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Pest Identification Photos : What is this pest?
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Let your mouse do the walking through our Directory of Pest Professionals
Ants,
Let your mouse do the walking through our Directory of Pest Professionals
Let your mouse do the walking through our Directory of Pest Professionals
Let your mouse do the walking through our Directory of Pest Professionals
Let your mouse do the walking through our Directory of Pest Professionals
Let your mouse do the walking through our Directory of Pest Professionals
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Click on the photos to enlarge. They are usually much clearer.
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#800 I found
this outside of my work. I live in Allentown PA. It looked wounded and it
eventually died later on in the night but it has me baffled. I usually leave
work around 11PM and it is already 1:30AM, still wondering what the heck this
is. If any one knows please let me know. Thank You. JD
This a male dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus; Neuroptera: Corydalidae), in spite of their appearance, they are entirely harmless. Females are similar in appearance, but have much shorter mandibles, and are capable of inflicting a painful bite if mishandled. Dobsonfly larvae often are called hellgrammites, and can be found under stones, etc. in freshwater streams. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#799
I am remodeling my
lakehouse in East Texas due to extensive termite damage. I tore out some old
panels and trim and noticed these pupae on the wood studs. They look similar to
the pupae in #228 and #385. Could they be dermestid pupae? I appreciate any
help. Rich
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 #798 Hi, I just found this in my bathroom this evening. I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The bug is about ½ an inch long, and was quite dusty. I’ve never seen a beetle like this and certainly not in December. I’d love to know what it is, and if it actually is a pest. I am keeping it in a plastic container until I know what to do with it. Thanks, Sidney
This is a nymph of
an assassin bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), possibly the masked hunter (Reduvius
personatus). Nymphs of this introduced cosmopolitan species often cover
themselves with dust and other debris to camouflage (mask) their appearance.
See no. 775 for another example. Assassin bugs for the most part are general
predators on other small arthropods, but larger specimens can deliver a
painful ‘bite’ if mishandled. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks
Grove, WV
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 #797
This bug was found walking on the
inside of the bedsheet. My daughter also found one on the dogs bed however, it
was already dead. It is approx. 1/2 " in size and has a hard shell. The shell
brownish gray and the bottom is triangle part is almost black. The underneath
of the bug was creamy white color. We live in Wilmington, DE USA.
This is a stink
bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Most members of this family are plant feeders
and some can be serious pests. This particular specimen superficially
resembles a species recently introduced in the eastern United States, the
brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys), see
http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/images/brMarmStinkbug2.jpg
. You may wish to take your specimen to the nearest office of the University
of Delaware Cooperative Extension Service to see whether this is the case. See
http://ag.udel.edu/extension/
for links to county-specific information.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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 #796
Hello, I had a bbq in my backyard with friends
coming in and out
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#795 I found this bug in my garden in Ocala, Florida. It's
1.75 inches long, a beetle of some sort maybe? Thanks! Sue This is a click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae), specifically the Eyed Elater or Eyed Click Beetle, Alaus oculatus. It is the largest species in this family in North America. Their larvae occur under the bark of dead deciduous trees where they appear to feed on other insects. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This guy is an eyed
elater (Alnus oculatus), or click beetle. I you roll him over on his
back, he will right himself by arching his back, and with a very audible
click, flip himself into the air in an attempt to get rightside up. They are
also experts at "playing possum". Dave.
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#794 Please help to find out about this pests. They look like a small dry
leaf, 9 mm, from one side appears a long neck 1/3 length of leaf body, larva
type extension, they move. We found them inside of the house, in TEXAS on the
walls, on the carpet and etc. Please help to identify. Thanks in advance,
G>S.
These appear to be household
casebearers, sometimes called ‘plaster bagworms’ (Phereoeca uterella;
Lepidoptera: Tineidae). They usually cause little if any damage, feeding
primarily on old spider webs. See nos. 653, 745, and 755 for other examples.
Unlike their relative the case-making clothes moth (see no. 793), their silken
‘case’ is open at both ends.
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#793 I have a billiard table that was covered by a blanket then a ping pong
table on top of that. It was covered for about a year. Recently we took the
table off the top to find hundreds of these critters I have never seen. They did
eat some holes into the pool table cloth so I assumed they were moths. Quick
research tells me that moths are brown. If anyone can help me identify these so
I can find a way to rid them that would be great. Doug C.These appear to be larvae of the case-making clothes moth (Tinea pellionella; Lepidoptera: Tineidae). See no. 770 for another example, and http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/clothes_moth.htm for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#792 I have been trying to
find someone to tell me what this little buggers are. They were underneath our
deck this spring. They just seemed to congregate under there. The number were
alarming, there were hundreds of these guys. I took the pictures to the local
greenhouse and they had no idea of what they were. I live in Sioux Falls, SD.
Thanks so much. Amy S.
These
appear to be psocids (Order Psocoptera) of a type commonly called ‘barklice.’
Most barklice species occur outdoors where they sometimes appear in mass
aggregations, but some also will occur indoors. None are known to be of any
economic importance; they feed primarily on various types of organic debris as
well as molds, pollen, etc. See
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/trees/note43/note43.html for
additional information. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#791 After seeing the cicada
in #19, I thought I would share with you my pictures from this summer at the
Lewis and Clark campground over July 4th. Does this wonderful green coloring go
away as they age? I found a shell nearby on the tree, so I figured it had just
come out and was drying, but that was just a guess. We found another one the
next day as we were tearing down the tents, it was just relaxing on a tent.
They are the neatest! Amy S.
This is a teneral (newly
emerged) cicada. It will gradually darken in color for several hours thereafter.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#790 Hi , my name is guy and I live in Edmonton,
Alberta. I find these bugs in the bsmnt and on ground level rooms. Mostly in the
bathroom, I also have a sub floor in the bsmnt. I find them again outside in the
dirt. In the winter I catch maybe one a week, and at the worst in the summer I
catch one a day on avg. I would like to know what they are , if they are
dangerous to our health, and what to do to get rid of them. Thanking you in
advance.
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#789
Help, I'm so afraid that I got bugs that I can't get rid of any other way than
remove all carpet from my house, I hope there is another solution! I have
found this larvae's almost every where in the carpet of the house, when I move
away furniture's, behind drawers, my sofa & bed and a few in the carpet in the
hall. Places where you don't clean frequently. So far I haven't seen any in my
kitchen, there I spend a lot of time and always keep it clean. So there isn't
any bugs in any food or food cabinet. I haven't seen any in our bathrooms either
but a lot in the laundry room in the dust around the washing machine, I had some
cloth there too, (cotton I guess) at the floor which I found several larvae's on
and one in the ceiling. Please, help me out with this and tell me how to get rid
of this disgusting creeps. Thanks, Tova
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 #788
My husband is
guessing this is either a young Rat or a Mouse. I'm pretty sure it's a Vole. Can
you help?
