Archive for category: Pest Identification

5845   I was bit by this yesterday(Saturday Oct 29) Sandra.  Mitchell Ontario

This appears to be a broadfaced sac spider, Trachelas tranquillus, in the family Trachelidae. These are wandering spiders that do not spin a capture web, and occasionally wander indoors. They are reported to have a painful but not dangerous bite; see http://tinyurl.com/hlpmbbg for more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5843  Mainly green body with red striation along back. Someone suggested it was an assassin bug. May have come in with the dog.

This is indeed an assassin bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Reduviidae; it is a nymph in the genus Zelus, likely Zelus luridus – see http://tinyurl.com/j7822h4 for more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5841    Hi, Please help identify. Seemed to be coming from floor drain. I thought they were fruit flies but they were not flying and seemed to move VERY fast on the floor. So fast I thought they were jumping. Size – Approx 1mm    Photo – 50x Magnification
Location – Canada – Niagara-on-the-lake, Ontario
Picture taken  Oct 27. Season – Regards,  Randy

This appears to be a scuttle fly (Diptera: Phoridae); see http://tinyurl.com/j7t4q6x for an example. Their larvae feed on decomposing organic matter, and the flies can become nuisance pests when they occur indoors. We often see them in our home, as we recycle vegetable scraps, which are an excellent food source for the fly larvae. See http://tinyurl.com/hs7upjt for some control suggestions. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5839   Found this summer in Muskoka, Ontario on a boat.  Body measures about 1 cm, spider is bright green.  Cheers, Ute

This is a long-jawed orb weaver (family Tetragnathidae); it looks like Tetragnatha viridis – see http://tinyurl.com/hakxrtkfor an image. These spiders usually are found near bodies of water, where they construct webs that more nearly are horizontal rather than vertical over or near the water surface. These all are harmless to humans. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5837   Good evening.  Found hundreds of these crawling on our back yard fence.  Calgary, Alberta.   Found today.  Yard has loads of vegetation.   The bug is very small, maybe 1/8 to ¼ inch, body is all black.   Rob

Like No. 5832, this is an aphid (Hemiptera/Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae). All aphids are obligatory sap feeders, and in addition to any harm they may cause plants, they can be real nuisances as well from other standpoints. See http://tinyurl.com/jexmcaefor more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

5835    My son had this in his hand in Belleville, on. We also have a dog.   Tammy.

This is an engorged female hard tick (family Ixodidae), but I cannot tell which species it might be. You may want to check your dog to see if it is carrying any more. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5833 Found in Saskatchewan, also believe seen recently in Edmonton Alberta (inside buildings)  SCOTT

This appears to be an assassin bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Reduviidae) in the subfamily Triatominae; members of this subfamily collectively are known as cone-nose or kissing bugs and are obligate blood feeders. Your image bears some resemblance to Triatoma lecticularia, but you are hundreds of miles north of its known occurrence in North America. Any found in Canada likely would have arrived via commercial transport of some kind. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5831 Hi my name is Sarah and I have come across 2 bugs so far in my home both the same and I have no idea what it is , I was wondering if you could let me know what it is and is it harmful as in should I go to a doctor and get treated if someone got bit by one. I live in Sudbury Ontario.  This bug is about the size in between a nickel and a dime , it has red lines on its back, in the photo I have attached I appears to look like a fly but it had like a hard looking shell on its back with I wouldn’t say whiskers in the front of its face but one on each side of face. Thank you so much.   Sarah

This is a completely harmless boxelder bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Rhopalidae; Boisea sp.). These basically are nuisance pests that do little if any real harm – see http://tinyurl.com/pr9y98a for more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5829 These “beetles” I’m assuming, seem to be everywhere amongst leaves and dark areas. We are located an hour outside Ottawa, Ontario area along water front. I’ve only recently,  noticed these and are finding them in a number of areas around our yard.

These are spotted (sometimes called pink-spotted) lady beetles, Coleomegilla maculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a very common and widespread species. See http://tinyurl.com/jf86263 for images and more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5827  Found these two in my yard in Brantford Ontario this past summer. Wondering what they are.  Scott.

These are ambush bugs (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Reduviidae; subfamily Phymatinae). They lay in wait on vegetation, especially flowers, for potential meals to come close enough to grab. They are capable of overpowering prey items much larger than themselves. See http://tinyurl.com/ngzv3nn for more detailed information,  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5825   Hi there – some relatives are currently in Lourmarin in the South of France and the came across this little creature.   Just wondering if you might know what it is – or how I might find out. Thanks so much, Kathy

This is a mature caterpillar of an oleander hawkmoth, Daphnis nerii (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae); see Daphnis nerii – Wikipedia
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5823   I live in Montreal, Quebec, in a basement apartment. It was raining when this thing appeared in my living room. It’s about the size of my fingernail (about 1-2 cm) I trapped it in a small mason jar until I could identify it. I really hope it’s not a cockroach because my place is meticulously clean and I’ve never had to deal with that before. Thanks,  Jennifer

This is indeed a nymph of a cockroach, but I cannot say exactly which species. At least it is not a German cockroach, which is both a very common and somewhat difficult to control species. Cockroaches are very adaptable creatures, and their presence is no indicator of any lack of cleanliness. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5821  Found this trying to fly on a warm sunny day on Quadra Island BC. I can’t identify the large insect but assume mites are on his/her back.  The mites if that’s what they are eventually killed the larger insect after an hour or so of serious torment.

This is a burying/sexton beetle (Coleoptera: Silphidae) in the genus Nicrophorus. The little red critters are mites that are using the beetle as transportation (a phenomenon known as phoresy) to get to their next meal source – see http://tinyurl.com/gumcmra for an image. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5819   This moth is about 1 cm wide. They are new to our farmhouse and are small enough to wiggle into the house past the edges of the screens on the windows.  They are attracted to the nightlight so I have counted 10 in our bathroom in the morning.  When I kill them they are fragile and leave a dust smear on the wall.  They are quite lively if you don’t grab them quickly and they will fly away.  I live in northeastern Alberta Canada.  As I mentioned, I have never seen these before this summer and I have been unable to identify them on any website.  Can you tell me what they are and what their source might be so I can deal with them?   Catherine

This is a moth in the family Alucitidae (many-plumed moths); likely Alucita montana – see http://tinyurl.com/h8fz34q for more detailed information. These are not pests, their larvae likely are leaf and flower miners of snowberry (Symphoricarpos spp.). Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5817   My name is Ellie…  These photos were taken in Columbus, Ohio.  In October, these bugs were found under the cat’s water bowl on an ident on the underside of the bowl. The area around where they were found was wet and bowl had not been moved for a bit. (The apartment has AC and cat is only an indoor cat.) They all measure about a quarter of a centimeter. They are a light brown/ tan color with very small reddish-brown coloring on “face” and tail end. It appears that they have antenna. They look like very small grains of rice- or like a oval pill shape.  Thank you!

These are the pupae of flies in the family Phoridae (scuttle/hump-backed flies). These are very common nuisance pests whose larvae develop quickly in bits of decomposing organic matter. They are frequent ‘guests’ in our kitchen where we have a small composting bin. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5815   I found these in a light hanging from the roof. How would they get there? Is this something I should be worried about? And please tell me what they are.

These appear to be the larvae of a beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, which includes nuisance pests such as the yellow mealworm. They are unlikely to cause any harm in their current location, but you might want to periodically check any areas where you store grains, seeds, etc. for any signs of infestation. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.