Thousands of pest photos submitted for identification.

Silverfish

5612  I find at least 3-4 of these slithery bugs in my basement bathroom every wk, depending on weather. I am located in the GTA (Toronto, On) they look black and alien like in person, but as I took a picture they don’t look as scary. They still move very fast. Ty
This either is a silverfish (Lepisma saccharina; Zygentoma: Lepismatidae) or a very close relative, basically nuisance pests that do little real harm. See http://tinyurl.com/mc5vk7j for images and more detailed information.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove,

Common Cockroach

5611  Found this critter in our hallway in Toronto (Feb. 28). It’s very lively! It’s about 1.5cm long, not counting the antennae (which are themselves a little longer). It’s been below 0 outside for a few days now, but was warmer before that. Maybe it crawled in from the outside? Do these insects hibernate? I’d like to not kill it, but I don’t know if I want it in the house, as it’s a bit big. -Eugene
This is a cockroach; I cannot be certain because of the perspective from which the image was taken, but it may be a German cockroach, an very common and widespread peridomestic pest species. These do not hibernate, but persist wherever they can find warmth and a food supply.  See http://tinyurl.com/7velhwo elsewhere on this site for some control recommendations, and http://tinyurl.com/or25l43 for links to professional pest controllers in your area. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

Adult Carpet Beetle

5610  I live in a suburb outside of Vancouver, BC.  We are finding these bugs on the floor of the kitchen dead, a few in the toilet near kitchen and two alive in our bed which is upstairs from the kitchen.  Thanks,   Gord.
This is a carpet beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), possibly a varied carpet beetle, Anthrenus verbasci (see http://tinyurl.com/grpcfuo for an image). These beetles are harmless pollen feeders, but their larvae will feed on an extremely wide variety of organic materials and can be quite destructive pests. See http://tinyurl.com/yun78p for a University of California publication on carpet beetles and their control. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

Plant seeds, not bugs

5609  Hello, Susan from Staten Island, NY.  I found this bug shell (looks like the shell of a bug because there is no body to it – see pictures) in various places within my home: 1)  first, many were found stuck to a scarf I had in a closet. The scarf was hanging off of a hanger in the midst of other clothes/jackets. Im sure if I go looking at other scarves , perhaps I’ll find them attached too.  2)  I also found them in a bathroom vent… As my husband was cleaning the vent, dust and these bug shells fell on the floor. The bug shell is brown, it is flat, and it has a fang shape in its front (or perhaps that’s its backside, who knows).
These are not insects of any kind, they are the seeds of some kind of plant. Many plants have seeds bearing spines, thorns, bristles, etc. that easily latch onto the fur of passing animals that then aid in dispersal of the seeds. Articles of human clothing also appear to meet the plants’ needs in this respect. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

Dermestidae Beetle Larva

5608  What is this Bug found a few of them this one on the bathroom counter on February 23,2016 @ 11:00pm where i been finding numerous dead tiny black ants that all of a sudden are invading my bathroom all to be found dead ,In Klamath falls Oregon cold outside approx. 25 degrees outside . It looks like a bedbug that grows hair.
This is a larva of a beetle in the family Dermestidae (carpet/hide/skin/larder beetles and allies). They will feed on an extremely wide variety of organic materials, including accumulations of dead insects. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

Weevil: Broad nose, short Snout

5607    Not sure what kind of bug this is but I have been bitten several times in the last few weeks. All bites swell to a great degree are extremely itchy and sting and large red rash appears at bite site expanding several inches beyond bite. was just bitten 2 days ago found this bug on carpet today. Location Surrey BC. Need to know if this is the bug biting me. Thanks. Dayna
This insect would not be responsible for any bites as it (1) is very dead, and (2) is a weevil in the subfamily Entiminae (broad-nosed/short-snouted weevils), and these all are strict vegetarians. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

Buffalo Carpet Beetle

5584   This tiny beetle was found in my bathroom on a wooden stool this afternoon. It is mid-January and about -15 C outside. My house is kept at about 18 C if that helps. I’m in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. This guy, or lady, is pretty small, smaller than a lady bug. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one before. I’m curious as to what it is. Thank you! Amanda
This is a carpet beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) in the genus Anthrenus, likely A. scrophulariae, known as the buffalo carpet beetle. See http://tinyurl.com/jk82lfw for images and detailed information including control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

