Thousands of pest photos submitted for identification.
7421. What is this? Mississauga, Ontario. Canada
Number 7421. This is a western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Coreidae). This is an introduced species that has become widely established in North America. They are harmless, but may become nuisances when they enter buildings in search of shelter. See western conifer seed bug detailed information .
My digital keyboard (piano not computer) broke and i took it to a repairman’s house to fix it. When I got to his house, it was like TLC Hoarder’s. I am terrified about bringing home pests—especially cockroaches. He was located in Scarborough. What steps can I take when I pick up my keyboard to make sure I don’t bring anything home? I didn’t realize when I left it there that cockroaches could get inside electronics like that and I am absolutely terrified about bringing something home. Please help me. Whitby
If you have a sturdy clear plastic bag big enough to enclose the keyboard, place the keyboard in it and tightly seal it while at the repairman’s residence. Once home, observe the bag periodically for the presence of any critters (this is why you want a clear bag). If you don’t see any after three days or so, it should be safe to remove and use the keyboard. If any roaches are seen, keep the bag in a cold (below freezing) environment for at least a couple of days. If winter weather does not cooperate, you may have to locate a freezer large enough to accommodate the bag. Alternatively, if the electronic components will tolerate heat, you could place the bag in the direct sunlight until the internal temperature is ~120F (~50C). A couple of hours at that temperature should kill any unwanted inhabitants.
Hello, I’m hoping to get domesticated pet rats soon but my landlord is concerned that the smell of them will attract other wild rodents as they’ve had rodent infestations in the past. I don’t see this being an issue and have seen others say that it’s a complete myth. I’d like to know if this is a real concern that I should consider? Thank you so much for your time, Kamloops
That is unlikely, but they could be attracted to improperly stored pet food – see https://tinyurl.com/2p8akzxf for details.
7420. We found a few in our house. Petit-Rocher-Ouest, NB. Canada
Number 7420. This is a long-horned wood-boring beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). The only species in this family that will infest established dwellings is the old house borer, Hylotrupesbajulus, but your image is not clear enough to either confirm or reject that possibility .As the larvae of several species can take several years to complete their development, it is not at all uncommon for adult beetles to emerge indoors some time after a house has been built. Another possibility is emergence from firewood; see Long-horned wood-boring beetle detailed information .
7419. Length 5mm. Found in my bed. Thank you kindly for your review! Mississauga, Ontario. Canada
Number 7419. This has the appearance of a carpet beetle (Coleoptera; Dermestidae) in the genus Attagenus (black carpet beetles and allies). See Carpet beetle control advice .
7418. Courtenay, BC…Jan-Feb…these flies are about 1 mm in size, and we find them dead on windowsills in our bathroom and walk in closets. We do not see them alive…any id and advice? Courtenay, BC, Canada
Number 7418. I cannot identify these with certainty, but they likely are dark-winged fungus gnats (Diptera: Sciaridae). Their larvae (maggots) usually are found in very moist/wet soil having a high organic material content. They sometimes will damage very tender below-ground plant parts, especially in greenhouses or potted plants. Allowing soil to dry out as much as practical between waterings usually discourages them. The adult flies are completely harmless. See Dark-winged fungus gnats control suggestions .
7417. Found in my son plastic super block at the bottom there were a lot of them. Beauharbois, Quebec. Canada
Number 7417. These appear to be booklice (Psocodea: Liposcelidae). These primarily are nuisance pests that very seldom cause any real harm. They feed mainly on mould spores and bits of organic debris. See Booklice detailed information .
7416. Hello. These little flying bugs are in a condominium in Ottawa. The photo was taken in December, 2022. There have been a number of them since the fall. I really appreciate you taking the time to look this up! North Vancouver, BC. Canada
Number 7416. This is a lady beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae); it looks like an Asian multicoloured lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis. These often enter buildings in the autumn, in search of hibernating sites. Although they do no direct harm inside, they can be serious nuisances when they congregate in large numbers. See Lady beetle detailed information .
