 50 cent size by the end of the day ....The area ./two days later is still round ..but faded a bit in color ...I had a massive headache yesterday..almost like a migraine. People say...be aware of aches and pains ..I would greatly appreciate your knowledge and expertise ...Maggie

Maggie what you had is a tick and it looks like you got maybe Lyme disease from the bite. You should see a doctor as soon as possible for an antibiotic treatment. Ticks are transmitting a bacterium and you can get all the information you want from the following website: http://www.lyme.org/ Martin Hauser, University of Illinois

# 85 Vancouver BC, Living and apparently killing a weeping ornamental birch tree. 1 CM in length.
Thanks. LVT

# 84 Hi I found this bug on my back porch, in Sparta Tn. USA I have never seen one like this any help??

thanks. Kris

This is a true bug belonging to the family Reduviidae or assassin bugs. Most of them hunt other insects and are beneficial because they get rid of some pest insects. Here are some nice pics:
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~sjtaylor/reduviidae/ReduviidPics.html Martin Hauser, University of Illinois

# 83 I hope someone out there can help me. I found this bug on my pillow and it was covered with blood and dead. Is it a louse? It doesn't look like the photos I've seen. It's very tiny, smaller then a flea and I now have bites on my head. I would appreciate any advice. Thanks. Joanne

Common Bedbug. I recommend you arrange for professional extermination. These buggers are a real pain in the butt. Cheers, Paul

# 82 Hi, My children found this little darling hiding behind a curtain in our log home, it is about 2 inches long, and seemed aggressive, it attacked the plastic cup I used to catch it (leaped at it) bluffing ???. In the seven years I lived here I've never seen anything like it. Location; Kemptville Ontario Canada, indoors - log house - south west facing window - wood land area.
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I live in Sharbot Lake area also in a log home and I have this same spider how ever I have no idea what it is I have been looking for what type it is for 2 years this is the first time I have even seen any info that some one other then me has seen them. if you have found out what it is please let me know thank you. John
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This is the same spider that I see all over my property, the same leg markings and coloring...is this a type of Wolf Spider. Joanna. Beaver, Bank Nova Scotia
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Looks like a kind of wolf spider, I'm in Luskville west of Ottawa, I've been trying to get a handle on the same kind (I take at least one out of the house everyday, two with egg sacs) however these egg sacs were not carried by their spinerettes which makes me wonder if they are wolf spiders. the picture is identical to the ones i have and i have lots!!!
to look at. Carl

# 81 Hello, Hopefully you can help. The attached photos are of an insect found in my new home. The house is located in Innisfil Ontario, 45 minutes north of Toronto, near Lake Simcoe. Yesterday evening, a perfectly round hole (about 5 mm in diameter) appeared in my wall. The wall is made of drywall. Today my wife found this insect near the hole on the stairs. I am concerned that it is a cockroach or a wood damaging insect. The home is brand new; we’ve only lived here 3 weeks. The exterior of the home is incomplete; soffiting around the roof is missing leaving the attic exposed to the elements. A forest and creek are near by. Any advice? I plan on reporting this to the builder and the home warranty people and would like to know how to describe the insect. Regards, Kyle
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Hi:
I am an entomologist at the University of Illinois. I study longhorned beetles and wanted to reply to the question posted in #81.
The beetle is a female White Spotted Pine Sawyer, Monochamus scutellatus. Adults lay their eggs in pine trees that have recently been cut. The larvae bore into the wood of the tree leaving large amounts of matchstick-like sawdust. They usually take one year to complete their development (although there are some accounts of them taking 2 years to develop.) The hole that you found in the wall did indeed come from this girl, but she won't cause you any more trouble. Adults feed on the branches of living pines and the wood in your house is too old now to support another generation of larvae. This beetle's emergence indicates that the wood that the builder used was neither seasoned or pressure treated. As I mentioned they take one year to develop, so the pine that the builder used had to have been cut within the last year. Chemical or pressure treatment of the wood would kill any larvae.---Annie Ray, University of Illinois

#80 Greetings, I live in Rockland County, NY. It is approximately 20 minutes North of NYC in the Greater Hudson Valley. I found dozens of these bugs on a recently dead tree in front of my house. They vary in size, and don't seem to do anything other than walk around the bark. They have wings that are neatly camouflaged with the colors on their backs. They don't seem to fly, but they are fast walkers.

I am concerned that they are the reason for the loss of the tree. If so, will they spread to the nearby deck and wood-shingle siding? Does anyone know what kind of bugs these are? What do they eat? Where would they nest? Do they bite? Any help would be appreciated! :) Anthony - NY
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Appears to be a Cerambycid (long-horned wood-boring beetle) in the genus Neoclytus. Beetles in this genus will attack a wide variety of hardwood tree species (especially ash, oak, and hickory), as well as unseasoned lumber. They are harmless to humans. You may wish to contact your county cooperative extension service agent for control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist. Sinks Grove, WV

#79 The six inch centipede was found in the bathroom of our hotel room in Austin Texas, May 30 2004.
We let it crawl into a brown paper bag & took this photo before release into the brush. How dangerous is this species? How would it get into the second floor hotel room? Are these common in Austin? What kind of centipede is this? Is it full grown? ===== Thanks, Vic
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A Scolopendran centipede, possibly the castaneiceps color morph of Scolopendra heros see http://www.tarantulaspiders.com/images/gallery/centipedes/sheroscastaneiceps{ss}.jpg.
One this size can give quite a painful (but not life-threatening) bite. They can travel quite well, so that it is not surprising that you would find one on the second floor. Your specimen appears nearly full grown; reportedly, this species can attain a maximum length of 7. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist. Sinks Grove, WV

#78 Hey there. I found this spider up in my Western Washington USA cabin north or Everett. It was hanging out near/in my STOVE! I had to cook the son of a gun out and I could not tell if he had made any webs. Any help would be appreciated, THANX! Justin
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By the colour and the pugnacious attitude I would say that this spider is a Mygalomorph. They used to be classified with the trap-door spiders but apparently now are considered to be a separate clan, or sept, or fraternal order...whatever it is we classify them into these days. Washington state is a bit farther north than one usually sees them, I think. This one may have been lured into your stove by the intoxicating aroma of propane odorant, which spiders seem to really enjoy. Hugh Baker.

#77 This is a weird bug we found in our backyard. (Victoria, BC, Canada) It looks like #76 but my picture may be easier to identify. It does not appear to be able crawl on smooth surfaces and merely thrashes about. Anyone know what it is?
This is a ground beetle larva, family Carabidae. They are predatory on other ground/soil-living organisms. For another example see: http://bugguide.net/node/view/17106/bgimage Jim McClarin

#76 My kids found this in the creek behind our house. There were several of them hiding (or living) in what looked like a small tube of bark. They are about 1 1/2 to 2 inches long. We have no idea what they are. Anyone know? Thanks!

These are the larvae of caddisflies (Trichoptera), they built the tubes out of plant material or stones and silk. They are often indicators for better water quality. Some guys give them precious materials to built their bag with them, check it out:
http://mitpress2.mit.edu/e-journals/Leonardo/isast/articles/duprat/duprat.html
Martin Hauser, University of Illinois

#75 I found this huge ghastly looking thing in my garage last year. It was huge, probably about 3-4in in length. I wouldn't get near it because I had never seen anything that huge before! I live in WNY in a suburban area. Our front deck is just right outside the garage (I live in a raised ranch) and that's where this thing was on the inside. I thought maybe a type of wolf spider, but it has a hard body, not soft like a lot of the pics show. What do you think it is? Angela

#74 It's been four months since I moved to a new duplex in Vancouver, BC. Recently I started to find these bugs on the floor and walls mostly on the second level. What are those? How can I get rid of them?

