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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. 21 years in the U.S. Army as a medical entomologist;
duties varied from surveillance of pest populations (including mosquitoes,
cockroaches, ticks, and stored products pests) to conducting research on
mosquito-virus ecological relationships and mosquito faunal studies. Ten years
as a civilian analyst for the Department of Defense, primarily on distribution
of vector-borne diseases worldwide.
He is a member of Entomological Society of America,
Society for Vector Ecology & National Speleological Society.
Publications
American Journal of Public Health, Contributions of the American Entomological
Institute, Japanese Journal of Sanitary Zoology, Journal of Economic Entomology,
Mosquito News, and Mosquito Systematics.
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The pictures below have been
submitted by visitors. If you can identify them you are invited to send us
your answers.
Your description is also welcome.
Please
Include the picture number
in your answers.
If you have a digital camera or
scanner send us photos of any pest you would like identified.
Please
include the location the pest was found and any other information you can offer.
Hopefully one of our visitors will be able to identify them. Send your photos
or answers to:
webmanager@pestcontrolcanada.com
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  1200
I have a small infestation of these little guys in my bedroom. I believe they
were living in my closet which had been closed for a couple years. They seem to
have spread out into the bedroom after I opened the closet and cleaned it out
for use. They tend to stay in dark spaces, like drawers and under the bed, and
there are quite a lot of them...I'm really not to worried about them since they
don't seem to mean me any harm, but I'm very interested in what they are.
Katie - Tucson AZ
These look like partially denuded
larvae of the black carpet beetle (Attagenus unicolor; Coleoptera:
Dermestidae). See
http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/blk_carpet_beetle.htm
for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations and
http://www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/YGLNews/images2/blackcarpetbeetles.JPG
for images of a larva and adult.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1199
Hi - I live in the lower mainland of British Columbia and have been bothered by
a small beetle that harms the leaves and fruit of my vinivera grapevines. The
beetle is ca. 1 mm in length and has cream coloured wing covers with large
randomly distributed dark brown spots. I have only been able to observe the
adult, which appears when the leaves first come out in spring but persists right
through to fall. They cause scarification of the grape skins and retard their
development. They cause localized wilting and whitening of the leaves. I would
estimate that they cut my harvest by 75%! John.
This beetle does not resemble any
grape pest that I know of, but it has some resemblance to lady beetles (Coleoptera:
Coccinellidae) in the genus Psyllobora (see
http://www.cirrusimage.com/Beetles/Psyllobora_vigintimaculata_1.jpg
for an example). Unlike most other lady beetles, members of this genus appear to
feed primarily on mold spores, such as on downy mildew. BTW, there have been
reports of other (and much larger) lady beetles causing damage to grapes - see
http://www.pestcontrolcanada.com/INSECTS/ladybugs.htm
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 1198
Hi, i am in northwest Indiana. these are everyone, basement, outside garage.
They squirm around, pretty small about 1/2"long maybe 1 inch, they
swirl up when you touch them.. they move slow. is this a millipede ?
That is indeed a millipede. For
the most part, they are completely harmless scavengers on dead/decaying
organic matter. Occasionally, some species may be pests on very tender
vegetation (such as in greenhouses). As they require a moist environment to
thrive, you can reduce populations in and around your home by eliminating
unnecessary sources of moisture (leaky pipes, condensation, etc.). Chemical
control should not be necessary. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks
Grove, WV
|
 1197.
I live in the Atlanta area. I fell in love with a
house that only problems is this nest in the eve. Can anyone tell me what it
is? Debbie
This appears to be a nest of
a vespid wasp (yellowjackets, hornets). Because of its location so near an attic
vent, there is a possibility that some wasps could be setting up housekeeping in
the attic as well. If you are considering buying this house, I would suggest
having it inspected by a certified pest management technician.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 1196
Greetings. In Staten Island NY I have been bitten every
week or so in my apartment bedroom. The bites are on exposed hands and forearms
(apparently not in the bedding) – red weals with a hard knot. They take a long
time to come up (~12 hours) and a long time to subside (~4 days). The only
thing I’ve caught on sticky pads is Isopods / Sow Bugs. But this (about .25cm)
crawled out of the filter of my floor air purifier. Any ideas? Is this my
biter? Or what? Thanks! Nicholas
Although this could be a biting
fly, the photo is too fuzzy to make a determination. If no one else
monitoring this site can provide an identification, I suggest that you take
the specimen to your county office of Cornell University’s Cooperative
Extension service for assistance. See
http://www.cce.cornell.edu/in_your_community.php
for contact information. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
 1195
Hello, My name is
Kristy and I live in North Alabama. We have these little flying creatures all
over our house. We starting seeing them in the last 2 years and have no idea
what they are. They are black with red markings. They have 6 legs and when they
fly they look all red. They tend to bunch up together in corners this time of
year, I guess they are trying to stay warm. Please help me identify. Thanks,
Kristy
This is an eastern box elder
bug (Boisea trivittata; Hemiptera: Rhopalidae). They seldom cause any
real damage, feeding primarily on the developing seeds, young leaves and stems
of box elder trees (Acer negundo). They usually cause homeowners concern
when the aggregate in the autumn prior to hibernation. To them, a house or shed
looks just as cozy as a pile of rocks or other natural shelter in which to spend
the winter! See
http://www.pesticide.org/boxelderbugs.html
for hints as to how to make your house and yard less attractive to them.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1194
please help!! just looking for some info on these little critters. find
them everywhere. cupboards, bed, shower, floor, just wondering how they likely
get in, and how to get rid of them. We live in central Alberta, in Leduc. they
are very tiny, photo was taken on a piece of standard lined paper. any
information you could offer would be most helpful. Darren
Hard to tell from the photo
provided, but it does bear some resemblance to beetles in the genus Tribolium
(confused and red flour beetles; Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). These can
become very common pantry pests, feeding on a wide variety of stored foodstuffs,
including grains, beans, dried fruits, nuts, and chocolate. See
http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/cereal_pantry_pests.htm
for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations for these and other
pantry pests. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 1193
I went through several of your caterpillar pages but didn't see anything like
this.
