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What is this pest?
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submitted by visitors. If you can identify them you are invited to
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A little background on a volunteer expert respondent:
Ed Saugstad.
B.S. in Entomology - NDSU, 1963.
M.S. in Entomology - Purdue University, 1967
A life-long interest in natural history. Formally trained in entomology, he
also has a personal interest in herpetology and has read widely in many
biological fields. 21 years in the U.S. Army as a medical entomologist;
duties varied from surveillance of pest populations (including mosquitoes,
cockroaches, ticks, and stored products pests) to conducting research on
mosquito-virus ecological relationships and mosquito faunal studies. Ten years
as a civilian analyst for the Department of Defense, primarily on distribution
of vector-borne diseases worldwide.
He is a member of Entomological Society of America,
Society for Vector Ecology & National Speleological Society.
Publications
American Journal of Public Health, Contributions of the American Entomological
Institute, Japanese Journal of Sanitary Zoology, Journal of Economic Entomology,
Mosquito News, and Mosquito Systematics.
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Click on the
photos to enlarge. They are usually much clearer. |
 1400
This bug, roughly 1/2 inch long, was found on my grape vines and in some
lettuce. Something has been eating them both and I wondered if this could be the
culprit. The grapevines are being eaten and falling off, big vines even. I
live in Trail, BC (southern interior) What is it and is it bad? Geoff
Scott
This insect is helping, not hurting
your grape vines, as it is a larva of a lady beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).
They feed primarily on aphids and other small, soft-bodied insects.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1399
Our mulch is infested with these little red bugs. They scurry
around quickly. Are they something we need to deal with?
This appears to be a young nymph of
a boxelder bug (Boisea trivittatus; Hemiptera: Rhopalidae). They are more
of a nuisance pest than an economic one, and control measures usually are not
needed. See
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG0998.html
for more detailed information.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1398
I collected this bug in the garden, I am saving it for my Grandson to study. It
is BRILLIANT GOLD I provided it with foliage from the plant it was on, later in
evening the colour changed to orange with metallic blue sides. This morning it
is metallic gold once again. Thanks, Pat Smith, P.S I
thought I had stuck it rich right on my own land no need to pan in a faraway
creek
|
 1397
Hi, Can you please identify this flying beetle for me ?
Location - Anola (just east of Winnipeg), Manitoba. It is approximately 1
inch long and seem to only come out at night. We have only noticed them in the
spring and early summer. Can you please advise what this beetle is and
what it eats? The can fly but they crash into everything, spend a lot of
time lying on their backs trying to get up. They seem to have found their
way into an outside wall in our house, we are hoping from the outside and will
be immediately trying to locate the source, but would like to know what we are
dealing with. Thank you in advance, Deb. Anola Manitoba
This beetle is in the family
Scarabaeidae; and is one of several species known collectively as "June beetles"
or "May bugs." Their larvae are known as white grubs, and can do considerable
damage to turf grass as the feed on the roots. See
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2500.html
for more information. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bug picture 1397 is called a June Bug in Texas. They come out at night in the
Spring and are attracted to almost any light source. The adult stage of grubs
and come out of the Earth. They are very prolific here in Texas and we have to
turn off all outside lights to reduce the number of them in our garage at night.
They don’t bite or harm us but they tend to land on you an crawl on you. Most of
them seem to be gone in the morning. Paul Koby. Simonton,
Texas
|
 1396
We found this one in our back yard
in Eagan MN and are unsure what it is. Help! Jim.
Why don't spiders stick to their own web but other insects do? LW.
This appears to be a
wolf spider (family Lycosidae); note the reflection from a large eye. Some
species in the families Agelenidae (funnel web spiders) and Pisauridae
(fishing/nursery web spiders) can be very similar in overall appearance, but
they lack the enlarged pair of eyes characteristic of wolf spiders, and
agelenids have prominent spinnerets at eh end of their abdomen. All are active
hunters that do not construct capture webs.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1395.
This large spider measured around 1" long. We live in Northeast
Washington below the Canadian border. The staples next to the spider measure
1/4". We have never seen a spider like this one in 18 years. Note the hairs on
it's legs. Thank you, Ellen
|
 1394
We live in Okotoks Alberta (just
south of Calgary) and have noticed this caterpillar like bug on a monkshood.
The plant is on the north side of the house in a fairly shady area and is
watered on a very regular basis. They seem to have cocooned themselves in a pod
like mass on the top part of the plant where it would flower. Any help on
identifying it and ways of dealing with it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Samantha
Although I cannot
identify these particular specimens, there are at least a few species of moths
in the family Noctuidae whose caterpillars will feed on monkshood. Regardless of
their specific identity, they should be susceptible to insecticides that are
approved for use by private individuals around the home and garden.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1393
Hi my husband was bit by this bug once last year and again this year. It burns
like a cigarette held to your skin. and leaves a large hole and welt the size of
a nickel. please help us identify it. both times it was in our bedroom. in
Illinois. during the end of spring. Heather
|
 1392
I've never had a pest problem before, but over the past couple of days, I've
found 4 of these little bugs. One in the bathroom sink, one in the shower and
two on bedroom walls. It is less than a quarter of an inch long and it's easy to
smush them - they don't run at all and stay out in the light. Previous posts
(1336 and 1334) kind of looks like my bug, which someone identified as a
brown-banded roach, but everything else I read about them don't seem to fit the
habits of this tiny bug. I usually have a pest control spray about twice a year
and they just sprayed a couple of weeks ago. Can anyone help? Thanks!
Unfortunately, this does appear to
be a nymph of a brown-banded cockroach. I suggest that you review the material
at
http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/brown_banded_cockroach.htm
for prevention and control measures for this species.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1391
Hello. I found this guy on my patio furniture outside in Edmonton, Alberta.
He's about 8 or 9 mm long. There is a red triangle extending across each of his
sides, underneath his wings, and his belly has white stripes. There is only the
one black stripe down his back when his wings are closed, so I couldn't identify
him as either the carrion or the box elder bug. 6 legs, two antennae and a
couple of really small mandibles. Is he a problem for me? I assumed since he had
wings, I don't need to be too concerned as he probably just flew away from the
rest. Jacqueline.
This is a soft-winged flower beetle
(Coleoptera: Melyridae); likely in the genus Malachius; a harmless
visitor. See
http://www.lesinsectesduquebec.com/insecta/24-coleoptera/malachius_aeneus-3.JPG
or an image, and nos. 1317 and 939 for other examples.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1390
I’m
hoping you can help me because I can’t seem to figure out what this bug is. I’ve
only seen a bug like this twice. The first time was I picked up a towel on the
floor in the laundry room (which is adjacent to the kitchen) and it came out. It
did not move super fast or anything. I was able to catch it rather quickly. The
second,( the bug in the picture) I caught near my kitchen sink. What is
confusing is both bugs were active during the day time. I have not seen these
bugs at night, so that’s part of the confusion. Also, the bugs were thin and
actually kind of tiny. I squished the heck out this one in the back so I hope
you can still help. Thanks. Amanda
This is a click beetle
(Coleoptera: Elateridae), a harmless indoor visitor. The larvae of some click
beetles (often called wireworms) can be serious garden/agricultural pests. See
no. 1367 for another example.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1389
I live in Chelsea, QC and found this spider on my
daughter's stroller. I was just wondering if anyone knows what it is and if it
might be harmful. It is about 3 inches in diameter. Leah
Like no. 1388, this is
another fishing spider (family Pisauridae) in the genus Dolomedes. It is
harmless to humans, although a specimen as large as this one could deliver a
painful bite if mishandled. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1388
Hello, attached is a couple of
photos of what I believe to be a Fishing Spider. When my son first found it, we
were convinced it must have been a lost Tarantula of some sort. We aren't used
to finding hairy spiders in the 4" diameter range. It was found in a 2nd story
bedroom in our home in Bracebridge, Ontario. After determining that it was
likely a Fishing Spider, we let it go in the woods. We are about 100 meters
from the Muskoka river. Is it common for these spiders to enter and live
indoors, or did he hitchhike a ride home in our gear while boating?
This is indeed a
fishing spider (family Pisauridae) in the genus Dolomedes; see
http://canadianarachnology.dyndns.org/data/spiders/19664.
They will wander some distance from water in search for prey, so it may not have
needed to ‘hitchhike.’ See no. 1386 for a different example of this family.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1387
I live in the Willamette Valley in Marion County, Oregon (Keizer, just north of
Salem).
