Pest Identification Photos

7518.      Found on basement. Calgary, AB. Canada

Number 7518.     This is a larder beetle, Dermestes lardarius (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), a common peridomestic pest species. These and their larvae will feed on a very wide variety of organic materials. See Larder beetle detailed information .

7516.     Hi, was looking for some help in identifying a beetle that we’ve been seeing a few times in our second-floor bathroom over the past few months. In late November, I killed one after seeing it crawl out of a crack in our bathroom tile. No further sightings for a bit, but we did started seeing very smal bugs that looked similar along the edge of our bathtub and coming out the drain. A pest control expert came by and did an inspection and said they didn’t see droppings or anything that might suggest a cockroach issue. However, today, about six weeks later we killed another bug that looked like the original larger one. Any help identifying it and advice on treatment (we have young children and a dog) would be greatly appreciated. Toronto

Number 7516.  This is not a beetle, but a nymph of a cockroach. You might try setting out a few ‘roach motels’, and if you find more than a couple of these, contact your pest control ‘expert’ and show them to him/her. See Cockroach control recommendations .

7515.     I believe this is the nymph of an assassin bug but I’m not sure. It was found on my hallway floor after a weekend away. Haven’t found any others. Barrie, ON. Canada

Number 7515.    This is a nymph of an assassin bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Reduviidae) known as the masked hunter (Reduvius personatus). This is a peridomestic species often found in buildings where they prey on any other invertebrates found there. They have been reported as being able to eliver a very painful bite if mishandled. See masked hunter detailed information .

7513.    On my porch. Not bothering anything. I’m just curious. Wintersville, OH. United States

Number 7513. This is an assassin bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Reduviidae) known as a wheel bug (Arilus cristatus).These are general predators on other arthropods, mainly other insects. Although not aggressive towards humans, they can deliver a very painful bite if mishandled. See wheel bug detailed information on this fascinating insect.

7512.     Spiders found in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Number 7512.  This is a western black widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus, the only medically important spider in Alberta. See western black widow spider detailed information .

7510.      What is this bug? All of a sudden I have them all over in every room!!! Two Rivers, WI United States

Number 7510.     This is a non-biting midge (Diptera Chironomidae). Harmless nuisance pests. See Non-biting midge detailed information .

7508.      What are these ??? Hollow shells, and are super small. I found them whilst cleaning; and there’s TONS of them. Conception bay south, Canada

Number 7508.      These are shed ‘skins’ (exoskeletons) of a beetle in the family Dermestidae (carpet/hide/larder beetles and allies). These most likely are in the genus Dermestes such as Dermestes lardarius (larder beetle) – see Larder beetle detailed information .

7506.      Hi there, I was referred by a friend that you helped identify pests. We found about 30 of these in our house one day after the first rain in awhile. The summer temperature just recently dropped. Thanks for your help!

Number 7506.     These are termites that have have shed their wings and are looking for a place to set up housekeeping. You probably should schedule an inspection from a certified termite control specialist. See Termites detailed information .

7504.       Winnipeg, Manitoba. Canada

Number 7504.    This is a broad-nosed/short-snouted weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; subfamily Entiminae). They sometimes enter buildings in search of shelter, but do no harm there. See Broad-nosed/short-snouted weevil detailed information .

7502.      Picture were taken by a friend near his home wanted to know what kind of spider this is because there are small children all around this area. Georgetown, Canada.

Number 7502.       This appears to be a common (American) house spider, Parasteatoda tepidariorum – see (American) house spider image . Although they belong to the same family (Theridiidae) as the infamous widow spiders, these are harmless to humans.

7500.    Montreal, Quebec Canada

Number 7500.     This appears to be a booklouse (Psocodea: Liposcelidae). These basically are nuisance pests, feeding primarily on mould spores including mould that grows from the paste used in the binding of old books and wallpaper, or sometimes they can even feed on the paste itself. They require high humidity in order to persist in an environment. See booklouse detailed information .

7498.    Richmond, BC. Canada

Number 7498.    This is a broad-nosed/short-snouted weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; subfamily Entiminae). They often enter buildings in search of shelter, but do no harm there. See Broad-nosed/short-snouted weevil detailed information

7496.      Edmonton, Alberta. Canada

Number 7496.  The image most likely is a burrowing/burrower bug in the family Cydnidae; see burrowing bug detailed information .