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It is a rice weevil. Alex. See http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/domest.htm

# 73 I'm hoping you can help identify this "worm like" bug we are finding all around our house this spring. They are brown in color and have many tiny "hairs". When disturbed they coil up. They are typically 1 MM to 1 CM in size. We find them in odd places such as a clothes drawer, counters, on beds, carpet etc. I attempted to take a picture which is attached but it did not come out very clear. I did some research and I think it might be a Millipede or part of the "Diplopoda" family but it seems to have more random "hairs" or "legs". Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated. We have a 4 month old baby who starting to crawl and we are a little concerned that he may come in contact with one of these bugs. Also, any suggestions you may have to get rid of them would again be appreciated. Mike. Ottawa, Ontario ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's a little hard to tell from your photo but it looks like # 58 and 63 below, a carpet beetle larva. You can read all about them on our Carpet Beetle page.

#72 Found these little guys in my garden this morning (Southern California: Orange County). Beautiful striking markings. The larger one is about 1/2 inch long. There were several other specimens around, but this one offered the clearest view for the photo. I’m assuming it’s a beetle of some sort. Anyone know the name? Thanks! Jon H.
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I think these colourful bugs may be a variation of the harliquin bug. Deb.   Gabriola, BC
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Possibly a variation of a box elder beetle? Suzanne
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Number 72 is a very strange bug. I cannot find a good name for it anywhere. I do not think it is a harlequin bug because they are very different but i have one of the bugs pictured that i found in Auburn, Alabama very far from california where others have been found.
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Bug number 72 is a Box Elder bug. They hang out where there are Box Elder trees.
See link: http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4th/kkhp/1insects/boxelder.html
Thanks, Becky Neu, Minneapolis, MN
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Thanks, everyone for your suggestions! It’s been awhile since I’ve visited the site, and I was surprised at the number of replies to my inquiry. Since posting the photo, I contacted our local vector control agency who informed me that this critter is a form of “seed bug”. Is that related to the box elder bug? We have no box elder trees on or near our property (don’t know if that matters). In fact, the bugs in this photo were actually on a dusty miller plant in our flowerbed. Thanks again! Jon H.

Click on the photos to enlarge

#71 What is this? Bob V.

It is a sun spider (Solifugidae) . It is a related to spiders, ticks and scorpions, but a group of its own. They are very fast runners, night active, and do not have poison but have a strong bite if you hold them in your hand.
http://www.arachnology.org/Arachnology/Pages/Solifugae.html
Martin Hauser, University of Illinois

#70 These things are all over many of the trees in my back yard. They seem to hatch in what looks link a spider web. Are they going to kill my trees? How can I get rid on them.
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These are western tent caterpillars. They seem to come and go in cycles and it looks like we will see plenty of them in 2004.

See this excellent web page for more information.

#69 I live on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia and found these in a cluster of about 20 or so (could be more cause I stopped digging after I found them) while preparing a home for a tree. They were aprox. 2 feet underground. They are about 2-3 inches long. My sister-in-law found some last year in her yard but they were apparently a lot longer. I have talked to a local nursery owner, however they have no idea what they are. Are these friends or foe? Thanks. Sally
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This looks like Jerusalem cricket larvae. They aren't as common as they used to be, and should be left alone, as they should not pose a problem in your garden. They can bite but they are not venomous. Renee
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These are not Jerusalem cricket larvae, these are Scarab beetle larvae or grubs. Check out the pictures there:
http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/Insects/g1085.htm. Some of them damage your lawn, but most of them are harmless and develop into a beautiful beetle. Martin Hauser, University of Illinois

#68 These flying bugs either sting or bite. The closest I've been able to identify them is to call them yellow jacket workers, but some of them have red-coloured abdomens...

They are fairly small - maybe 1 cm in length. They have 2 sets of wings. There are two different coloration appearances: one has an abdomen mostly black with slight yellow band markings; the other has a dark red abdomen. It looks like a red ant with wings.

The bugs live in the ground and do not seem to have only one exit/entrance, although there is evidence of a few main entrance holes. There is a strip of approximately 15 feet up the road edge where there are holes evident, so there's quite a colony. They land, dig, and disappear in the sandy soil. Then they emerge and seem to kick sand back to cover up their exit.

They only seem active when it's sunny and warm. Two of the residents in the immediate area have been bitten or stung by these critters - one has several bites/stings on one leg and they think the bugs came in at night through an open window. The other was mowing the lawn near the nests and the bugs flew up his shirt and stung him. Another neighbour says they've been around for years and had nests in her rose garden and around her lawn. She's never been bothered by them. She says they seem active for a short period of time and then disappear. Any ideas?Christine . Burnaby, BC.
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It's difficult to tell by your photos but these may be wild bees. The behaviour fits the pattern of some species. You can read about them on the bee page. Can anyone else identify this one?

#67 What is the NAME of this species? They run 10 mph, jump three feet, are a nocturnal spider, so only come out at night unless they are in shade. When they bite you, you are injected with Novocain so you go numb instantly. You don't even know you are bitten when you are sleeping, so you wake up with part of your leg or arm missing because it has been gnawing on it all night long. If you are walking around and you bump something that is casting a shadow over it, and the sun makes contact with it, you better run. It will instantly run for your shadow, and scream the whole time it is chasing you. PS. The one on the bottom is eating the one on the top. These are Spiders found daily in IRAQ by troops. Imagine waking up and seeing one of these in your tent!! Brent.
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This spider is commonly known as the camel spider. It is a myth that these spiders eat human flesh.-Matt
Here are some good sites on this spider: http://50.lycos.com/040703.asp
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/spidermyth/myths/camelspider.html
http://www.insectia.com/beta/e/iv%5Fc202024.html

#66 This is in my garden in Austin, Texas. It is about 1 inch in length.
That's all I know! Deanna
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This appears to be a caterpillar that has gotten itself stuck in spittlebug saliva. Spittlebugs are little green insects that produce a white frothy substance in which they hide while sucking plant juices. Next time you see that white froth, take a toothpick and poke around inside it. You’ll find a little green insect, about the size of a leafhopper.

#65 I live in Hawaii--Oahu and while at the beach I was stung by a bug that looks like this--what is it because I have NO clue. Thanks, Hensen

This is a field cricket and by the long ovopositor you can tell that it is a female. They do not bit or sting humans and they are harmless. There is a list of insects of Hawaii, check under "Orthoptera: Gryllidae "

#64   Dear Sir or Madam,
I am emailing you a few pictures of a bug that I have seen crawling around the walls in my apartment. I do not know what type of bug it is. Could you please help me identify it and perhaps help me to get rid of these bugs?
Thank you.   Fareed.
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Sorry Fareed but your pictures are a little too fuzzy for a positive identification. Have a look at the photos on the Sow Bug pages to see if they look like what you have.   There is also some information to control them.
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Appears to be a dead, upside-down sowbug/pillbug (Crustacea: Isopoda), sometimes called roly-polys. They are scavengers that often are found in homes where damp conditions exist.

Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist. Sinks Grove, WV
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number 64# is the common wood louse! very common in England, likes stony areas or woodlands!, not harmful, eaten a lot by spiders!, have lots of kids. live in stone gaps in houses? dry stone walls? dead trees?