I took these pictures of this spider who had made a nest up inside my
folded-patio-table-umbrella last night (about 0100 on May 31, 2007). She didn't
care much for the flash and poked her head out of the inside of her nest to see
what was going on! Any idea what she might be? I checked a number of
possibilities. Clearly not a hobo, doesn't seem like an orb weaver, I don't
THINK she's a Wolf Spider - I think she was about 1/2" long...I'm too durn'd
ignorant of spiders to even have a decent guess. Any help would be greatly
appreciated! Thanks! Jeff
This is a jumping spider (family
Salticidae) in the genus Phidippus; likely Phidippus audax - see
http://canadianarachnology.dyndns.org/data/spiders/35430.
These spiders are active hunters with excellent (for spiders) eyesight. They do
not spin capture webs, but do construct silken ‘retreats’ where they may rest
when not hunting, and also will lay out a single line while stalking prey, that
acts as a safety should they misjudge a jump.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1386
I live in South-central Ontario, and found this rather large spider outside on
my pop-up screen tent. It was happily checking out the bugs around, and not
bothered by me moving the tent around, I left it there. It was about 2 inches,
from end to end, really that big! Anyone know what it was? Sara.
This a nursery web spider (family
Pisauridae, some species also are known as fishing or dock spiders), in the
genus Pisaurina; see
http://canadianarachnology.dyndns.org/data/spiders/19773.
These spiders do not spin capture webs, but actively hunt down prey as do their
close relatives, the wolf spiders. In spite of their size and appearance, they
are harmless to humans, although large specimens can deliver a painful bite if
mishandled.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1385
Hi: I just came across your
website and it looks wonderful. Attached are three photos…two of white
puffy elongated pests on the undersurface of my pittosporum leaves. The pests
are mushy and kind of brown inside. The other photo is of a bug from my rose
plants. I live in Sebastopol, California. Thanks,
Felice
I cannot identify the beetle; it might be a soldier beetle
(Cantharidae), but there are aspects of it that bother me with that diagnosis.
At any rate, it likely is not a leaf-feeding beetle. The leaf pests appear to be
scale insects, such as the cottony cushion scale (Icerya purchasi;
Homoptera: Margarodidae), a species commonly found on pittosporum - see
http://www.insectimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5186081
for an image and
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7410.html
for control recommendations. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1384
Hi. We live in Kimberley BC and found this spider on
our decking. It has black at the head and red at the tail on the topside. I
have been unable to identify it !! Can you assist? Unfortunately we killed
it first before taking the picture!! Apologies if it is obvious but we
have just moved here from the UK. Dave and Angela
This appears to be the
remains of a jumping spider (family Salticidae) in the genus Phidippus.
Jumping spiders have excellent eyesight (for spiders), and actively stalk their
prey. They do not spin a capture web, but often lay out a dragline as they move
about; this can serve as a safety if they misjudge a jump.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1383
I live in Huntsville, Alabama
and I found this bug in my Rec room this morning not far from a sliding door and
my dog door. It looks like a millipede that was cut off but its body is almost
flat. It is approximately 2 ½ inches long. I picked it up in a tissue and took
it outside; when I did, it started to elongate its body. When I found your
site, I went back outside and took pictures; unfortunately, the best one is the
one that I took of its underside. I will also attach the best of the ones that
I took from the topside but it was agitated by an ant so it started to crawl
off. Thank you, Norma
This is a centipede
(note that there is one pair of legs per body segment, millipedes have two pair
per segment). It is in the order Scolopendromorpha, that includes the largest
and most venomous centipedes. Specimens larger than yours can deliver a very
painful bite. Many years ago, I was bitten on the hand while trying to collect a
4.5" specimen in San Antonio; it raised a welt the size of a half dollar.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1382
My husband found this in our
bathroom on the ceiling. There are two spots and they are little clusters or
mounds of tiny little worms. What are these? Are they dangerous? San Antonio,
Texas
Unfortunately, the
image is too fuzzy to make any determination. Can you provide a clearer image?
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1381
I live in Eastern Ontario and found this on a bare wall in my basement. It was
slightly less than 10mm in size. This is the second one I find. The first
one was crawling around on my lawn mower after taking it out from winter
storage. Philip
This is a comb-footed spider (family
Theridiidae) in the genus Steatoda; possibly Steatoda bipunctata -
see
http://insektenfotos.de/Steatoda bipunctata
(Fettspinne)_014.jpg for an image. They are related to the
widow spiders, but are not dangerously venomous; some are called "false widows."
They can deliver a painful bite if mishandled, as I can personally attest.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1380
Help! I have had these insects
in my apartment for the past year or so. They are able to fly, and tend to fly
from surface to surface, though spend most of their time perched on a wall or
another surface. They don't seem to have any seasonal pattern. I am including a
photo of one of them, alongside my thumb for scale. Is there any other
information I could provide to help identify these insects - and hopefully get
rid of them!? Thanks, Simon
The image is too fuzzy
to be certain, but it could be a fungus gnat (there are many species that fall
under this rubric). They breed in damp/wet soil high in organic matter, and
often are found in potted plants. See
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2114.html,
http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/uc/uc-028.html,
and
http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb1573e/eb1573e.pdf
for fact sheets that include control recommendations. If after reviewing these
you believe that your insects are not fungus gnats, please submit a clearer (and
larger) photo. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1379
There is a colony of these hanging out in and around a friend's deck area here
around Sacramento, CA. They move around pretty slowly, and the mature ones fly
around sometimes, and the large ones are about one cm in length. Robert
These appear to be western boxelder
bugs (Boisea rubrolineata; Hemiptera: Rhopalidae); although they usually
no real damage (they will feed on pears, causing ‘dimpling’ of the fruit), they
can become nuisance pests when they occur in or on houses in large numbers. This
species also can be found listed as B. rubrolineatus or Leptocoris
rubrolineatus. See
http://spectre.nmsu.edu/dept/docs/pdc/O-04-Boxelderbugs.pdf
for more information on boxelder bugs in general.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1378
My husband found this bug?? at work and we are not sure what it is and was
wondering if maybe you knew? Thanks Robin
This is a giant water bug (Hemiptera:
Belostomatidae), likely in the genus Lethocerus. Sometimes known as
electric light bugs or toe-biters, they are voracious predators (note the
raptorial front legs) on other aquatic life, including arthropods, snails, small
fish, and salamanders. They can deliver a very painful ‘bite’ with their sharp
beak (see
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/misc/bugs/belostomatid02.htm
for an image) if mishandled, and are strong flies, often found some distance
from the nearest water. See
http://www.naturenorth.com/summer/bug/wtbgF.html
for more information on these fascinating giants of the insect world.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1377
I live in NJ, and am seeing these
little guys everywhere outside. They are stuck to my windows, on the ground
etc. Just wondering what to do, and if they can harm anything. Thanks!
This appears to be a
mayfly (order Ephemeroptera). They are harmless, but they can be nuisances when
they occur in very large numbers. They spend the vast majority of their lives as
aquatic larvae; the adults do not feed, living just long enough to mate and lay
eggs. For much more information, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayfly
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1376
Attached is a photo of a beetle larva found in a wood-framed sand
box. The grounds around the sandbox host flowering ornamental trees. Within
the past two weeks, the ornamental garden beds have been mulched with wood
chips. Location: Providence, RI, USA. Date: May 10, 2007. The
larva is approximately 8cm long and 6cm in circumference near the head.
This appears to be a larva of
a long-horned wood-boring beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in the genus
Prionus; see
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/scaffolds/2000/graphics/0724_Prionus_larva.JPG
for an image. These are the largest wood boring beetles in North
America, feeding on the roots of trees. Young larvae begin by feeding on the
exterior surface of smaller roots, but as they mature, they may tunnel into
larger roots. When ready to pupate, they emerge from their gallery and move
towards the surface. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1375
Hi, I found this bug flying around near the lights in my room in Ottawa,
Ontario. Very loud buzzing sound! Any idea what it is?
This is a bumble bee
(Hymenoptera: Apidae; Bombus spp.) They are social, but their
colonies (usually in cavities below ground level) tend to be much smaller
than those of honey bees. They usually are not aggressive, and must be
provoked into stinging (there are rare exceptions to this, as I can
personally attest). Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove,
WV.
|
 1374
I think these may be termites...but they seem way smaller than the ones I'm
familiar with. I first found a ton of these in my bathroom..but they were all
dead! I have never seen one alive. I wonder why they're all dead..?? We haven't
sprayed anything. I have also discovered a little dirt-like nest in the corner
of my ceiling in my bathroom. Now I've spotted these in the nearby rooms....all
dead! Are these baby termites? And why am I seeing a little graveyard for these
little bugs??
