Pest Identification Photos

5744   Hi, my name is Ronna. I found this bug in my back yard in Moncton, NB on a hot sunny July day.  What is it?

This is a nymph of a stink bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in the genus Podisus. Bugs in this genus are known as soldier bugs, and as general predators on many other arthropods often are considered beneficial by gardeners. See http://tinyurl.com/hhywusm for more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5742   Hello,  My name is Joy and I live in Jemseg, NB.  Encountered this spider in my raspberry patch last evening.
Thanks. 

This is an orb weaving spider in the family Araneidae; it looks like Araneus marmoreus, known as the marbled orb weaver. This species is highly polymorphic, exhibiting a very wide range of individual variation in colour patterns. See http://tinyurl.com/zyq5dmu for more detailed information on this species. All orb weavers are harmless to humans. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5740  IDENTIFY WHAT TYPE OF BUG THIS IS PLEASE AND THANK You. I was in Florida a few months back. Is it possible it might have came from the beach? Found it in my laundry room where all the scuba, beach items are kept. Please let me know ASAP Cheers! Debbie

This is a nymph of an assassin bug (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) known as the masked hunter (Reduvius personatus). This is a peridomestic species with a wide distribution, and it does have a reputation for a very painful (but not dangerous) bite; see http://tinyurl.com/23g4bdy for more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5738  Could you please identify this spider for me. I have quite a few lurking around. They hide during the day and are only on Web in the early evening and night. Seem harmless enough. Just want to make sure. I think this is his underside

This is an orb weaving spider (family Araneidae) in the genus Araneus; a specific i.d. is not possible from this view. All orb weavers are harmless to humans. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. 

5736  Bug for identification please. July 24, 2016. Brant County, Ontario. Lister.

This is a male eastern dobsonfly Corydalus cornutus (Megaloptera: Corydalidae); Their long, forceps-like mandibles apparently are used primarily in courtship, they have little leverage and are incapable of inflicting more than a light pinch to humans skin. On the other hand, the much shorter mandibles of the female (see no. 5735) are very strong, and their bite can draw blood. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. 

5732   Please help me identify these bugs eating my plants.  My name is Maureen.  I live in Thunder Bay Ontario Canada.  The photo was taken today july 20th.  It has been a very wet summer – hot right now.  The bugs were found on my Lilly plant outside.  Thank you.

Asian lily beetle. They will completely destroy your lilies if left unchecked. Best way to get rid of them is manually killing them with needle nose pliers or fingers. Check lilies every day. Pierre Henri.

5730   Hi, I found this little guy on my concrete patio. It is a about 1.25 inches in length when the head was up and tail not sort of curled like in the photo. The insect was alive when I took the photo and was playing dead. I do Live in Edmonton Alberta and have never seen something like this. Just wondering what it was..      Thanks. The Van Der Kley’s

This is a beetle in the family Silphidae (carrion/burying/sexton beetles); it looks like Nicrophorus guttula – the yellow-bellied burying beetle, see http://tinyurl.com/gv92rbj for an image. These beetles locate and bury the carcasses of recently deceased small mammals or birds, and then deposit their eggs on the carcass that their larvae will feed upon. Some species exhibit a fair amount of parental care for their offspring. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5728  This spider was found on a outdoor deck at Christina Lake in southern B.C. on the 28th of June on a hot afternoon in the shade. It was aproximately 2 inches long. Thanks for help with I.D. Is it poisonous? We have babies and young children. Should we worry?

– This is an orb weaving spider in the genus Araneus. Like the vast majority of spiders, it has venom glands and thus technically is venomous, but all orb weavers are harmless to humans. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5726   Found around Valemount, British Columbia on 7/8/2016.   Roberta

This might be one of the so-called ‘tailed frogs’ in the genus Ascaphus. If so, it would have a short, stubby tail between its hind legs (cannot tell for certain from your image). See http://tinyurl.com/jgvaset for an example. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5724  Found this while I was on my bed. I think it pinched my finger when I was brushing it off my pants… Just wondering what it is. I am in Saskatchewan Canada. Thanks ! Paulina

This is an arachnid called a pseudoscorpion. They are general predators on other small arthropods and completely harmless to humans. See http://tinyurl.com/ox8sx4o for more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

5722   Hello,  Found about 5 in the last week.  Always in kitchen. Started seeing them in mid June. In Montreal, Quebec. About 1cm in length. Don’t remember seeing any during the winter. Seem to see more of them in the house when it’s warm and humid outdoors (we usually have the a/c on pretty high)  Thank you.  Mario. T 

This is a click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae). They are accidental intruders that will not cause any damage to anything in your home. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

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.