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Pest Identification Photos # 1001 to 1100 What is this pest?  

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Some comments
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This  site is fascinating! We just finished watching the new David Attenborough series on "Life in the Undergrowth". These creatures you are identifying are very important to life on the planet and I am very happy to have discovered your site after watching the series! Spellbinding! thank you.... Beth


I'd like to add my sincere thanks to everyone responsible for this very informative web site, especially Ed Saugstad.  Publishing 1000 pest photos and identifying them must have taken many hours. 
I recommend this site to all my students as a reliable learning resource.  Charles McD.   Toronto.


Congratulations for having received question #1000, and I'd also like to join the previous readers in thanking Ed Saugstad for his conscientious work of providing great answers to all questions; I also like this site a lot, I even added it to my browser's toolbar! Best regards, -Peter (Canton, MI)


This is a wonderful web-site! I learn something every time I visit, and have even had a couple of our own pests identified by your resident experts (including the weevil, #989 which is presently visiting our home, in northern Alberta) :)
    What I really want is to send a big thank-you to Ed Saugstad for the frequent responses and very helpful information, including web-links, for the many "bugs" that appear on these pages. He clearly loves what he is doing, and we are all beneficiaries of his beneficence.  Thank you, Ed!    
Ted Drouin,  retired biologist (not entomologist, though)


 
Thanks to Ted Drouin and others for the kind words - this actually is fun, and teaches me how little I really know! 
 
Ed Saugstad


I do some photography of various critters found around my house (central Okanagan, BC) as well as exotics from private collections.  Often I have pictures I cannot complete as I have no name.  Your site helps me find these names.  Keep up the good work. 
John Whittall           http://www.members.shaw.ca
/jbc100/

 

 

A little background on a volunteer expert respondent:
Ed Saugstad. 
B.S. in Entomology - NDSU, 1963.  M.S. in Entomology - Purdue University, 1967
A life-long interest in natural history. Formally trained in entomology, he also has a personal interest in herpetology and has read widely in many biological fields.  He is a member of Entomological Society of America, Society for Vector Ecology & National Speleological Society.

 

 

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1100  I live in mid Manitoba, its early September. I've been finding a couple of these in the basement in my ferret enclosure which I clean 2x a day. They are about a half an inch long, have a dark segmented body and a white underside with 6 legs at the front and many tiny hair-like projections at the sides. What are they and what can I do?  Jacqueline.
This appears to be a larva of a larder beetle (Dermestes lardarius; Coleoptera: Dermestidae), a common pantry pest that feeds on a wide variety of proteinaceous foodstuffs, including cured meats. See http://k41.pbase.com/u38/holopain/large/32059066.Dermesteslardarius.jpg       for an image of a larva, and pest photo no. 1087 for the adult beetles. A fact sheet found at http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2104.html includes control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1099   I live in west central Saskatchewan. I seem to have these little beetles in my house. I find them in cardboard boxes, under newspaper, in folded clothes. It seems that they climb the walls in the night because often first thing in the morning, I find them on the ceiling in different rooms. I do not find them in any pantry items. They do not smell. They crush quite easily. I would like to identify so that I can discuss with an exterminator how to get rid of them when I also have parrots in the house. Enclosed 2 pictures. One showing size and the other showing the little beetle better. Thank you.  Wayne
Although no scale was provided in the photo posted, the overall appearance of the beetle is very much like those in the genus Tribolium (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Two species in this genus, T. confusum (the confused flour beetle) and T. castaneum (the red flour beetle) are common pantry pests. See http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/teneb/Tribolium_confusum.jpg and http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/teneb/Tribolium_castaneum.jpg for images of these beetles, both species are about 3.5 - 5.0 mm long. See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2087.html for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations. Although you say that you have not found them in pantry items, have you also checked containers of dry pet food? Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
  
First, thank you very much for your time. While I've wondered if it was a confused flour beetle, the thorax seems the wrong shape and more separated from the lower body.
Enclosed this pix. hopefully to show size and a clearer picture. While the measure is showing in inches, I believe this one is slightly over 6mm in size. Have never found them in the dried dog food but perhaps I haven't looked hard enough (I will now). I also don't find them in the bird seed. Folded over newspaper will often be a spot I find some, or as mentioned, in folded clothes. A crack in a piece of wood will often have some in it although maybe that is a place to lay eggs?  Again, thank you for any further thoughts you may have. Wayne
 
Unfortunately, neither photo is clear enough to see diagnostic characters (tarsal and antennal segments, coxae, etc.) needed to run the beetles through a key. In my initial diagnosis, I had assumed (usually a bad idea) that the separation between the thorax and abdomen was an artifact of the beetles having been slightly squashed. If they are not flour beetles or a close relative, they may be only nuisance pests as opposed to something one would have to be worried about. If you can take clearer photos at a greater magnification, I can take another stab at them. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1098  I live in south Florida USA. I saw three four of these pest in my bed room, bath room and in the living room. I saw them two or three times in a week. I have never seen this in side my home before. Someone told me that it is in the AC duct and so clean ac duct with professional cleaner, but after that also I see it once in my bed room. Now I am calling a professional pest control person and he is saying that it is coming from outside. But All my doors and windows are closed all the time and it is not possible for the pest to come inside. It scrolled very fast on carpet but looses its speed on tiles. Is it poisonous? It is very scary. Is it a snake? How can I get rid of the creature. Any suggestions?  Thank you.  Manideep
Difficult to be certain from the photo, but this more likely is an oligochaete worm than a millipede (and definitely NOT a snake), as I can see no evidence of any appendages. See http://bmbiris.bmb.uga.edu/wampler/biolum/worm/img004.JPG for an image of Diplocardia longa, a very slender worm found in the southeastern US. In either case, it would not be poisonous or a serious pest, but simply an unwanted indoors intruder. If you have indoors potted plants, you might check their soil for the presence of these creatures.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
                         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That is a blind snake from some Asian (Japan or China) country I live in central Florida and have those in my house on occasions they live in house plants and dirt like a worm but don't stay in the ground when it rains.  Susan
1097  I live in Winnipeg, Canada. I have a question to any experts out there. A week ago, I saw what looks like a yellow jacket wasp land in a pot lamp fixture over my front door, and never come out. Examining the fixture, I could see that insects could have access to the empty space behind the fixture through mounting slots for the screws holding the fixture in place. Am I correct in suspecting that a queen wasp could be using this space to hibernate over winter?  I today sealed the holes in the fixture with caulking.  I have endured an infestation of wasps into my house this summer. They had established a nest behind a eavestrough over my kitchen area, and I found up to half a dozen of them on the inside on the dinette windows each morning. I eventually destroyed the nest. Thanks.  Michael.
This is a yellowjacket.  The pot light is an excellent entry point for a queen to spend the the winter. She will emerge in the spring to start building a new nest.  When wasps build nests in a building cavity some of them may accidentally find their way into your living space.
1096  I found three of these in my bed. The attached picture was taken at 60X magnification. They are about 1/3 centimeter long - see the pin head for some sense of scale. I live in Portland, Oregon. Please have a look at the attached picture - any idea what they are? Could they be Silverfish in a early stage of life (I have seen those around). Thanks, Dale
These are larvae of dermestid beetles, likely in the genus Anthrenus (see http://www.lucianabartolini.net/Immagini/strani_due/dscn2717.jpg for an image). Known as carpet or furniture beetles, the larvae can do severe damage to materials of animal origin, such as woolen fabric/carpets. You should carefully inspect all such items for the presence of these larvae or signs of their damage. See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2103.html for more information, including control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
Earwig1095  Location: Vancouver BC.  Place: Backyard of House.  Help!  I have hundreds if not thousands of these things in my backyard.  One stung my wife (quite painful she said).  If I leave a water cup out there will be 6 or 8 of these things in it the next day.  I think they are falling from the pine trees.  Do they nest together?  Were do they live?  In Pine Trees?  Can I destroy the nest?  I don’t want my kids getting bitten…  Thanks for any info.  Jason
This is an earwig (order Dermaptera). Primarily scavengers, some species can damage tender vegetation. For the most part, they are considered nuisance pests, and they can occur in tremendous numbers. They don’t bite, but they can give a slight pinch with the forceps-like cerci at the end of their abdomen. They thrive in moist environments that include abundant harborage (they are nocturnal in habit, remaining under cover during the daytime). See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2068.html for a fact sheet that includes control measures. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
wooly aphid1094  Cool website! I was hoping someone could identify this bug for me. I live in Southern California near the coast and found this rather small, "White waxy pill bug like creature" crawling around the bark of our Tangelo tree. My husband describes it as a, "White elliptical walking shag carpet". I have also seen them in our lemon tree. When disturbed/poked at with a pine needle the waxy shag easily breaks apart. The beast seems to be pill/sow bug in body yet flat, same kind of feet...Any ideas?  Ann
This appears to be a woolly aphid (Homoptera: Eriosomatidae). Some species, such as the woolly apple aphid, can be economically important pests. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1093  We saw several of these on golden rod today.  They are quite striking.  Can you tell me what they are. Jeff.  Rochester, New York
These are long-horned wood-boring beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), specifically locust borers, Megacyllene robinae -
see
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/fidls/locust/locust.htm for more information.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1092  I just came upon your wonderful site.    The pictures I have are of a fly (?) we saw on the counter in the kitchen.  It as about 3/8" long and seemed to be drinking off the damp counter.  As it walked, its wings moved backwards and forwards. We released it after it had finished drinking.  I looked at other sites for a key, but some of them are much too technical for me.  I looked in diptera because it seems to have only one set of wings, but I couldn't find it.  I'm sure that it is not a pest.  Can you help identify it for me? I live in Edmonton, Alberta.
 
