I have lived here all my live and this is the first one I have ever seen, what is it.  Preston Johnson
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 This is the larva of a sphinx moth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). These larvae sometimes are called ‘horntails’ because of the fearsome-looking but harmless spine-like projection on their tail end.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist.  Sinks Grove, WV 

This is a bee, but I cannot be certain of the family. It might be a Megachilid, commonly known as leafcutter bees.

Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist.  Sinks Grove, WV

It has probably been awhile since you posted your question #196 but I believe that is a Ambush Bug is the name no it is not a bee.  D. A. 
  

No offense to D.A., but that is definitely not an Ambush bug.  Ed is correct that it is a bee, and I agree that it is of Megachilidae.  Although making an ID from the picture is difficult, I have to say it looks very much like a Megachile maritima.  J.D. Roberts, Entomologist
   (New posting)  It occurred to me that this could very likely be a sexually dimorphic male of the Xylocopa genus (Carpenter bee).  After further research, I think it could possibly be Xylocopa brasilianorum, X. varipunctata (http://www.insectaculture.com/xvaripunctata.htm), or X. frontalis (http://zoo.bio.ufpr.br/hymenoptera/maracuja_visitantes.htm).
J.D. Roberts, Entomologist     

This appears to be clear-winged moth (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae). The adult moths often are brightly colored, and sometimes mimic wasps in appearance and flight behavior. The larvae are wood-borers, and some species are important pests on trees and shrubs.

Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist.  Sinks Grove, WV      
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This moth is the Scarlet-Bodied Wasp Moth (Cosmosoma myrodora), it belongs to the family Arctiidae subfamily Syntominae. The link leads to a picture and a distribution map.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/moths/usa/19501.htm
Martin Hauser,  Department of Entomology, University of Illinois
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This is a carrion beetle (Coleoptera: Silphidae) in the genus Nicrophorus. Also known as Sexton beetles or burying beetles, these interesting creatures perform a useful (by human standards) role in nature by consuming carcasses of small dead birds and animals. They are becoming increasingly scarce in the United States, and at least one species is considered federally endangered (see http://www.northern.edu/natsource/ENDANG1/Buryin1.htm  for details). As a child 50 years ago, I saw them quite frequently on our farm, but now, to find one is a real treat. By the way, the mites you see on the beetle apparently help keep the beetle’s food supply safe by feeding on fly eggs and also clean bacteria from the beetle itself. They ‘hitch a ride’ (phoresy) on the beetle to ensure that they arrive at the food site.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist.   Sinks Grove, WV

 #186.  We have found several of these in our home.  We live in central NC.  They are 1/2 inch to 1 inch long.  What are they? Richard
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 #185 This insect has the shape of a fly, is about 2 cm long and maybe 2.5 cm across. The design on its wings is striking and probably makes it easily identifiable to someone trained to do so. I found it in late afternoon, in a meadow near Kingston Ontario which is on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. It flew from flower to flower, apparently feeding. Many thanks to Sandra C. and Martin Hauser for helping me with an earlier identification.  Steven Burke
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This is a house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata), common throughout much of the United States and Canada. They often are found indoors, especially in basements and bathrooms. They are much faster movers than most centipedes, and are predators on many other arthropods. See http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/iiin/housece.html for a fact sheet. 

Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist.  Sinks Grove, WV 

 #183  This interesting looking spider has made quite a large web outside of our home in the back of our house.  It has been there for about a week now.  It's body is about the size of a dime and the picture is obviously from its underside.  We live in the Hudson Valley in New York State.  Do you have any idea what type of spider this is?  Thanks.
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One night we killed 20 of these things in the bathroom.  Usually we only find 5-6 per night.  The bathroom is directly above the kitchen and we think they are following the pipes, though when I startle them at night they run under the door frame in the bathroom.  We have seen the odd one in other parts of the house but suspect our cats are catching them and playing with them.  They are very small.  At first we could barely see them.  Now they are about a quarter of an inch at most.  They are medium brown with long attenae and move quickly and erratically.  They do not stay along the walls but move across the floor in zig zags and circles.  They only come out late at night and are initially 'frozen' by light but then start moving very fast.  They can be easily crushed with a paper towel or piece of toilet paper. 

I suspect they are German cockroaches, but they do not behave anything like the big black cockroaches I have encountered in apartments in the past.  They have been ignoring the cockroach bait stations we put out and have not shown any interest in garbage cans or any food left out in the kitchen.  My husband and I have started covering everything and taking away the cats food and water at night and putting the plugs in the sink drains to ensure that these bugs don't have any obvious source of food or water.  Things are not getting worse, but we aren't getting rid of them, either. 

Can anyone tell me what these are and how to get rid of them?  I found one in the baby's nursery (next to the bathroom) the other night and that was the last straw for me!  Thanks.  Angela
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You likely are correct in believing that you have German cockroaches (Blattella germanica), although because of the blurriness of the photo, there is a remote possibility that they might be brown-banded cockroaches (Supella longipalpa), which also are small and fast-moving. See http://pested.unl.edu/bbroa.jpg  for links to images of both species. Also see http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2099.html for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist.  Sinks Grove, WV

#180   These flying insects are all over our yards and came out all at once in the past 3 weeks.