These do indeed appear
to be termites, specifically winged reproductives that have emerged in an
attempt to find mates and establish new colonies. Those that are unsuccessful
usually do not survive for very long. You probably should probe behind the
discolored area (it’s not a ‘nest’) in the bathroom for signs of damaged wood,
as well as checking your basement/crawl space for signs of termite presence
(usually irregular mud tubes that serve as their highways when moving between
foraging sites). See
http://www.utoronto.ca/forest/termite/sheltube.htm
and
http://www.doityourselftermitecontrol.com/termites/termiteinspectionpictures.htm
for some examples. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1373
I took the original picture from not very close up, thinking I was snapping a
shot of one beetle. When I got home and loaded the picture onto my computer, I
saw that it was really two beetles, either mating or fighting. Anyways, I found
them at a place called Duchesney Falls (just outside of North Bay, Ontario)
which is a wooded and rocky area beside a large waterfall. If you can, please
tell me what kind of beetle it is! Thanks! Emilie.
These are mating tiger beetles
(Coleoptera: Cicindelidae). Nice photo, as these beetles are usually very wary
and difficult to approach closely. They are voracious predators on many other
small arthropods, as are their larvae that ambush prey from the mouth of their
burrow in the (usually sandy) soil. These could be purple tiger beetles (Cicindela
purpurea); see
http://www.uvm.edu/~rtbell/purpurea.jpg
for an image and
http://www.uoguelph.ca/debu/tiger-beetles.htm
for more information.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1372
Hello from Mount Vernon, Washington. I have these
bugs in my upstairs rec room and I clean all of them out one day and they're
back the next day. It's May and springtime here so maybe that's why they're
active now. I noticed a lot of them around a skylight that opens and was
thinking maybe there's a nest or something around the skylight. They are about
1/8" in size and have wings about the length of their body but I really haven't
seen them fly. They don't live very long either. I've attached a photo since I
couldn't see a photo like it on the site. Thanks for any help you can give me...
john
This is a seed bug (Hemiptera:
Lygaeidae), it bears some resemblance to those in the genus Blissus
(chinch bugs), but only if the wings are very short - see
http://www.usga.org/turf/green_section_record/2006/jan_feb/resistant.html
(this cannot be
determined from the photo). Chinch bugs do not make a ‘nest,’ but this is the
time of year that they usually emerge from their overwintering quarters (usually
grass clumps) in search of food and mates. They can be quite damaging pests of
turf grass and grain crops; see
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2503.html.
I have no explanation for your finding numbers of them
indoors. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1371
Please help me identify - I found this insect crawling in my garage. It reminds
me of a praying mantis, but the abdomen is wider, with an orange to tan oval on
top of the abdomen and an orange spot at the "tail", is approx. 3/4" long. M.
Perry, Cabot, AR
This is an assassin bug (Hemiptera:
Reduviidae); likely in the genus Pselliopus (see
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~sjtaylor/reduviidae/PselliopusRob.jpg
for an image). For the most part, assassin bugs (such as
this one) are general predators on other small arthropods. A few species in
Mexico and Central/South America are blood feeders and can transmit Chagas’
Disease (American Trypanosomiasis).
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1370
We first noticed these bugs in our garden two years ago when they
presented themselves as unprovoked stingers. Last year there were many more of
them and this spring all of the spring flowers in our garden have masses of them
visiting and entering deep into the flowers. In years prior to the arrival of
these new bugs our spring flowers were always visited by scores of honey
bees! These stinging insects do not die easily when swatted; they just get up
and try again. We would like to identify them and find out if they can be safely
controlled. Are they appearing here due to global warming??? We live in
Mulmur, Ontario. Approximately one and a half-hour's drive north from Toronto
Airport. Thank you. Pauline.
This is a bee, possibly in
the family Halictidae (the diagnostic characters cannot be seen in this image);
several species in this family are native to eastern Canada. Often called "sweat
bees," some species appear attracted to sweaty skin, where they may sting with
little or no provocation, particularly if they get entangled in body hair. For
the most part, they are solitary bees, nesting in borrows in the ground or in
rotten wood. Control usually is not practical, and the effects of their stings,
although painful, usually do not last very long. Also, they can play a useful
role in pollinating some plants, including sunflowers and blueberries.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1369
Hi, I found this
insect buzzing in the grass, South East England, 3rd May; I was
struck by it’s size, just over 2 inches long and nothing like I’ve seen in this
country; it eventually buzzed itself into the air and disappeared into the
trees. What is it? thanks.
Jenny
This appears to a European hornet (Vespa crabro; Hymenoptera: Vespidae).
It is widely distributed in Eurasia and eastern North America. Unlike some other
well-known members of its family, it is not particularly aggressive, and I have
done yard work in close proximity to a colony of them, without being bothered a
bit by them. See
http://www.vespa-crabro.de/hornets.htm
for much more information. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 1368
hello! I was hoping you could help me. I have bought this plant at a green
house and tried to get it to adjust to the outdoors by leaving it out for a few
days before i planted it. When i went to plant it, around a week after i bought
it) i was pulling it apart to plant and then i found a sack full of eggs. My
husband was convinced it was fertiliser so i messed around with the egg sack and
to my horror i found that a bunch of these horrible eggs have already hatched.
I'm really worried that i bought a bad pest to my garden. Anyone could help me
figure out what they are i would greatly appreciate it. Thank you, Keren from
Denmark.
Although I must admit that these do
resemble some pelleted fertilisers, they might be eggs of a millipede or
centipede (see
http://ipm.ncsu.edu/AG268/html/centipedes_and_millipedes.htm
for a description). However, about the only sure way to
identify them is to find whatever might have hatched from them.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 1367
Hi I live in Newfoundland and since spring has arrived we have
been finding these on the floor and carpet mostly around the doorway and in the
laundry room. They move fairly slowly and are usually about 1 cm in length.
This is a click beetle (Coleoptera:
Elateridae). The adults are leaf feeders, and should do no damage indoors where
they are accidental invaders. The larvae (wireworms) primarily feed on
underground portions of plants (roots, tubers, etc.), and some species can be
important agricultural/garden pests. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
 1366
Photographed in garden in Oakville Ontario - perched on what is
left of dinner - Inula royleana - all five of these second year plants have
large holes - nothing else in garden touched. Any ideas? Many thanks.
Barbara
The bug in the photo (possibly a
leaf-footed bug, Hemiptera: Coreidae) is not responsible for the damage, as it
has piercing-sucking rather than chewing mouthparts. Also, from what I
understand, Inula royleana is considered rather pest-free. If the damage
is being caused by insects, spraying with a garden insecticide registered for
homeowner use should help. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1365
Hello from Idaho Falls, Idaho. I was sitting at my desk today and saw this
spider sitting on the answering machine, so I shooed it away. He came back and
just sat there! Did this many times and it just keeps coming back to sit in that
spot. I am no fan of spiders, used to have 3-4 wolf and jumping spiders in my
bathroom each morning when I lived out in the country. Can anyone tell me if
it's dangerous, I know we have Hobo Spiders here in Idaho. I have seen them in
my house. EEK. Uh, okay, it just appeared there again after I shooed it
out of the room. I'm creeped out. Someone please tell me it's harmless.
Bev.
This spider is harmless( to humans,
anyway). I cannot be certain because the image is too grainy, but it might be an
oblong running crab spider (family Philodromidae); see
http://zooex.baikal.ru/pictures/araneif/Tibellus1_mod.jpg
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1364
Hello, I noticed a frighteningly
large spider outside my home in Athens, Ohio and photographed it. The spider
appeared, night after night, for several weeks in the same spot on a cinder
block wall. It disappeared for a few days and then reappeared on my porch right
in front of my door. This is the largest spider I have ever seen other than
those in the Tarantula family. I believe it to be a wolf spider, but I am
certainly no expert. I tossed the only thing I had on me, a cigarette butt,
next to it to give a representation of the spider’s size. The cigarette butt
measures roughly 1.1 inches in length, so obviously this is a large specimen.
It appears to be pregnant- can this be? Hope you enjoy the photo.