#63 What is this pest? Evelyn
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This looks similar to #58 below. The larva of a Dermestide beetle. (Carpet beetle)
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Click on the photos to enlarge

# 62 These guys are found two or so at a time about every two months in our livingroom in the north west corner. We have an oak wood floor, but there are no holes to be found in it. There are north facing windows nearby and these guys are sometimes found on the windowsills. No holes there, either. We live in mid to north Alberta, Canada. I've looked at many bug sites and seen nothing like them. Any ideas? Dawn

These are longhorn beetles. The group they belong to is the Clytini, but for the species or genus identification I would need to see the wing markings. They could live outside the house, but often they are found in firewood etc.
Martin Hauser, University of Illinois

#61 I found this in Southern California, USA. It is approximately 1 cm long and is currently sticking to our wall. Every once in a while a worm-like creature comes out of one of the two openings in this thing. This "worm" has a brown head and a white body. Thanks, Matthew

This is actually a moth! I wondered for years what this 'funny bug' was and I finally stumbled across the answer on the internet. http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/occas/p_bagworm.htm
The household casebearer, Phereoeca uterella, is a moth in the Tineidae family of Lepidoptera...Most people know this species by the name "plaster bagworm." However, bagworms are moths in the family Psychidae. Perhaps for this reason, the official common name of this insect is now listed as the household casebearer, instead of "plaster bagworm." Jennie

#60    Location- Rockland, Massachusetts USA (outside Boston).
I have recently discovered several of these bugs in my home am concerned about potential damage they may be causing. The bugs are about 3/4 of an inch in length (not including antennas). Help with identifying would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Peter
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This is a stink bug.   Debra
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Dr. Bug in Ontario says this is a Western conifer seed bug. They are often misidentified as assassin bugs or stink bugs. There is lots of good information on his Urban Pest Control web site:
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This is a western conifer seed bug, often referred to as a stink bug because of the strong odor it gives off when disturbed. They are not harmful in a home.    More information available on this BC forestry web site: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/HTI/iid/

#59 This bug flew into our house in Southern California. There were two of them and they are definitely attracted to light. It was in the evening that this happened. The entire span of the bug as it stands on the wall is about 2.5 inches. Bernard.

This is a crane fly. M. Little. Seattle

# 58 I found several of these in my panty cupboard. They leave skins behind. I am wondering how to get rid of these guys. I would love to know for sure what kind of bug this is as well. Thanks so much. Geraldine.
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This is the larvae of a Dermestide beetle. Check out the links in
# 57 and this link: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/clinic/Bugofwk/970079/dermest.htm
Martin Hauser, Department of Entomology, University of Illinois

# 57 We have found 3 or 4 of these over the last year. One was buried in an old table we had (that has since been thrown out) there were also 1 or two larvae inside. This one was alive and well and crawling across the hard wood floor. We live in Halifax, Nova Scotia and are hoping this guy is not a wood eating pest! Any idea what it could be. Thanks. Julian.
Halifax, Nova Scotia.
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This is a Larder Beetle of the family Dermestidae, which live on organic (rarely plant) substances like dead insects or wool carpets but not in wood. The species is Dermestes lardarius LINNAEUS, 1758. Here are some nice links:
http://www.dermestidae.com/index.html
http://www.dermestidae.com/Dermesteslardarius.html
http://collections.ic.gc.ca/biodiversity/family/Dermestidae.html
Martin Hauser, Department of Entomology, University of Illinois
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Looking at #57 and where it was found I thinking it could be a powder post beetle. Dennis

# 55. I noticed that you get a lot of letters concerning carpenter ants problem. I live on Malcolm Island BC and had a big ants nest in my external house wall.

We wanted to just fix the door frame and taking little by little rotten 2x6 panels we noticed that ants started to pop=up out of nowhere. Little more investigation led us to the side wall . I just knew we found a satellite nest of carpenter ants.

I am sending you a picture what they did with a 2x6 wood panel in the wall. We had several pest control specialists trying to find where ants are and everybody pointed to the walls by windows and siding, nowhere near the spot where we found them. Just thought to share the picture with people to see what kind of damage carpenter ants can do. Take care, Elizabeth

#54. I found several of these particular spiders in my split-level apartment from July of 2002 to March of 2003 when I took this picture. I only seemed to find this spider in my kitchen, which is below ground level. I would find them hiding in between the baseboard and the ceramic tiles until I would accidentally sweep them up and watch them frantically try to escape my broom. I haven't seen this species since I moved, nor did I ever see it before. Its about the size of a nickel and is blackish brownish in colour. Doesn't seem to run very fast on ceramic tiles, though. Curious if it is only indigenous to that apartment?
S.W. , Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

#53. Found this in our bed (yuck) this morning, and assume it fell off the dog, although it may have moved in while we were away for several weeks. What the heck is it? Shirley.

This appears to be a dog tick. It is fully engorged (has had a blood meal) It probably did fall off your dog. Ticks are very specific about their hosts so that a particular species has a very limited range of host animals. Ticks that bite humans, for example, tend to be restricted to other mammals (like mice, dogs and deer). Brown dog tick infestations in homes usually require the services of a pest control operator in order to obtain satisfactory results. It may be several weeks to several months, depending upon the degree of infestation, before control can be achieved. Each surviving female tick can lay as many as 5000 eggs. You can read more at this web site. http://www.rcre.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.asp?pid=FS007

#52 We found this spider on the dirty laundry in the basement. It's about 4 1/2 inches from the tip of front legs to the tip of back legs. I couldn't get better detail as I was afraid to get closer than 3 ft. My son said it is very fast (he discovered it). It hasn't moved for about a hour even after I used the flash camera on it. My son wants to kill it because his band practices in the basement, but we have a lot of crickets down there I'm hoping it will catch, so I'd rather that no one kills it unless there is danger that it might be poisonous?
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Judging from the larger photo, I'd say this is a wolf spider. There are about 100 different species of wolf spiders throughout the U.S. and Canada. They are usually nocturnal and that might be why you are no longer seeing them. Spiders are beneficial in that they eat other insects. Kelli the bug lady. Texas

#51 First, this is a GREAT Website!! Second, I have been searching on-line for a full day for this same amazing insect creature that we saw this Sunday, Sept 7, 2003. We observed this insect on a tree in Harriman State Park in NY. This animal was very busy with his front legs and watching it was mesmerizing. Not knowing if it was aggressive, was a little distracting, but it was hard to walk away. Please, I hope you can help with identifying this. Ichneuman Wasp ?(Rhyssa persuasoria)
Because of the really long "tail" it sure looked like a stinger too - I am very convinced this is it, but around here? THANK YOU. Sincerely, Donna and Dave

#50 This spider is living outside a home in Medicine Hat, Alberta. It's body is only slightly smaller than a loonie and is quite efficient at living off the many grasshoppers or crickets that come near it's very large webb. My son is worried it is dangerous, is it? Thanks. Janet
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Number 50 is a Garden Spider. Allison L. Oakes
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A "garden spider" refers to any spider found in the garden. More specifically, #50 is called a black and yellow argiope. This is one of my favorite spiders. Renee.

