Pest Identification Photos

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.

Hello there I have lived in Bowmanville Ontario for about 15 years now and I have never seen this bug, until 3 days ago I saw one and thought nothing of it. Then I saw a post on Facebook warning if you see this bug in your house then go to a disease heath center immediately. Now today being Thursday October 6th 2016 I have approx. 30 to 50 gathering/flying around the front, sides, windows of my house as well as the Garage door. They seem to love window screens and anywhere there is a lot of hot sun. My research has show me they are native far southern than me but I’m wondering since we have had such a hot summer if it is possible the migrated north and cause a potential issue. Please take a look at the attached photo and let me know. Thank you, Greg

This a Milkweed bug that looks remarkably like boxelder bugs until you compare the two together.  The differences are then quite obvious.  For milkweed bug information visit the Nature Trust of British Columbia web site. http://www.naturetrust.bc.ca/blog/?m=201104

5811  Can you please help In identifying this bug found in my house, London Ontario. Thank  you.  Mark

This is a small click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae); these are accidental intruders that will do no damage indoors. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5809   Hi,   I live in Kelowna BC  This beauty was found in my garage in November 2015.  I recently (couple of weeks ago – August 2016)  found another while walking down the road not far from my house.  I am curious as to what it is.  They are approximately the size of a loonie.  Thank you Corinne 

This is a mygalomorph spider (the group to which tarantulas, etc. belong), possibly a male in the genus Antrodiaetus, see http://tinyurl.com/j3oluh9 for an example. Males of these spiders often are found wandering about, apparently in search of a mate, while the females usually are found in their burrows. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5807  HI my name is Kevin. I’m from Sundre, Alberta, Canada. It’s the beginning of fall.  I have found these beetles in my house before and upon hours of looking online I can’t seem to find a match for them. Ive found some close but not the same. This one is approximately 2-2.5cm long. And they smell absolutely vile when you kill them.

This is Necrodes surinamensis, a carrion/burying beetle (Coleoptera/Silphidae) known as the redlined carrion beetle. Beetles in this family are nature’s recyclers, disposing of the carcasses of small birds and mammals as they feed their young; see http://tinyurl.com/hc2ns72 for more details. In the future, please release outdoors any of these that should find their way inside, so that they may carry out their duties.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5805   Hi. My name is Tim, and I am located in Hanwell, New Brunswick. I found this dried out husk in my patio door track. I believe it may be a dried out, deflated June Bug, but I wanted to make sure it wasn’t something nasty that got into my house. It appears to be a very dark green with a split down it’s back. It is a large specimen.  This is a very useful site. I have identified many strange looking bugs here. A great resource to have.  – Tim –

This is a predaceous diving beetle (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae), likely either Cybister fimbriolatus or Dytiscus verticalis (the distinguishing characters cannot be seen in this image. These beetles and their larvae (water tigers) are general predator on other small aquatic life forms, usually other insects, but occasionally small minnows and tadpoles. The adult beetles are strong fliers, and often can be found quite some distance from the nearest water. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5803   Hi there, I found this very tiny insect in my bathroom. It has an oval shape and yellow color, 6 legs and 2 antennas. The macro zoom is 19x. Could I please know the name of this insect?   Thank you in advance,   – Gregory

This is not an insect, but a mite. What appear to be antennae actually are its first pair of legs. There are several other arthropods lacking antennae that use one pair of their legs (usually the first pair) as if they were antennae. I cannot tell exactly what kind of mite this is, but it does not appear to be a biting kind like bird or rodent mites. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5801  My name is Cynthia Reason and I’m a reporter with Metroland Media Toronto.  I was wondering if you can tell me if the insects in the attached photo are Box Elders Bugs or not?  We’ve had a couple of concerned residents contact us about a fairly large swarm of them in York, and we were hoping to shed some light.  Also, would you be willing to comment for the story, addressing the fact that they are merely a nuisance pest, but not necessarily harmful? Thanks for your time! Cynthia. 

Yes the photo you sent is a typical swarm of box elder bugs.  Apparently this is common in Ontario at this time of year.  They are seldom seen in B.C. so I personally never had to deal with them when I was in the pest control business for 20+ years.   They are harmless to humans and any damage to vegetation is minimal.  If they die in wall cavities of a home, the carcasses can be a food source that will attract other pests such as carpet beetles.  Please see  http://pestcontrolcanada.com/box-elder-bugs  for more information.  If they become too much of a nuisance, a simple, inexpensive and safe control solution is to spray the clusters with soapy water.  (Safer Soap is available at most garden shops)  There are more suggestions on the web page.
Larry Cross,   Webmanager.