Ian
This could be a fishing/dock/nursery
web spider (family Pisauridae). Closely related to wolf spiders (family
Lycosidae), they differ in their eye arrangement and in how females carry their
egg sac. Nursery web spiders carry their egg with their chelicerae (‘fangs’) -
see
http://bio-ditrl.sunsite.ualberta.ca/detail/?P_MNO=5143
whereas wolf spiders carry theirs attached to their spinnerets at the end of
their abdomen - see
http://www.pbase.com/tmurray74/image/31961757.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1363
Hello from Victoria, B.C.
I recently got almost 2 dozen painful bites from what I thought at first was a
mosquito but now know was not. I found this spider crawling across our floor--
could this be what bit me? Also, is it dangerous? Is it even a spider? I can
only count 6 legs- don't spiders have 8? Very confusing. Thanks. R.P.
This is a male (note the enlarged
pedipalps) spider (it has lost two of its legs), but the photo is too unclear
(and also lacks any indication of its size) to make a determination, although
its overall shape is reminiscent of a Pisaurid. Whatever it is, it is not a
species dangerous to human health, and it is extremely unlikely that it was
responsible for your bites. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
Addendum: After further consideration, this could be a male
philodromid crab spider such as Philodromus dispar - see
http://dereila.ca/dereilaimages/CrabSpid3.jpg
for an image. They have been reported from southern British Colombia.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1362
I.D. my spider please. Gabrielle
This appears to be a male widow
spider (Latrodectus spp.); note the enlarged pedipalps and the ventral
‘hourglass’marking. Male widow spiders generally are considered harmless to
humans (they are capable of biting, but both their fangs and venom glands are
much smaller than those of female widow spiders).
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1361
Good Afternoon, I want to know if you can
help me to know what kind of insect is this and how can we eliminate them I
believe that we have silverfish also. I've seen this in the insole of my wife's
shoes which she doesn't use any more. We have a carpet in our closet and it is
humid. I'll ad a picture of some shoes that have been like eroded. Thank you
very much for you knowledge. I forgot to mention that the shoe was apparently
full of white powder like wall pieces. If it is a larva do I have to look for
the bigger insect or how can i detect it? What should I do? Robert.
This is a larva of a beetle in the family Dermestidae, likely one of the
carpet/furniture beetles in the genus Anthrenus. See
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2103.html
for a fact sheet on carpet beetles that includes
control recommendations.
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1360
I live in Topsail, Newfoundland and last summer this bug and
thousands of his friends ate almost all the leaves off my privet hedge. Can you
please tell me what it is? Thanks, Pat
|
 1359
We live in Chilliwack, BC. I found one of these crawling across our family room
floor (10 year old house in the mountains). This is the second one if it's kind
that I found in the toilet. We are concerned that it might be a brown recluse...
It is medium brown and about the size of a quarter. We couldn't make out a clear
fiddle shape on it's back, but there was a darker spot there. Please email us
back and let us know if there is anything to be concerned about. Thank you!
Lauren
This a male spider, possibly an
agelenid (funnel-web/grass spiders); definitely not a brown recluse (Loxosceles
reclusa). You are far outside the known range of the brown recluse in North
America - see
http://dermatology.cdlib.org/DOJvol5num2/special/recluse.html
for a distribution map and more details on this spider.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1358
I live in Indianapolis Indiana and for three years now in the
spring (late April - March) we find these in our upstairs bedrooms. They range
in size from about .25-.75" long. We have large Maple trees that reach over the
house so they may be dropping in from above. Looking at some of the other posts
(1217) it looks like it could be
a moth in the family Noctuidae, such as the large yellow underwing, Noctua
pronuba. I need to know what it is and how to keep them out of my house
without using harmful chemicals. Every time my wife finds one she calls me at
work sobbing. Please help! -Barret
Although this could be
a caterpillar in the family Noctuidae, the diagnostic characters cannot be seen
in this image. I suggest that you contact the Marion County office of Purdue
University’s Cooperative Extension Service (see
http://www.ces.purdue.edu/marion/)
to see if (1) this problem has been reported by other residents, and (2) anyone
there can be of assistance in identification and make any necessary control
recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1357
Hello, these wonderful little things are found in the earth in our lawn areas.
They are usually found just a bit below the surface in the areas of thinner
grass with very sandy soil. These were found in April. They are approximately 3
cm. in length. We live on Salt Spring Island, BC. Thank You, Michael
These are "white grubs," larvae of
scarab beetles. Some species, such as the Japanese beetle, feed on the roots of
grasses, and when abundant, can cause considerable turf damage.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1356
This is the second bug I have found like this in my living in the past 2 weeks.
It is basically black with orange on the wings. They were both dead and found in
the morning. I live in Charleston SC. Thanks for the help!
A dorsal view would be more helpful
for identification purposes. Because of that, I cannot be certain, but one of
the commoner bugs matching your description is the boxelder bug (Boisea
trivittata; Hemiptera: Rhopalidae). See no. 1195 for an example, and if the
dorsal aspect of your specimens differs significantly from that insect, please
submit another photo.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1355
Hello, I live in Maple ridge, B.C., and have encountered this
strange bug. At first I thought it was a stonefly, heck, maybe it is a stonefly,
but the pictures I found on the internet did not match. I've only ever found it
outside, on fences and walls. As you can see in relation to my thumb it's not
very big at all. It does not bite when I pick it up and is very docile. The most
it ever does is vibrate, I guess as a way to scare me off. I'm curious as to
this bug's identity and any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Eileen
This appears to be an alderfly (Neuroptera:
Sialidae), note the expanded fourth segment of its tarsi; see
http://www.evasion.it/neurotteri/Sialis_lutaria00.jpg
for an image. Like stoneflies, larvae of alderflies are
aquatic, usually found under stones in streams, where they are predaceous on
other small aquatic insects.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1354
Perhaps not really bugs, but they do bug me. They appear in large groups around
my shed, on the shed's outside walls, on the composters and a poplar tree
nearby, as well as around my window about 2 m from the shed. While uprooting
bushes nearby, I found an army of them spewing out from the ground at the base
of the bush (do they make tunnels like ants?). They do fly, but there's a reason
I named the picture "Lazy Bug" - I can pick one up without hardly stirring it.
They do not bite (or maybe don't like the way I taste), but I can't help swat or
flick them off my skin as a reflex; and there can be several on me at any given
time (probably just want to rest their lazy whatever wherever). Anyway, any
suggestion on how to get rid of them would be appreciated (unless of course
removing the bushes will see them eliminated as well). Thanks in advance,
Nhuan, Kitchener, ON
This is a true bug (order
Hemiptera). It appears to be a member of the family Lygaeidae, such as the birch
catkin bug (Kleidocerys resedae; see
http://www.chili-balkon.de/viecher/bilder/kleidocerys_resedae.jpg
for an image. If this what you have, you should note a distinct odour if they
are crushed - see
http://www.uoguelph.ca/pdc/Factsheets/Insect/BirchCatkinBug.htm
for more information including control
recommendations. Lygaeids are not burrowers; they likely were just seeking
shelter in debris under the bush.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1353
If anyone can help, I would like to know what this bug is. I
just bought a house in Burlington, Ontario, and have discovered a few of these
bugs during my renovations. Phil.
This
appears to be a silverfish, a primitive insect in the order Thysanura. They
can be household pests, feeding on a wide variety of starchy materials,
including book bindings, wallpaper paste, and some stored food products. See
no. 1303 for another example, and
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2108.html
for a fact sheet that includes control measures.
|
 1352
We've found a couple of these wandering on the walls and drapes in out condo.
Can you help figure out what they are? Thank you. Erik
This appears to be a carpet
beetle in the genus Anthrenus, see nos. 1331 and 1307 for other
examples and
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2103.html
for a fact sheet that includes control
recommendations.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1351
We live in Virginia. We have lived here for almost two years, and for every
month that it is warm here we tend to find these black bugs that fly in my sons
room. We have never had or seen them anywhere else. They fly around the room and
then they land in his carpet until I vacuum them up. Please help me identify
them so that I can get rid of them.
This is a ground beetle (Coleoptera:
Carabidae), a very large family with at least 3,000 species known from North
America. The vast majority of these beetles are general predators on other small
arthropods, and therefor may be considered beneficial. As in any large family,
there are a few exceptions, such as the seedcorn beetles that can be
agricultural pests. Predaceous ground beetles frequently are found indoors,
where they have wandered in search of prey. Short of hermetically sealing your
house, you likely will be unable to exclude them completely. If you cannot
tolerate their presence, simply sweep them up and escort them outdoors where
they may continue their hunting.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1350
I live in eastern Pennsylvania and been encountering these flying insets a few
(2-4) every day for the last month or so. They are about 5/16 " long. Any
suggestions would be helpful. Robert
This moth is too damaged to permit a
positive i.d. - however, on the chance that it might be a household/pantry pest
(clothes moth/meal moth, etc.), you may wish to examine infestable food products
(cereals, pasta, dried fruit, dry pet food, etc.) and woolen fabrics for any
sign of insect infestation or damage. In the meantime, if you can locate a
specimen in better condition, you could submit a new photo.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1349
I just recently moved to Hamilton Ontario and i notice these in my basement in
the summer time. Some of them get to about the size of my pinki..