#49 This spider spent the day on our house, near the front door. I had never seen a spider this large here. From top leg to bottom leg was about 2 1/2 to 3 inches. I thought she was cool and would like to put a name to her. Thank you.
Adriene, Ulster County, New York State, USA

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This looks like an argiope too. See # 50. Renee

#48 This spider looks similar to the one photographed in Herbert, Saskatchewan (Question 41). Can anybody confirm that this is the Argiope trifasciata. This photo was taken in the Great Sand Hills of Saskatchewan, approximately 30 km east of Fox Valley, SK in August 2003. This is generally a mixed grass and short shrub vegetation community dominated by Stipa comata, Koeleria gracilis, Bouteloua gracilis, Agropyron sp., Symphoricarpus occidentalis, Rosa woodsii and Juniperus horizontalis. Most locals say they have never seen this spider before but observations are very frequent this summer.
Matt McClelland, B.A., B.Sc., A.Ag, Alpine Environmental Ltd.,Calgary, Alberta

# 47. This was found in Ontario, Canada. Any help would be appreciated. It had 4 hair like tentacles that stuck into a maple tree. Thanking you in advance. Dee

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This appears to be a species of Parasitic Wasp called Megarhyssa genus Ichneumonidae. It is one of the largest ichneumon wasps and can recognized by three, long, hairlike parts of the ovipositor (up to five inches long) on females. JPD, Ontario

#46.What are these little buggers? They seam to love my back yard, especially after I water the lawn. They are about 1.5" long, and are pretty thick. I am located in Central Texas and am worried about my son playing in the back yard with these guys buzzin' around. Are they harmless/ harmful? Thanks, Dan in Belton Texas.

Bug 46 is a red wasp. You don’t want to get stung by one of these, as they usually sting multiple times if provoked. These are the worst type of wasp, next to yellow jackets in Texas. Axton Grams

#45. HI, I am from N.W. Pa. and we found this spider crawling on the floor in our garage. I know they aren't very good pictures, but I hope you can help us. We also found one hanging off of our back porch, same size, and color, but different markings on it's back, this one in the garage looks like an aztec marking and the one out back had a different shape white on it's back. I hope someone knows what they are. Thanks, Sherry- NW, Pa
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I'm pretty sure that it is a deer "tic". This tick can cause lymes disease in animals and humans. Jay.
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This is a female deer tick next to a dime for comparison. Webmanager.

#44 I'd appreciate any help you can give me in ID-ing this bug. I live in the Boston suburbs. I have been finding them in the basement. I recently had my roof done and some insulation in the basement...so the house has been shook up a bit. Also, we've had some humid warm days. It's about the size of my thumbnail. They run away when I get near them...but not too fast. they don't 'scurry'. Looks to me like something I would see in the garden. Doesn't look like a cockroach to me....based on color...and doesn't have the ultra-long antennae. Reminds me of a beetle with the dark (hard?) one piece back. Dave
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Dave you took some nice pics of a ground beetle (Carabidae), maybe the genus Harpalus. They are predators and eating other insects, sometimes they are falling into the basements while hunting other insects. You were right,
they are normally hunting in your garden...Martin Hauser, Department of Entomology, University of Illinois

#43 This wasp was captured in Connecticut. It is about 3-4 inches long, and although it resembles a cicada wasp, it seems too large. Any thoughts? J Wilson
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A pigeon horntail (Hymenoptera: Siricidae). The larvae bore in wood. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist. Sinks Grove, WV

#42 Okay this big creepy waspy thingy flew out of a wood pile at me.. then I had
ran away from it---only to discover while doing my dishes....the thing
landed on my pony tail and was still on it!!!!!!!! EWWWWWW! What is it?
The body on it seemed longer when alive, with the underbelly all striped.
Discovered in wooded western Pennsylvania. Thanks, Jen. PS the thing was 1
&1/2 inches long from antennae to tail tip. Jennifer.
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Jennifer, this is a very nice specimen of a sawfly (Hymenoptera), maybe the genus Tremex, they can not sting and are harmless. They develop in wood, that is why it came out of your woodpile. Sometimes they are forest pests, but
they won"t do any harm to your house. Martin Hauser, Department of Entomology, University of Illinois

#41 A friend of my son found this spider along with 2 others that look just like it at his grandmothers farm near Herbert, Saskatchewan. Can you tell me what kind of spider it is and is it dangerous. It has to be the biggest spider I have personally seen on the prairies. The white part on its body is about the size of a nickel and its legs are at least 2 inches long. The kids have done quite a bit of research and cannot find any information about this spider, I hope you can help. Grant M.
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We have one in our back yard in Regina Saskatchewan Canada, do you have any info on this? Nadine
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Very likely Argiope trifasciata. Harmless if you are not an insect! Check out the nice webpage:
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/argiope/a._trifasciata$media.html
Martin Hauser, Department of Entomology, University of Illinois

#40

Can you please tell me the name and any info the you have on this spider.
I live just outside Hamilton Ontario Thank you . Pete
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An Argiope, a 'garden spider' harmless beautiful arachnids, that make nets usually with a 'squiggle,' or stabilimentum in the middle of the web. Be good to bugs! Michael A. Brueseke, Research Technician, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame

#39 Found this guy crawling rather slowly into our kitchen. Was wondering what it is. Found in Oysoyoos, B.C. Canada in the south Okanogan.
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It is a Jerusalem cricket. There is plenty of information about this
insect on the web: http://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/inverts/sten-fus.html
Martin Hauser, Department of Entomology, University of Illinois

# 38.

I found this parasite on the neck of a wild rabbit shortly after it had been killed. It was attached to the rabbit at one end of it's body with the rest of the body pulled up tight, meaning only two or three rings could be seen. It didn't look like it does in the picture until it detached itself from the rabbit and began crawling away. It's been dead 3 days but was a little lighter in color before it died. It is full of blood. It's body is covered with very short, thick hairs, like whiskers. I'm assuming it was in some sort of larval stage. I was wondering what kind of external parasite on a rabbit would get so large. Thanks for any help anyone can provide. Tim N. Plymouth, WI
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Cuterebra buccata, or Rabbit Bot Fly, Diptera, Family Cuterebridae. Physical adult attributes are:
a rarely seen large bodied hairy fly, in some cases up to 3/4 of an inch. Female fly lays eggs close to the selected animal’s burrow and are instantaneously triggered by animals body heat. The maggot then attaches itself to the hosts body, in a rabbits case this is most likely near or on the neck area. The maggot enters through a natural orifice or deliberate incision. After close to a month the larvae will build a protective layer around itself and withdrawal from the host. In most cases this parasite will not cause distress to a healthy specimen that is not gross inhabited with warbles.
Wayne Howie

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My guess would be some kind of Bot fly, parasites that used to be more widely distributed, but most people know them now only from the ones that occur on horses. Michael A. Brueseke, Research Technician, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame

# 37 My cat brought this rather large beetle type insect home one evening and I was wondering if any one knows what it is. I have never seen an insect like this so I am wondering if it is new to Ontario. Location is Orillia, Ontario. Insect was found outside. James.
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Giant Water Beetle. They eat aquatic insects, small fish, tadpoles and even small frogs. Quite a nasty sting from the front end as well, they have a sharp pointed mouth that they inject digestive juices and other lovely things into their prey after grabbing it with the front legs, and will give a VERY painful bite with local swelling if given the opportunity. The cat's lucky it didn't get zapped. Also of interest, the female lays the white eggs on the males back and then she just sorta...leaves. They have wings and can fly, so if their native pond dries up (as probably has happened the last few weeks of heat we've had here in southeastern Ontario) they fly off looking for a new one...which is probably how the cat got it in the first place. Although it's a rather ugly and large bug (I've seen them as big as 3 1/2 inches here in Peterborough), it's somewhat of a rarity to see them. A very interesting find!   Dave
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They aren't as rare as you might think. While living south of Ottawa in an agricultural farming community, we found several of these in a swimming pool that had been ignored for a year with water in it. One of them was a good 6" long! We were lucky; I didn't know they could bite. We handled them quite a bit! Yikes! Alex
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Dave s information is right on the mark, except that the insect is a giant water bug (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) and not a beetle. In some parts of the country, they are called toe biters or electric light bugs. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist. Sinks Grove, WV
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Believe it or not, in Southeast Asia (Thailand and Vietnam particularly) giant water bugs of the family Lethocerus Indicus are considered a delicacy.   Brian

#36 We found this guy running full speed across our living room rug. He runs very fast. He is a big fella, about the size of a US nickel. or (how about a man's thumbnail) I think those are 4 legs and 2 of something else? It looks tic like to me, but I have NEVER seen a tick that big. Any help would be appreciated. Hope he isn't harmful to children. Rebecca. Dallas, Texas

#35

Can you identify this spider which was yesterday responsible for putting a member of my family in hospital with very severe symptoms and the doctors could not identify it.Regards, Neil, West Sussex, England.