Digital Specimen: caught this
afternoon, Dec. 10, 2005 near where it/they have been burrowing for months,
under a cement stoop at the back door of residential bungalow, Winnipeg (inside
city limits), MB; second of two successful captures. Cheers! K. Jones.
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 We are seeing these more and more frequently, do we need to be alarmed ? Could you send some general info. Thank you in advance. This is another house centipede. See the answer to the next question.
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 #787 I live in the Toronto area. I saw one of these bugs this summer in my basement (it was dead and dehydrated), one in my kitchen in October (alive) and one yesterday (December) again in my kitchen. It came crawling out from under my stove. This was the first time I was able catch it and get a picture. They move extremely fast. It is about 1 1/4 inches in length with another inch antennae. Please help me with an id of this insect and how to get rid of it. Could this pest be dangerous to my cats? Thanks, Becky
This is house centipede (Scutigera
coleoptrata), a general predator on other small arthropods. They
generally are considered harmless, but a large specimen could give a painful
nip if mishandled. See
http://www.uark.edu/depts/entomolo/museum/house_centipede.html for
more information and no. 679 for another example.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ More house centipede information in this web site
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#786 Hello; Wondering if you could help me identify
the attached pest. It was found in Mount Forest Ontario, in the shipping and
receiving department. Thanks
My best guess is that this is a leaf-footed bug
(Hemiptera: Coreidae). With a few exceptions, these are plant pests, with some
of economic importance (squash bug, western conifer seed bug, etc.).
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
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#785 Just curious if anyone is familiar with this spider. It's white with
purple markings and the head and legs are sort of translucent greenish grey.
The photo was taken just north of Toronto, ON. The spider is on the trunk of a
willow, in my back yard. This was the first and only time I've ever seen this
spider. Robert
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 #784
Hello , I live in Bridgewater Nova
Scotia and while outside today I found this beautiful spider on my smoke tree. I
am hoping you can identify it for me. I love your site it is very interesting.
Thanks for your help. Sincerely Kathy Welch
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#783 I am finding these
little things on my kitchen floor. As you can see, there are quite a few I have
collected. They start off smooth and turn hairy as the mature. We live in
England. Julia
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#782 I found this bug in Vancouver. It's
about 1 inch long, and it makes a noise when you approach it. Thanks,
Nancy
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#781
A friend took this photo in Singapore.
Could you help me? It looks like a species of Cerambycidae to me. Thank
you, Michelle
This is indeed a
cerambycid beetle; it belongs to the genus Batocera (possibly B.
rubus), subfamily Lamiinae. This genus is widely distributed in the
Indo-Pacific region. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#780
Hi! The website is fascinating ! I saw one of these under the cap on my tiki
torches, then again tonight after the rain ! It kind of grosses me out, but
it's really neat at the same time. I recently got bit by something and being 5
month pregnant- the redness around the bit got worse and had to have an IV of an
antibotic. Not sure if it was a spider- but can you identify for me?
Jennifer in Holly, Michigan (about 60 miles north of Detroit). (We also
live on an inland lake (Tipsico Lake)This spider appears to belong in the family Araenidae. Collectively known as ‘orb weavers,’ none are known to be of any medical importance. See nos. 710, 676, 670, and 609 for other examples. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#779 Hi there, I'd like some help identifying
this fellow. I live near Toronto Ontario. I noticed sawdust accumulating on the steps of my back porch. Above the pile I found a 1/2 inch diameter hole bored into the handrail. A blast of insecticide forced this huge fly out. It is about 3/4 inch long. Any idea what this is? Will the larva continue to chomp on the wood or will the insecticide deal with that problem? - Regards, Peter This appears to be a carpenter bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae, subfamily Xylocopinae). The holes are made by the adult females to construct rearing chambers for their larvae. The larvae do not bore, but feed on pollen and nectar brought in by the adult female. Male bees often exhibit ‘guarding behavior’ near the nest opening, but cannot sting. See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2074.html for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#778 Greetings, a woman in Nova Scotia has several of these
in her basement. What type of beetle is it? Keith.
This is a ground beetle (Coleoptera:
Carabidae). With a very few exceptions (and this is not one of them), they are
voracious predators on other small arthropods and generally are considered
beneficial.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV
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#777 I found this guy on the bathroom wall of a room
underneath my house currently being used as storage. I live in Los Angeles,
CA. It is 1/8" long and has about 7-8 little legs on each side and weird fin
like things on each side of its hind end. Thanks, Nina.
Another fuzzy photo, but
this appears to be a larva of a dermestid beetle, a family that includes the
various carpet beetles as well as other pantry pests. See
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2103.html for
a fact sheet that includes control measures. See nos. 751 and 719 for other
examples.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV
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#776 Hi, can you please identify the beetle
shown in the attached photo's. They like to fly around my living room lights at
night and I would like to know how to get rid of them. Thanks, John M. S.
The photo is too fuzzy to be certain, but this could be a beetle in the family Scolytidae (bark/engraver beetles). They will not attack any timber in the house, but tunnel under the bark of trees. They might be coming in on firewood. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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 #775
Dear Pest Control,
Although it
probably doesn’t fall under your definition of ‘PESTS’, I would really
appreciate your help to identify the insect in the attached photograph. It is
about 1.5mm in length and was found walking on my desk. It’s ugliness is
out of proportion with its size - but nature is often like that.
Best regards, Alexander. France. This is a nymph of an assassin bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), possibly the masked hunter (Reduvius personatus), a cosmopolitan species native to Europe and introduced into North America; For an image of a nymph see http://www.insecta.ch/media/images/galerie/staubtierchen04s.jpg and for an adult: http://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/images/entomology/colorslide/maskedhunter.jpg They feed primarily on other insects, but can deliver a painful bite to humans. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#774
Hi.. love the site and really appreciate your service. For the last 2-3 weeks
we have been inundated with small 1/4-1/2 inch moth and, what we assume, are
their larvae. Their appearance is limited to our dining room. The larvae crawl
up the back wall to the ceiling and then fall off if we don't kill them
first. The moths are dark grey to black with a band of pale grey about a third
of the way down their bodies. The larvae are white/cream color with distinctive
brown heads and are about an inch long. We can find no infestation anywhere.