Bean/Pea Weevil

5581   We recently captured a photo of unidentified insects at a cottage while travelling in Nova Scotia. This was discovered in January inside the building, mainly in the kitchen area. If you enlarge the upper attached photograph, the object is quite clear. We are unable to find anything of a similar nature on-line. Could you help us identify this insect?  Thanks,  Leann
This is a specialized type of leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in the subfamily Bruchinae known as a bean or pea weevil; see http://tinyurl.com/juq5o67 for an example. Their larvae develop in seeds, primarily those of legumes, and can be pantry pests at times. You might want to check any food storage areas where dry seeds (including bird seed) are kept for signs of infestation. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

Giant Water Bug

5580 Hello sending this photo in from traverse city Michigan  this weird little beetle was found under a bucket outside as it is winter right now how is this possible  was hoping if you could tell me what kind of beetle this is thanks Allissa.
This is a giant water bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Belostomatidae); aka toe biter or electric light bug. They are predators on other aquatic life, primarily other insects, but also sometimes minnows and tadpoles. They have very powerful enzymes in their saliva that serve to break down the tissues of their prey and that also causes the severe pain associated with their bite. Also, they are strong fliers and can be found quite some distance from water. See http://tinyurl.com/qg3ah82 for an image and more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

Globular Springtail

5564  I live in Colchester Connecticut. These bugs come out in large bunches when it rains or is just moist outside. So far, we have not had any come indoors, but they seem to love hanging out right around our doorframes. They are very tiny, reddish brown, and jump kind of like fleas (but I am pretty sure they are not fleas). Their bodies are actually kind of  roundish, and not flat, but I couldn’t get a decent side view picture. 
This is a globular springtail (Collembola: Sminthuridae); see http://tinyurl.com/jah3ahp for an image. The vast majority of springtails are harmless scavengers on decomposing organic matter that may become nuisance pests when they occur indoors. However, there is one species of globular springtail known as the lucerne flea or clover springtail that can be a serious agricultural pest; see http://tinyurl.com/zkequ3m for detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

Grain beetle

5562  My name is Craig and I’m located just North of San Francisco, near the coast. These are very small, on the order of 1mm. I found them in a recessed light fixture; they may have been there for . I’d like to make sure they are not wood boring beetles that might be eating my house.
This most likely is a foreign grain beetle, Ahasverus advena (Coleoptera: Silvanidae); basically a nuisance pest that does little if any actual damage. See http://tinyurl.com/opnfj5b for more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

Powder Post beetle

#5571  Hello, my name is Trent, and currently live in Red Deer Alberta.  Earlier today Jan 5th 2016 when moving a 16 inch tall, 4 inch base, soft wood hand carved sculpture brought back to us from South Africa I noticed some small (tic tac) sized piles of very fine saw dust and three living bugs.  The carving also had a few small holes on the bottom. Upon moving our computer desk I also found a dead one of identical type but slightly smaller than the three living ones. The attached picture is of the dead one under a microscope. Thank you for your time.

This appears to be a powder post beetle (Coleoptera: Lyctidae); see http://tinyurl.com/zrzhyvl for an image. I cannot tell whether this is a South African species or something native to your area. See http://tinyurl.com/zxu6c3x elsewhere on this site for links to professional pest controllers in your area. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

 

Darkling beetle

#5549  Hi there, I live in Toronto, Canada.  I recently moved in to a friend’s apt while he’s away for 2 months. I have felt itchy since the first morning I spent here, I also found what I thought could be bite marks on my hamstring and quad, I suspected that it could be a bed bug issue so I started checking the mattress. I found two 2 bugs on his mattress/box spring; I am attaching a picture of each. I am confident that they are not bed bugs but I still need to find out what they are so I can take the most appropriate plan to get rid of the itchiness. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks for your time!