Never easy to identify spiders as there are so many different species, some of which are common and others not so common. And of course, the species found in England, are likely different than those we find in our area, (Canada) in fact, there are regional differences on the continent as well I suggest that you take the specimen to a university entomology department, or search the internet for an archinidologist . I am sure they would be pleased to identify it or to ask you to send them the actual specimen. Best to put it in isopropyl acohol for preservation. Most spiders are not very poisonous, but if someone has a sensitivity, the reaction could be much worse. Good luck.. let us know what you learn.
Sam Bryks BCE, Manager, Environmental Health Services; Toronto Community Housing Corporation

#34 Can you tell me the species of this beetle? Photographed near Chicago IL in August. Approximately 1/2" long. It's attacking a spotted cucumber beetle.
Thanks! Bruce M.
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It's late at night (or early in the a.m.), but looks like a species of Tiger Beetle to me. Cicindela haemhorragica perhaps. Great picture.... too bad it is not downloadable..      Sam Bryks,, Toronto Community Housing Corporation
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No this is not a Tiger beetle. This is a Checkered beetle, maybe the genus
Enoclerus. http://www.cedarcreek.umn.edu/insects/album/024067016ap.html
Martin Hauser, Department of Entomology, University of Illinois

#33 We've been finding these "crawlies" in our living room and family room for several weeks now. Our house is on a slab - no crawlspace. They're always found crawling across the carpeting and only in these two rooms. Each room is at opposite ends of the house. There is a concrete sidewalk completely around the perimeter of the house. These are very slow moving creatures. We find several a day in these two rooms. What are they? How can we get rid of them? Thanks in advance for any help. Brenda in British Columbia
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Probably harmless millipedes, check for holes in your screen door at the floor,
or some other entranceway. Michael A. Brueseke, Research Technician, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame

Click on the photos for a closer view.

# 32 I am trying to identify this insect that I found in my house. It looks pretty scary.
Richard.   Quebec.
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Sure is a pseudoscorpion. Same as picture #8 below.
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Wanted to add a note to #32: If you have pseudoscorpions living in your house you should consider yourself fortunate! Not only are they among the cutest critters on the planet, but they are voracious predators of real pests such as book mites. W. Shaw.

# 31 This spider was found north of Castlegar, in the southern interior of British Columbia. It is about 1-1/4 inches long, black body, brown legs and what could be a tan colored egg sac attached. Thanks. Lynn L.
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Looks like a funnel web spider, a myagolomorph, closely related to tarantulas. consider yourself lucky, usually the only time they are ever seen is
when the males go wandering for mates during a specific time during the seasons.
An Australian variety is very harmful, but most as I recall are not.
Michael A. Brueseke, Research Technician, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame

#30 I am trying to identify a wasp I took a photo of. If it helps, the photo was taken in North Texas. Jeff Cary.

An entomology student here in Texas has written me and says it is a paper wasp of the genus Polistes. Although I can not seem to find a matching photo on the web. Jeff

# 29. My home has become infested with these bugs; they seem to be crawling through the door frame, thought we've tried to seal it up. I think they're beetles, and may be coming from a woodpile outside the door. They are hard to kill, as they seem to "pop" but don't die easily. They crawl up our legs, and I've found several attached to webs (they seem to spinning their own, as they're at the end of them)? They like water, and are frequently found in the bathtub. The bugs appear black, but closer-up look dark brown and a bit speckled, about 3/16" or 5mm long. Thanks for any information. Carole L. Southern NJ, USA
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Looks like a type of jumping spider called Ballus chalybeius. Jim.

#28 This one was found in an upstairs bath tub in a single residence home in Toronto. Jerry Krueger.

A few people have correctly identified the house centipede in 26, 27 and 28.. however, control strategies seem somewhat vague, so perhaps I can offer a few suggestions. Centipedes are predators as described, and eat insects. Some common prey sources are dermestid beetle larvae (i.e. carpet beetles), but they will eat anything they can catch .

10 or 15 years ago, the recommended treatment would have been a perimeter spray - however, this is now considered "overkill". It is true that finding their source of prey is nigh on impossible as EVERY HOUSE will invariably have some insects in it.. somewhere. The ones we don't see until we find damage to clothing or other goods, or we never see because the numbers are small. The house centipede can get to be pretty big, but I have never heard of anyone being bitten by this species. A good preventive strategy is to vacuum thoroughly.. A good housecleaning is always a good step. Then buy some tent style glue traps, and put them in the areas where you have seen the centipedes. You will catch them and probably whatever they eat as well. This works very well.. The centipedes are basically harmless in our climate, except they do give people a bit of a shock as they look formidable and do move fast - all those legs!!!!

Hope this helps as an addition to the other information given.
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Hello, I think the pictures of #25, 26, and 27 are all centipedes, though size is not mentioned. Carole L., Southern NJ, USA

(This is the best picture to click on for a better view of this insect)

#27   We live in Mississauga, Ontario, and only within the last year, we are seeing this insect in our house. We have never seen it prior to this last year. We spoke to other people who also have it here in Mississauga and in Cottage Country (Parry Sound). We would greatly appreciate, if you had a moment of your time to help us by identifying this insect, so we can not only understand it better and where it comes from, but hopefully be able to take steps towards ‘getting rid of it’ from within our house. It seems to like the dark, and moves very fast when startled. When you go to pick it up , even with the slightest of touch, the legs break off quite readily. The photograph is lacking scale, but the specimen seen is approximately one and one-half inches in length, not including the feelers nor legs. We have seen them larger.   Thank you for your help, Sincerely, Rick G
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Insect pictured in #26 & #27 is a House Centipede – Scutigera coleoptrata. According to what I found, it is a native to Mexico but is now common throughout the US (and apparently Canada) and is the only centipede that can survive and reproduce indoors. Apparently all centipedes are poisonous, but not considered dangerous. We've seen 2-3 in our house in the last several years in Atlanta, GA. The reports that they like dark and damp places is supported by my observation and many descriptions online. This is what I found: This PDF tells all about it:
http://www.wvu.edu/~exten/infores/pubs/pest/hpm9008.pdf
good picture: http://lancaster.unl.edu/enviro/pest/factsheets/012-93.htm
Hope this helps... John Brown   Atlanta, GA US
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These are probably house centipedes. Typically they feed off other insects and arachnids. They can bite, although this type of centipede tends to have a mild toxin. This is a good example of where you may want to call in a pest management professional rather than do it yourself. House centipedes usually do not exist unless there is a significant food source (other pests) often it attics or wall voids and these areas are not easily treated. S. Dideon. Urban Entomologist.