What are these, how do we get rid of them... we have a baby due anyday and
certainly don't want these in the house. Many thanks for your help and
expertise! Prebble in Herndon, VAYou may have an infestation of Indian meal moths (Plodia interpunctella). They can infest an extremely wide range of foodstuffs (including dry pet food) made of or containing grains, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, etc. Mature larvae often will travel some distance from their food source before pupating. See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2089.html for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#773
Hey, I was
wondering what type of spider this was. It was found outside and I also saw two
or three of them in my room and on my bed once. Let me know what they are.
Thanks! Mohammad Looks like a Black Widow Spider. Quite poisonous. Human deaths have been reported to have occured from bites by this species. At the very least seek immediate medical attention should you be bitten by this spider. Seek professional help with removal from your home and surroundings. Cheers! Caroline ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Those spiders
you're seeing are the notorious Black Widow spiders (Latrodectus mactans).
They have potent venom and a bite will send you to the emergency room. If you
have found more than one in your room, that indicates that you had a female
nesting somewhere in your house. When the young hatch, they will spread out
to find their own nook or cranny, and often will remain in the immediate
vicinty where they hatched. We had a widow problem on one side of our
basement, but they never traversed to the other (finished) side. There are
many spider sprays, bombs, and dusts that you can use to kill these dangerous
pests. I've never seen the need for professional treatment, but depending on
the infestation you have, you may want to do so. Black widows however, are
not particularly agressive, and only tend to bite when molested (which happens
if you roll over onto one), and will usually flee when disturbed. Don't mess
with them and select a treatment immediately to rid your house of them. There
is more info on the spider page of this very website -
http://www.pestcontrolcanada.com/INSECTS/spiders.htm#Black_Widow
J.D. Roberts,
entomologist.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is a widow spider, most likely the black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans), probably the most venomous spider in North America. The genus Latrodectus is very widespread, occurring on all continents except Antarctica. Serious envenomations by these spiders may require administration of antivenom/antivenin; several companies (including Merck in the USA) manufacture an effective product. In spite of its reputation, this spider usually is not aggressive; I have on one occasion, accidentally stuck my finger into a web occupied by a female black widow, and it made no attempt to bite. See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2061A.html for a fact sheet. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#772
Hi!
I live in North Eastern Ohio, and I found this insect on July 18th in my flower
garden. It was about two inches long and had semitransparent red wings, long
fuzzy antennae, and a big bulky body. I've seen something like it a few years
back, and I've been miffed ever since. Please help! Emily
This is
one of the clearwing moths in the family of sphingid moths (Lepidoptera:
Sphingidae). Based on your photo, it is most likely the Hummingbird Clearwing
(Hemaris thysbe ), although H. gracilis is very similar and
without seeing the wings not in motion, I can't be absolutely certain. But
H. thysbe is much more common than H. gracilis and so
it's most probable that it's the Hummingbird Clearwing that you're seeing.
More info -
http://booksandnature.homestead.com/moth39.html
J.D. Roberts, entomologist
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is a clear-winged sphinx moth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) in the genus Hemaris. Some members of this family often are called ‘hummingbird moths’ or ‘hawk moths.’ See http://typhoon.wcp.muohio.edu/western/insects/moth_excellent.jpg for a clearer image. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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 #771
I found this critter- several of them in a package that was sent from
Greenville, SC. This occurred in November of 2005. The package contained plastic
parts in a plastic overwrap. The package was received in Michigan.
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#770 Dear Bug Master!! We found one of these on
our door and one on the wall. Both were roughly a quarter of an inch long and
had some kind of casing that they crawled out of to move. The casing looks like
it was made of fuzz? paper? We assumed it was a larvae of some sort. The head
was a dark brown color and the body was segmented and cream/ translucent. It
never came out of its casing. Do you have any idea what this little guy could
be? Should we be concerned about some sort of infestation even though we've only
seen 2 or 3? THANK YOU!! Sincerely, Jannelle and Dana from Seattle
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#769 Hello, I live in
Castro Valley, California, which is around the SF East Bay/Northern California.
We recently cut down our palm tree, and the hole were the stomp used to be has
since filled with rainwater. It has become murky, and I've noticed odd larva in
the water. I have included several pictures of them. I'd say they are about 12
mm in length, plus their tails. Their tails are wormlike, and project to the top
of the water, while their fat bodies remain hidden in the sediment. I don't know
what on earth they are, but I am very curious, can anyone help me? Thanks,
Carol
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 #768 Love this excellent site! I moved into a new (to me) house in Northeast Tennessee in December. I have been seeing these guys nearly every day in my basement, I used to freak out. Then I'd shuttle them outside, only to find another one the next day. If it's the same one...he's got a great sense of direction. Now I'm used to them, and the cats have started ignoring them also. After looking through all your photos here, in my extremely un-arachnesque opinion...I would say it is another variety of Wolf Spider. I did not see any here that looked exactly like it...so here it is! This indeed appears to be a wolf spider (family Lycosidae). They commonly enter homes in their search for prey, as well as for shelter with the onset of cooler weather in the autumn. Although some large specimens can give a painful bite if mishandled, none that I know of pose any real threat to humans. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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 #767
Hello! I need help. I found some pests in my room. They are black tiny ones.