7415. This is a close up placed on a paper towel. The bug is very small (<5mm) in length. Okotoks, Alberta. Canada
Number 7415. This specimen is too incomplete for a confident identification. That aside, if it is less than 3 mm long, it might be a minute brown scavenger beetle (Coleoptera: Latridiidae). These feed primarily on decomposing vegetable matter and mould spores; some species may be found in dry stored food products, but are not considered serious pests. See brown scavenger beetle detailed information .
7414. Flys and are everywhere! Rowlett, United States
Number 7414. This is an eastern boxelder bug, Boisea trivittata (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Rhopalidae). This is a very common and widespread nuisance pest that seldom does any real damage. See Eastern boxelder bug detailed information .
7413. Hi, as previously stated I’m from Calgary AB. I sent in a different picture of these guys wandering around the house last October (file #7406). Your analysis was a Darkling beetle that infects dry stored goods. On that advice I completely cleared and checked all food, shelves & drawers in my pantry at that time and did not find a single one, however there were still some lingering around the house. Yesterday I found this lone fellow, hope this is a clearer picture for you to re-examine and re-assess and give provide me your findings. Thanks
Number 7413. This definitely is a darkling beetle (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae); most likely in the genus Tenebrio. Only a few species in this family can be considered pests; the vast majority do no harm. See Darkling beetle detailed information .
7412. Central Alabama, afternoon, about 80F degrees. No way to measure size but compared to my skin – very small. Too small? Pelham, Alabama. United States
Number 7412. This appears to be a woolly aphid (Hemiptera/ : Aphididae); it strongly resembles an introduced species known as the Asian woolly hackberry aphid (Shivaphis celti) – see woolly aphid detailed information .
7411. Found in my bathroom on Oct 23, 2022. Campbellford, Ontario. Canada
Number 7411. This is a pseudoscorpion, an arachnid related to spiders and true scorpions that prey on other small arthropods. They are non-venomous and harmless to humans. Pseudoscorpion detailed information .
7410. Found on my neck inside my house. Campbellford, Ontario. Canada
Number 7410. This is a crab spider (family Thomisidae); possibly in the genus Xysticus. These are ambush predators on other small arthropods, and harmless to humans. See crab spider detailed information .
7410. Found on my neck inside my house. Campbellford, Ontario. Canada
Number 7410. This is an introduced species known as a tuxedo bug, Raglius alboacuminatus (Hemipter/Heteroptera: Rhyparochromidae. See Tuxedo bug detailed information & control suggestions .
7409. How do we get rid of these bugs? Armstrong, BC. Canada
Number 7409. This is an introduced species known as a tuxedo bug, Raglius alboacuminatus (Hemipter/Heteroptera: Rhyparochromidae. See Tuxedo bug detailed information & control suggestions .
7408. Woodrat or eastern grey Squirrel? Moncton, NB. Canada
Number 7408. This is a Gray squirrel.
7407. I see a few of these in my basement during summer mostly. Calgary, Alberta. Canada
Number 7407. This is a broad-nosed/short-snouted weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; subfamily Entiminae). These often enter buildings in search of shelter, but do no harm there.
7406. I found some of these in my house in Calgary, AB. Not sure if they all wondered in or is it something I should be more concerned about. They are 3/16” long, don’t fly and have 6 legs. Please help me determine what they are and how to deal with them.
Number 7406. The image is not clear enough for a confident identification. That aside, it resembles a darkling beetle (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). The vast majority of these are not pests, but as a few species will infest dry stored food products, you may want to check your pantry for signs of insect infestation. See Darkling beetle detailed information .
7405. Memramcook area in NB Canada. First of September, 2022 – 6am, photo with phone camera on the plastic siding of a HOUSE. Moncton, NB. Canada
Number 7405. What a beautiful insect! It’s a giant eastern crane fly, Pedicia albivitta (Diptera: Tipulidae). See Giant eastern crane fly detailed information .