#26 Hopefully someone there can help me. I have the enclosed picture pest in my basement. I live in Ottawa. They move very fast when the lights turn on and I have only really seen them in my basement. The hole adjacent to the picture is a drain hole in a cooler for size reference. All of the appendages appear to be legs except for the two long tentacles on the front and back of the insect. Can any one give me a hand in the identification process of this critter?
Thanks Jonathan
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Hi the pics on 26-27-28 are commonly called 1000 leggers. I hate these things . I had them in the basement of home in union beach n.j. they have been known to crawl everywhere ,walls, beds,ceilings. I looked them up and found they can bite . I have used hair spray on them which slows them down and kills them. I don't like to kill things but if they can bite and find their way to where I sleep there gone. they are attracted to damp places. hope this has helped. Jackie
As Mr. Brown has said, picture numbers 26, 27, and 28 are that of house centipedes. They prefer dark normally damp areas when outdoors. When indoors, they can be found anywhere in the house, but most commonly found in basements or bathrooms; also can be found in offices or bedrooms. When we had house centipedes, they has made residence in our fireplace(we never used it). A house centipede seldomly bites humans, dogs or cats. But if occurrence in humans, bite causes pain and slight swelling. ONLY lethal to those with allergic reactions to extremely mild venoms. Though the house centipede looks unwelcome, they actually feed on many of the pest we want to get rid of such as spiders and termites. Melissa

Sorry no photo
# 25. I live in Arlington Texas and this summer we were plagued by these bugs, which I think are true bugs, they resemble assassin bugs (like the orange and black ones that climb on your tomato plants) They kept squeezing through the window pains. One landed on my toe and bit me, the bite was EXTREMELY painful like a bee sting but little more intense and the pain did not last as long. My neighbor also got bit, localized swelling, little redness and very painful initially. Anyway, thank you for your time! Jessica

Do they look like either of these?
Assassin bugs inject their victim with a lethal toxin. They feed by external digestion, which means that they push their beak into their victims body and inject a very toxic, or poisonous, liquid that affects the nerves and liquifies the muscles and tissues of their prey. They are carnivorous, or meat eaters, and use their powerful, jack-knife forelegs to grab their prey. Some tropical species attack mammals, birds, and reptiles and actually suck their blood! Assassin bugs probably have the most painful bites caused by insects. Some South American species of assassin bugs also transmit a parasite to man that causes Chagas disease. Assassin bugs, sometimes known as conenoses or "kissing bugs," are occasionally found in the home (bathtubs, sinks, drains, etc.) and, if handled carelessly, can inflict a very painful bite, causing a severe reaction in some persons. Some are attracted to lights and require blood meals to complete their development. Many are bloodsucking parasites of mammals, including humans. Others are predators, feeding on bed bugs, flies, caterpillars and other insects.

Click on the photos for a closer view.

# 24. I found this wasp, hornet, fly or bee in my apartment in the uk ,just kinda wondered what exactly it is ?its yellow ..looks like a wasp or hornet ,it acts like a bluebottle fly and not as threatening as a wasp ,,although i thought that what it was .Wasps usually fly around heavy and bang into things, this one was sharp ,quick and fast moving and no pulsating body like wasps ,can ya help . ? gian v ,,,united kingdom
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This reminds me of my college days when I heard a student swear that he had seen a cross between a rabbit and a cat. Of course, this is impossible, but he swore it was so.. said it even hopped like a rabbit though it meowed and purred. Well, it was a Manx cat - and it does sort of look like a cross between a rabbit and a cat..
The flying insect you show is a species of fly (I couldn't give you a name at the moment, but it can be found). This is a wonderful example of protective mimicry. The fly does look like a dangerous wasp or bee, though it is without a stinger. Some of them actually do have pulsating abdomens to make the mimicry even more transparent. Another example of this is the Viceroy Butterfly - smaller than a monarch, but it looks like a monarch. It takes someone who knows the two species to see the obvious differences.
Sam Bryks, Toronto Community Housing Corporation
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This fly is a Hoverfly, the species is Myathropa florea, a very common European species. The larvae are "rat-tail-maggots" and live in the water often in hollow trees.
Martin Hauser, Department of Entomology, University of Illinois

Click on the photos for a closer view.

# 23. These spiders were found on Friday the 13 of Sept. in a garage in Nelson, B.C. (southwestern B.C.) There were about 8 of them together, they are black and shiny with a large bulbous body, on the back of the body there is a whitish marking. The body is about 2-3 cm long. Friend or Foe? George

# 22. Hi, I live near Montreal, Canada and it is first year I see these in my house.
I decide to write here when after I was able to kill one, blood was noticeable..
So I guess they feed on blood but we can't feel them I guess when they bite..
Next day I see another one and take a photo. Well, they look like housefly
with a bee's behind. These do fly very slowly around us and seems to sense
or feel fast what's around them.. For sure they are fast to move away
when trying to get one slowly or fast but they stay around anyway. :)

Very interesting one.. Thanks!. J.P.

# 21. I am delighted to have found your web site. Thank you for hosting it! I have book marked it and plan to return. I have an interesting little bug in my garden. I am not sure that it is a pest. I have not seen it doing any damage. It is small (1/8-1/4 inch long), six-legged, black and shaped like a shield. It has a red line across its "shoulders" and two red spots on its back towards its tail. The apex of the tail is silver-gray. Some of these bugs/beetles have tan markings instead of red. It prefers fennel, dill and anise hyssop. I see great quantities of them, but not much damage to the plants. Are they beneficial?
I do not have a digital camera, or a scanner. Does this little drawing give enough information to suggest a possible lead? CJ
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I have identified the bug as Cosmopepla bimaculata. I am very happy to have found pictures of it on the InterNet. One nice one is: http://www.cedarcreek.umn.edu/insects/album/020003041001ap.html
You have a very nice web site. I will be lurking nearby. Regards, CJ

# 20 Find these little nasties every so often on the walls and floors in the townhouse. Not exactly a large infestation but a concern never the less. A baby and a 3 year old share the home with these unknowns. Thanks for your assistance. Will promise to attend net church if my prayers for answers are heard. Phil.
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This image is a bit baffling at first view. This is a beetle of course, and it looks like a saw-tooth grain beetle though the colour is not right, and the relative size of the beetle cannot be determined by the photo. Flash photography can distort the colour, and well, I could be wrong as a "stab at it" guess, but that is what I think it most likely is. If so, then one needs to check kitchen cupboards or pet food storage. The specific common location where they are found as well as the size would certainly help to narrow down the id. If they are saw tooth grain beetles, then you need to inspect all your stored foods such as flour, cereals, nuts, dried fruits (ie. like raisins). etc..   I wouldn't over look crumbs and such that have fallen on the sofa. A good vacuuming never hurts..
Now if it is 4 inches long and a white colour and has been imported by a distant relative on a flight from Bora Bora and it eats out your brains - sorry!!!!
Just kidding..     Sam Bryks, Toronto Community Housing Corporation

