Pest Identification Photos

5720  My mother took this picture at her cottage in Porter’s Lake NS Canada.  My mother said that the dragon fly was eating this other bug (brown one) she was wondering what kind of bug it is.

This is a nymph and newly emerged adult Hagenius brevistylus (Odonata: Gomphidae), a dragonfly known as the dragonhunter, as it commonly captures and feeds upon other dragonflies. See http://tinyurl.com/ju2f3we for more detailed information on this interesting species. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5718  My name is Aaron, I just moved into a house in caledon Ontario. I have these little white insects with black spots making webs all over several of the bushes around my property. The bushes don’t look dead yet, but they look like they are being consumed by the nests of these bugs. I was hoping someone could tell me what they are, and more importantly what to do about them. Thanks.

This is an ermine moth (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae); their larvae spin webs in which they feed as a group. There are several species that look very much alike; see http://tinyurl.com/z3gvvwg for an example. Control recommendations include physical removal of the webbing ‘nests,’ and application of a pesticide registered for use on the affected plants – see http://tinyurl.com/hefgkna for detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5716  My name is Rebecca, I live in Barrie Ontario. My son loves catching and collecting bugs. He found this one in our back yard. I’ve looked it up on line and the closes I can find to it is a wasp Beatle. But the information I’m getting is they are almost extinct and are in Europe. Would love more info so I can let my 4 year old bug hunt know what he has.

This is a carrion/sexton/burying beetle (Coleoptera: Silphidae) in the genus Nicrophorus; it looks like N. tomentosus – see http://tinyurl.com/jojmhew for an image and http://tinyurl.com/hhdhbhn for more detailed information on its life history. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5714  Photo taken June 25, 2016 in Williams Lake, BC. Thanks for your help in identifying. Debbie.

These are moths in the family Sesiidae; they look like Paranthrene robiniae, known as the western poplar clearwing moth; see http://tinyurl.com/zfrwrfd for some images. Their caterpillars tunnel in the wood of poplars and willows as well as ornamental birches, often in trees already weakened by wood-boring beetles. Many wasps in this family appear to be wasp mimics. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5710  A lady in UXBRIDGE took this picture this week. What are they and how to get rid of???   Thanks very much.    DR

These appear to be rose chafers (Macrodactylus subspinosus; Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), a destructive pest species. See http://tinyurl.com/hdg4zfx for some control suggestions. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5708  Found a few of these guys in my carpeted hallway they have wing and can kind of fly what is it? I’m in Caister Center Ontario  (country). I put it in water does not seem to be doing great in it guessing it can’t swim.  Meghan. 

This is a larder beetle, Dermestes lardarius (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), a peridomestic pest species. See http://tinyurl.com/nw92wz for more detailed information, including control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5706    Hi – I live in Ottawa and we are seeing a ton of these this year. Are they a problem for us?

This is a tent caterpillar (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae; Malacosoma sp.); likely a forest tent caterpillar, M. disstria, see http://tinyurl.com/hensdpb for images and more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5704  I had this bug bite me.  I put on a pair of pants walked out my front door and felt a burning (kind of like when you get a red ant bite) on my outside thigh when I moved my pants I saw this bug. What is it? I was told it looks like a kissing bug.  I’m from Brampton Ontario.  Thank you,  Rebecca

This appears to be a nearly mature nymph of an assassin bug (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) known as the masked hunter (Reduvius personatus). This one is missing the usual camouflage coating of dust and other debris; see http://tinyurl.com/gq6hd9c for an image of one with its usual appearance. This is a peridomestic species with a wide distribution, and it does have a reputation for a very painful (but not dangerous) bite. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5700  Hi there,  I live in Brantford Ontario and found these little guys all over my grass and fence. They are various sizes from half a centimetre to 1 centimetre. The weather is hot and humid and very sunny out. I tried researching and the best I could come up with was Jadera haematoloma but I don’t think that is exactly what they are. I only got a picture of a couple at a time but there were many more (at least 60 of them) in a group before I disturbed them. Thanks in advance.

This is a nymph of a boxelder bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Rhopalidae); Boisea sp. – see http://tinyurl.com/j2snfgs for an image. These are very common nuisance pests. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5698  Here is a picture of a beautiful  I found in my back yard on June 9, 2016 at approximately 8 PM.  She (I’m assuming) was on our hose reel.  It was warm and had been raining earlier in the day.  I would love to know what she is.  I have attempted to find other pictures online, but have been unsuccessful.  What I do know is that she may be Selenopidae, a type of spider called “flatties”.  Any additional information you could give me would be appreciated.  Sincerely,  COLLEEN

This appears to be a running crab spider (family Philodromidae); likely in the genus Philodromus. See http://tinyurl.com/ze6jfut for an example. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5696    I am Bruce  from Chatham ON.  Southwest Ontario.  We have had several of these flying beetles in our home over the past two weeks (May 25- June 7)  They resemble lightening bugs to me but are elongate and narrow, and don’t flash in the house.  I killed these two today.  23 mm long.  They are not threatening, just bumble around the house, crawling or flying.  Thanks,  Bruce

These look like soldier beetles (Coleoptera: Cantharidae). The adults often are found on flowers where they feed on nectar, pollen, other insects; their larvae appear to feed on insect eggs and larvae. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5694  Hello,  Wondering what this is. We’ve been seeing them all around our deck outside. We are in central Alberta. It’s summer now (June) and I’d say I’ve been seeing them for a few weeks. I see them by themselves and are about the size of my pinkie finger.   Can you help?  Thank you! Darleina

This is a weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae); it looks like Cryptorhynchus lapathi, known as the poplar and willow borer. See http://tinyurl.com/jze2mcc for an image. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5692   My name is Tara. This is on my deck umbrella in Kamloops. Dallas part of Kamloops right behind the wildlife park. 