When I found them, they always move slowly or nearly dead. But it was keeping
showing in my carpet, no matter how much pesticide I sprayed and how many time I
clean my room. I am living at Toledo, Ohio. Please see the photo I got. Hope you
can give some suggestions for me. Thanks a lot! Y.W. This is a weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), but the photo is too unclear to make any further identification. You may wish to submit specimens to your county office of the Ohio State University Extension service for assistance in identification and any control recommendations – see http://extension.osu.edu/counties.php for contact information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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  #766 Hello, Found this little fellow out in my back yard under my deck. I live in the Muskoka district in Ontario Canada. Identification appreciated. Cheers. James This is a long-horned wood-boring beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Perhaps someone familiar with this family can provide a specific identification. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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 #765 I live in Dallas, Texas. This pest, with many of his odious friends, live in an area of my garden filled mostly with ornamental sweet potato vines. We discovered these pests when many of them leapt (of flew) from under the vines onto my wife's ankles and immediately started biting. She received over 20 bites in a few seconds. The bites were painful, and have left large festering welts (2+ cm in diameter). As you can see, they are very tiny - barely visible - approximately 1/2 mm long. Thanks for your help. Robert. This appears to be a garden fleahopper (Halticus bractatus); Hemiptera: Miridae). They are common pests on many plant species (including sweet potatoes), but seem to prefer members of the legume family (such as clover and alfalfa). See http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN235 for a fact sheet that includes control measures. However, I am unaware of any reports of them biting humans, so I will be interested if anyone else is familiar with such an occurrence. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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 #764 I have found this pest in my storage room where I store vacuum, luggage, boxes, books, toilet paper, etc, on 2nd floor. It is not close to any food or water. It is very small like a sesame (about 2 -3 mm) in dark brown. It is mostly still but will crawl (slower than an ant) if touched. I can't see where it is from. I clean the whole room but will find about 10-15 the next day. It doesn't seem to bite and easy to be caught. It likes to go where carpet and wall meet and under vacuum (?). Can someone help me to find what they are and how to get rid of them? I live in bay area in CA. Thanks, Kathy The photo is too unclear for me to attempt an identification. I suggest that you submit specimens to your county office of the California Cooperative Extension service (affiliated with the University of California) for assistance. See http://ucanr.org/ce.cfm for contact information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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 #763 Need help in Houston Texas. We just moved into a apartment and 2 weeks later these little creatures started flying or crawling in to the entryway at night (50+)and some of the more determined are getting in the apartment. I do have a fica plant in the entryway and some were in the soil but can not tell if they crawled in or are breeding there (It has been well polluted with chemicals at this point). I have checked around and do not believe these look like Larder or Carpet beetles and may be Pine Bark Beetles but I am not a bug fellow. All I know is my lovely wife is not happy with me because of my inability to eradicate despite the numerous trips to Home Depot. Thanks in advance. Bob. These appear to be burrower bugs (Hemiptera: Cydnidae) – see http://www.entomology.umn.edu/museum/links/coursefiles/JPEG images/Hemiptera web jpeg/Pentatomomorpha/Cydnidae.jpg for an image. They are plant feeders, usually feeding on the roots. As they are not common pests, it is difficult to find control recommendations tailored specifically for them. I suggest that you contact the nearest county office of the Texas Cooperative Extension service (affiliated with Texas A&M University) for advice in this matter. See http://county-tx.tamu.edu/ for contact information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#762 I have included a couple of pictures of these bugs. If you can help identify them or post the pictures for others to identify it would be much appreciated. I need to find a way to control these darn things. The one photo of the top of the gazebo shows what appear to be shells of the young ones before they become the dark grey bugs you see crawling around. They definitely seem to be dropping from the large willow tree overhead. Many thanks, Hans These are aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae); sometimes called ‘plant lice.’ They are sap feeders, and often produce copious amounts of ‘honeydew’ as they remove excess water from the very dilute sap they ingest. See http://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/e448aphidstrees.html for a fact sheet that includes a number of control measures. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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 #761
Hello, Well i have attached some
photos of a bug that we have in our house hold that we are trying to get rid
of. could you please tell me what it is. Found in our basement near hot tub and
in room close to hot tub. Saskatchewan.
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 #759 Hello, I found this 2 inch wide moth in Dallas, does anyone know what this species? Joe.
Based on
your photo and your region, this is most likely a Lunate Zale moth (Zale
lunata) in the family Noctuidae, subfamily, Catocalinae.
Sometimes identification of moths in this particular genus can be difficult,
because there are several similar looking specimens, and some variation within
species. Nice photo. J.D. Roberts,
entomologist
More info - http://www.bugguide.net/node/view/4197. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This appears to be a moth in the family Noctuidae, related to the underwings (subfamily Catocalinae). It resembles those in the genus Zale, but I cannot be certain. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#758 North
Vancouver, BC. Live in 20 Floor, High-rise concrete bldg. Found on all floors &
thru-out bldg. Always found near water (sinks, bathtubs, swimming pool, sm
amounts of leftover food). Look like a very tiny reddish ant. Appear to have six
legs, two very large antennae, long narrow body & darkish arrowhead shaped end.
Much smaller than conventional ant. Seem harmless; but ??? How is best to
control them?
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 #757 Here is a spider that lives in Tappen, BC, Canada. Tappen is located in the Southern Interior of the province. The spider is 2 to 3" long, lives in the basement in complete darkness in significant numbers, has a random web which never appear to have any trapped food. The photo was taken in low incandescent light so appears a little to red/orange. Mike This appears to be a cellar spider (sometimes called a ‘daddy long legs’); Pholcus phalangioides – see http://caliban.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/%7estueber/essays/pholcus/pholcus_phalangioides.html. This is a cosmopolitan species, frequently found in homes. It is harmless to humans, but somehow rumors abound of it having very potent venom. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
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#756 Hello, I live in Singapore (south-east Asia). Please can
anyone tell me what this is? They roost and multiply in danky areas among green
leafy plants. The biggest one I've found was about 4mm long.
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 #755
I can't get a very good photo but I have these small brown cocoon like things
all over my house. They attach themselves to the walls or like to live around
the baseboards in the bedrooms mostly. Sometimes I see what looks like a small
caterpillar poke out and pull the cocoon along with it as it moves. I have
caught some to see what they turn into but they never seem to become anything.
What are they? Mia. Los Angeles.
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#754
Hi found this on the
wall outside in the carport down low on the wall behind a flat piece of wood
propped there was smaller dead spiders od other types around and a very low very
thick sticky web not a pretty round web but a low thick sticky mess similar to
thick dust web. this spider is about the size of a sticky note pad paper.
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#753 Hi, we live in a condo unit in Scarborough, Ontario,
Canada. We often saw this pests / bugs on the floor. Please refer to the
attached jpeg, that is the closest shot we can get. Any ideas on identification
and effective control? Thanks!
Ching L.
|
#752 We live in Winnipeg Mb. Recently we had a food bug
problem, and it was pretty bad, so I seem to think it was. They were starting to
spread across our kitchen counter, thats when I started to look inside our
cupboards, sure enough there was plenty. We washed everything down with javex
and sprayed with 3 in 1 home and apartment bug spray we bought at Poulins. We
did everything they recommended, now i am seeing these other creatures, coming up
from behind our kitchen sink on the counter and along the whole counter behind
our toaster,etc.in our drawers. We do have older cubboards that are solid wood
so there is sawdust under the drawers. They do squish easy, they crawl some
faster than others. But mostly dead in little piles I guess because they are
still dieing from coming in contact with the spray we used. What in the world
are these? I am also noticing where I also sprayed along the baseboards that
there seems to be these even smaller ones, maybe eggs? its hard to tell they
could be the same they are to small to tell. I am sending a photo please help
thanks M.Sorry, the black specks in your photo are so small it is difficult to tell if they are even insects, never mind identify them. The sawdust under the drawers may be coming from the drawer slides. This is common misleading evidence in many homes. You obviously do have an insect problem but we can not offer any help based on the information provided. If you take a specimen into Poulins office I am sure they will be glad to identify it for you.