This appears to be a fruit fly in the family Tephritidae. This family includes several species of economic importance, such as the Mediterranean fruit fly, apple maggot, and blueberry maggot. Fortunately, your specimen does not match any of those. The wings of flies in this family usually bear striking markings, and wing movement plays an important part in their courtship. Also, some researchers believe that certain wing patterns in conjunction with wing movement may mimic the posture of jumping spiders, and thus afford he flies some protection from predation - see http://www.users.qwest.net/~phidippus/page14.htm
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
                  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sorry this is not a Fruit fly, Tephritidae, it is a Flutter Fly, Pallopteridae. A close relative of the Fruit flies. This is the genus Palloptera (=Toxoneura), the larvae live in decaying plant material or a predators of insect larvae, and are not considered a pest. Dr. Martin Hauser, Plant Pest Diagnostics, California Department of Food & Agriculture.
                         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks once more to Dr. Hauser for correcting a misidentification on my part. I simply was not familiar with the family Pallopteridae, but neither was I comfortable with designating it as a Tephritid, as there was something about the wing pattern that just didn’t seem right to me.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1091  We live in a wood frame house in North Vancouver, B.C. Canada. We have come accross several of these spiders. My son has experienced bites that are creating an inflammatory reaction.  We're trying to find out what kind of spider this is and whether or not it's bites are toxic. thanks,  Belinda
 This could be Enoplognatha ovata, a highly variable species in the family Theridiidae (cobweb spiders). See http://st.blog.cz/f/foto.blog.cz/obrazky/101589.jpg and http://www.ulg.ac.be/museezoo/ara/agrandi/images/45.jpg for images. It is not dangerous to humans. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1090  Hi;  I live in the Wasaga Beach area of Ontario, Canada, and while I was out in my back yard I saw this fellow in my geraniums. I was able to take this photo. Would it possible for you to identify it for me. Gary
This is a robber fly (Diptera: Asilidae). They are ambush predators on a wide variety of other arthropods; see nos. 1008, 987, and 915 for other examples. The depressed area between the eyes is characteristic for this family. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1089  Found this one wandering around here in Stratford Ontario.  Thought it was something in the Roach area but haven't seen any images like it so, anyone out there, any ideas ?  JKC
  This is a cockroach; likely in the genus Periplaneta, which includes household pest species such as the American, Australian, and smokybrown cockroaches - see http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/imgjun05/wd/periplaneta1.jpg , http://www.bugsincyberspace.com/roaches/images/p_australasiae1.jpg , and http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/kunkel/jpegs/pf_flm1.jpg for dorsal images.   Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Looks like an Oriental Roach, but I would have to see it in another view .Jay
1088  Hi.  I live in the Salmon Arm/Shuswap area of the BC Interior.  This beast with a 5" wingspan was spotted the other morning outside our front door.  It remained motionless for at least 6 hours before flying away.  Unable to identify after much Internet research.  Thanx. Nancy
This is a moth in the family Noctuidae, likely a color variant of the black witch, Ascalapha odorata; see http://cumuseum.colorado.edu/Exhibits/MothMatters/Images/ascalapha-odorata_web.jpg  for an image. The black witch is the largest member of the family Noctuidae found north of Mexico, with a wing span that can approach seven inches. A native of the American tropics, it is a very strong flier, and it has been reported from all 50 states as well as from southern Canada; see http://www.texasento.net/witchusmap.htm  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1087  I am trying to identify these beetles. I have been finding them in numerous locations in the house- mostly in the kitchen and living room. The marking on the wings is very distinctive. Is this a variation of a cigarette beetle? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!!!!
  These are larder beetles (Dermestes lardarius; Coleoptera: Dermestidae); household/pantry pests that will feed on a wide variety of proteinaceous materials. See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2104.html for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Larder Beetles.  Jay

1086 Hello I found this bug crawling on Orobanche sp.  where I work in As-Sweida, Syria (West Asia). The long of this bug is about 10 mm. Although the pictures are not clear, but I think the characteristics are obvious. It is Hemiptera, but I couldn't get further identification. Could anybody help? Thank you. Wa'el Almatni
 
This is a true bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera); likely in the family Lygaeidae (seed bugs). See http://insects.tamu.edu/images/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/odonata/lygaediae/lygaeus_kalmii_adult_lateral_m_01.jpg  for an image of a similar species found in North America. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1085 Can you identify this caterpillar? I live in northeast Ohio, in the suburbs of Cleveland.
I found 2 of them hanging out on my butterfly weed...not sure if they are actually butterfly caterpillars, or something destructive. Thanks! Jodie McLeod
This appears to be a caterpillar of the milkweed tussock moth (Euchaetes egle; Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). They often are communal feeders (see http://booksandnature.homestead.com/files/milkweed_tussock_moths1.jpg ), but are not considered pests.
1084  I live in Virginia but while I was camping, this was found in 4 Oaks, NC. On a truck door while camping surrounded by woods. This bug does fly when touched. Thanks Tiffani
 It appears that this is a Box Elder Bug, sometimes called a Maple Bug because it eats Manitoba maple trees.
Here is a closer and clearer picture of the insects in 1074. My wife calls them "Viburnum Beetles" because they used to infest our viburnum bush . . . however they do not resemble any reference to any Viburnum Beetle I have ever found..  John B.
       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a long-horned wood-boring beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). From its overall appearance, it may be one of the sawyers in the genus Monochamus; see no. 1029. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1083 I am curious as to what this insect is. It is not compressed like a flea, and resembles a type of beetle. The one thing that struck me as odd is the long pincher front appendages. It has three sets of legs and one set of pinchers = 4.  It is about 3 mm (not including pinchers). Picture was taken Sept.4, 2006 in southeastern New Brunswick, Canada in a home crawling along the wall. Any ideas on what this little critter is would satisfy my curiosity. Thank you, Anne
This is a pseudoscorpion, small arachnids that are harmless to humans, but voracious predators on other small arthropods. See no. 1072 for another example.Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1082  Is this a Bag Worm? Found in Ohio on the side of a Garage, above a juniper shrub. I've lived 52 inquisitive years in the same state and NEVER seen one! How amazing is that? Thank You!
Yes, this is a bagworm, likely the evergreen bagworm (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis; Lepidoptera: Psychidae). The adult female remains wingless and larviform, never leaving her bag. The adult males are winged (see http://ipm.ncsu.edu/AG189/html/Bagworm.HTML), and disperse in search of mates. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1081  We spotted this wasp (?) outside our cottage in central Ontario in June. Marybeth
   Giant Ichneumon Wasp - Megarhyssa atrata
  reference:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/59666/bgpage   Jenny  
                       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This an ichneumon wasp, likely the so-called giant ichneumon, Megarhyssa atrata (see http://www.rowanpix.com/inverts/images/ichneuman.jpg for an image of a female ovipositing. They are parasitic on larvae of wood wasps (Hymenoptera: Siricidae). Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
 