This is a cicada (Hemiptera/Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadidae); likely in the genus Okanagana; see http://tinyurl.com/gvb7sdp for an example.

Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5690  I found this spider in Victoria British Columbia. The date is June 3rd. What kind is it? It’s about 2 cm long. Tim 

– Like nos. 5638, 5640, 5656, and 5660, this appears to be another folding-door trapdoor spider in the family Antrodiaetidae; see http://tinyurl.com/lp7j62z for an image. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5688  Hi, this bit me! Should I be concerned?  Please identify. I’m in Port Coquitlam BC and it was in my kitchen. (Door is open as very hot).

Thanks, Sandy

5688  This is a long-horned wood-boring beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in the genus Monochamus; likely M. scutellatus, known as the whitespotted sawyer, As a wood-borer, it has very strong jaws, but there is no danger from its bite – see http://tinyurl.com/hxozfrufor more detailed information on this species. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5686.   hello my name is Line these are the pest that are in my apartment. I live in Niagara falls Ontario and the weather is just starting to get warm. The pest are very small not sure the size as some are a little bigger then others , also have wings.They do bite as I am covered in bite marks and have a very itchy and burning feeling. Once bitten they are small and then start to swell up if scratch causing irritation to the skin. 

You may have two different pests. The image you provided looks like the remains of a dead bed bug, which would explain the itchy bites. However, these insects do not have wings. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5684   Hi my name is Marlinta and I live in Montreal, Canada. I have found a couple of these insects walking around my garden lately.  I’m pretty sure the last one was in the soil inside a flower pot.  I have had Japanese beetles in the past.  These guys are huge…about 1/2 inch yuck!!!  Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

This is a scarab beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), likely in the subfamily Melolonthinae. Several species in this subfamily can be serious lawn/garden pests. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5682   Hi,    My name is Claude. These photos taken on May 26, 2016 at 3:00 in the afternoon, close to a lake, in Val des Monts, Quebec, Canada.

This is an immature stage (nymph/naiad) of a dragonfly. It might be in the family Micromiidae (cruiser dragonflies) – see http://tinyurl.com/zpwnavo for an example. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5680   Sandy from Victoria BC.  These guys started appearing on the inside of one basement window at a rate of about 4 per hour, but I can’t see where they’re coming in.  There’s no sign of them outside, so not sure if they’re migrating in or hatching indoors somewhere. It started on May 20 after a long warm spell followed by a few days of cooler cloudy conditions. No rain at all.   Thanks in advance!  Sandy

These are male ants, possibly carpenter ants. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5677  Hi there I found this spider under a rock by the Brazeu river near Drayton Valley Alberta. Couldn’t find him in any of my books.

This one is seriously puzzling to me; I want to say that it is a hackle-mesh weaver (family Amaurobiidae), but I am not at all confident of that. A close-up of the eye pattern would be a great help, but you likely do not have that. I may try to some more digging on this one later. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5675  Hi, I found this crawling on my leg today while I was at home, not sure where it came from. Is this a bed bug? It is very small so that’s the best photo that I could take. I live in Vancouver. Thanks, Polina

Unfortunately, this is a bed bug, and it appears replete with a blood meal (possibly your blood). See http://tinyurl.com/hwz5tea elsewhere on this site for control information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5673  What is this beetle? Sharon.   Outside.  Langford, BC

This is a click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae). I cannot be certain from this image, but it might be Selatosomus suckleyi – see http://tinyurl.com/jdrktbc for an image. Very little appears to be known about the life history of this species. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5671  Hi, my name is Jane, I am in Ottawa, Ontario I found this guy n my kitchen, it’s spring with warm dry weather. I think it came in from the yard on a blanket. It looks similar to the house centipede but not sure. It’s about an inch long with very long striped antennae-type “legs”. Thoughts?

This is indeed a house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata); see http://tinyurl.com/mn7mzf for more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5669   Hi,  I found this bug in my one year old condo in Toronto.  They are very tiny, about 1-2 mm long.  They mainly locate in the bathroom floor, but also found in the bedroom drywall as well.  I also located them in the main entrance dry wall. The humidity of my home is around 30%.  I used Raid Max (indoor) spray around the house but the problem still persist.  I also used bleach to clean around the bathroom couple of times as well.  I understand it mainly for identify this bug.  However, if you have any suggestion how to get rid of it, I will be very appreciated about it. Best,  Kelly

This is a booklouse (Psocodea: Liposcelidae). These basically are nuisance pests that feed primarily on mould spores found on damp/spoiled organic materials. They do no real damage, and chemical control almost never is necessary. Besides lowering indoor humidity levels (which you already have done), check for and eliminate any unnecessary sources of moisture. See http://tinyurl.com/hqm566h for more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.