Any help would be appreciated.. Nav.
This is a house centipede (Scutigera
coleoptrata). They are general predators on other small arthropods, and
although larger specimens are capable on inflicting a painful bite if
mishandled, they are not aggressive and harmless to humans. See no. 1251 for
another example and
http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/centipedeHouse.htm
for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1348
I live in the st. louis, mo area in the United States. My daughter found this
bug on her bed, though just before finding it, she had a box from her closet on
the bed. I'm assuming the insect came from the box. At first I thought it was a
roach, but it didn't have any wings. Also I haven't seen these bugs anywhere
else in the house. Though I'm going to be going through our storage boxes and
seeing if I locate any others. Though knowing what this insect is, would help
tremendously in disposing of any that might be around. I would appreciate any
help that can be given thank you. Ty
This is a cockroach nymph,
likely that of one of the larger species such as those in the genus
Periplaneta; see
http://www.uos.harvard.edu/images/ehs/pest/cockroach/nymph_6475_main.jpg
for an image. I suggest that you
obtain a few ‘roach motels’ (sticky traps) and place them next to walls in the
closet, other storage areas, and the kitchen. If you find more of these insects
in a day or two, you may have an infestation and should take appropriate control
measures - see
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/entml2/MF2765.pdf
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1347
These cool looking bugs were found
outside in northern California at an elevation of about 3000ft in an oak /
conifer forested area. They are each about 1 cm in length. Their coloring is
really interesting, reminding me of art glass. Does anyone know what they are?
Thanks, Jeff.
Beautiful photo! These
are treehoppers (Homoptera: Membracidae), possibly the oak treehopper,
Platycotis vittata; see
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in519.
Many species have their pronotum highly ornamented,
sometimes bizarrely so (see
http://www.myrmecos.net/insects/Membracid1.JPG)
; others (such as these) appear thornlike. They are sap
feeders, but only a few species are considered pests.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1346
I found this in my queens, New York apartment building. There were two of them
twitching on the floor in the bedroom. (I recently sprayed the corners with
lambda cyanohydrin.) They're about 2-3mms long. I think they have 3 pairs of
legs and 1 pair of antenna. Lau
This appears to be a shiny
spider beetle (Gibbium psylloides; Coleoptera: Ptinidae); see
http://www.ento.psu.edu/ImageGallery/Images/ShinySpiderBeetle02lateral.jpg
for an image. Spider beetles can be pantry
pests, feeding on a wide variety of organic materials. See
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2117.html
for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1345
This spider bit my wife this morning in
the basement of our house in Pickering Ont.(down near Lake Ontario). Could you
please help identifying it and should we worry? Thank you in
advance. Rick Proctor
This could be a female wolf
spider (family Lycosidae; note lack of visible spinnerettes and
reflection of light from large eyes). They often are found indoors, and
although larger specimens (such as this one) can deliver a painful bite
if mishandled, they are harmless to humans.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
  1344
Hello, I live in Kentville, Nova Scotia. I found these little things inside the
doors of my car, under the hood and in various other places on the car. They
are about 1.5 cm long, white. Are they bugs, cocoons or maybe just seeds?
Help...April.
These do appear to be cocoons, but
of what I cannot be certain. I suggest that you place a few of these in a lidded
(but not airtight) container and see what emerges.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1343
We have tons of these bugs crawling around our
house each spring and summer. I find them in groups all over particularly on
the floor, counters and on fabrics like blankets and clothes. They are black
with a stripe on their back with 6 legs. PLEASE tell me what they are and how
to get rid of them. Thanks, Leisa
This is a larder beetle (Dermestes
lardarius; Coleoptera: Dermestidae; see no. 1302 for another example). It is
a pantry pest that feeds primarily on proteinaceous items such as cured meats,
cheeses, dried fish, dry pet food, etc. See
http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/larder_beetle.htm
for a fact sheet that includes control
measures.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1342
Hello, I'm writing from Niagara Falls, Ontario. For the past few months I
have been finding these tiny beetles in one of our bedrooms, sometimes on the
carpet, sometimes on my computer desk. About one a day now. We have no idea
where they are from or how they get inside. Are they harmful to us?
Thanks. Daniel
These could be black
carpet beetles (Attagenus unicolor; Coleoptera: Dermestidae); see
http://www.ento.psu.edu/ImageGallery/Images/BlackCarpetBeetle03fem.jpg
and
http://www.ento.psu.edu/ImageGallery/Images/BlackCarpetBeetle04male.jpg
for images. The larvae of these beetles are general feeders on a wide variety of
animal-based protein materials, including woolen fabrics. Check any woolen
carpeting you may have (especially along the edges) for signs of the larvae (see
http://www.invasive.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1455125
for an image and no. 1333 for
another example) or their damage. See
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2103.html
for a fact sheet that includes control measures.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1341
Good morning, I live in
Barrie Ontario and during the warmer days, we find these weird looking guys
crawling around on the floors. Only one at a time and usually once a week or
so, they aren’t much of a problem. I see them around outside a lot, they are
grey and black (usually), lots of legs (whitish colour) and seem to be quite
strong. Please review my picture and maybe we can figure out what kind of bug
this is. Thanks, Brad Fuller
This is actually a sow bug which is similar in appearance
to pill bugs. Sow bugs have 2 protrusions at the rear which prevent it
from rolling into a tight ball like pill bugs. For a full description and
more photos see
Sow
bugs and Pill bugs. |
 1340
Hello, I live in Denton, Texas... I caught this guy crawling up
the wall, and had to put him outside. He was quite a fast little guy! Does
anyone know him?
Thank you! -Cat
This appears to be a red-spotted antmimic spider (Castianeira descripta;
Aranae:Corrinidae); sometimes known as a velvet ant mimic spider - see
http://canadianarachnology.dyndns.org/data/canada_spiders/images/habitus/Castianeira_descripta.jpg
for an image. They are harmless to humans.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1339
Hi! We found this "bug house"
on the ceiling in our closet over a hole in the wood. Do you know what was
inside it? And where it my be now? Thanks, Robin
This does not look like any
insect-created construction that I am familiar with. The only thing that comes
even close is a termite tube, but this structure appears quite atypical for that
possibility. It may be a fungus; try probing the wood in the immediate vicinity
with a sharp pointed tool such as an awl. If the wood is fungus-infested, the
probe should enter easily. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1338
I live in SW France and this little fella just fell out of my wooden ceiling on
to my computer! Should I be worried? I found your web-site very interesting and
informative bye the way. Hope you can help. Craig Dymock
The photo is a bit fuzzy, but this
could be a larva of a carpet beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae). These insects
will feed on a wide variety of organic materials, including woolen fabrics. See
nos. 1333, 1330, 1210 and 1200 for other examples, and
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2103.html
for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1337
I have taken a picture of a spider in my bathroom. I've seen these spiders off
and on for a couple of years. Which is worrisome as it points to a nest. I've
seen 4 or 5 (6?) over that time. Always at night and running quickly, just for
a few seconds, in the living room to hide under things. But I came across
this last one in my bathroom. On the counter. I took a picture of it
quickly but didn't want to get too close. I live in North Surrey, BC and am
not sure at what time of year I usually see them. I've just researched spiders
a little and been horrified to discover that there are some pretty nasty ones
here in BC. I didn't know. So I almost hate to ask- but what kind is this?
And it is something I should be worried about- poisonous, etc? Thanks Colleen
Again, I cannot be certain,
but this could be a funnel-web/grass spider (family Agelenidae); wolf spiders,
which also commonly are found indoors, have at least one pair of forward-facing
eyes greatly enlarged. In the family Agelenidae, there are at least three
species in the genus Tegeneria that occur in British Columbia. The
bite of one of these, the so-called ‘Hobo spider’ (Tegenaria agrestis),
has been implicated in causing slowly-healing necrotic lesions, but real proof
of this appears lacking; see
http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/natural/insects/research/dangspid.htm
. The only truly dangerous spider to humans
found in British Columbia is the Western black widow (Latrocectus hesperus).