1080  Hi,  I live in Vancouver near the Fraser river.  I don't think it's a mosquito, although it flies like one.  There is a swarm of it outside my front entrance in the corner, where it is shady and sheltered from the wind. They fly into my face whenever I open my front door.  My husband nicknamed them the "reindeer flies", because of their antenna, but I'd really like to know what they are called.  Anybody know? thanks,  Wendy   
This is a midge in the family Chironomidae. Closely related to mosquitoes, they do not bite, but occur in such enormous numbers as to be extreme nuisances. See no. 951 for another example. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1079  Hello, I came across your web site, very cool. I just found these insects on my window sill, there are about a dozen or so of them alone just near my window, most are dead. I live in south San Jose, California. Are they termites? They look a lot bigger than termites I've seen before, they are almost 1/2 inch long from head to bottom of wing. I would not like to have my name mentioned on your web site. They don't seem to fly much and their wings look like they come off easily (lots of loose wings on window sill) Attached is a photo.  Thank you! Just a renter...whew!
Regards,  Marcie
 These appear to be alates of the western drywood termite, Incisitermes minor - see http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/images/l-1782_4.jpg for an image. They are larger than subterranean termites, and may emerge to migrate during warm, sunny days in the autumn. Even though you are a renter, you may wish to look at the control guidelines at http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7440.html or at least bring it to your landlord’s attention. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1078  I live in the Memphis, Tennessee area and found this insect on Saturday, September 02, 2006, at about 8:30 a.m.  I wasn’t sure if it was alive but nudged it after taking the pictures and it flew off.  Thanks for your help. John
 It's a dragonfly of the family Libellulidae. It's a little hard to tell the species from the photo, but it might be a variety known as "saddlebags," genus Tramea. Dragonflies eat other flying insects and are harmless to humans. --Emily R., studied dragonflies in graduate school.
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If this is a Tramea, it would just about have to be Tramea lacerata, the black saddlebags (see http://stephenville.tamu.edu/~fmitchel/dragonfly/Libellulidae/tl_1tta.jpg  for an image)- note the pale dorsal spots visible on some abdominal segments. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1077  I live in Indiana and my wife and I came across these little red bugs on our back porch.  They gathered closer together as the night came and the air got cooler.  They then made about a quarter sized spot on the wall.  This was taken in the evening though around 5 or so.  We wondered if they were cold.  We also notice they look kinda similar to the True Bugs (order Hemiptera) so we were curios to know if they were related.  We hope you can help us identify them, and thank you very much.  This is a very neat site.  thanks again.  Trevor
These are newly hatched nymphs of a true bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera), but I am not sure of their precise identity. Although they resemble very young nymphs of boxelder bugs, their proportions appear wrong for that species. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1076  Hi;   I found this little caterpillar on my dill plant in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  I have found quite a few this year.  This one is about ¾ to 1 inch long when resting, but stretches a bit when walking.  He is mostly black with yellow and white markings.  The really interesting thing about him is when he is poked, what looks like antennas stick out the front of his head and when he does this there is a very strong, unpleasant odour.  We have found some that were quite a bit longer – 1 and ½ inches long.  What are they, and what kind of butterfly/moth will they become? Is this a pest I should be worried about?  Thanks.  Barb
         This is a swallowtail butterfly caterpillar. They feed only on parsley and related plants. They'll take a chunk out of parsley production, but do turn in to beautiful butterflies-- let them be!
Shauna Dobbie, Publisher and Editor Ontario Gardener Living, Manitoba Gardener Living, Alberta Gardener Living, Canadian Trees, Beautiful Communities, Beautiful Landscapes and other fine magazines
   
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This most likely is a larva of the black swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), a species very widespread in eastern/central North America. However, the caterpillar of the Old World swallowtail (Papilio machaon) which also occurs in Manitoba, is very similar in appearance (see http://www.ybis.at/natur/tiere/schmbild/P8103428.jpg), and hybrids of these two species have been noted. The scent organ you noted is called an osmeterium, and the strong scent it emits is thought to be defensive in nature. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.                     
1075  These winged ants appeared in the third week of August...some inside the kitchen, others in a swarm outside. I live in South Delta, BC...any idea what kind of ants they are??  Doug Temoin
These are reproductive females, possibly field ants (
Formica spp.)  They look similar to Modoc carpenter ants but are smaller and swarm later in the summer.  If they are swarming indoors you may have a nest in a damp wall, floor or ceiling cavity.
Larry Cross.  PCS Gulf Islands.
 
Here is another one for you, Larry! Thanks for your quick response to #1075...a week later we had another swarm from the crack between our slab and the house, and in addition to specimens the size of those previous (#1075), were these biggies! Are they the same type or...?!? (they both had wings to begin with...)Thanks, Doug
 
The first swarm was probably reproductive males, which emerge earlier and are smaller than reproductive females (future queens)
1074  I live in Paris, Ontario. I have had these bugs around my house now for about 7 years. They appear every year in late August and swarm around my Manitoba maple. They like to stay near the pool as the concrete is very hot. How do I get rid of them. Bob
 You appear to have a large aggregation of boxelder bug (Boisea trivittatus; Hemiptera: Rhopalidae) nymphs. They do no real harm, but are considered nuisance pests. About the only things you can do to reduce the problem are to remove any nearby female (seedpod-bearing) boxelder trees and any potential harborage such as piles of boards, branches, rocks, etc. in your yard. Also, the aggregations themselves may be sprayed, but this will not prevent reinvasions. See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2106.html  for more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1073  we have had this bug for a week now in our freezer, it has shrunk in size but friends of ours have them too, we know they live under ground there about 1 3\4 inches long and are very loud when passing by. if you could help us it would be greatly appreciated we all do have small children. Thanks, Corey & Doug .
 
This is a cicada killer wasp.  It is not aggressive and if you see it catch a cicada, it’s quite a fascinating experience!  Here’s a link:  http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/HomeHort/F1Column/2004Articles/AUG22.htm. Pat in NJ
1072  I'm from Montreal, Canada.  We found this bug in our bed.  It has claws and seems to have 8 legs.  It looks like some kind of mix between a spider and a crab...  It’s pretty small.  I’d say about 3 of them would fit on a penny.  It got a little squished as we moved it, but I hope someone can still let me know what this is.  Marie
This is a pseudoscorpion, a general predator on other small arthropods. Most pseudoscorpions are secretive in habit, and usually escape human notice. They are completely harmless to humans; see http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2062.html for more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
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Looks like an adult pubic louse is about the size of this circle "o" and resembles a miniature crab when viewed through a strong magnifying glass. Pubic lice have six legs, but their two front legs are very large and look like the pincher claws of a crab; this is how they got the nickname "crabs." Pubic lice are tan to grayish-white in colour. Females lay nits and are usually larger than males. To live, adult lice must feed on blood. If the louse falls off a person, it dies within 1-2 days.
Attached is a link to a Fact sheet -
http://www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/dpd/parasites/lice/factsht_pubic_lice.htm#how_look
Merle - Ridgeway, Ontario
1071  I used a water trap with a light to get these specimens from my home.  They are flying insects and either sting or bite.  I have never seen these before and may have been carried in through package shipments.  They are quite small (dime comparison), a nuisance and need to be eliminated.  I appreciate your help in identifying this.  From Southwest Iowa.   Monte
 These may be hump-backed flies (Diptera: Phoridae; see http://www.phorid.net/phoridae/phorselva/melalon.gif); with their abdomens bloated through water immersion. They are harmless feeders on decaying vegetation, and although they may be considered nuisances by their unwanted presence, they do not bite or sting. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1070  Hi, Can someone please help me identify these bugs found in my kitchen.  I think they are the same as post 732.  Bug1 has wings, bug2 hasn't developed wings yet, both about 2mm long.  I believe I found eggs between the stove and counter top.  Everything was cleaned yesterday but today I'm still finding more of these little pests.  Please advise how to get rid of them and what they are.  Thanks from Vancouver, BC!
These might be cigarette beetles (Lasioderma serricorne; Coleoptera: Anobiidae). They will feed on a very wide variety of pantry items, including tobacco and spices. You should check all infestable products in your pantry, discarding anything that appears to be insect- infested. Larvae of cigarette beetles are C-shaped, less than 1/4" long, and hairy in appearance. After discarding infested items, the pantry shelves should be thoroughly cleaned, and remaining foodstuffs placed in sealable plastic, metal, or glass containers. See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2083.html for more detailed information on these pests. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1069  Hi. We live in the Fraser Valley, an hour east of Vancouver ,B.C. I would not normally post this information, but we seem to have a small problem. This spider, along with a couple of similar ones, was found in the master bathroom. Its almost as big as a "loonie", and does not move when discovered. We have found three in the last month all on the second floor of the house. There does not appear to be any webs. They are quite scary when you lift move something on the bathroom counter and find them sitting there!  Wayne Baier,  Chilliwack BC
 This appears to be a male funnel-web or grass spider (family Agelenidae); note the prominent spinnerets. The males often are found wandering about away from any web in search of potential mates. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
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This is definitely a spider of spp. Tegenaria, probably the large but harmless Tegenaria gigantea. These can be hard to tell from the venomous hobo spider (Tengenaria agrestis) though, as their coloration can vary, so approach with caution. These spiders are known as "house spiders" in the UK, where they probably originate, and 'funnel web spiders' in North America. This is not a grass spider.  Mark W.
1068  I found this on my stairwell wall in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  Its leg span is about 3 cm (a bit more than one inch).  We don't get a lot of big spiders around here and this is the largest I've seen.  Thanks, Gord
 I suspect that this could be a male wolf spider (family Lycosidae; harmless to humans), but I cannot be certain. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
 