What are they? are they harmful?  Thanks for your help.  Paul

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Crane Fly. These Daddy long legs are not much of a problem, except they will lay eggs in your lawn which will develop into leatherjacket larva.  In large numbers the leatherjacket larva can kill large areas of the grass by eating the roots. Unfortunately in many parts of Canada it is against the law to use pesticides to control this pest. The larva  develop into Crane flies in the late summer and are quite noticeable because of their size. More information on this web page:  http://www.hdra.org.uk/factsheets/pc13.htm
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A follow-up to the answer already posted: Although the larvae of a few species of crane flies (largely of European origin) can indeed damage roots of plants including many grasses and some young conifers
(see http://www.forestry.ubc.ca/fetch21/FRST308/lab3/tipula_paludosa/leather.html ), the larvae of most species are detritus feeders in aquatic or semi-aquatic environments, and those of a few aquatic species are predaceous on other arthropods. Because so many other insects can cause damage patterns very similar to that attributed to leatherjackets, some caution should be exercised in determining the culprit responsible. For more general information on this family of insects, see http://lakes.chebucto.org/ZOOBENTH/BENTHOS/xv.html and http://collections.ic.gc.ca/biodiversity/family/Tipulidae.html  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist, Sinks Grove, WV

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This is a larder beetle (Dermestes lardarius; Coleoptera: Dermestidae). They are cosmopolitan in distribution, and will feed on just about anything that contains protein. In the days before home refrigerators were common, these beetles often infested dried meats. Today, they can still be found in many homes, but usually are not a serious pest. We still find the occasional specimen in our house.
For more details see: www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/larder_beetle.htm
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist,  Sinks Grove, WV

  #173 This dead one was found, along with a few other live ones of similar size on the basement floor of a home in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It appeared dried out....much like a castoff snake-skin.

 The white spot on it's back is just light reflection.     Any ideas?  Heath
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Appears to be a very dead and desiccated small centipede, possible an immature house centipede, Scutigera coleoptrata. These are commonly found in basements of houses. These basically are harmless to humans, but are general predators on a wide variety of small insects and other arthropods. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist,  Sinks Grove, WV

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Another orb-weaving spider; see No. 175.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist,  Sinks Grove, WV

 It looks like a Soldier beetle or Cantharid. They love sitting in flowers http://collections.ic.gc.ca/biodiversity/family/Cantharidae.html  ,
Martin Hauser, Department of Entomology, University of Illinois

This is a Rove beetle (Family Staphylinidae). So your neighbor will live because they can not sting. They just try to pretend that they are dangerous (and it worked). They can fly (they fold their wings with the help of their abdomen) and they are often predators of smaller insects. Often they come to road kill or dung and feed on fly maggots. The family is very diverse with thousands of species in North America.   http://tolweb.org/tree?group=Staphylinidae&contgroup=Staphylinoidea
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/misc/beetles/rove_beetles.htm  ,        Martin Hauser, Department of Entomology, University of Illinois

Another orb-weaving spider; see No. 175. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist,  Sinks Grove, WV

  #154   Found in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, creeping on the front lawn. A moth or butterfly larvae species? Name?   LA

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Larva of a large sphinx moth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). Adults sometimes called hummingbird moths or hawk moths.    Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist, Sinks Grove, WV
 

The critters in question are male ants. As you can see they cannot bite because of poor jaws or sting. They were simply trying to get out to a mating flight where they mate with winged queens. They should be no threat at all. :)   Bob

#149   Hi -  Something very similar to #113.  Found in a head of lettuce in Duncan on Vancouver Island, this guy measures about 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" long, makes a small squeaky/hiss sound, and his legs can really grab hold with tiny hooks.  I think he just let out a smell too. I haven't been able to identify him as any kind of Stick beetle so far, or cleoptera, but I think he is from this genus. Hope we can identify this guy.   Maureen and Rob

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You are correct about this insect being very similar to #113, the ten-lined June Beetle (Polyphylla decemlineata; Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). If it is not the same species, it is an extremely close relative.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist, Sinks Grove, WV 

#148  I just found this creature down the road from my house (Richmond BC). Is it a type of earwig? 

Shula.  Richmond, BC.
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  Definitely NOT an earwig, but photo not clear enough for a definitive identification if the lateral projections are legs, it would be a small centipede, but if they are spines/setae, it most likely is the larva of a beetle. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist, Sinks Grove, WV 
 

This is Julia replying to Cary's identification. You're right, it was indeed an Indian meal moth - thank you!  And we located the source of the infestation:  a bag of peanuts that had been left open in a cupboard.  Needless to say, those peanuts are history.  We've done some additional cleaning up; so now, aside from the occasional straggler, looks like the moths are gone.  We'll be more careful of our stored dried goods in future.  Thanks again for your assistance.

 #144  Just wondering what kind this was.  Thank you.  D.G.