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|
 #750
I live in Cambridge Ontario. We
have found 4 of these tiny bugs in our upstairs bathroom over the past two weeks
- and one in the kitchen.. They are about 2 mm long reddish brown in colour and
seem to be quite active. The bug has a pair of antenna similar to an ant -
although it is not an ant. The bathroom can be a moist area at times. I would
appreciate it if you could help us identify this bug and how to get rid of it -
hopefully the picture is not too blurry - thanks D.
|
 
#749 Need help identifying this bug. We are in North
Central Texas and this bug was on a Zennia. Can you tell me what it is? It is
about an inch long. thanks, Susie
This is a male scorpionfly (Mecoptera: Panorpidae), so called because of the
fancied resemblance of the male terminalia to the telson of a scorpion. However,
they are general predators on other small arthropods, and are completely
harmless to humans. See
http://www.discoverlife.org/nh/tx/Insecta/Mecoptera/
for more information on these intriguing insects. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
 #748
Hi,
I live in Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island. I recently had a flood in my home
and shortly afterwards I found these bugs. They have been invading my home for
about 3 weeks. Also around the same time bought a bag on Black Oil Sunflower
seeds. I initially thought these bugs were coming from the bird seed, however I
disposed of the sunflower seeds but the bugs are still present. I also have
checked all of my rice and cereals but no evidence of bugs there. Please could
you identify this insect and tell me how to get rid of it. Thanks Dianne
|
#747 Hello, I would like to know if you can help me
identify what sort of nest this is? I only noticed it now. This nest is located
in a bush in front of my house. Thanks, Peter. Montreal.
|
 #746 I was stung by this little critter 2 mths ago. I had a reaction (burning, swelling and dizziness) which went away in about three hrs. My kids found another one today exactly the same as the one that stung me. My son is asthmatic and has allergies. Is this green insect a danger to him? I looks like the assassin bug #107 you have posted. But this one is green. We live in Clarence Creek Ontario. What is it??? Thanks. Jim This is a nymph of an assassin bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae); see no. 736c for another example. Some species can deliver quite a painful bite; however, the pain is caused by the digestive enzymes in the bug’s saliva, and not by venom. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
#745 I live in southern California, USA. I found
this slowly moving across the floor in my house. It appears to be a larval form
of something. It has a black "foot" that emerges from either end and "moves" it
about. Thanks for your help!
|
  #744
I
live in Regina Saskatchewan, and found this insect between 2 panes of glass of
my window.
Could you tell me
what it is? Larry F.
|
 #743
Hi, I live in
NJ and found this ant in our recently finished attic. It so looks like carpenter
ant. Can anybody confirm? Respectfully, MS
|
 
#742 What kind of ant is this? (see 2 attachments "ant
top.jpg" & "ant bottom.jpg"). It is honey colored, about 1/16" long (about 1/2
size of a fire ant, and lighter in color). In a trail they are all about the
same size. They get into the wall from the outside and disappear; except once
they appeared on the kitchen counter, but were driven away by "Grant's" ant
bait. Once I sprayed diazinon where they were entering a crack in the brick at
a window, and they migrated to the opposite end of the house (in this incident,
I saw them moving the colony at the kitchen/garage door and put out Grant's, and
they disappeared again). I see these ants occasionally on the outer wall or on
the driveway. They do not make any visible bed in the grassy yard. Location is
SW Texas, North side of Houston. thanks, Thomas.
|
 #741
Hello! I live in Calgary,
Alberta and I am finding these things all over my house. Once as a large group
in my basement and now little clusters or individual ones throughout the house.
How do i get rid of them??? Thanks so much. Becky
|
 #740
Hello, I live in San Mateo, California (near SF), and have suddenly started
seeing these little bugs (some sort of beetle I think) in my kitchen near my
pet's water dish. They are about the size of the ants common around here, quite
small, and look black from a distance, but a bit brownish close up. If I
zoom in on the picture I'm attaching, there seem to be some lighter brown
stripes? Any ideas?
|
 #739
I am interested in finding out what type of insect this is. The photographer
said he found it in South India. He said there were a whole bunch of them on a
plant and were about 1/4 inch or so big. Thanks. Matt
This is a mantid in the family Empusidae commonly called
the Wondering Violin Mantis (Gongylus gongylodes). It is not an
aggressive mantid and is found in India, especially in southern India.
This species is often purchased and kept as a pet (
http://www.faunology.co.uk/shop/customer/product.php?productid=18445
). The one in the picture
appears to be a nymph - of what stage I'm not certain. Very interesting
submission! More info at -
http://www.magmaconcept.com/insects/0gongy.htm.
J.D. Roberts,
entomologist
|
 #738
Hi. This bug bit me today and it
was very painful. I was wondering what kind of bug this is. It was inside our
house. We are from Texas. Laura
|
#737 Could you
please identify this spider, it was found in a basement in Nova Scotia. Thank
you. Gina.
#736 I have four types of insects that I've been
researching via web to figure out what they are. No luck yet, but fortunately, I
came across your site today and would love to know the names of these. Thanks. -
Sasha |
(A) (B) (C) (D) 
  
|
 #735 Just wondering what spider this is. It is about the size of a thumb nail or a centimeter squared. it was crawling on ice on outside our door today. Tisha
This is an orb weaving
spider (Araneida: Araneidae) that somehow has gotten out of its web. In this
weather, it will not live much longer. They all are harmless to humans; see nos.
721, 710, and 700 for other examples.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 #734
Hi, I live in Craiova, Romania. I
suddenly discover in the garret a noise. The roof is made inside with wood
girder (maybe oak) and is under attack of some terribly noisy bugs. They start
with 5mm or 1/4 inch holes in the beams further making long gallery inside the
wood. The roof is 30 years old. I suppose the wood was never treated to be
protected against bugs or termites. I found this dead bugs on the exit of the
gallery made in wood. I'm not sure if they had some intermediate stage of
larval. I notice et the end of one of this dead bugs something look's like an
egg. The "bugs" vary from 2-3cm. 1 inch to 2 inch (approx) at maturity.