1067  This little furry moth (?), about 3/4 inch long was found on our front door one morning in late spring in Montreal, QC. Never saw one before and cannot find in an field id guides. Thank you.
This appears to be a pearly wood nymph (Eudryas unio), in the family Noctuidae; see http://www.marylandmoths.com/Html/Noctuidae/Agaristinae/Eudryas_unio.html . Their resting pose is thought by some to resemble bird droppings. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1066  Hello. Can you please identify this. We live in Edmonton, Alberta. I do not recall this worm like creature being in this location two days ago when I inspected the area prior to painting. It has there today and has eaten it's way through the wood in one spot and was beginning a second hole as pictured. It is about an inch long and an 1/8" in diameter, yellow in color with black dots and what appears to be a black head. Any recommendations prior to filling the holes? Could it have left eggs or ?  Thanks in advance for your reply.  Christopher
This specimen does not resemble any wood-boring caterpillar or sawfly/wood wasp larva with which I am familiar. However, as it is a larva, it could not have laid any eggs, so you can fill the hole(s) without worry. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
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After further review, I believe that this is a sawfly larva, likely in the family Diprionidae. I am still puzzled about the wood-boring, as this does not appear to be typical behavior for these insects. It may have been trying to hollow out a place to in which to pupate.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1065  Hi.  I live on an acreage about 30 minutes south of Edmonton, Alberta.  I found this large dark brown spider in a sink full of water in my basement a couple of days ago.  I have never seen one quite so large before.  Can you tell me if it is this just a harmless garden spider of some sort or is it harmful?  Thanks!  Jim Whittaker
Although the visible spinnerets would seem to place this spider in the family Agelenidae (grass/funnel-web spiders), the shape of the abdomen is more typical of a wolf spider (family Lycosidae), and the protruding spinnerets could be an artifact of swelling subsequent to immersion in water. Unfortunately, one defining character of wolf spiders, namely the enlarged posterior median pair of eyes, cannot be seen in this image. In either case, these spiders generally are considered harmless to humans, although a specimen as large as this one could deliver a painful bite if mishandled. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1064  we live in central Minnesota and over the last few days we have been getting these on our screen, they are very small...about the length of a grain of rice but half the width. looks kinda like a mosquito but i don't think it is, thanx.  Donny
 This appears to be a naiad (immature) of a very small mayfly (order Ephemeroptera). Naiads of damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae have a similar appearance, but the smallest size of one of these that likely would be found out of water would be about 15-18 mm. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1063  Can you tell me what this is?  Mathew
 These are female reproductive caste ants (‘queens’). One of the ways that ants disperse and found new colonies is by the periodic occurrence of winged females and males. See no. 1033 for a male reproductive.
1062  Hi    This bug was found in a cool damp basement in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. I suspect it is a Pill Bug or Sow Bug.  Barry
 This an isopod (a group that includes sowbugs, woodlice, pillbugs, etc.. Although the markings on this specimen resemble those of Porcellio spinicornis (see http://www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted_sites/woodlice/photos/porcellio_spinicornis.jpg ), that species does not appear to be as slender. Porcellio spinicornis is a European species that has become quite widespread in North America.
1061  Can you identify this large caterpillar found in Cambridge, Ontario on a tomato plant?  Thanks, Gay
This is known as a Tomato/Tobacco Hornworm.l…you’ll find more info on them at…
http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4dmg/Pests/tomato.htm  Charlene
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The insect in photo 1061 is a tomato hornworm larvae.  It feeds on tomato plants.  They also feed on egglant, pepper and potato.  The wasp is its natural enemy. Dawn Dinoto, Michigan
1060  I live in South Eastern Alberta. I have several of these spiders in my home. They always seem to come around in mid - August. I would really like to know what this is because I have two small children. I would like to know if they are dangerous. This is a smaller version(size of a quarter) of what I had in my kitchen sink yesterday. It was the size of a loonie. And they move VERY fast. I am not a fan of spiders and these are making me very uncomfortable because of their size. Can somebody help identify it for me? Thanks!
 This is a male grass/funnel-web spider (family Agelenidae); note the enlarged pedipalps. Sometimes mistaken for wolf spiders (family Lycosidae), agelenids have relatively long spinnerets easily visible from above. Although one species in this family (the so-called hobo spider) has been implicated in causing slow-healing wounds, they are for the most part harmless to humans. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1059   Hi! My name is Brenda Lennon and I have been asked to identify this insect.  It was found in a restaurant in Co. Mayo in the West of Ireland.  The insect measures approximately 7mm in length and has distinctive green stripes on its abdomen.  I think it may be a member of the order Hemiptera as the hind legs are quite long, but I am not sure.  I would appreciate any help you could offer in its identification. Many thanks,  Brenda
This is either a leafhopper (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) or a planthopper (Homoptera: Fulgoridae); I cannot make out some of the diagnostic characters. These all are sap feeders, and some leafhoppers can be of considerable economic importance as vectors of viral plant diseases. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1058  Would you be able to identify these two caterpillars?
The yellow/black one was found feeding on a leaf in the early fall, while I was picking blueberries. Thanks, E. Stentaford.  Conception Bay South, Newfoundland
The caterpillar on the left could be a purple-lined sallow (Pyrrhia exprimens; Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Larvae in this genus are extremely variable in colouration. The yellow and black caterpillar appears to be that of a spotted tussock moth (Lophocampa maculata; Lepidoptera: Arctiidae); see http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl= http://www.discoverlife.org/nh/tx/Insecta/Lepidoptera/Arctiidae/Lophocampa/maculata/images/Lophocampa_ maculata:_larva.JP80106_13.320.jpg . They feed primarily on alder and willow, but also will feed on a wide variety of other trees and shrubs.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1057   I found this bug crawling up the interior wall of the office building where I work in Salinas, CA, USA. Have no idea what it is and was hoping someone here could help me out. Best I can come up with is a box-elder bug, but the markings don't really match. Thank you. Dave
This looks like a member of the family Lygaeidae (seed bugs), but I came across an image of a similar bug that was labeled as a leaf-footed bug (family Coreidae) - see http://bugpeople.org/cgi-bin/SuborderHeteroptera.pl?Coreidae(SSchutz)-A.jpg. 
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1056 Hello. I live on South Vancouver Island BC and recently found this cluster of what appears to be eggs attached to a dead twig from my Japanese Coral Bark Maple tree in the front yard. The eggs were creamy off-white when in the sunlight but then darkened somewhat when I took the twig off the tree and into the garage. Any ideas on what they could be? Could they be responsible for killing the branch of the tree? Thanks, Mark
These appear to be eggs of the fall cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria); Lepidoptera: Geometridae. Their caterpillars (often called ‘loopers’ or ‘inchworms’) can be serious defoliators of deciduous trees. See http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/fallcankerworm.htm for images and more information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1055  Hello, I live in eastern Ontario and I've been seeing many of these bugs in my yard lately, up to 20-25 swarming at one time. It's almost 2 inches long. They don't sting, I've been kicking and slapping and raiding them and they just keep on doing whatever it is they do. They seem to be living underneath the cement slab of the pool. Marc.
This is a wasp in the family Sphecidae. The image is too fuzzy to tell whether or not the thorax has fine white setae. If it does, it may be in the genus Isodontia (see http://www.pbase.com/tmurray74/image/31318779 ). Often called ‘grass carrying’ wasps, they line pre-existing cavities (such as carpenter bee nests, hollow stems, etc.) with grass and then construct cells that they provision with their insect prey. The wasps you observed likely were actively hunting. They are not aggressive, but are capable of stinging.   Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1054   Came across this insect (or more to the point it came across us, as it literally crawled across my foot while I was in the backseat of the car) between Cookstown and Innisfil in Southern Ontario.   What the heck is it? Marc Couture.
This is a giant water bug (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae; see nos. 1021 and 902 for other examples). General predators on other aquatic life, they also are known as electric light bugs or toe biters, and can deliver a painful ‘bite’ if mishandled. Adults are strong fliers, and often are found at quite some distance from water. See
http://www.naturenorth.com/summer/bug/wtbgF.html for more information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
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This is a water bug. (Hemiptera)  See picture 1021 for more info. Daniel Lillis