Finally, you can find a good deal of factual information on spiders in relation
to humans elsewhere on this website - see
http://www.pestcontrolcanada.com/INSECTS/spiders.htm
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1336
I think this creature came in through my window - I live on the 6th floor of an
apartment building in downtown Toronto. I found him sneaking out from under my
fridge. It had long legs stretched out on either side like a spider, but
they're curled underneath now. It moved fairly slowly - I didn't see it jump or
fly. It also lost an antenna upon its demise. His body (w/ head) is about
1.5cm. Thanks! Jill
The specimen is a bit too
mangled to be certain, but if the objects projecting from the end of its abdomen
are cerci, it likely is a small cockroach, such as the German or brown-banded
cockroach. Have a look at the images of cockroaches at
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/entml2/MF2765.pdf
to see if any match what you have. If your specimen is not
a cockroach, it most likely is a harmless accidental intruder. Just in case, you
might try putting out a couple of ‘roach motels’ on the floor next to the wall
in the kitchen to see if anything takes up residence there. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1335
We live in downtown Toronto, and had new wall to wall carpet with felt padding
put in our partially finished basement last October. About 3 weeks ago (End of
March) I began finding these beetle like bugs on the new carpet. I've looked
twice on your excellent site, and could not find any quite like ours. The dark
grey, almost black oval back is segmented and from underneath somewhat resembles
a light coloured pistachio shell. There are two tiny pincers coming out of the
back end and small feelers out the front. Underneath, I think I counted 8 legs
on each side. We've never had an infestation of any kind until now, and it
suspiciously coincides with this carpet installation. Also under the 4X3 foot
plastic carpet protector in front of this computer desk is ANOTHER bug
underneath. I suspect it came up through the carpet, rather than crawling to the
middle! Thanks so very much for your help! Helen in Toronto
You have sow bugs. They are quite
common in finished basements if steps were not taken to eliminate moisture
problems. Sow bugs can not survive in dry conditions.
Read more about sow
bugs on this web site |
 1334
Help Help Help! I moved to San Diego, CA about a month ago and in the past week
I have found seven of these little black bugs in my apartment. They are either
found in the living room (on the walls on or near our sliding glass door) during
the day or on the counters/ in the sink of the kitchen. The one I found in the
sink was in the morning and it seemed to have gotten trapped there. They do no
move that fast and do not seem to mind light since I have seen more in the day
time then morning. I have not seen any sign of feeding on our bread or cereal or
any other food. It is about 1/2 cm long and I hope from the picture you can give
me some insight about what it is! I have been doing some research but it
does not seem to fit the habits of roaches, and I am terrified of bugs so I
could use some help figuring out what this is and what to do about it. Please
please please help me !!
The image is not clear enough to be
certain, but this could be a young nymph of a brown-banded cockroach, Supella
longipalpa. This species can be more difficult to control than other
peridomestic cockroaches, as they are not as dependent on remaining close to
sources of moisture, and thus may be found in different situations than most
other cockroaches. See no. 1304 and
http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/brown_banded_cockroach.htm
for a fact sheet that includes control
recommendations. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1333
I found this guy crawling on a pillow which has been lying on the floor for a
few months in our bedroom. a lot of dust in and around the area? what is this?
Anthony
This could be a larva of a carpet
beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) in the genus Attagenus. They will feed
on a wide variety of organic materials, including woolen fabrics. See nos. 1330,
1210 and 1200 for other examples, and
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2103.html
for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1332
We first noticed these little bugs a few months ago and they are still showing
up. We live in NC and mainly see them in the bathtubs, showers or around
water...sometimes crawling on the walls. They are always all black and they seem
to have a hard outer shell.
Thanks so much. Leigh Ann.
Although the image is too fuzzy to
be certain, these weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) bear a close resemblance
to those in the genus Sitophilus. Weevils in this genus include several
species that can be pantry pests, so you may wish to inspect infestible food
products (primarily seeds/grains, including rice, maize, wheat, rye, millet,
etc.) in your pantry for signs of these beetles or their damage. See no. 1176
for an example, and
http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/cereal_pantry_pests.htm
for a fact sheet that includes images of these weevils as well as several
other pantry pests. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1331
I have been finding this bug
on my kitchen and laundry room windowsills for the past three days. They are
driving me crazy. They are very small, about the size of a pencil lead and are
dark brown with three white stripes across the back. They have six legs and
have hard shells covering wings. HELP!
These appear to be adult
carpet beetles (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) in the genus Anthrenus. See no.
1307 for another example, and
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2103.html
for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations. The adults primarily are
pollen feeders but often are found indoors, it is the larval stage (see no.
1330) that does the real damage. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I just found these in my house too. I think they are varied
carpet beetles. More info at:
http://www.pestcontrolcanada.com/INSECTS/Stored food and
fabric pests/carpet_beetles.htm Tracy
|
 1330
I am in Toronto, Canada. I have found these on occasion in my
home, mostly in dust bunnies, once on the carpet. I though it could be a
larvae, but I have yet to see what bug it may be. I have also found
exoskeletons (sp?) but never any actual bugs of any kind. Any ideas? Natalie
This
appears to be a larva of a carpet beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), possibly
in the genus Attagenus. See nos. 1210 and 1200 for other examples,
and
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2103.html
for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
 1329
Attached is a photograph of two holes that have recently appeared in one of my
teak furniture pieces. We have not seen a bug........ when the first hole
appeared... a pile of sawdust was below the hole (month or more ago)... Just
today.. a new hole has appeared... with some more wood dust below it...Any idea
what this is... and what we should do to get rid of it? You help is greatly
appreciated! Cheers, Geary
If the holes are a few millimeters
in diameter, they likely are exit/emergence holes made by long-horned
wood-boring beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Some species have a very long
larval stage, with the adults sometimes emerging from wood that has been made
into furniture. See
http://www.barkbeetles.org/browse/subject.cfm?SUB=9353
for images of Stromatium barbatum, a
teak-infesting species that can spend up to 10 years as a larva. Most
cerambycids will not reinfest structural wood in the house. If the holes are
1.5mm or smaller in diameter, they could be emergence holes of powderpost
beetles (Coleoptera: Anobiidiae/Bostrichidae/Lyctidae). These beetles will
attack any wood that is not painted or varnished. See
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IG119
for more information. If your furniture items are relatively small, they may be
‘bagged’ for heat treatment or fumigation. Contact a professional pest
management company for assistance. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1328
Greetings from Ft. Worth, TX! This bug is about 3/8" or 1cm in length and was
found along with hundreds of brothers and sisters on the leaves of a tree -
busily eating. They have some features consistent with lady beetle larvae, but
the coloring is wrong. Any help is appreciated!
This appears to be a larva of
a leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). The larvae of many species in this
very large family bear a superficial resemblance to lady beetle larvae; see
http://insects.tamu.edu/images/insects/common/images/cd-44-b/img190.jpg
for the
larvae of the cottonwood leaf beetle, Chrysomela scripta.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1327
Found on a canyon wall, outside of Hinton. Bit of an accidental capture, I was
shooting the rock for texture, noticed the bug upon downloading the images once
I was home. Thanks, RH
This is a mayfly (order
Ephemeroptera). As the order name indicates, these insects are very short-lived
as adults; some species survive less than 24 hours after maturation. Their
larvae (naiads) are aquatic, usually in streams. For more information, see
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/uniramia/ephemeroptera.html
and
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent425/compendium/mayfly.html.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
1326 It is poisonous or not? Regards, Jason
Seneca, SCThese appear to
be newly hatched nymphs of an assassin bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) called the
wheel bug (Arilus cristatus). They are general predators on other small
arthropods, and although not poisonous/venomous per se, their saliva
contains powerful proteolytic enzymes used to break down tissues of their prey.
Large specimens therefore are capable of delivering a painful ‘bite’ if
mishandled. See
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in243
for much more information on these insects.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1325
Hello, I live in a 100 year old house in Chicago. I woke up itching a few weeks
ago, so I washed my sheets. No problems until a few days ago, when I again woke
up again itching. I have since torn my house apart. All I could find were these
balls in a crack between the floor and the baseboard adjacent to my bed, there
were a total of about ten. I figure they may be a bug's waste. Thank you for
your great website.