Any ideas on identification and effective control? Thanks, Aurelian
These are long-horned wood-boring beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). However, I do not recognize the particular species. Only a very few cerambycids require control, as most species will not reinfest timbers that they have emerged from. Exceptions to this include the old house borer and the European house borer. See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2126.html for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations for the old house borer; these also would apply to the European house borer. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
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#733 I live in Raleigh, North Carolina. I have found many
of these on the floor of my screen porch. They are about one inch long with a
white area at one end. Any idea what is leaving these? Paul
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#732 Hi. I live in Vancouver, Canada. I have been noticing
these brownish bugs around by basement in the past couple months. The are about
1/8 inch in length. For the most part, I find them on a small table were I have
my dinner. Occasionally I find them on the wall, but very rarely. I see
about one very two days or so. These bugs are winged, although I have only seen
one fly before. They are extremely easy to catch. Hopefully someone can
help be identify what it is . Jason
|
 #731
HI. We live outside of Seattle, WA and found this bug near our wood pile a
few weeks ago. The underside appears to be the same grayish color. I am afraid
that the picture does not clearly convey the colors - which are nearly pure
white and black. Thanks in advance for your help. …Kerry
|
 #730.
These bugs come up
in the bathroom of a cottage in Georgian Bay. The cottage is on an island
surrounded by coniferous trees. Your id would be appreciated.
Thanks! Sandra
|
 #729
These insects are taking over my flower beds, porch, under shutters, etc. Some
are more red than others. Please tell me how to get rid of these insects. Thank
you kindly, Nancie O'Sullivan. South Carolina
These appear
to be nymphs and an adult of boxelder bugs (Boisea trivittatus; Hemiptera:
Rhopalidae). The black areas on the nymphs are the developing wing pads. Very
young nymphs lack these and may appear nearly entirely red. They often
congregate in great numbers on or around houses in later autumn. See
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2106.html for a fact sheet that
includes control recommendations.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV
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#728
Hello, we live in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA and we've observed a rather
large spider near the front door of our house. It was discovered in early
summer and has grown quite large (body about 4 cm in length excluding the
legs). Around the end of September it moved its nest to a more sheltered
area on a cornered wall behind some decorative bushes. In October, a
teardrop shaped sac was placed on a wall about 100 cm away from the main
web. We generally try to leave it alone, though we enjoy seeing it
catch small insects including gnats and slow flying bugs, to larger bugs
such as moths and even what we thought was a large grasshopper or possibly a
Praying Mantis. We brought a photograph of it to the local museum but they
never responded. We would love to know the species of this arachnid.
The two enclosed photos show the top and bottom views of the spider in
question. Both photographs were taken September 3, 2005. Thank you,
The Brittons
Beautiful photos of a female Argiope aurantia (Araneida: Araneidae), commonly known as the garden spider, golden garden spider, or the black and yellow argiope, among others; see nos. 673, 600, and 532 for other examples. In spite of their impressive size, they have relatively small chelicerae ('fangs'), and are harmless to humans. Females usually reach their maximum size in late summer/early autumn, when they then mate, lay their eggs, and die. See http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Argiope_aurantia.html for more information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#727
We can't seem to agree as to whether or not
this is a rat or a mouse. I think it is a rat. Whatever it is, it's disgusting
and this is the first of two we have discovered; one in our backyard and the
other in our neighbour's yard. Ick!This is most definitely a rat, a pet rat. It appears someone try to be funny posting pictures of his pet on the pest page. Oliver This definitely appears to be a rat, most likely an escapee from a pet store or a pet owner in your neighborhood. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
I
am the person who posted this and I assure you I am not trying to be funny nor
is it a joke. We found evidence of what we thought was a mouse last week in
our kitchen Wednesday morning. It had eaten a hole in our bag of coffee on our
counter. Short of having my husband tear the house apart, I bought some traps
and some bait. The next morning (Thursday) my husband said he swore he saw
something "white" scurry into the cupboard when he came into the kitchen early
in the AM. I figured he was seeing things because no house-mouse or rat I have
ever seen was white. On Saturday we sealed up every exterior hole, nook,
cranny we could find with foam insulation and steel wool. Whilst doing this we
had to pry up two boards on our deck where the deck meets the house in order
to get access to that part of the siding/foundation. It is there (because of
the droppings we found) that we determined the access point of the "mouse". We
sealed the hole. Later that afternoon, my husband called me to the backdoor
claiming there was a hamster in our yard. I thought he was nuts, but when we
both went out to the year to look, this is the rat we saw so I took a photo.
This was also the "white mouse" he'd seen the Thursday morning. I was
horrified because my first thought as well was that this was someone's loose
or abandoned pet. However we had already laid bait out and sadly he had taken
enough of it. We buried him safely in the garden so as not to have his remains
harm any other animals. Now, here's the clincher.... The next afternoon
(Sunday), we saw ANOTHER one almost identical but lighter grey on it in our
neighbor's yard. When my husband hopped the fence to get a better look at it,
it scurried under the adjacent fence.
So... what do we think now? Someone thoughtless soul let a pregnant pet go
just before winter weather arrives? We are in Ontario just east of Toronto. I
just wanted to assure you that I am not in the habit of fake postings for the
heck of it. But I sincerely do appreciate the confirmation of my fear; a pet
of someone's. I have checked around and no one has posted signs or anything.
So I feel these poor things were abandoned. At the same time, I hope the rest
of them aren't residing in my house. MW. Ontario.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is a rat, of the genetic strain "Long-Evans" and are often called the hooded rat because of the dark head and the long dark stripe down the back. These are often used in laboratory experiments as a comparison to the often used albinos, because of the genetic differences. They have more acute eyesight and better sense of smell than the albinos, as well as better cognitive function. And they are much cuter than city rats! They were developed my crossing Wistar female (one strain of albino) with wild male gray rats. As to how this type of rat got into the backyard, it must have been either a lab rat or pet rat that escaped or was set free. Amy Starosciak, Neuroscience Graduate Student, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD
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#726
My friend find this one on his garage
in Buffalo NY. What is it?This is yet another of the many species of orb-weaving spiders native to North America. They all are harmless to humans. See nos. 721, 710, 700, 670, 659, 647, 634, 613, and 612 for other examples. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#725
This was found by my kids on Oct 30th. He is
about 3 1/2 inches long. He has a stinger/horn/prong on one end. We live in
Southwestern New Mexico.
This is the larva
(caterpillar) of a sphinx moth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). The terminal ‘horn’ is
characteristic of the family, and is completely harmless. The adult moths also
are known as ‘hawk moths’ or ‘hummingbird moths’; see no. 654.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#724 I have recently come across three of these guys in the past week. I
live in Michigan in an apartment building. I found all three guys on the ceiling
in my bedroom. It has 6 jointed legs and the tail has 3 points on it. Thereappears to be two sets of antennas on the head. The bug is brown in color, narrow and the body is pretty flat. Please help so I can rid myself of the pest. Raven. Have a blessed day. This appears to be a silverfish or firebrat (Thysanura: Lepismatidae), primitive insects that can be household pests. See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2108.html for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#723 Could you help me identify this insect? I went through all of the
pictures you have, but was not able to identify this insect. This insect
was found indoors in Central New Jersey. I have found about 10 of them in the
past 2 years. They are always stationary - I've captured them alive, they don't
seem to move when I find them. I've found them in my bedroom on the dresser,
windowsill, and most recently, in the sheets in my spare bedroom (the bed wasn't
slept in for a month). I have found 3 of them in the past month. Thank you
very much. Bob StokeyThese are stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae); see no. 720 for another example. They likely are accidental intruders in your home, and no control measures are necessary. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#722
This guy was found in my kitchen sink (Oct
27th). He only has 6 eyes so I think he is a recluse but not sure which species.