1053  Hi.  I was wondering if you can identify this pretty orange moth or butterfly.  I found it in Winnipeg, Manitoba early in June or July.  It was found near the river.  Thanks Barb
This appears to be an anglewing (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae; Polygonia spp.); see http://www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/species/SatyrComma_e.php  for an example. The undersides of the wings of these butterflies usually are much more drab (helping camouflage the insects when their wings are closed), and have a silvery spot or two resembling a comma or question mark, thus giving them their other common names (commas and question marks). Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
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 This is a Comma butterfly or also called an Angelwing butterfly.  Daniel Lillis
1052  Webmanager:  What is the name of this beautifully colored fly. I took the photo in the Drumheller Valley of central Alberta. I like to take macro photos of insects, and I have yet to see any that are this brilliant in color. Jim Currie Sylvan Lake AB- Canada
This is a beautiful photo of a cuckoo wasp (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae; see no. 1006 for another example). Most species are parasitic on the larvae of other wasps and bees; some others parasitize eggs of walking sticks. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
1051 I've seen more than one of these and I wonder what it is.  They act like moths and butterflies and have a long tubular tongue but have clear wings and a thick hairy thorax tapering to a small head.  These were taken in Boone N.C. in august and late afternoon on my butterfly bush.   Thanks, Jan Hayes
 This is a clear-winged sphinx moth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), such as those in the genus Hemaris (see http://www.cirrusimage.com/moths_snowberry_clearwing.htm). They sometimes are mistaken for large bees or even hummingbirds.
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This is a Hummingbird moth. (Family Sphingidae).  They are common visitors to butterfly bushes and can be found with yellow, green or orange coloration in
North Carolina.      Daniel Lillis
1050  This was roaming over my coneflowers. I live in Calgary, Alberta Canada.
Any ideas?  Jeri Strickland
This is a nymph of a true bug (Hemiptera), likely in the family Coreidae (leaf-footed bugs). Most members of this family are sap feeders, and some (such as the squash bug and the western conifer seed bug) can be serious pests. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1049  Hey, I am from Raleigh, North Carolina and I caught this insect last summer.  I believe it is a beetle because it has a chewing mouth and what appear to be short elytra.  I have been unable to id it and hoped that you could help me.  I can take more pictures if necessary.  Daniel Lillis
This indeed is a beetle, specifically, a male phenogodid beetle (Coleoptera: Phengodidae; Phengodes spp.); see http://www.cedarcreek.umn.edu/insects/album/024054002ap.html  for an image and no. 983 for another example. Sometimes called glowworm beetles, the wingless females remain larviform throughout their life (see http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/misc/beetles/phengodidae03.jpg ) , and can emit a firefly-like light when disturbed (see http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/misc/beetles/phengodidae05.jpg ) . Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1048 Hi,  This is a bug that we found on a maple tree in our backyard today. The insect is about 35 cm long without the tails. The tails are at least 75 cm long and the insect uses them to probe inside the tree. The bug crawls around the tree probing with its tails. When it finds something of interest it bends its tails underneath itself and slides its tails into tiny holes in the tree. The body then pulsates for a few minutes and the tails are extracted from the tree and the process gets repeated after a few minutes. Thanks in advance for any responses to this. Chris
This is a large ichneumon wasp (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) in the genus Megarhyssa; see http://www.cirrusimage.com/Hymenoptera/megarhyssa_fem_15.jpg for an image, and nos. 1038, 1024, and 962 for other examples. You observed your specimen in the act of laying its eggs in the tunnels of its larval host, likely one of the horntails in the family Siricidae. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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Photo 1048 is an Ichneumon wasp.  Most of these wasps are parasitoids.  They lay there eggs on a host and the eggs hatch, feed on the host and kill it when they exit.  The long tail is used to deposit eggs on their host.  The wasp was moving around on the tree trying to locate her host.
Daniel Lillis

1047 After going through all the photos on your wonderful site, I think this *might* be the nymph of an assassin bug, and yet the resemblance is not that great.  Does anyone recognize this?  Frankly, I'm not even sure which end is the head.  We've found several of these this summer in different parts of our house on Montreal's south shore; this one was in the bath.  They're all less than 5mm in length. Sorry that the photo isn't clearer. Many thanks, Peter Pagé.
This indeed appears to be a nymph of an assassin bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae); specifically the masked hunter, Reduvius personatus - its head is to the right in your photo. This is an introduced species that has become quite widespread in North America. The cuticle of nymphs is sticky, and the insect camouflages itself with debris that sticks to it (see http://www.insecta.ch/media/images/galerie/staubtierchen04s.jpg for an image). Although not dangerous to humans, it can deliver a very painful ‘bite’ if mishandled. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

1046 Hi, I live on the Queen Charlotte Islands in British Columbia. These apparently sap sucking insects(?) are on most of my indoor tropical houseplants. I first noticed them on a cutting I got from a school, and over 4 years they have spread throughout the room. They kill the leaves very slowly leaving them dripping sap (from their pooping, maybe) on the floor. You can see the sticky sheen on this mini umbrella tree in the pic. The larger ones can be squished. I have tried many types of control, (Safers insecticidal soap, dishsoap & water, RAID, rinsing the dirt, etc) and nothing seems to slow their spread. The don't visibly move, and I don't have any flying insects, (or bodies of) inside the house at all. Could they live in the dirt? Can they be killed? I have had some of my plants for ten years & they are huge. Please help!
The leaves appear to have scale (order Homoptera: Coccoidea)   Homopteras are sucking insects that are difficult to eradicate.  The chemicals that you applied can kill them while they are in their mobile stage but will do little good against the adults.  The adults have a protective layer that prevents the chemicals from being absorbed.  A common treatment for scale is to apply a systemic pesticide, which will absorb into the plant and kill insects that ingest the plant.  The shiny residue on the leaves is honeydew a sugar waste left by Homopteras.  Good luck with the scale and spray plants that are close by as well especially Ficus. Daniel Lillis
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These appear to be soft scale insects (Homoptera: Coccidae). The adult insects are covered by a waxy ‘scale’ that they secrete, giving them considerable protection from conventional household insecticides. The immature (‘crawler’) stages are not so protected, and can be killed by most such insecticides. Your best bet might be a fine oil-based spray (such as Safer's Ultra Fine Oil spray) applied at two to three-week intervals (several applications likely will be necessary). You might also try a systemic insecticide applied to the soil (the theory being that the plants will take up the insecticide, and any insect feeding on the sap then should be killed), but there is conflicting information as to its effectiveness on scale insects. Note that the scales will not change in appearance and will remain in place after the insects underneath are dead. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

1045 I live north of Prince Albert , in Mayview area. found this worm eating leaf on choke cherry tree. any idea what it is. Also, noted lots of what appears to be egg masses on the stem of the leaf, on all the new shoots , what are these as well? Lori
This appears to be an early instar caterpillar of the smeared dagger moth (Acronicta hasta; Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), sometimes called the cherry dagger moth. They will feed on leaves of wild black cherry, chokecherry, pin cherry, and wild plum; occasionally on red oak. This caterpillar becomes much darker in later instars; see http://www.giffbeaton.com/Caterpillars/2002-09-08_KMT_Cherry Dagger Moth.jpg . I’m not sure what the swellings on the petioles are - although I have never seen images of the eggs of Acronicta hasta, these objects do not resemble eggs of other species of Acronicta for which images are available. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

1044. I live in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, and would like to ask for your help. Several times per year, a colony of ants will appear overnight. on the sidewalk alongside our house foundation.  I have a small dog so I have restrained myself from using chemicals. I have tried just hosing them away, tried soapy water, and it has been suggested to try boiling water. Some of these have got rid of their presence but does not seemed to have any effect on preventing their reappearance. Ted Stanway, Cambridge, ON
  Unfortunately it is difficult to identify the ant species in your photo.  I suspect they may be some type of field ant. I assume the photos were taken after you applied the soapy water or flushed them out by saturating the nesting area with water.  If you can get a positive identification you could then try using an appropriate ant bait.  If they are carpenter ants, bait will probably not have much effect.  A residual insecticide injected into the crack along the sidewalk/house joint in small quantities should eliminate the problem.     L. .Cross.  PCS Gulf Islands.

1043  Here is a photo of a spider that we have and would like to have it identified.  We have seen it in just the desert areas of Utah.   Along side it is its friend that I found thinking it was a rubber toy my son had and picked it up... to my horrific surprise it moved in my hand and I screamed like a child... Kristy W.  Price, Utah

 I cannot i.d. the spider (the photo will not enlarge), but its ‘friend’ is a scolopendrid centipede. These can deliver a very painful bite if mishandled, as I can personally attest. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV .

1042  Hi, I found this caterpillar in Durham forest, north of Ajax, Ontario. I am curious what kind of bug this is. I haven't seen one like it before.  Chris.
Hopefully, someone else can pin a name on this one - all I can say is that it appears to be a caterpillar of either a noctuid (owlet moths) or notodontid (prominent moths). Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV .

 1041  This specimen was given to me 01 August 2006 for identification.  It was collected late July along the Mackenzie River, Northwest Territories,Canada at about 65 N 127 W. I believe it is a species of wood wasp (aka horntail), but I'd like to have someone more well-versed in entomology than myself confirm this. My biological expertise is more in the area of critters with fur. Are any of the wood wasps known to have a particular affinity for areas that have been burned by forest fire? Thanks in advance for any responses to this. Alasdair Veitch, Supervisor, Wildlife Management - Sahtu Region, Government of Northwest Territories, Norman Wells, NWT  Canada
 
This is indeed a horntail/wood wasp (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) in the genus Urocerus (likely Urocerus gigas flavicornus a species reported from Alberta, Northwest Territories, Ontario and the Yukon Territory. See http://www.forestryimages.org/images/768x512/0805062.jpg for an image. Some wood wasps can be of economic importance, but they usually attack trees that already are unhealthy or under stress of some kind. See http://spfnic.fs.fed.us/exfor/data/pestreports.cfm?pestidval=24&langdisplay=english  for more details on their biology. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV .

1040  The kids found this little guy in our backyard yesterday.  I couldn't resist taking a picture of it. We live in the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia.  I'm going to assume it may be some type of butterfly?  Terry
 
This is a larva (caterpillar) of a tiger swallowtail butterfly (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), such as the eastern tiger swallowtail, Papilio glaucus. See nos. 842, 688, 629, and 615 for other examples. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV .

1039  Hundreds of these little things are on my patio furniture!  The seem to have wings, but prefer crawling then flying.  I usual don't see the hordes of these until early fall or mid spring.  My husband cut the grass (after being away for a couple weeks) and next thing you know, we are covered with them and the smell is sickening.  They smell like rotting leaves when alive and the smell is even stronger if you squash one. What are they and how do I get rid of them???  I can't stand it! They do not bite, just stink and creep me and my family out!   Tanya.  Barrie, Ontario
 
These appear to be true bugs (order Hemiptera), but the photos are too fuzzy to make a specific determination. Many members of this order (such as stink bugs, chinch bugs, squash bugs, etc.) have a very strong/unpleasant odor. You might try applying an insecticide registered for lawn/turf insects to your lawn area, and use an aerosol product to kill those on the patio furniture. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV .
                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They probably are Chinch bugs if you're around the southern Ontario region.  My family has the same problem and have been looking for a solution.  The city of Toronto released a pdf file on how to reduce their number by keeping a healthy lawn: http://www.toronto.ca/health/pesticides/pdf/pesticide_chinch.pdf Good luck!  Myra

1038  This insect was in my  daughters Car. we have never seen one like and were wondering if  you could help us identify it... Thanks Teri Willier 
 The photo is very fuzzy, but this may be a large ichneumon wasp, such as the Megarhyssa species that are parasitic on wood-boring wasps such as horntails. See nos. 1024 and 962 for other examples. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV .

1037  Hi there,  I live in Atikokan Ontario. We have a huge stink bug problem here right now. Can you please tell me what the correct name is for this bug. When they get trapped in something or feel threatened they emit a horrific smell that can make you almost throw up. The smell hangs onto every surface. It is quite nauseating. Is there anyway to control these pests? Thank you.  Joanne Galbraith
 
These appear to be ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae); most species are general predators on other small arthropods, and some species give off a very characteristic (and sometimes quite unpleasant) odor. It is possible that these are Nomius pygmaeus (see http://www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/carabids/jpgs/images_e.php?image%5B%5D=14290.jpg3ANomius+pygmaeus.   Known as the stink beetle, this species has a particularly offensive odor that may persist for weeks on household articles upon which the beetle has crawled. Control may be difficult; one suggestion is to install an electric light above a container filled with soapy water, about 50 ft (15 m) from the house. Hopefully, the beetles will be attracted to the light, fall into the water and drown. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV .

1036  Hi.  This bug flew into my tea while I was sitting out on my patio in suburban Hamilton, Ontario.  Is it a flying ant?  Does it bite humans?  Thanks, Karen     

This appears to be a parasitic wasp in the family Brachonidae. They are harmless to humans. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV .

1035     I found this nest or web by my storage shed in my backyard in Fredericton , New Brunswick, I chased the mama away twice and she came back in minutes. I got my camera and tried to get a good pic but she turned sideways before I clicked then she ran when the flash went off so I only have one pic of her. After I took these pics I sprayed the nest with raid, ( either that or get a divorce … sorry) I have no idea what kind of spider this is, it was about 2 inches around , including legs, the head and body were over an inch.
This appears to be a female wolf spider (family Lycosidae), but it would be nice to see a frontal view to be certain (the eye placement pattern is characteristic). Female wolf spiders often leave silk ‘draglines’ as they move about, and some also may construct silken retreats, but these usually are at or below ground level. They do not construct nests as such, but females carry their egg sac about with them until the spiderlings emerge. In spite of their appearance, they are harmless to humans; large specimens can deliver a painful bite if mishandled. Some funnel web spiders (family Agelenidae) can reach the size of your specimen, but the females have long spinnerettes at the end of their abdomen that appear to be lacking on yours.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1034  I live in Manotick ON which is south of Ottawa. These ?beetles/bugs are pea sized, grayish and look wet. They actually look like a blob of mucus except for the dots on the sides and a thin line down the middle of the back. They walk quite quickly when disturbed and didn’t want to stay still for pictures. They are making a huge mess out of my milkweed that I’m keeping for the Monarch butterflies .I’ve never seen them before this summer and they are quite repulsive.  Cathy Mondello,
This is a larva of a beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, likely a milkweed beetle in the genus Labidomera (see http://www.lesinsectesduquebec.com/insecta/24-coleoptera/labidomera_clivicolis-lar-7mm.jpg  for an image). These larvae bear a close resemblance to those of the Colorado potato beetle.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 This
is an exact copy of the colorado potato beetle larvae. The color, the spots and it looks wet, I have never known it to feed on milkweed. If left unchecked, the larvae can destroy a potato crop in a very short time frame. I speak with experience, I've been there.
Cecil

1033  Hi there, we have found 3 of these in the past week in our house in Winnipeg, MB.  I think they are male carpenter ants, but I want to make sure.  Could you also tell me if they could pose problems for our house. Thanks, Matt.
  It certainly could be a male carpenter ant. These ants do not ‘eat’ wood as do termites, but excavate galleries for their nesting requirements. They usually attack unsound wood (often that has been water-damaged); seldom causing damage to wood that is sound and dry.  See http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/B1225.htm  for detailed notes on their biology as well as control recommendations.Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1032  Hi ; I found this bug in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  It was indoors walking across the floor.  It appeared more grey in colour than the picture shows.  It was about 1 inch long and approximately a ¼ inch wide.  I found it near a construction site.   It looked like it could pack a pretty significant bite.  What is it?  Thanks Barb
This appears to be a large rove beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). They are general predators on other small arthropods; especially those associated with decaying organic matter such as dung, carrion, compost, etc. Specimens as large as this one can deliver a painful nip to a careless handler, but otherwise are harmless to humans. See no. 663 for another example. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1031   I have two of these spiders near my home in Savannah, GA.  They are over an inch large, one being almost double the size of the other.  They seem to be pretty attached to their spot outside near our fence.  A tropical storm came through and knocked a tree down destroying the web, but a couple days later they were back in same spot as though nothing had happened.  Who are these guys??  Rebecca.
 
This is Nephila clavipes, a large species found in the southern US, the Caribbean, and much of Latin America. It goes by many common names, including golden silk orbweaver, golden silk spider, banana spider, calico spider. Formerly classified as an orb-weaving spider (family Araneidae), it now has been placed with the long-jawed spiders in the family Tetragnathidae. Most members of this genus are tropical, and some species can be very large. However, all are harmless to humans. See http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/misc/golden_silk_spider.htm  for much more information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The photo is a banana spider. I have them all around my house.
http://www.shadygrovetrainingcenter.com/Wildlife/bannana_spider_photo_gallery.htm%00
                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A type of St. Andrew's Cross spider. They are not known to be dangerous to humans. Dave
Salinas, CA

1030  Hi there...my neighbor found this "bug" eating a wasp?? There were actually 2 of them ganging up on the wasp.  He caught this bug in a raspberry patch & we had to pin him down to take his picture. I guess that he can kind of fly...if that helps. We live in Taylor, BC Canada.  My neighbor is an older gentleman and has never in his 65+ years seen anything like this....please help.  Thanks. Mary
 
This is true bug in the family Pentatomidae, a large family that includes the so-called ‘stink bugs’ among others. Most are plant feeders, but some species are predacious. One of the better known of this ilk is the spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris - see http://www.greenmethods.com/img_gb/podisus1.jpg  for an image . Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1029  We live on Vancouver Island British Columbia. The other day my daughter came home with this bug. We have never seen a bug like this before. Could you please help us to identify this beetle. The beetle was about 2 inches in length and his antennas 3 inches. Thank you.  Steve
This is a long-horned wood-boring beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae): likely one of the sawyers in the genus Monochamus - see http://www.forestry.ubc.ca/fetch21/FRST308/lab7/monochamus_sp/sawyer.html for an image. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1028 We were on a camping trip in Antioch, TN (Nashville essentially) and found this bug.  I don’t have a clue where to start trying to figure out what it is.  Can you help?  See attached photos. Thanks.  Erinn Erker
   This is a cicada.  -Oliver
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
See no. 1014 for another example.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1027  Hello, I live in Brampton, Ontario, this is a new home that I am residing in. The builder left the vent opening on the side of the house open, we did not notice until we moved in and heard birds coming through the bathroom vent. Well sure enough after the birds were done, some of them died up there and we started to get these little bugs falling from the vent onto the bathroom, floor, toilet and counter top. I made my husband cover up the vent with tape until the builder came to fix the problem. The builder replaced the whole pipe that was in the attic and covered up the hole and replaced the vent unit in the house. When my husband removed the painters tape, this is what was stuck on it. What I think looks like a maggot there was two of them actually plus all these little black bugs that you see, which are the black specs.  The black bugs are still falling out of the vent, so I got the builder to come back in and replace the actually metal housing that the vent unit sits in because I thought possibly some bugs may have gotten into the cracks of the housing unit. But that has not worked either. There are not as many bugs falling out as before but they are still there. I am finding about 6-8 per day. I took  looked at them underneath a loop, problem is I picked them up with a lint roller sticky sheet , so they are upside down. They look black when you just look at them but up close they are black and creamy yellow colour. They do have legs, they move very slowly. Can you tell me what these are and how to get rid of them. Please and thanks.  Jenifer
 