This is a darkling beetle (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Depending on its size, it could be either a mealworm adult (Tenebrio sp. – see http://tinyurl.com/puwfch2) or a flour beetle (Tribolium sp. – see http://tinyurl.com/zy5bfxj). As these can infest dry stored food products, you should check your food storage areas for signs of infestation. They would not be responsible for any bites or itchiness. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

 

Fly Larva (maggot)

#5545  Hello, I found these dark brown worm shells underneath my washing machine’s legs (around all four legs of the machine). White worms were hatching out of them. They were about 1cm long and stank a lot. Google suggests that they are house fly larvae. But I think the shells are too big for a house fly…  I hope you can help me to identify those bugs. Most importantly – who has been laying those eggs?  Thank you in advance,  Kadri from Sydney
These are pupae (and one larva – maggot) of a fly, but I cannot tell you much more from this image. The ‘white worms’ are maggots that will turn into the brown pupae; they are not hatching from them. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You may have a dead rodent under or in the washing machine cabinet. Check the dryer vent also.

Sow Bug

#5488 I live in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. I have tons of these in my basement and garage. They are under the rugs and up the walls. Don’t quite look like carpet beetle larvae to me.  I call them trilobites.   Thanks  Eric 
This is a terrestrial crustacean in the order Isopoda. Commonly known as sowbugs, pillbugs, roly polys, slaters, etc., they are for the most harmless scavengers on decomposing organic matter, but they may become nuisance pests when they occur indoors. As they breathe through gills that must be kept moist, they can only persist in damp/humid environments, so moisture management is key to their control. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

Sphinx Moth caterpillar

#5502  Found in alpine ca. Today October 25, 3 inches long. Has little feet like caterpillar.

This is a caterpillar of a sphinx moth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) in the genus Errinyis; likely E. ello – see http://tinyurl.com/o55glld  for an image. This species occurs from South America to the southern USA, and like many other species, the caterpillars can vary considerably in their appearance.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

Boxelder bugs

 #5465   Found on raised garden bed in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. They have been in the yard since May and started clustering on the beds in August


These are boxelder bugs (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Rhopalidae; Boisea sp.), possibly the western boxelder bug, Boisea rubrolineata. These basically are nuisance pests, see http://tinyurl.com/6q97uze for detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

German Cockroach

#5527  Hello. My name is Craig. I live in Guelph Ontario and just found this bug in my apt. It’s November and the insect is about the length of my finger tip. So far just one and I’m wondering if this is a problem bug and should be reported to the building super. Thank you.

This is a German cockroach, Blattella germanica (Blattodea: Blattellidae), one of the commonest peridomestic pests in North America. See http://tinyurl.com/7velhwo elsewhere on this site for some control recommendations, and http://tinyurl.com/hhhtnge for links to professional pest controllers in your area.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

Assassin-bug-nymph

Assassin Bug Nymph

#5550  My name is Mark and I found this thing crawling on my wife’s blouse in the house this morning. We live in Franklin county Va.

This is a nymph of an assassin bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Reduviidae) in the genus Zelus. These are general predators on other small arthropods, and thus usually considered as beneficial. See http://tinyurl.com/l8zgevk for more detailed information.   Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

Carpet Beetle Larva

#5518 Hello, I’m finding this critter increasingly inside my house – on walls, ceilings. It moves very little and is about 1/8 in long. Thank you for your help!  Frank.  New Jersey
This is a larva of a carpet beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), likely in the genus Anthrenus (variegated carpet beetle and allies). These can be difficult to control because of their widely varying food preferences. See http://tinyurl.com/yun78p for some control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

Bed Bugs

#5516  Hello:   I was wondering what type of bug this is(photos attached)? I haven’t purchased any new/used bedding or furniture. I haven’t used a hotel in decades or traveled anywhere. These bugs sudden appeared when my husband brought some soft wood into the house. We heat with wood. It was around the end of August or the first week of September. It seems that my room is the only one affected as it is above the furnace room. The bugs vary in size from a speck to about 4mm. They don’t look exactly like a bedbug but similar. They are hairless and run like little spiders.  The little ones cannibalize the larger ones. There is no difference in shape between the small and big ones.   I find an occasional one or two on my bed or on my books by the bed. The mattress is 2 1/2 years old and still covered with plastic. No visible bugs under the plastic. My husband also brought some sand into the yard. I was wondering about sand fleas and if they hitched a ride on my poor cat. The bugs do bite as I have several little dots on my leg. It takes forever for the bites to vanish. I did get some bites outside as well.  I would appreciate your assistance in identifying this bug. I hope that the photos are clear enough. I live in Corbeil, Ontario. Thank you. Sincerely,  Ann
These either are bed bugs or closely related bat bugs (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Cimicidae; Cimex sp.); you may wish to call in a professional certified in beg bug control –  see http://tinyurl.com/c9dkng4 elsewhere on this site for contact links. In the meantime, see http://tinyurl.com/kv7j744 for more detailed information on bed bugs in general. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

Case Bearing Caterpillar

#5522  Hello, I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba and I’ve been finding these guys attached to the outside of my house. I have also found a few indoors either hanging from the ceiling or crawling up a wall. They first appear like dirt or a small splinter sized stick.. until you get up close and see that it’s in some kind of shell with its head poking out from the top. Please help identify. Thanks!