His abdomen is covered in very fine fuzz and his legs have a few hairs but not
stiff. The mid area of his body is almost skeleton-like. There is not a violin
shape on his back but he may be young. I live in southwestern New Mexico.
In addition to recluse
spiders (at least eight species), there are at least two other families of
spiders native to New Mexico having but six eyes. If your spider has a
strongly convex cephalothorax, it might be a Scytodid (‘spitting spider’);
recluse spiders have a relatively flat cephalothorax, and I cannot tell the
shape on your specimen from the photograph. If no one is able to provide a
definitive i.d. on this forum, I suggest that you submit the specimen to your
county office of the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service
for assistance. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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 #721
Found in Shady Cove,
OR (near Medford) on the upper structure of a back deck/porch.
|
 #720 I noticed this strange bug on the side of my house in Oakland, CA today. Ten minutes later I sat down on a chair on my deck and happened to look up just in time to dodge the little bugger as it sailed right at me and then landed on the trellis behind me where it crawled around long enough for me to snap a few blurry photos. I won't even begin to guess what it is. Ah, and the trellis rung is 1/2" X 3/4". Thanks for your time! Amy Ortega
This appears to be a
stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), but not a species that I recognize. Most
members of this family are plant feeders (some may be serious garden pests),
and a few are predaceous on other small arthropods (I really like the ones
that will feed on potato beetle larvae!). Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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 #719
I have been getting bug bites (about 1 bite every 2 weeks) for a year now. The
bites look like a large red mosquito bite with a white pimple-like bump in the
middle. They produce a dime-size rash for a few days and the bite scar lasts up
to 3 weeks. I would suspect it to be bedbugs but the bites are extremely painful
for a few days and never itch. In addition, they usually occur under the
clothing (stomach, upper leg) and I never have multiple bites in a row as
suggested by bedbug patterns. We have torn apart our apartment twice now and
have never seen any evidence of bedbugs (fecal excrement, dead bugs, etc.)
However, this last time, we found 2 of the bugs that are shown in the pictures-
one was in a sock dresser drawer and the other on the bottom side of our
mattress. We live on the top floor of an apartment building in Denver, Colorado
but we are literally 5 feet away from a marshland in our backyard below the
balcony. We bought a new mattress and bedroom set exactly one year ago- any
chance this caused the infestation? Looking at other pictures of your
pests, are these bugs carpet beetles? If so, is there a chance that they hide
inside clothing or blankets and cause painful bites? I would be grateful for any
information! Thanks, Allison
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#718 Hi, Thanks for the service you run -- very useful!
Outside my house in Santa Rosa, California, I've noticed many of these wasps.
They don't appear to be aggressive; I generally see them flitting in short hops
along the ground. The body is about an inch long, not counting the long
antennae. -BrianThis most likely is a parasitic wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, a very large family whose prey includes members of just about every group of insects as well as some spiders. They are non-venomous and harmless to humans, although some species having a short, sharp ovipositor can deliver a pinprick-like sting if mishandled. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#717 Oh, this website is
wonderful! Thank you! However, I have been unable to locate my current guest
on your list. I live in south-eastern Minnesota. I have found two of these
critters in my house now, both in range of stacks of paper and books, as well as
slightly dark/moist areas. He is no longer than 1/8 inch from snout to rump, but
has an arm span about three times that. As you can see, he has ten legs,
the front most limbs being disproportionately long and ending in very crab-like
pincers. To me, he looks very much like a little fiddler crab. He is very
flat, fitting into my scanner without much discomfort, I believe. As I
attempted to coax him into a tiny jar, he became aggressive and actually lunged
backward and sideways rather than forward, waving those little pincers at me. I
would just love to know what this is. Thank you! Lynette.
I humbly apologize. I just sent you a photo, but I looked a little harder
on your site, way back to the beginning, and found my critter already
listed. He's a little pseudoscorpion. I let him go into a box of books
immediately after reading about them. He is very welcome here! Feel free
to use the photo! It turned out rather well, I think. Thank you so much!
Regards, Lynette
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  #716
These are the best
pictures we could get of our new house guests. We have found several in the past
week throughout the house. All that we have found have been during the day an
out in the open throughout the home. They have each been just under or about an
inch in size, and are able to scurry quickly, or fly to attempt to evade
capture. Nicole. This is another leaf-footed bug (Hemiptera: Coreidae), possibly a western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis) – see no. 707. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#715 Would you be able to
tell me what this insect is? Pennsylvania, USA.
Thanks,
Bill
This is an assassin bug, specifically, a wheel bug (Arilus cristata; Hemiptera: Reduviidae); the largest member of this family in the northern United States. They are predaceous on other insects, and can give a very painful ‘bite’ if mishandled. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#714 I found this bug in a storage box of winter sweaters located under
our bed. There were many of them in the box. I live in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania and would appreciate any help in identification of this bug.