The photo is too fuzzy for a positive i.d., but the larger specimen could be a larva of a dermestid beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae). Many species in this family (such as carpet/skin/larder beetles) can be pantry/household pests, but they also will feed on many other items of animal origin, including dead insects, fur, and feathers. The small black specks simply are too small to see any detail; they could be bird ectoparasites (mites, lice, etc.) or scavengers in bird nests. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1026  Hello, a swarm of these little bugs was found on our pine tree in the front yard, just yesterday (July 23). We live in Northern Virginia (suburbs of Washington, DC). The tree has a number of seed pods on it.  Around a group of the pods we saw what looked to be at least 20-30 of these bugs, whose thin, black, spindly legs immediately made me think we had a huge infestation of spiders. As we looked closer, we realized there were only 6 legs, not 8, but even in our relief, we still wonder what these are.  Their colors range from gray to orange and red, with two black dots like a ladybug on their backs. A few were also traveling single file along the branches. Are they anything to worry about?  I've looked on your website (a fascinating one, by the way!), and thought I may have recognized them as Hemiptera coreidae (as in your #675 picture), or possibly milkweed (#697)???  Thanks!  Christie

These do indeed appear to be nymphs of leaf-footed bugs (Hemiptera: Coreidae). It is possible that these might be nymphs of a pest species such as the western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis (see http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~sjtaylor/coreidae/coreidae.html).   Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1025  These were found on an apple tree and on a maple tree in our backyard today (eastern Ontario, between Ottawa and Montreal). They were clustered together, some hundred or so, almost being herded around by larger, similar bugs with wings.  What are they?  Jacques.
  These are pscocids, sometimes called ‘bark lice’ (order Psocoptera; likely in the family Psocidae); some species often occur in aggregations on bark (see
http://insects.tamu.edu/images/insects/common/images/cd-45-a/Img0035.jpg ). They are harmless, feeding primarily on decaying vegetation and fungi.
 Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1024  What is this please? 
This an ichneumon wasp (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae); likely in the genus Megarhyssa. They are parasitic on the larvae of wood wasps, such as the pigeon tremex or horntail - see no. 962 for another example. Also, see http://www.cirrusimage.com/Hymenoptera/megarhyssa_fem_15.jpg for an image of a female boring into wood to lay her egg. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1023  Hi, I live in Southern Ontario. This beetle fell on me [back in May] and hitched a ride inside, I am curious what it is. It is roughly 1.5 inches long.
 

This is a ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae); specifically, it appears to be Calosoma scrutator, one of the large carabids often called "caterpillar hunters" or "fiery searchers" -

See
http://www.rlephoto.com/beetles01/Calosoma_scrutator/0566_searcher_fiery_ws_std.jpg  for an image. A related species, Calosoma sycophanta was imported from Europe around 1905 to aid in the control of the gypsy moth.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1022  I have these insects eating my potatoes in Northwest Connecticut.
They have small green legs and do not move very fast. Thanks for any help.
 This is a tortoise beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae; subfamily Cassidinae). As a family, they feed primarily on members of the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae), including sweet potatoes. Although a few species will feed on members of the family Solanaceae (including potatoes and eggplant), they seldom become numerous enough to cause severe damage. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tortoise beetle – I found one on my tomato plants last year.  I relocated it because I read that they like bindweed, of which I have quite a lot.
  Pat Banta         

1021  Hi, I live in Halton Hills, Ontario, just north west of Toronto.  This bug was spotted strolling across our driveway in June, mid-morning. You can see it was quite large. Is it some kind of beetle? Thanks for your help. B
 
This is not a beetle, but a giant water bug (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae; see no. 902 for another example); sometimes called electric light bugs or toe biters, they can deliver a painful ‘bite’ if mishandled. They are general predators on other aquatic life, including insects, snails, tadpoles, and the occasional small fish, using their raptorial front legs to capture prey, then injecting powerful digestive enzymes with their beak. These enzymes are what causes the pain if one gets ‘nipped’ by one of these insects. Adults are strong fliers, and often are found at quite some distance from water. See http://www.naturenorth.com/summer/bug/wtbgF.html for more information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
            ~~~~~~~~~~~
This looks like a Giant Water bug. I've seen larger ones than that specimen. Be careful about getting your appendages near that critter!  Michael.
   http://tinyurl.com/nrvpb

1020  hi, i live in Dalian, China, i have found many of these on the floor, they are about 1-2mm.can you tell me what it is? thanks. Wangkee

Other than saying that it is a small beetle, I am at a loss on this one. However, it does not appear to belong to any family of structural pests, nor, based on its small size and overall appearance, is it likely to be any of the common stored products pests. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1019  Hello,  I live in an old (150 year +) house in Sackville, New Brunswick. We have been finding these bugs everywhere (including having seen them in front of a bar on our block); when the street light in front of our door is on at night, they crawl all over our front stoop. They fly and run very quickly, and lay green eggs in a honeycomb-like pattern. I keep worrying that they're some form of mutant cockroach, because we live next door to a restaurant. Although we haven't found them at our food, I have found one among the pots and pans in a cupboard. What are these?  Thanks.  B.
This is a ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae). They are general predators on other small arthropods, and often are found indoors. I suspect that something else is responsible for the eggs you are seeing, as ground beetles generally lay their eggs in soil, and then usually singly. See nos. 1016, 959, 955, and 918 for other examples.Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1018  This picture was taken after bug was sealed up in a ziploc bag for over 16 hours and finally died.  They are all over my deck, yard etc and about 3/16" long and have a nasty bite with even worse reactions (severe welts for days).  I sent two previous emails but was unable to send a picture.  Hopefully this will help.  I looked at the 1000 pictures on your site and did not see any that were like these.  I would appreciate any suggestions in how to rid my yard of these insects as I can't even mow while wearing "Deet " and not end up with at least 20 welts.  Thanks for any help. Susan in Albertville, MN.
 
This is a sap beetle (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), possibly the picnic beetle, Glischrochilus quadrisignatus - see http://i.pbase.com/u17/tmurray74/upload/42311574.CRW_0341_RJ.JPG  for an image. As the name implies, they primarily are sap feeders, often attracted to sap flowing from wounds on trees and other plants. Some can be pests on soft fruits (such as strawberries) or vegetables (such as ears of sweet corn), and one species is a potential pest of bee hives. Although any insect with chewing mouthparts can be considered a potential ‘biter’ (I’ve often been bitten by lady beetles), I am aware of no reports of sap beetles biting humans. I suspect that something else is responsible for your bites - you might try contacting your county extension agent for assistance; see http://www.extension.umn.edu/offices/ for contact information. Also, see http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/field/corn/sap_beetles.htm for more information on sap beetles in general. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

 1017  This very large spider (body close to 1" long) is living on the side of my deck.  I have a few smaller ones too that look similar around the outside of the house.  I live in Lethbridge Alberta.  They all seem to hide under and behind things during the heat of the day and come out to fix their web and eat at night.  J. Hayward.
 This is yet another harmless orb-weaving spider (family (Araneidae); see nos. 1012, 997, and 946 for other examples. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
                                                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 I believe this to be a "Catfaced spider" or another term is shamrock spider......big.....but harmless.  
Carrie ,  Dorothy, Alberta

1016  Hello, Can someone please identify this critter? I have my suspicions but I would hate to guess wrong. I work in a number of environments within the community as a police officer. I hope that I did not pick this up on my clothing and its already starting to evolve inside my new home. I was in contact with similar insects on July 15th. My clothing have been in a closet since that time. I have not observed any other activity or others. This came from the closet in which my uniform was stored. I have washed my clothes as of this email for 50 minutes on heavy duty in Hot water. Please advise. Much Appreciated. Steve

This is a ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae). The vast majority of these beetles are general predators on other small arthropods, but a few ‘rogues’(such as the seedcorn beetles) can be agricultural pests. Some species may be accidental invaders indoors, but they are completely harmless to humans or their possessions. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1015  Hello,  We live in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. We found this amazing creature among our peonies. Is it a spider? Is it harmful?    btw, excellent web site.  C. Lamond
 