7494.      Looks like a carpet beetle larvae without the fine hairs. I squished one and it had guts. Measures 8mm long by 3mm wide. Found half a dozen on the floor under the plastic garbage can against the kitchen wall. Thanks for the help. Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Canada

Number 7494. This appears to be a pupa of a muscoid fly such as a house fly. See House fly detailed information .

7491.      On June 8, 2024, found this flying insect on a red runner bean leaf in my garden. Not familiar with it. Wondering what it is attracted to or eating? Toronto, ON. Canada

Number 7491.    This is a true fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae); it resembles a sunflower maggot fly, Strauzia longipennis – see True fruit fly detailed information

7489.     Started spotting these in random rooms along the baseboards. We have lived here 12 years and never seen anything like this…we have had sugar ants but that is all. Thank you. Delta, BC. Canada

Number 7489.   This is a weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae); it looks like one of the grain/granary weevils in the genus Sitophilus. If you have any dry seeds such as rice, wheat, or corn/maize in your house, you should check them for any signs of infestation. See Weevil detailed information .

7487.     Looked like the form of a black widow but was a metallic brown. Never seen one before. Peterborough, Ontario. Canada

Number 7487.    Most likely a comb-footed/cobweb spider (family Theridiidae) in the genus Steatoda. Related to widow spiders, they can deliver a very painful but not dangerous bite if mishandled (personal experience). See comb-footed/cobweb spider detailed information .

7484.      Courtenay, BC…very hot day in May…dozens of these on the back patio, most dead. Almost like an ant swarm? Courtenay, British Columbia. Canada

Number 7484.     This is a click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae); it looks like Agriotes lineatus – see click beetle image .

7482.     Found in basement suite. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Canada

Number 7482.    This is a terrestrial crustacean in the order Isopoda; they go by numerous common names, including sow bugs, woodlice, and roly-polys. They are for the most part harmless scavengers on decomposing organic matter. See Terrestrial Crustacean detailed information .

7480.      My client originally thought her cat and son’s dog had fleas and bought medication from us. The owner claims she gets bugs on herself and has developed a rash on her back. She had a fumigator come to her house and says it seemed a bit better since. Yesterday she brought us the bug in the picture. Is it a carpet beetle? What is the best way to get rid of them? Cochrane, Alberta. Canada

Number 7480.   This appears to be a larva of a dermestid beetle in the genus Trogoderma. They will feed on a very wide variety of seeds as well as dead insects and animals, cereal products, candy, cocoa, corn, corn meal, dog food (dried and ‘burgers’), fishmeal, flour, oatmeal, milk powder, spaghetti, spices, peas, wheat, barley, and pollen. In grain, they cannot feed on whole grain, but can feed on broken kernels that are usually present. The best control is prevention; start by examining all potentially infestable products in your home, discarding anything that appears to be infested. Then, give all storage areas a thorough cleaning. In the future, store all potentially infestable products in sealable glass, plastic, or metal containers.

7478.      I have been finding these beetles (?) crawling inside our house in random places at least once day for the past few weeks. They can fly but almost never do, move very slowly and are easy to pick up. Approx 5 mm in lengths. It is February, we live in Black Mountain area of Kelowna, lots of trees around. Kelowna, BC. Canada

Number 7478.    These are beetles in the family Dermestidae (hide/skin/carpet beetles and allies); it looks like Megatoma variegata, a species native to the Pacific Northwest – see Beetles – Dermestidae detail information

7477.      Not sure what those flies are, I have a few of them in the house ( bathroom, kitchen ). The weather is fairly cold at this time of the year. Could it come from one of my plants? Thank you. Gatineau, QC. Canada

Number 7477.     This appears to be a dark-winged fungous gnat (Diptera: Sciaridae). Although usually just nuisance pests, larvae of some species can damage roots and other soft plant tissues of potted plants that are in contact with soil. They need very moist/wet soil in order to thrive, so one of the simplest control measures is simply to let the soil dry out as much as practical between waterings. See Dark-winged fungus gnat control suggestions .