Pest Identification Photos

6046  I recently found these bugs on the new growth of our Mugo Pine here in Calgary. These bugs always appear surrounded by a number of ants and are about 3mm long.    Thank you,  Tom

This is an aphid, also known as a plant louse (Hemiptera/Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae). When feeding, they often secrete a sticky fluid called honeydew; some species of ants are attracted to this substance and will appear to guard the aphids against other predatory/parasitic insects. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6044   Hi can you please identify this bug. Found two or three in the last couple of days. Worried about it being a cockroach. Thanking you. 

This appears to be a wharf borer, Narcerdes melanura (Coleoptera: Oedemeridae). See https://tinyurl.com/obonjsx for an image and more detailed information.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6041  Geographical location: Calgary, Alberta.   Relevant information: Found indoors [top floor of a condominium unit]  Season: Summer, warm and sunny weather.  Insect size: ¾ of an inch to 1 ½ inches [found in our condo last summer and this summer, starting in the month of June each year)  The insects NEVER go further into our unit than the bedroom and appear to die shortly after coming into our bedroom—they rarely fly around, and are often found of the floor beside our large bedroom windows. We have no idea how they are getting into the unit (windows are well sealed and these insects are BIG—but they may be coming in through our air ventilation vents, and perhaps this journey into the building and into our unit is what caused them to die to quickly after entering). Any identification information which can be provided would be greatly appreciated; I believe it’s a parasitic wasp (a beneficial ‘pest’), but I of course could be wrong!   Thanks in advance,  Michelle

This is a thread-waisted wasp (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) in the genus Sceliphron; it might be S. caementarium, known as the black and yellow mud dauber. See https://tinyurl.com/q9ldqnb for an image and more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6039   There are lots of these bugs all over our cedar deck and wood patio door trim. A couple days ago they were a pale lime green and now they look like this. Not sure if they are termites or not. Also, the pine tree over the deck has seemed to spray down some sap over the past couple weeks not sure if that is related. We live in Toronto, Canada. 

This is an aphid, also known as a plant louse (Hemiptera/Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae). When feeding, they often secrete a sticky fluid called honeydew; this might be the ‘sap spray’ that you noticed. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6037  Can you help me ID these 2 pests in my home. Stouffville, ON

This is a cockroach nymph, but it does not look like any of the common peridomestic pest species. It might be one the so-called wood cockroaches. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

This is a cockroach nymph, but it does not look like any of the common peridomestic pest species. It might be one the so-called wood cockroaches. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

This is a cockroach nymph, but it does not look like any of the common peridomestic pest species. It might be one of the so-called wood cockroaches. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6035   This guy was hanging out under the edge of our kitchen counter, near our dishwasher. Interior BC, late spring.

This is a long-horned wood-boring beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae); it looks like Centrodera dayi, known as the yellow Douglas fir borer – see https://tinyurl.com/ybmvqaha for an image.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6033  Found in a house Canada. Found several of these in our home it’s June here. Fell from ceiling. Bobbiejoe.

This is a ground spider (family Gnaphosidae) in the genus Sergiolus. It appears to be similar to S. montanus (see https://tinyurl.com/yc7txyxe), but confirmation would require microscopic examination of certain body parts.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6031  From Kingston Ontario. Never seen one of these before. What is it?  Yara 

This is a ladybug larva. The ladybug life cycle is not much different from the life cycle of a butterfly. The ladybug goes through the same four stages as a butterfly, the egg stage, the larvae stage, the pupa stage, and the adult ladybug stage. More information here:
http://www.ladybug-life-cycle.com

6029   Do you know how I can ID these eggs on my dead stump in Ottawa?  Thanks.  Wayne

I suspect that this more likely is a fungal growth of some kind rather than an egg mass of an insect or other invertebrate; see https://tinyurl.com/y7hxg2xl for an example. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6027   My name is Trevor. I live in Edmonton Alberta. We started noticing these bugs primarily on the floors of our two second floor bathrooms in our house which are on opposite sides of the second floor. They also frequent window sills in the bathrooms and the bedrooms adjacent to them. We don’t notice them particularly at a specific time of day.  They are all roughly 2-3mm in length. If I do not pick them up well when trying to they will open their wings and I have seen them fly about 2 feet away, I haven’t seen them fly any further than that personally but one of the window sills I have found them on is 4 feet high so I assume they are moderate flyers. These are the best photos I could take and enhance with a macro lens. To my googling they seem like they could be Ahasverus advena, but I am very much an amateur and would like an expert opinion.

This is not Ahasverus advena (foreign grain beetle), it looks more like a minute brown scavenger beetle (Coleoptera: Lathridiidae); see https://tinyurl.com/y7yhjz2v for an example. These are not pests that you need worry about. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6025  I have found a few of these inside my home and outside as well. What is it? They have just come out in may. I have a dog so he may be bringing them inside.  Thank you!  Vanessa

This is a short-snouted/broad-nosed weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; subfamily Entiminae), but the image is not clear enough for a more specific identification. The adults basically are nuisance pests that cause no serious harm, but their larvae can be serious pests – see http://tinyurl.com/monvaej for detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6023   Hi there, This is my first time to saw such unique insect walking on the corridor outside of a furniture store. Country: Malaysia.  Michelle

This is a stink bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), but I cannot place a specific name on it at present. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6021   Marge from New Brunswick; this was on the step … what is it?