5799  Hi, I’m from waterloo Ontario. I am finding these tiny beetle bugs constantly in my home. I have no idea what they are or if it’s a real issue. I’ve attached a few pictures. Thank you Samantha

This appears to be Ahasverus advena (Coleoptera: Silvanidae), a nuisance pest known as the foreign grain beetle or new house beetle – see http://tinyurl.com/hf8k843 for images and more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5797    Hello.   I am in Kingston, ON and curious to know what this specimen might be.  I found many of them sunning themselves on the stucco of a foundation.   Thank you for this service,   Matthew.

These are boxelder bugs (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Rhopalidae; Boisea sp.); likely the eastern boxelder bug, B. trivittata. 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.

5795   Found in our daughter’s bed after she woke up with bites!  Measures about 1-2mm – very small!  Thank you!  Susi.  Calgary.

This a flea that will feed on any warm blooded creature, especially humans.  To eliminate them in your home 1) Take your pets to a vet for treatment, 2) Vacuum, Vacuum, vacuum. 3) Have a pest professional treat your home with residual products that will kill the adults and insect growth regulators to eliminate the eggs and larva.  (IGR). More information: http://pestcontrolcanada.com/fleas

5793  Last night I sent a picture of a bug I found in my bed. It was taken with my cell. I found a live version of this bug this morning on my carpet and have taken a better picture with my camera (I hope). I really hoping it isn’t a bedbug. Once again, I live in Toronto and this bug is easily squished and has a lot of blood in it. Thanks for your help.

This, unfortunately is a bed bug that has had a good blood meal.   The best control solution is to call an experienced pest professional.  In the mean time do not spray pesticides that could scatter them making it more difficult to find others.  See our web page for helpful information: 
http://pestcontrolcanada.com/how-to-get-rid-of-bed-bugs

5790  Hi,   My name is Leslie and we live in Calgary.  We noticed hundreds of these flying insects (both large as in the picture and many very tiny ones as well) around a large window on our stair landing and then found hundreds more along the base of one wall in an unfinished part of our basement.  We sprayed the basement and it immediately killed them and then we vacuumed up the rest on the landing.  We haven’t seen a single one in the last  week so it seems we’ve eradicated them.  I would like to know if these little guys do any damage and if it’s likely they will come back.  Many thanks for your help!

This is a winged ant, likely a female ‘queen.’ Unfortunately, I cannot tell what kind it is from this image; the only ones to be concerned about from a damage standpoint are carpenter ants in the genus Camponotus. See http://tinyurl.com/zbfx3m8 elsewhere on this site for detailed information on these pests. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5788   Hi, this is Lili from Moncton New Brunswick. Found these bugs around outdoor plants in early September.  They are very small, with black head, red body with stripes. And they appear in groups. There are some little red things around them, not sure whether those are eggs or babies. Please help, thanks!  Lili

This appears to be a nymph of a white-margined burrower bug, Sehirus cinctus (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Cydnidae). These are not pests that need any control; see http://tinyurl.com/zebkvpk for images and detailed information on its life history. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5786   My name is Nolen.  I live in Delta, BC and it’s late summer. What is this thing I killed?  Thanks,  Nolen

This is a crane fly.   The adults are a nuisance but considered harmless.  The species common in the pacific northwest are a serious problem because the larvae,  also known as leather jackets, feed on the roots of plants, mainly turf grass. Sometimes crane fly populations get high enough to cause damage to lawns.
More information: http://whatcom.wsu.edu/cranefly/faq.htm

5784  Hello i live in mn.. I know it’s not Canada but I hope close enough for you help. I’ve looked everywhere for this bug in the net and can’t find it.. please help identify.

Nice find! This appears to be a male beetle in the family Phengodidae (glow-worms, railroad beetles). See http://tinyurl.com/cond3tn for detailed information on these fascinating insects. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5782    This  Caterpillar was in Regina SASK Canada in AUG.  2016     Thanks  Conrad

This is a fully grown caterpillar of a sphinx moth (Lepidoptera; Sphingidae); likely an Achemon sphinx, Eumorpha achemon. See http://tinyurl.com/znasbkt for images and details on its life history. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5780   I have been seeing this bug recently here in Saint John NB in my back yard. The bug is smaller then the photo makes it out to be. The body of the bug is about a cm and the tail would be about 4-5 inches. It also flies. Please let me know if you know what this bug is. Thank you!

This is Pelecinus polyturator  (Hymenoptera: Pelecinidae), it is parasitic on the larvae (grubs) of beetles in the family Scarabaeidae. See http://tinyurl.com/p9wnnt4 for more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5778   It’s almost 2 inches big. It’s living between the windows (outside and inside) of townhouse in Edmonton. Photo taken mid August of this year. Please, please can you respond. Need to know if something to worry about, as there is a 1 year old baby as well 2 dogs. Thank you.  Dave H.

Nothing to worry about here – it’s a harmless orb weaver in the genus Araneus, possibly Araneus gemmoides, known as the cat-face orb weaver; see http://tinyurl.com/j9jjvy9 for an image. All orb weavers are harmless to humans. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.