# 19 I was wondering if someone could help me identify this very odd bug that I found dead in my back yard. I saw this upside down on our patio stones. It looks like a really freaky moth...with clear wings...anyway I've attached some pictures. So Canada, ...what bug is this? Kathleen G.
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This is clearly a Cicada - also known less commonly as 17 year locust..    Cicadas are not locusts of course, but as they can emerge in huge numbers on a cyclical basis, the name "locust" got stuck on them. These are the critters that make that characteristic "buzzing" sound in the heat of summer. They do look impressive, but are harmless, and short lived as adults. All those years of underground hiding and feeding on trees, to emerge as an adult ready to face th e world and mate. Many, however, don't get the chance and are gobbled up by predators of all sorts . As they say, you struggle, and work all your life for a day in the sunshine with a mate, and then get eaten before you have a chance to try out your new body.
Sam Bryks, Toronto Community Housing Corporation
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This is definitely a cicada. They make that high pitched noise in the summer months from tree tops. Here's a dictionary description: ci·ca·dae /-'kA-(")dE, -'kä-/
Etymology: New Latin, genus name, from Latin, cicada
Date: 14th century : any of a family (Cicadidae) of homopterous insects which have a stout body, wide blunt head, and large transparent wings and the males of which produce a loud buzzing noise usually by stridulation
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This is indeed a cicada. We lost almost every tree in our RV Resort in Central Oregon due to this pest. They are burrowed up to 4 feet in the ground. While in the ground they look somewhat like a bee with a striped abdomen. They bore their way to the surface and leave holes all over the ground that look like worm holes. After they surface they attach themselves to a piece of grass or a stick close to the ground and shed their skin emerging as a long brownish-black strange looking bug, some with a red mark on the underside. They fly from tree to tree with a very high pitched singing. After mating the female lands on any tree and with her knife in her abdomen, with a sharp snap, snap sound cuts thousands of slashes in tree limbs to lay her eggs into. We didn't even know what was up with our trees until all of the limbs started bending in half and the trees died. They wiped out all of our trees with cylindrical limbs. They cannot kill the Juniper trees completely because their limbs are not round, although we have several that might as well be dead since they have been completely denuded by the cycadas killing the foliage. The females lay as many as 300,000 eggs which hatch out and fall to the ground under the host tree and burrow back into the ground to start the cycle all over again. The second time we heard them enmass we knew what they were. The only thing I know to protect round limbed trees is to spray with Sevin and use sticker in the solution. We managed to save the replacement trees in this way. They say that they are a 17 year plague but we have had them heavy every year for the last 10 years. Good Luck, Jeanne Prineville, Oregon USA
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I just wanted to add that this particular Cicada is the annual Cicada. There are two Cicadas that people are familiar with. The 17 year (periodical) Cicada, as it is commonly known, has red eyes, red tinted wings, and darker body coloring. The annual Cicada appears every year and is the most common. It has black eyes, greenish clear wings and green body markings. Jason R

#18 Hi. I live in Cleveland, Ohio, right by Lake Erie. I have a picture of this wierd looking bug that flew at my head when I was about to go to sleep. At first, I thought it was a lightning bug, but then I realized it wasn't. I looked all over the internet and couldn't find any information on it. I thought it was a cockroach, but this bug is only about a half inch long, and it's pretty thin. If anyone could identify this bug for me, I would really appreciate it. Thanks. Savannah
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This is a Longhorn Beetle, of the genus Parandra. This genus is active at night and has very short antennae in contrast to the rest of the family. http://www.cedarcreek.umn.edu/insects/album/024106001ap.html
Martin Hauser, Department of Entomology, University of Illinois
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It looks like it may be a click beetle. Compare to images at: http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/vir/pp/ipmweb/ipmpages/wireworm.htm
Conrad Berube, Sr. Pest Management Officer, B.C.Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection

#17 I found this bee in my shed 8:00 pm today. Although I have seen (and removed) small nests in the shed this year I have never seen a bee with these red markings. Any information would be appreciated. Regards. Ken
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It's not a bee-- it's a moth evolutionarily adapted to look like a bee (the phenomenon is referred to as Batesian mimicry if you wanted to look for more information about it on the web-- it's the same dynamic that has led to Viceroy butterflies to look like Monarch butterflies [the latter being poisonous and thus avoided by birds]). The moth is probably the Peachtree Borer (Synanthedon (=Sanninoidea) exitiosa (Say)
http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/vir/pp/ipmweb/ipmpages/peachtr2.htm
Conrad Berube, Sr. Pest Management Officer, B.C.Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection

#16 We live in Port Moody, BC and have started finding these bugs in our townhome this June and July. We did have a big flood in our basement a couple months ago, perhaps it is related. Everything was professionally restored but I wonder if something was missed.
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I couldn't believe when I ready #16, because I live in Port Moody, BC, in a townhouse and just recently these little hard shelled, black beetle-like bugs keep appearing. They are mainly on the carpet, seemigly out of nowhere. I have found a couple on the kitchen & bathroom linoleum flooring. What can we do to get rid of these???   Shelby.
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It's hard to tell without an actual specimen but the photo looks a bit like a tuber flea beetle (do you have any potatoes stored in your basement that now have a lot of exit holes in them?) Info (and pictures) on tuber flea beetles can be found at: http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/vir/pp/ipmweb/ipmpages/tfb.htm

If it's bigger than 1/8" (3mm) it may be a root weevil. Compare to:

http://www.uidaho.edu/so-id/entomology/pg12a-%20root%20weevil%20ads-black%20vine-Rough%20Strawberry%20root%20-and%20Strawberry%20root%20weevils.jpg

Conrad Berube. Sr. Pest Management Officer, B.C.Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection

#15 I live in Southern Calif, near Riverside in rural area. I have enclosed three (3) pictures, one beside a dime for sizing. Caught it running across my floor. Seems to have eight legs and may be a spider, but I am not sure. Does anybody know. Nick
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This is called a sunspider and more info can be found on the internet. These are found in desert areas. There is also a spider called vinegaroon, which is commonly mistaken for the sunspider, even though I can't see any resemblance. The vinegaroon looks more like a scorpion, and, if bitten by one it leaves a vinergar taste in ones mouth. I glad I've not had that experience. I hope this helps. Neil Jackson.

#14 I live right by the Lake...literally 20 feet or so but about 20 feet off the ground (condos). I saw in the upper corner of my balcony what I thought was the beginning of a wasp's nest. So I sprayed it with some Lysol (all I had) and then knocked the 2 oval-mud colored tubes down. SPIDERS were inside. Some were already dead. This one was alive. I am freaked out since it looks like the brown recluse.....what kind of spiders make mud like tubes on walls? This may be a case of "too much internet knowledge leading to paranoia", but you never know. Thanks. Chris; Toronto.

This spider probably crawled into an old mud-dauber wasp nest. The dead ones may have been placed there as food for the wasp larvae. Perhaps someone can identify this one. Here is a good web page for Mud Dauber wasps: http://www.ent.iastate.edu/ipm/iiin/bmuddaub.html

OK did a little more research. For SURE it was the Organ Pipe Mud dauber wasp nest. Perhaps the spiders always were dead and the wasps had taken them in there for their larvae. Damn this is educational! Anyway, I still cant figure out what type of spider it is so lets hope those pictures help! Chris.
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This is not a brown recluse. It is a species of Orb Weaver.. the type of spider that spins the wonderful round "orb" webs. The previous information is correct. Mud daubers use spiders as the food medium for their larvae. The spiders are paralyzed but alive and the larvae feed on them. (Nasty nasty stuff... now you have an idea where the concept of the movie series Aliens came from ― arthropods of course!)..
Some help in solving the overall problem with the cycle of spiders and mud daubers can be accomplished by changing light patterns at exterior. If the number of spiders is reduced, then the mud daubers will not be there as much. However, having said that, if the locale has a nearby river or lake, and a good habitat for spiders, well, you will have the daubers. Sam.Bryks@torontohousing.ca ;
Toronto Community Housing Corporation

# 13. I recently moved out from an old apartment building located in Gatineau, Quebec. The reason of the move was because I think we found german cockroaches in it. We first of all saw one running fast on the counter behind the toaster and it was so fast we couldn't even catch it. About 2 weeks after, saw another one, it was very fast too, but I had time to squash it and capture it in a jar.

I was very careful when I was moving to not carry any eggs or anything to the new place. Cause I heard its easy to carry them somewhere else.