This appears to be a larva of a firefly (Coleoptera: Lampyridae), see https://tinyurl.com/y7rrweg4 for an example. These are general predators on other small arthropods as well as snails, etc. The larvae of some net-winged beetles (Coleoptera: Lycidae) also can be similar in appearance. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6019    In Welland, Ontario Niagara region, found by our cat.‎ In upstairs rug. We were working outside the day before.   Elizabeth

This is a click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae); a harmless accidental intruder. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6017  This insect was found in my yard.  4th June 2017.  It was large, the size of a Canadian loony with wings extended.  Location Saskatoon.  Weather conditions hot and dry.   Can you identify it please.   Thank you.  Bill. 

This looks like a male elm sawfly, Cimbex americana (Hymenoptera Cimbicidae), see https://tinyurl.com/y8tvlk5d for an image. Their larvae look like caterpillars (see https://tinyurl.com/y8r9mckt), and feed on the leaves of elm and willow trees; they are not considered serious pests. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6015    Hello there! This guy was found today inside an apartment in Fort McMurray, Alberta. It was posted on one of the local Facebook groups and has drawn a lot of attention as to what it is. I was hoping you could help us put the mystery to rest. To me it looks like a stonefly or Mayfly. The picture doesn’t show but it has spotted wings. All of Fort McMurray greatly appreciates your feedback! Thank you for your time.  Christina

This does indeed appear to be a stonefly (order Plecoptera), but because of the angle from which the photo was taken, I cannot tell you much more about its identity. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6013    Hi my name is Sydney and we are currently at South Bay, Turtle Lake, Saskatchewan and we have been here for a few days and noticed a lot of reeds washed up on the beach. It’s May long so the beach is always a mess from the melted ice but there are excess reeds. After 3 days of being here we noticed bump like things all over the reeds (tons of them) and after sitting on the beach for a few minute we noticed some of them starting to move and fly around. Within the hour of sitting there they were everywhere. All over our clothes, hair, chairs and everything. They seem harmless but more annoying and creepy crawly. They’ve now somewhat clung to all the windows and outside of the cabin. It was cool and windy all day yesterday but today it’s about 18-19 degrees. And for size they’re about 7-8mm long. Just curious of what they are and if they are harmful in anyway. Thank you.

These are leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae); likely in the subfamily Galerucinae, but I am uncertain as to the exact species. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6011   Many of these were noticed in the bedroom of a beach house rental today, located in Galveston, Texas. Any ideas of what this could be?  Tommy

This is a reproductive caste termite that has shed its wings. The management of the property should be notified so that they may take appropriate control actions; see https://tinyurl.com/y9xflnfc for a starting point. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6009  This bug has been flying around outside my bedroom window for three days now. I just want to know if it’s dangerous or not.

This is either a bumble bee or a carpenter bee; as it has been sprayed with some substance, I cannot be certain which it is. Also, I believe that this image has been posted before. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6007   Hello,  My name is Alyson. This little guy was on my neck when I felt something on me. It is 3 or 4 cm. I’ll send a picture of the chair with a ruler so you can check that if necessary.  I’m in Alberta near Edmonton. It was a hot day and I was sitting outside in a relatively open space. Thank you.

This is a rove beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae); they are general predators on other small arthropods, mainly other insects. This is a huge family with thousands of species; see https://tinyurl.com/zukwwvo for some examples.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6005  It was on the side of my house on May 23rd 2017 in Surrey BC Canada.  Weather, damp, then hot.  Tami

This is a short-snouted/broad-nosed weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; subfamily Entiminae), but the image is not clear enough for a more specific identification. The adults basically are nuisance pests that cause no serious harm, but their larvae can be serious pests – see http://tinyurl.com/monvaej for detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6003  smaller than apple seed.. may 24weekend rural Ontario in an RV..   Thanks in advance.  Brian. 

This is a bed bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Cimicidae), but the image is not clear enough to determine whether it is a human bed bug or a closely related species such as a bat bug. See https://tinyurl.com/zawv29f for a very detailed article on bed bugs. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6001    Hi.  This picture was taken on a friend’s farm near Endeavour, Saskatchewan almost 10 years ago. At the time nobody could identify it.   It was found in a recently planted sea buckthorn windbreak row. Never saw one before or since. This guy was kept by the children and fed sea buckthorn leaves until he started spinning a cocoon in his jar. At that point my friend relented and put him back in the sea buckthorn, never to be seen again. As you can see, the critter was a good 10 cm long, and, “not from around here”.   If you can identify it you will solve a ten-year mystery.  Thanks, George

This is a caterpillar of a cecropia moth, Hyalophora cecropia (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), North America’s largest moth. See https://tinyurl.com/ya29g8d5 for more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5999   Could you please help in identifying this insect. I have swarms of them around my house, the cover everything from my BBQ, my table to my car.

This is a male mayfly (order Ephemeroptera). These do not feed as adults or otherwise cause any physical damage, but can become extreme nuisances when large swarms of them emerge at the same time. Mayflies spend the vast majority of their lives as aquatic nymphs; the adults live only long enough to find mates and then deposit their eggs. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5997      can you tell me what this bug is?    Thank you.   Jackie 

This is a reproductive caste termite. You may wish to have your premises inspected by a professional termite control company. See http://tinyurl.com/z6nhap8 elsewhere on this site for a directory of professional concerns in Canada. If you live in the United States, see http://tinyurl.com/ddsa37 for a starting point.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.