This is a case-bearing caterpillar of some sort, but I cannot see enough detail for a definitive identification. It might be one of the bagworms in the family Psychidae.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

Firefly larva

Firefly Larva

#5499 I found this worm on my kitchen counter after taking a garden decoration inside for the winter (we are end of October and have had some nights below freezing already) and sitting it on the counter.  The decoration sits on top of cedar mulch.  I live on the South Shore of Montreal, Quebec.  The flat, hard-shelled worm is black on top (or very dark brown) and beige on his underside, has approx 10 segments, 6 legs, pushes himself along with his tail/bum and measures approx 1cm.  This is the first I’ve ever seen one of these!  Thanks!  Jamie
This appears to be a larva of a firefly (Coleoptera: Lampyridae), which are general predators on other small arthropods. See # 5490 for another example. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

True fruit flies

5497 I live near Lloydminster, Saskatchewan and these flies are inside in October, can’t   seem to get them under control.  Not sure how they are coming in. Can you tell me what they are and a control method?  Smaller than a regular house fly. Tend to Walk sideways. Apparently like to make a home under siding outside the house also but don’t see them outside in summer.
Flies in the related families Tephritidae (true fruit flies) and Ulidiidae (picture-winged flies can have confusedly similar wing patterns. I’m inclined to believe that your specimen is in the family Ulidiidae, likely in the genus Ceroxys, see http://tinyurl.com/pjvxajy for an example. These flies reportedly commonly enter buildings in the autumn, but are no more than nuisance pests. Their larvae develop in the seed heads of plants in the family Asteraceae. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

**********************************************************************************

Drugstore or Cigarette Beetle

#5496  Hello, can you please let me know what this is, there are several in the house, and they are very tiny. It was very hard to get a picture of this. I am very worried. And I’m unsure of how to get rid of them. Thank you.
This might be either a cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorn (Coleoptera: Anobiidae), or a drugstore beetle (Stegobium paniceum); both can be pests of many kinds of dry stored food products – see http://tinyurl.com/po3y7o2  for more detailed information, including control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV ******************************************************************************************

biting louse

Biting Louse

#5495  I just found this on a my brothers puppy and was crawling on my finger and it bit me. I’ve tried all the pictures on Google a nothing has come close to what this is. I live in  Alaska and some random guy gave him the puppy. I took a magnifying glass and took the picture with my cellphone. Thanks

This appears to be a biting louse (Psocodea/Phthiraptera : Mallophaga), it looks like Trichodectes canis, a species commonly found on dogs and wild canids. See http://tinyurl.com/qxucs8y for more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

************************************************************************************

Little brown worms.

5500  Hello, I’ve been finding little brown worms (about 1/2″) with black tails in my bathroom for about a month now. Today I found a bigger one (about 1-1.5″) that was very similar but darker (photo attached). I live in Montreal in a basement apartment and my name is Jessica. Thank you.
This is a millipede, an arthropod in the class Diplopoda. Ones like this specimen are harmless scavengers on decomposing organic matter, but may be nuisance pests when they get indoors. They need abundant moisture/high humidity in order to persist in an environment, so moisture management is key to their control. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

 

*********************************************************************************************

Termite swarmer

5498  My name is David. We have seen these maybe once a year on warm days at our home at edge of forest, Vancouver Island BC. Sept 25/09/2013 (photo of individual insect) & 13/10/2015 (photo of swarm near top of tall fir tree). The swarm is persistent and lasts at least an hour. Insect length (mouth to end of wings) is 1.0cm. Identification much appreciated.
.This is an alate (reproductive/’swarmer’) termite. You may consider having your home inspected to determine whether any on these have decided to make your home theirs as well. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
******************************************************************************