DavidThis is a larva of a carpet beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae). There are several species in this group that will attack woolen fabrics as well as other materials of animal origin. See http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/entfacts/struct/ef601.htm and http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2103.html for fact sheets that include images and control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#713 I recently had some
basement foundation repaires done, ie,feeder leads from outside the foundation
connected to my sump-pump, any how every fall I have noticed these snail like
bugs coming up from my basement sewer and just recently from the baseboards in
my basement,I have included pictures of the insect and hope you might have a
solution to what it is and how to get rid of it. regards W. Abbott ps, they only
seem to venture out just long enough to either die on the concrete or carpet.The photo is a bit fuzzy, but it looks like a very elongated slug (basically, a snail without a shell). However, I cannot make out whether it has eyestalks, usually visible when the slug is moving about; see http://www.yikes.com/photo/ucsc/slugs/0000_002.jpg for an image. Some species can be garden pests, but control probably is not necessary in your case. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#712 I have these tiny bugs in my pantry, and
i think they are cigarette beetles. I am unable to get a picture of them with my
camera as they are so small. I do have a picture of the damage they did to a
seasoning package. Can you tell me what these are? Thank you very much.It is possible that this damage was caused either by cigarette beetles or a close relative. See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2083.html and http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/stored/cigarette_beetle.htm for fact sheets that include images and control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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 #711
I found this bug on the exterior wall of my home, next to my patio door. I live
in Highland California, USA. We think it's a termite, but other say it's
some type of beetle. Thanks for the help. Patsy
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#710 I
live near San Francisco in California, and was startled by this 3.5-4.5 cm
spider hanging a few feet from the ceiling in my bedroom. It was fast-moving,
able to move vertically on the walls, and had apparently produced copious
amounts of sheet-like web within the past 24 hours. My best guesses are a wolf
spider or a funnel weaver, but I can’t tell for sure and it seemed to have some
characteristics that would make it neither. I apologize for the lack of clarity
in the photo – it’s hard to take a clear close-up from six feet away with shaky
hands. Thanks, Lydia This most definitely is neither a wolf spider nor a funnel/sheet-web spider, but appears to be an orb weaver in the family Araneidae. See nos. 676, 670, and 609 for other examples. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#709 Hello, We live in Southern CA. Usually see the
pictured jumping pest at night, in the kitchen, in the bathroom or in the living
room. Has long back legs (came off when moving for picture). We eliminate 3-4 of
them in a week or maybe more. They jump 6" or more when you chase them or jump
right at you. Our place is at garden level, there is carport below, no basement
or attic. Couldn't find how they get in, yet. What are they, where are they
coming from and how do I go about getting rid of them? Can you help? Thanks,
Glara.This appears to be another species of a camel cricket (Orthoptera: Gryllacrididae; subfamily Rhaphidophorinae). They very seldom are abundant enough to warrant control, but if you feel that it is necessary in your case, see http://entweb.clemson.edu/cuentres/eiis/pdfs/hs21.pdf for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
I'd like to thank Ed Saugstad who answered my question and I'd like to
thank everyone at pestcontrolcanada.com
website who enables such communication. |
Best Regards, Glara
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#708
I
found this bug/caterpillar on my chair when I got up first thing this morning.
It was on its back and obviously couldn't move. It's got a very hard shell, and
when I initially grabbed it with a tissue, it BIT the heck out of the tissue and
hung on, leaving a red-brown liquid on it. What is this and how on Earth did it
get on my chair in the living room? I do have a cat, but he's indoors expect
for a screened-in back porch. I live in Eastern VA in the U.S. ~Anne.
I took the best pics I could, but it was still moving around when I clicked the
button.
This
appears to be a larva of a click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae); see
http://www.zin.ru/Animalia/Coleoptera/images/melcasl2.jpg
for an image. Commonly called 'wireworms' because of their thin hard bodies,
many species are herbivorous, and some may be serious agriculture and garden
pests. Still others are scavengers and some are predators on other
invertebrates. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#707
I’m pretty sure that I have a brown
stink bug here but would appreciate confirmation. This creature, and many like
it, are common on the shores of Shuswap Lake in southern BC. Interestingly, the
bugs appear in the Spring and in the Fall but disappear for most of the summer.
Can anyone provide a specific identification for me, including the Latin name?
Thanks, JWThis is a leaf-footed bug (Hemiptera: Coreidae); most species in this family are sap-feeders, but a few are predaceous. A few species, such as the squash bug, can be garden pests. See nos. 669 and 668 for other examples. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
This is the Western Conifer Seed Bug, or so it seems to
me. Check out this website,
http://members.shaw.ca/rorys/wcsb.html and see if it
looks like your insect. I live in the interior of British Columbia, and
noticed a lot of them recently in the hallways of the college I attend here,
and got curious myself. They do stink though, and don’t squish them, the smell
just gets worse!!
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#706 Hi, I found this possibly injured arthropod outside my house on the
sidewalk. It did not use its powerful legs when I approached it for taking
pictures. I live in Southern Indiana and I found this around early October.This appears to be another 'camel cricket' or 'cave cricket' (Orthoptera: Gryllacrididae; subfamily Rhaphidophorinae). In addition to outdoor environments, they frequently are found in basements and other dark, humid indoor environments. See #s 686, 665, 527, and 487 for other examples. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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 #705
I've found these guys on the ceiling. They're about an inch long and have a
brown spot on the head. Can you identify them for me? I've been catching flour
moths in traps lately. Any connection? Bill from NY
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#704 I have found this pest on the bathroom ceiling. There were a
lot of them, around 15 to 20. I have a pet dog, i have recently cleaned
out her left over dry food in the bedroom. however there is some distance
between the bedroom and the bathroom. (6-8m around). I live in Canada
Ontario. These pest had been found just recently, in this many numbers.
Here's a picture of the pest i found. thanks for the help! AndyIt is possible that this is a larva (caterpillar) of a stored-product infesting moth, such as the Indian meal moth. Check all infestible products in your pantries, including dry pet food, flour, corn meal, dry cereals, dried fruit (especially raisins), etc. for signs of infestation. Moth larvae usually leave signs of their presence, including frass and webbing that might be mistaken for spider webs - see http://www.uidaho.edu/so-id/entomology/Indian%2520meal%2520moth%2520larva.jpg . When mature larvae are ready to pupate, they may travel some distance from their food source. See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2089.html for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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#703
Hi; My Name is John And I Found this 3" Long
Bug in My Garage right by the entry door into the house tonight. Do you know
what it is? It looks like a new born to me. I live in the hills of the
Sacramento CA ,
USA Region. Thanks, John
This is a Jerusalem cricket. See
#646 for more information.
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#702 Hello again. This little fellow/lady was found sitting on a sidewalk
on a cool fall day in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I have never seen an insect
like this before. I just had to snap a few pictures of it. it's little body was
soft and fat. and the checker pattern on it's back was almost perfect. what can
you tell me about it? btw. the dagger moth (yellow caterpillar) picture I sent
in, is still in it's cocoon. Thanks, SheilaThis is a wingless female moth, such as the fall cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria; Lepidoptera: Geometridae); see http://www.uoguelph.ca/~samarsha/STEVEweb/images/Alsophila_pometaria.jpg The female moths emerge in early autumn, mate with the winged males, then climb trees to lay their eggs. See http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/fallcankerworm.htm for a fact sheet. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
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#701 We live in Calgary, AB. This ugly looking thing looks
like a grasshopper kind of, but it has been found frequently in our garage, and
I saw one in our kitty litter in our downstairs basement. What is it? and
is it a problem? HollyThis an orthopteran closely related to the Jerusalem Cricket (see no. 703). Some species in this group can be pests when they occur in large numbers, but the occasional indoors stray should not present a problem. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
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