7404. Hello, I have found one of these in my bed when I woke up, and I would like to know if this bug will bite in your sleep, thank you. Toronto, ON. Canada
Number 7404. This is a nymph of a brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). This is an introduced species that has become a pest, primarily in orchards, in many areas of North America. They will come indoors in search for shelter, but do no harm there, and will not bite. See Brown marmorated stink bug detailed information
7403. Indoors, summer, the insect hops so I was thinking it was a grasshopper ? Calgary, Alberta. Canada
Number 7403. This is a camel/cave cricket (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae). They are for the most part nuisance pests, usually found in dark, damp situations such as basements, caves, under logs, etc. See Camel/cave cricket Detailed Information
7402. Please identify this spider. Campbellford, ON. Canada
Number 7402. This is Araneus diadematus, a very common and widespread orb weaver known as the cross spider or European garden spider. See Cross Orb-weaver detailed information .
7401. Please help us identify this bug! It is everywhere this summer but we haven’t seen it before at our house. Approximately 6mm in length, attracted to light. Very quick, jumps and flies. Just found so many of them hiding in my dahlias, either eating the buds or eating something else that ate the buds? I can’t be sure. They are frustrating as they keep getting in the house. It’s been very hot and dry, presumably the weather has to do with how many there are? It looks like some type of Hemiptera but I can’t narrow it down any further and we would love to know! Any info much appreciated. Thank you! Edmonton, AB. Canada
Number 7401. This is a plant bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Miridae); it looks like a tarnished plant bug (also known as a lygus bug), Lygus lineolaris. These will do no damage indoors, but can e pests of quite a few garden and field plants – Click here
7400. Think it might be a carpet bettle. Saint john, NB. Canada
Number 7400. This is a larva of a larder beetle, Dermestes lardarius (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) or a close relative. See Carpet Beetle Control Recommendation .
7399. I thought it’s a tiny ant on my carpet. Ottawa, Ontario. Canada
Number 7399. This is a nymph of a true bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera); a harmless accidental intruder.
7398. Have never seen this spider before. Curious about it’s identity. Boissevain, Manitoba. Canada
Number 7398. This is an orb-weaving spider (family Araneidae) in the genus Araneus; most likely a cat-faced spider, Araneus gemmoides – see cat-faced spider detailed information .
7397. These eggs were found on cotton bag in kitchen under other plastic bags, many thanks. Chessington, Surrey. United Kingdom
Number 7397. These are empty pupal cases of a muscoid fly.
7396. Regina, Saskatchewan. Canada
Number 7396. This is a two-spotted stink bug, Perillus bioculatus (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). This is a predatory species that appears to prefer dining on the larvae of the Colorado potato beetle – see two-spotted stink bug detailed information .
7395. Yonglan, Imphal Manipur. India
Number 7395. This is a male lynx spider (family Oxyopidae) that is missing three of its legs. See lynx spider specimen . They do not spin capture webs, but either ambush or pursue their prey; they have quite good eyesight. See lynx spider detailed information .
7394. I found this on my patio! I have never seen one like this before! St. Johns, Nfld. Canada
Number 7394. This is a caterpillar of a sphinx moth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). I cannot be absolutely certain, but it most likely is Sphinx kalmiae, known as the laurel or fawn sphinx. See fawn sphinx detailed information .
7393. This bug crawls out of my grass as soon as I start mowing. Any idea what it is? Thanks. Calgary, AB. Canada
Number 7393. This is a terrestrial crustacean in the order Isopoda. They go by several common names, including sowbugs, pillbugs, and roly polys. The feed primarily on decomposing organic matter and are completely harmless. See sowbugs detailed information
7392. I don’t know the species of this spider. The abdomen is the size of a man’s thumbnail. It weaves characteristic and regular spider webs (radiating spokes with a center). I’ve never seen such a large spider in Saskatchewan. My parents would come out to marvel at the spider every night as it sits on its web. Saskatoon, SK. Canada
Number 7392. This is Araneus gemmoides, known as the cat-faced spider. It is common and widespread in North America; see Cat-faced spider more information .
7391. A person brought beans and pulses. to the house. The container they were in was suddenly crawling with these. They are small. There was also Indian food there. Ottawa, ON. Canada
Number 7391. This is a leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in the subfamily Bruchinae; these are known as pea or bean weevils. Your specimen appears to be a cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus. See Leaf beetle more information .