The photo is too fuzzy to be
absolutely certain, but these objects do not appear to insect excrement of any
kind. If the itching is accompanied by a rash or ‘bumps,’bed bugs would be a
possibility - see
http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/hardin/md/wisc/bedbugs3.html
and
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/entfacts/struct/ef636.htm.
Regardless, I suggest that you see a
dermatologist/allergist to see if they can be of assistance, as there are many
causes of such itching other than insect/arthropod infestations; see
http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1122/
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1324
One single ant showed up at my apartment in Farmington Hills, in Michigan, USA.
The size was amazing to me (2cm). I love the website of yours. It is
great! Thank you, Tiffani
This is a very good photo of a carpenter ant. Not
being an entomologist I will guess it is probably Camponotus Herculeanus
although it looks very similar to the modoc species common on the west coast.
This is a major worker (female). At this time of year (March) it probably
emerged from a nest in your home. It is too cold for outdoor nests to be
active.
Larry Cross. Pest Control Services, Gulf Islands.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Although color and size
in themselves are imprecise determiners in identification, I think that this
specimen more likely is a queen of Camponotus pennsylvanicus than a major
worker of C. herculeanus. Major workers of either species have a
maximum reported length of about 15mm with their heads usually broader than
long, and specimens of C. herculeanus usually are less uniformly
black/piceous. Also, according to the Checklist of the Ants of Michigan (http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/fauna/MICHANTS.html),
C. herculeanus has not been reported from
Oakland County where Farmington Hills is located.
Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
1323 I found this patterned bug near Milton, Ontario and
was hoping someone could help to identify it. Nick
This appears to be a pale
color variant of the two-spotted stink bug, Perillus bioculatus (Hemiptera:
Pentatomidae); see
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/pests/e1225-e.jpg
for an image and No. 1293 on this page for a darker color
variant. Unlike most other pentatomids, this species is predaceous on other
small arthropods, and is considered beneficial. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
1322 These bugs have appeared inside the house in the last four weeks. We
live in western Washington State. Recently some of them have started flying. I
would like to get an id and a life span. Thanks. John
This appears to be a seed bug (Hemiptera:
Lygaeidae), bearing a close resemblance to Rhyparochromus vulgaris; see
http://www.entomologie.de/forum/upload/pic17661.jpg
for an image. This species is a native of Eurasia, but
recently has been introduced to the West Coast (see
http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=15906451)
. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1321
My brother found this in our cellar. We live in the city but a block away from
Lake Ontario. I don't know exactly how big it is because I'm scared of it. But
this picture says enough for me. Our cellar is dark, cool & damp. I'm
worried that its deadly... Roberta
This most likely is a wolf spider
(family Lycosidae); if you scroll down through these pages, you will see many
other examples. These spiders frequently wander indoors in their searches for
prey, but although larger specimens can deliver a painful bite if mishandled,
they are not aggressive, and are harmless to humans.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1320
This was found in my home in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. I have
found a few over the last year walking on the basement carpet. However this one
was taken from the attic where I have had to do some pest control for mice with
mouse poison and traps. It was located with 3 or 4 more of these with mouse
feces and poison. As you can see it is approx. 1/2" long tan in colour with a
darker tan head and tail. The tail is pointy. The head has a dark pin head spot
in the middle sporting 2 small antennas. It also has 6 legs dragging the
elongated body moving fairly quick. Can you help, and how do I rid the house of
these? Thank you! Guy
The photo is too fuzzy to be
certain, but this could be a young larva of a mealworm (Tenebrio spp;
Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) or another member of this family; see
http://www.pansphoto.com/caterpillar/pages/larv0012.htm
for an image. If such is the case, you also should be seeing some larger
examples (full-grown larvae can be more than an inch long) as well as adult
beetles (see
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/teneb/Tenebrio_molitor.jpg
for an image). The primary control method for mealworms is sanitation - removal
of potential harborage and food sources; see
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2093.html
for more details. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1319
This was found in my home in Colorado, USA. It was sitting on the wall. I was
curious what this might be. Thank you. Paul
This appears to be an ichneumon wasp
(Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). They are all parasitic on other arthropods,
and are harmless to humans. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
  1318
Found these 1/4 inch pests on my kitchen floor in South Carolina - can you help
me identify them. I love this webpage and the wonderful information it contains.
David
You may want to schedule a termite
inspection for your premises, as these could be de-alated reproductive caste
termites, having shed their wings. At first glance, I thought that they might be
small rove beetles, but their antennae have too many segments, and I can see no
trace of elytra (wing covers) in the images. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1317
Hello, We've come across this insect twice this week so far (it's finally been
above zero for more than a day...). Sorry for the poor quality, I was afraid
that if I took a picture with the flash on that it might fly off, which would
then make it much more difficult to kill (I'm thinking now that it either
doesn't have wings or is unable to fly, but I'm not sure by any means). Both
times that we came across it, my wife just finished having a bath - I'm not sure
if this information might be important. It seems to be a beetle of some
sort, with a mainly red abdomen and black thorax, where on the top of the thorax
(near the head - but on the sides, where I suppose shoulders would be), it has a
red dot (one on each side, left and right) surrounded by a white circle. It's
about 4mm long, and both times, we found it merrily crawling along the ceiling.
It also has quite long antenna. The closest image that I could find in my short
internet search is one belonging to the
Japanese Cedar Longhorned Beetle , but that is certainly not the right
insect for the one that we're seeing is smaller and the abdomen isn't quire
right (not nearly enough red in it) - but other than that, the proportions are
about right. Thank you for your assistance. Dustin.
The photo is too fuzzy to be
certain, but this appears to be a soft-winged flower beetle (Coleoptera:
Melyridae), possibly in the genus Malachius (see
http://www.zin.ru/ANIMALIA/COLEOPTERA/images/malaenkm.jpg
for an image, and No.
939 for another example. It likely is a harmless accidental intruder in your
home. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
 1316
Here is my interesting bug. I think it's
some kind of spider, but I've never seen one like this before. It's reddish
brown and aside from the usual 8 legs, it has two extra long "arms" that have
some kind of claw on the ends like crabs do, and it can open and close those
claws. This particular one is about 3.5
mm in length in the body. The arms with the claws on them are almost 5 mm when
fully extended, making the whole bug about 8 mm in total length. We
live rurally near Durham, Ontario and have a river running past right outside
our home. I usually find these guys in the bathroom, but have found them all
over the house, in the living room, our bedroom and my son's bedroom, as well as
in the kitchen. It's not especially fast running as I have captured several
using packing tape in an effort to show them and try to identify them. This one
I captured in a jar and can try to provide better pictures or a short video clip
if you prefer. I am really curious as to what it is as I can't find anything
like it on-line or in a spider/insect book I have. Thanks. Nuala Robinson
This is a pseudoscorpion (Arachnida:
Chelonethida/Pseudoscorpionida). They are harmless (to humans) general
predators on other small arthropods. See nos. 1119, 1083, and 1072 for
other examples.Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1315
Hi, this is Darrin from Poughkeepsie, NY. I found this spider in my basement
over the past summer. We live in a log home in a heavily forested area, and am
assuming this bugger is a wood spider, but have yet to see one get this large.
He is about the size of my palm or roughly four square inches.
|
 1314
I found these bugs all around the basement perimeter in one of our rental units
in Outlook, SK. The tenant had been faithfully spraying them since October
'06 when she finally had enough and called in the problem in March '07.
There have only been a dozen appear on the main level of this 3 bedroom
bungalow. There is a large aquarium in the basement with the fish from the
backyard pond along with a few plants started for spring planting but
humidity in the basement did not seem excessively high. Hopefully someone can
identify these bugs or let me know if you need better pictures. Cam
The photo is too
fuzzy to be certain, but this could be a spider beetle in the genus Ptinus
(see
http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/bcbeetles/Individual species
illustrations/ptinus_fur.jpg
for an illustration). In the wild, these beetles usually are found scavenging in
nests of birds, bees, or rodents, but they often become household/pantry pests,
infesting a wide variety of organic materials. See
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2117.html
for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations.
Authorities differ as to whether spider beetles belong in a family of their own
(Ptinidae) or should be included in the family Anobiidae as subfamily Ptininae.