This is a crab spider (family Thomisidae); specifically, the goldenrod crab spider, Misumena vatia - see http://www.zoo.org/educate/fact_sheets/spiders/crab.html). These are ambush hunters that do not spin a capture web. Usually, they are found on flowers that more or less match their own color, which they can change to some degree. They are harmless to humans.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1014  Hi.  I found this in my backyard in Southern Ontario.  I don't know if it is a pest or not.  It is about an inch and a quarter long.  Can someone identify it?  Robert
 
This is a teneral (freshly emerged) adult cicada (Homoptera: Cicadidae); possibly one of the annual cicadas in the genus Tibicen. In addition to the well-known periodical (17- and 13-year) cicadas, there are many species of cicadas with life cycles of one to several years. Some of these species that emerge during the heat of summer are referred to as ‘dog-day cicadas.’  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1013  Hi. love the site. my parents found this beetle in their kitchen in Carthage, NC, USA.  It is about 2 inches long and olive in color.  Can you name it.  It was the main attraction at the grandson's birthday party.  Thanks Jennifer
 
This appears to be a female eastern hercules beetle, Dynastes tityus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae); the largest member of that family and indeed the bulkiest beetle in eastern North America. The larvae feed on rotting wood and the adults are sap/fruit feeders. See http://www.fcps.edu/StratfordLandingES/Ecology/mpages/eastern_hercules_beetle.htm  for more information.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1012  Hello there. I live in Central Eastern California near the Nevada boarder and I found this lovely spider on the side of my house. It is quite big and almost looks like a dried up leave sitting in his web. Any idea as to what kind he is and if he's harmful to humans??  Amy
 
This is an orb-weaving spider (family (Araneidae); possibly the so-called cat-face spider, Araneus gemmoides - see http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4dmg/Pests/catspid.htm for an image. This is a very large family of spiders, all of whom are harmless to humans. See nos. 997 and 946 for other examples.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1011  I live just north of Kingston Ontario.  We’ve found dozens of these tiny bugs in the basement.  We clean them up, and the next day there are more.  They were first noticed near where the dog sleeps regularly, but I don’t know if that’s a coincidence or not.  Also, I found a live larva near them.  I also don’t know if that’s related or not.  They’re so tiny, less than 1 mm long.  They have wings, and can fly.  Mostly we’ve found them crawling along on the couches and along the baseboards.  They are attracted to light, and many end up around the base of a fluorescent lamp or on the window sill.  What are these things and can you help us get rid of them?!!  Frank
  I cannot identify the adult beetle shown, but the larva appears to be that of a skin/hide/carpet beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae). They likely are unrelated, as the beetle does not resemble any dermestid species with which I am familiar. You may wish to check any packages or containers of dry dog food for signs if insect infestation.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1010  Hello,  I was sitting in my basement at my computer and i kept hearing what sounded like a moth flying into the wall or light, but i couldn't see anything because it was so fast, finally it landed on the wall beside the computer and i caught it in a cup and slid some paper under it and placed it on the desk to have a closer look. i have no idea what it is. It looks like some sort of flying ant or small wasp. I have attached some pictures of it if you could get back to me, i would be very grateful. im very curious to see what it is. To help narrow down the search I'm in Winnipeg Manitoba.  thanks,,  Morgan.
  Sorry Morgan we can't send a personal reply to every inquiry.  There are just too many.  Your photo looks like a reproductive female carpenter ant.  Probably modoc species.  Check the photos on this page for comparison; Carpenter ant photosLarry Cross.  Webmanager.

1009.  A friend of mine took this picture of a bright beetle. We can’t seem to identify it. It is shown at approx the actual size. It was taken in Northern Saskatchewan, La Ronge.  Charlie
 
This appears to be a long-horned wood-boring beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), but not a species that I recognize. If any specialist in this group is monitoring this forum, they may be able to provide a specific identification.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1008.   I found this on our window sill in New Jersey. It's about an inch long (or a little longer). It has a general mosquito shape, no stinger, but the proboscis looks like a spike. Can you tell me what it is and whether or not it bites? Thanks. Sharon
 
This is a robber fly (Diptera: Asilidae). They are ambush predators on a wide variety of insects; they are harmless to humans, but a large specimen can deliver a painful ‘bite’ if mishandled. See nos. 987 and 915 for other examples. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. 

1007.  I live in the Beaches area of Toronto and found this bug on our screen door. Its about 2cm long. It may be the same as the grapevine beetle identified for another person.(#1002)  It is reddish brown. Can anyone help ID it? Alison
This is indeed a grapevine beetle (Pelidnota punctata - Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1006.  I live in the Youngstown, Ohio area and I have no clue what this is. It stung my dog and he pulled it out of his butt with his teeth. He puked twice, but i'm not sure if it was because of the bug and he's fine now. Eric.
 This appears to be a cuckoo wasp (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae; subfamily Chrysidinae - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysidinae ). There also are some species of cuckoo bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae; subfamily Anthophorinae) that closely resemble wasps, but the wasps usually can be distinguished by having only three or four visible abdominal segments, with these segments concave ventrally. The bees usually have at least six visible abdominal segments, and these are not concave. Also, when they die, the wasps often curl up as did your specimen.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1005   I live in Cornwall, Ontario (eastern Ontario) and have never seen this bug....i found it in my patch of wild mint plants, at night...  When my hubby tried to catch it (at first we thought it was a grasshopper) it lifted it's back end up, to expose what we assume is it's stinger. ( We had to kill it, because my dog likes to put his nose in my flowers, and i didn't want him to get stung)  Anyone ever seen this before?  Carole
This is a wood wasp (Hymenoptera: Siricidae). Sometimes called ‘horntails,’ their larvae bore in wood, usually attacking unhealthy or downed trees. The ‘stinger’ actually is its ovipositor, which it uses to lay its eggs in wood; it is harmless to dogs or humans. The ‘See no. 914 for another example, and http://collections.ic.gc.ca/biodiversity/family/Siricidae.html  for more information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1004.  Information about this insect:  I live in Cleveland Ohio in a wooded area.  I am also seeing these bugs in other wooded areas of north east Ohio.  The bug is approximately 1/2 of an inch and the yellowish markings are a true gold color.  Another unique feature is the curled body.  I have not seen this type of bug with a curled body anywhere or in any insect book.  I first started seeing these bugs in late May and it's now July and I'm still seeing them.  Any idea what is it? Thanks.  Jan  

This appears to be a golden backed snipe fly, Chrysopilus thoracicus; Diptera: Rhagionidae - see http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/selhome/gbu/chrysopilus.html for an image of a mating pair). Snipe flies are general predators, both as larvae and adults, on a variety of small arthropods. Adults of some species (mostly western; see http://res2.agr.ca/ecorc/diptera/bf14-dp14_e.htm) can be biting pests on humans.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1003.  I'm in Toronto and these beetles and their larvae are eating my nicotine. Any idea what they are? CP
  The photo is a little fuzzy to be absolutely certain, but these likely are three-lined potato beetles (Lema trilineata; Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). They can be pests on many solanaceous plants (including potatoes, tomatoes, and nicotiana); see http://www.entomology.cornell.edu/Faculty_Staff/Thaler/Lab/Danush%20adult.jpg for an image. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1002.   I live in Central Northern Ontario in a small town on Georgian Bay called Waubaushene.  I found these two mating beetles on my sage plant yesterday and immediately ran and got my camera and got these photos.
I made a call and sent out a few emails to start the search to identify them.
I sent these photos and an email to  bugman@whatsthatbug.com  and today received a letter back.  Thanks.  Gloria Simpson 
This is the email I received back:  "Except for the coloration, these beetles look like Grapevine Beetles, Pelidnota punctata. Grapevine Beetles are yellow in color. We did some research, and the Audubon Guide lists the coloration as "dull reddish brown to brownish yellow above with 2 black dots on the sides of pronotum and 3 black dots on side of each elytron. Top of head, scutellum, and underside blackish, tinged with green. We believe these are just a red variation of the Grapevine Beetle. When Eric Eaton returns, we will get his opinion.
 
I believe that these beetle indeed are grapevine beetles (aka the spotted pelidnota; Pelidnota punctata - Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).
See
http://www.entomology.cornell.edu/Extension/Woodys/ALB_Mahaffey/Images/gp adultweb.jpg  and http://www.aeaq.ca/faq/images/Pelidnota_punctata_L.jpg for similar examples. When I was a grad student at Purdue, I captured several of these beetles, added a few more elytral maculations with India ink, and released them. Unfortunately, I don’t know whether any of them caused any puzzlement. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1001.  I found this insect alive on Ile Bizard (Montreal) Qc. on July 13, 2006. It looks rather nasty and it packs a powerful bite! It is now preserved until the species is identified and determined if it is harmful to people or the local environment.  Robert Dahlke.
This is another female dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus; Megaloptera: Corydalidae); see No. 999 for another example.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

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