Now I live in Hull, Quebec, my unit is all new. Everything is clean. This morning my fiancé found a big black bug in a cup with a little pepsi left in it. I tried to look on the net everywhere to identify this bug but I couldn't. This one is all black, and the head is kind of square, and also the antenna are much shorter and the legs are much less
hairy. Eric

#12. I found these guys on my apple trees in Ottawa, Canada. I noticed them after the blossoms fell and the little apples started to show surface damage (little pits and cuts). They are about 4 mm long (1/4 inch). I have also have seen them back to back (making babies I presume). Regards, John. Ottawa,

Click on the photos for a closer view.

#11 I have found this type of bug in my cupboard and found several shellings in earlier months. What is it? And what can I do to get ride of them? Please help! Tammy
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This is the larva of one of the group called Dermestid beetles .. Most likely that of a Black Carpet Beetle. These are very common and feed on a variety of organic materials from dead insects, to organic fibres. These guys are tough - and can survive without any obvioius source of moisture. The adult beetles fly and common in nature. The term "dermestid" refers to "dermes" or hide. These critters are actually used in museums to prepare skeletal specimens (they along with other species in the same group feed on dead animal matter and in this way "clean" the material on bones. I once visited a special room in one of the large museums where this was happening. The odour is overpowering, and keeping these guys where they should be is a major task of isolation (otherwise they'll eat up rare fabrics or anything that has organic content). If you have these, best solution is good vacuuming. there is other info on these guys on this web site. Sam.Bryks@torontohousing.ca ; Toronto Community Housing Corporation

#10 I found this on the porch of my Father-in-Laws house in Concan, Texas which is about 1 mile off of the Frio River. Size of the bug is approximately 2 inches from the pincers to the end of the wings. The bug was found seemingly unharmed, laying on porch in the morning about 7 am on Father's Day weekend. It was still alive but appeared to be on the brink of death as I was able to pick it up by the wing-tips and place it to get the camera shots. S. Waller. Lago Vista, TX

This is a Dobson Fly adult..The larvae are water dwelling predators. Not a pest . Just a curiosity.. These are in the order Megaloptera... Here's a website link for those who are curious about the life cycle of this insect. The larvae are popular as fishing "flies" if you know what I mean...
Sam Bryks, Manager, Pest Control MTHC, Toronto.
email: sam.bryks@mthc.on.ca

# 9 Two views of a bug that is eating the supporting timbers of a rural cabin. They have eaten their way into the end grain of some posts that support the main horizontal roof joists. The wood they are eating appears to be untreated, unpainted fir or pine, which is exposed to the elements. They seem to have eaten down about eight inches into the wood, the top is completely hollowed out, but the damage is not apparent from the ground. Thanks, Peter Yates.
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These are sow bugs or maybe pill bugs. They have not eaten the wood posts. They have moved into the decaying wood that may have been chewed by other insects (carpenter ants or termites) Read about them on the sow bug page

#8 from James T.
I have found only 7 or 8 of these insects in my home within the last 5 to 8 years, 2 of them were found this year. All have been found in bathrooms on walls and ceilings. The most remarkable feature is the large clawed appendages. Insect body measures approximately 3 cm.
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Neat!!! What you have here is a species of Pseudoscorpion. These are arachnids.. part of the group which includes spiders, ticks, mites and scorpions too. Pseudoscorpions are usually very tiny.. only about 4 mm in length. I have only seen them once maybe twice in all the years. They are beneficial and harmless to people.
Their biology is quite interesting. these little critters are known to gang up on an unfortunate ant, and as a group they literally dismember it. They are smaller than the ant.. As I recall searching in layers of memory, there was an interesting article on their behaviour in Scientific American I think..
If you're curious about them, here is an excellent link.. Tons of information about them.. If nothing else, it shows the amazing resource that the web can be.. I put in Pseudoscorpion as a key search term, and got back 1640 hits with that term. Here is one that is particularly good.... http://www.ufsia.ac.be/Arachnology/Pages/Pseudo.html

#7 from Spring Grove (same as #6)
Eyed Click Beetle in the Elateridae group.Harmless in the home. they are called click beetles because when you pick one up, it will go into a defensive posture (holds legs close to body) and then "click" by quickly snapping the thorax part back... you can hear the "click".. It is a way for them to escape from predators. Larvae called wireworms.. feed on roots, some in this group can be garden pests.. Sam Bryks

#6 from Spring Grove
What is this? Where does it come from? What kills it besides my foot)? Found in rest room. Sorry, but we are not taking it out of the plastic container. See #7 also.

#5 from Sysco
We have a lot of these around the house. Any idea what it is?
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Assassin Bug
(Reduviid Bug).... this is in the same group as the "Kissing Bugs" in tropics that can cause some serious diseases,, but in our more northerly climates they don't bother people. Very common in homes.. Nymphs also called Masked Marauder as I recall.. cover themselves in dust.. eat other insects. The adults can fly. Sam Bryks

Click on the photos for a closer view.

#4 from Leotta
It is a big ugly scary heart attack causing thing. We live in the country about 50 miles south of Chicago. Two of them have found their way into our home which is a bad thing.. We do have a dirt crawl space They move very fast and seem to be fuzzy please tell me how to kill them and prevent any more.
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What you have sure does look like a wolf spider.. More than 170,000 links on the web. Here is one simple info sheet link http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/entomology/factsheets/wolfspid.html

These largish spiders will come into homes to get warmth. They are hunting spiders as opposed to those that make webs. Wolf spiders are generally considered harmless but due to their size if they do bite, it could be painful. Control other than sealing areas and removing the spiders is not usually suggested.

If they really bug you, I suggest just vacuum them up, or put out some glue boards at wall perimeters.. One of the sites even suggested they make good observational pets - but need water and a regular diet of crickets.

#3 found in Langley, B.C. What is it?
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Giant water bug... also called Electric light bug I think.. these are attracted to exterior lighting.. can give a nasty sting (penetrating piercing mouthpart) handle \with care.. This insect actually feeds on frogs and large tadpoles...Sam Bryks.

#2 from Vania
I am enclosing two pics of these bugs. I hope they are clear enough for you to identify them. They seem to be only in the basement utility room and I usually see them at night. Vania
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CAMEL CRICKET/GROUND CRICKET

Having a wife in a wheelchair who screamed in terror late one night 3 years ago here in Missouri, I ran in and saw this huge "mutant spider". It made a loud "crrrrunch" when one of my combat boots landed on it. 2 weeks later my daughter saw another- this time it was hanging on a wooden door. Again, a nice "crunch" when "shoe-ed". Didn't know what it was...figured I'd try to catch the next one. 1 week later, I caught one- and called the Univ. of MO/Columbia Entomology. After describing it (thank god for military pest control & entomology training) it was identified as a "Ground Cricket" or a "Camel Cricket". They normally are found outside, in the ground- usually under decaying wood, etc. and are rarely found indoors. Dr. Rich MacKinnon, Florissant MO

#1 from Vania in Virginia
Found these in the basement of my home.
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1 and 2 certainly are crickets.. I am not big expert on Crickets, but may be a mole cricket...Sam Bryks
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- these look like (what we call in Texas) Katy-dids. They eat clothing, blankets - almost anything fabric and can wreck havoc! Don't know for sure but they resemble a cricket and can cause more damage-although crickets will also eat fabric. For what it's worth - hope I'm wrong.                                               G. Lucky
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This is critter goes by the common name "camel cricket". I think the last one I saw was in a
water meter box in Northeast Texas.   N. Reynolds.   Crandall, TX
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I first thought it was a Jerusalem cricket, but after looking at it a little closer, I believe its a camel cricket. D. Bryce

What is this pest? Photos #1 to #100

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