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1313
Please identify this insect/worm. We found a lot of them in our barn in
Frenchburg, Kentucky around the beams. They are a darker brown on the top and a
lighter brown on the bottom. They only have a couple sets of legs unlike a
millipede or a centipede. Can they damage the wood and how do we get rid of
them? Please help. Justin
This is a beetle larva, but the
photo is too fuzzy to attempt a determination. However, it does not appear to be
a wood borer of any kind, and could even be a predator on wood-boring insects. I
suggest that you take some specimens to the Menifee County office of the
University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (see
http://ces.ca.uky.edu/menifee/
for contact information) to see if someone there can assist you in their
identification. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1312
Hi! found this out the back of our home in south Australia. can anyone tell what
it is? it is about 30mm long, and almost looks like it had a second 'sting'
thing. it was trying to dig into the ground. Aaron
This is a mole cricket (Orthoptera:
Gryllotalpidae), so-called because of their burrowing habit. What looks to be a
‘stinger’ is actually one of a pair (the left one is missing) of sense organs
called cerci; they are harmless. In some areas of the USA, mole crickets can be
turf or garden pests, but this does not seem to be the case in Australia. See
http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/collections/natscience/invertebrates/documents/Molecrickets.pdf
for a nice article on Australian mole crickets.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 1311
Hello, This bug bit my wife 5 times in a 2 cm area which produced some
considerable swelling. I then found it in her clothing. This one is a bit
squashed now. Our guess is a flea, but it seems to crawl and doesn't hop.
We live in Oregon and have had some trouble with bites in the bedroom. It
seems to appear in spring, and we have had many bites. We also have birds in the
attic, no indication of bedbugs. Thanks! Jon
This is indeed a flea, such as the
cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis; Siphonaptera: Pulicidae - see
http://www.arrowexterminating.com/images/catflea.jpg).
Also, see
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/occas/catflea.htm
for a fact sheet on the biology and control of cat fleas.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 1310
Hey there, Was wanting to know if you knew what kind of spider this is. I live
in China Grove, NC and saw this spider in my backyard after I dug a hole for my
tomato plant. I don't know if this came from the dirt I dug up or not.
Thanks, Kim
Although the photo is quite fuzzy,
this appears to be a female wolf spider (family Lycosidae) with her egg sac
attached to her spinnerettes at the end of her abdomen. Lycosids are well known
for the remarkable (for a spider) degree of parental care given their offspring;
see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_spider.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
 1309
We live outside of Victoria BC in a semi rural district and this
bug and a couple of his mates just started turning up inside our house.
Keith.
This is a long-horned
wood-boring beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in the tribe Clytini;possibly
Neoclytus conjunctus. Markings on this species can be quite variable; see
http://www.entomology.ucr.edu/ebeling/figures/fig125.jpg
for an idealized drawing and fig. 75 in
http://www.ufei.org/files/pubs/psw_gtr197.pdf for
a photo of a California specimen. Host species reportedly include Oregon ash,
various white oaks, eucalyptus, pear, and apple trees; if any infested trees are
cut for lumber, they should be utilized promptly, otherwise the larvae of these
beetles may render the wood useless for anything but firewood.
Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1308
This spider was found originally on the roof of my kitchen, and
then progressed down to the floor where he started to go for a dead fly that I'm
assuming blew in with the air-conditioning unit this summer. I've never
seen anything like it - definitely not your common black house-spider, and I had
a wolf spider reside outside my bedroom window for a few months. This was in
Edmonton, Alberta, in the kitchen of the top floor of a walk-up. What kind of
spider is it and is it dangerous???? PS (I'm not sure if you'll e-mail a
response back to me in regards to what kind of spider it is.) Thanks for
your help, Heather
This
is a male spider (note the enlarged pedipalps); it could be a wolf spider
(Lycosidae; this is a very large family, and not all look alike) as I cannot see
any spinnerettes. However, that could be because of the aspect from which
the photo was taken. If it has spinnerettes easily visible from viewing the
spider directly from above, it more likely would be a funnel-web/grass
spider in the family Agelenidae. Regardless, neither would be dangerous to
humans, although larger specimens are capable of a painful bite - see no.
1306. BTW, the ‘fly’ in the photo is a barklouse (order Psocoptera).
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1307
Found this at night on window sill. If you want better pics, I can
probably find more in the morning light / mark f. Salt Spring Island, BC.
This appears to be a carpet beetle (Coleoptera:
Dermestidae) in the genus Anthrenus. See
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2103.html
for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1306
Hi, I found this spider on my brick wall outside my home. He is
missing a leg. I live in the eastern townships in Quebec. this spider was 1inch
long in the body and 1.5 inches on each leg. Thank you, Shannon
|
 1305
Hi! I have noticed that
everytime summer is about to come, this little insects start appearing in my
house floor, it’s in the same corner each year, they are extremely small like
1-2 mm, and they seem to jump when you try to get them. I hope you can help me
id these insects. P.S. I live in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
Thanks, Oliver Q.
These most likely are
primitive arthropods (authorities differ as to whether or not they should be
considered true insects) in the order Collembola. Commonly called ‘springtails,’
many species in this group are capable of jumping by means of an organ on the
underside of their abdomen called a furcula. Basically harmless to humans ( a
few species can be pests on tender vegetation), many are considered nuisance
pests when they get indoors. Control generally is not necessary, but they can be
discouraged by eliminating unnecessary moisture sources in and around the
perimeter of the home. See
http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/pests/g07363.htm
for a fact sheet on
these fascinating creatures.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1304
Hello, Very small bug (3/16 inch) found in kitchen in early morning.
Thanks, David
This is a young cockroach nymph,
likely a brown-banded cockroach, Supella longipalpa. This species can be more
difficult to control than other peridomestic cockroaches, as they are not as
dependent on remaining close to sources of moisture. See
http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/brown_banded_cockroach.htm
for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1303
I live in a two-story townhome in Squamish BC. It is an older building with many
cracks and holes and entry points for little critters. My 19 month old son keeps
getting these little spots that look like bug bites and i was also painfully bit
a few weeks ago in our upstairs bathroom. the lino behind the toilet gapes about
1 inch from the wall and is looks very dirty and rotted out, a nice place for
bugs to hide and we find about 5 silverfish a week in this room. The biting
insect vanished after i swatted him off me yet i was lucky enough to find a
similar looking species downstairs in our kitchen when i pulled out the garbage
this evening. any help identifying this culprit is GREATLY appreciated! On
a different note, do silverfish pose any threat to humans? i know they do not
bite but do they damage a home/contents or carry any bacteria or diseases on
them? thanks again!
This is
a sowbug, a terrestrial crustacean in the order Isopoda. They are harmless
scavengers, neither biting nor carrying any diseases. They are, however, often
considered nuisance pests, and their presence usually is indicative of excess
moisture levels. See
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2072.html
for a fact sheet that includes control measures. Silverfish (Thysanura:
Lepismatidae) will feed on all manner of starchy materials, from that found in
bookbindings, wallpaper and clothing to some pantry items. Although they
certainly can be nuisance pests, they pose no threat to human health. See
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/housingandclothing/DK1018
for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jason here from Solutions Pest Control Ltd. based in Squamish, BC.
I would be pleased to come by the residence and collect a sample & perform a
free inspection. I would then be better able to find a solution to the
problem. Regards,
Jason Page.
I can be reached at
604-815-0093 |
 1302
Hi my name is Mary and I keep finding this bugs all over the floor in my home
.when they are in flat , smooth floor they are very quick running but on rugs
they struggle to walk. They are black with the middle like a deep dark Tan
color, and on the tan color they have tiny little dots . What are they and if I
should be seriously worry about bites or anything else. How do i get rid of
them? I have tried everything ,like bombing the rooms, and nothing they keep
appearing.
This is a larder beetle (Dermestes
lardarius; Coleoptera: Dermestidae). This species is a pantry pest, feeding
primarily on proteinaceous items, including cured meats, cheeses, dried fish,
dry pet food, etc. See
http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/larder_beetle.htm
for a fact sheet that includes control measures. Since they keep
reappearing, you likely have an infestation somewhere in your house. You should
check all infestible items in your premises for signs of these beetles, their
larvae (see
http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/natural/insects/bugsfaq/pics/larder.jpg
for an image), or
their feeding damage. The one thing you do not have to worry about is their
biting anyone! Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
1301 Hello - We live in a 7th floor condo
overlooking a park and the Lachine Canal in downtown Montreal. About this time
last year we began to see these bugs, about one a day, sluggishly crawling
across the living room carpet. This went on for about 2 months and then
stopped. 3 weeks ago, the same bugs started to emerge in the same pattern.
They are less than 1/2 inch long and soft greyish brown in color. Do they
hibernate in my balcony plants which I bring in during the winter? What kind of
bug is it, is this cyclical, is there some way to avoid getting them? Thanks,
Gail Casey
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