I live in
Missouri (near Ft Leonard Wood). And this
caterpillar was found on our picnic table in the
front yard. The date found is shown on the pictures.
The pictures are pretty grainy
because they were originally taken with a video camera 10 years ago then
(with the use of WebTV) I captured freeze frames of it, so I could send
to you for identification. I don't recall the actual size of this thing
and wish I had place a quarter beside it for reference......but if
memory serves me right I think it was approximately an inch and a half
in length?
This
appears to be a stinging rose caterpillar, Parasa indetermina
(Lepidoptera: Limacodidae); see
http://www.naturephotographers.net/buserimages/1045-03.jpg
and
http://www.forestryimages.org/images/768x512/1430107.jpg
for images of a larva and adult, respectively. In addition to roses,
they also will feed on dogwood, apple, cherry, bayberry, hickory, maple,
poplar, and oak. The spines on the yellow protuberances have basal venom
glands, and the venom can cause a painful and irritating skin rash. Note
that the background coloration of these caterpillars can be quite
variable; not all specimens will look like the image cited.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
 1192
We live outside of Grande Prairie Alberta, Canada and our house is pretty much
infested with these tiny moths. They are on the walls in almost every room -
mostly the main floor but there are some in the basement and upstairs as well.
How DO we get rid of them?? They are outstaying their welcome! Thank
you, P. Abbott.
Although this moth does not appear
to be a household pest species, it might not hurt to examine dry foodstuffs in
your pantry for any sign of insect presence/damage. Also examine any wild
flowers/plants recently brought into the house. Unless an expert in this group
of moths recognizes it from the photo, it likely would require examination of
the wing venation and genetalia for proper determination.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
 1191
Hi! I live in San Clemente,
California and have found these disgusting bugs in my compost pile. They are
between 1-4 inches long and are fat and white, with small red “legs” except the
legs are on top and they crawl like a worm. When I find them they are curled up
like a C. When I kill them with the shovel, they spurt red fluid. Please help,
I am wondering if they are good bugs or bad bugs! Scott
These are the larvae
(grubs) of beetles in the family Scarabaeidae. Although this very large family
includes several pest species (such as the Japanese beetle), your specimens more
likely are scavengers on the decaying vegetable matter in the compost pile.
Because you mentioned they crawl on their backs, they might be in the genus
Cotinus, the adults of which can be pests on fruit such as figs. The larvae,
on the other hand may actually be of some benefit in helping digest the compost
material. See
http://cals.arizona.edu/urbanipm/insects/beetles/junebeetles.html
for much more information. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1190
I apologize for the quality of picture, this is the closest I could get. Size:
about 2-3 mm
Location: Hawaii. Habitat: in my pantry, eat everything - they eat rice,
beans, flour, chocolate, coffee creamer, etc. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE in my
kitchen!!! The only pesticide they react to is COMBAT (little trap with poison
inside) for cockroaches.
Please, help! M
These are beetles in the genus
Oryzaephilus, either the saw-toothed grain beetle (Oryzaephilus
surimanensis) or the merchant grain beetle (Oryzaephilus mercator).
Both species can be pantry pests, and preventive/control measures include
sanitation (removal of all food items from the pantry area, followed by thorough
vacuuming of shelves) and subsequent storage of all infestable items in sealable
glass, plastic, or metal containers (we use Tupperwaretm).
See
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2086.html
for additional information. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1189
Hi, I found about about 40 of these bugs in a condo in Montreal.
I found most of the bugs including the lavrae in the kitchen inside drawers
and I found the rest dead on several windows. Thanks.
These are beetles in the
family Dermestidae (hide/skin/pantry beetles). Their larvae will feed on a
very wide variety of organic (predominately proteinaceous) materials,
including woolen cloth/carpeting, hair or fur, feathers, leather, cured
meats, dead insects, etc. See nos. 1186 and 1153 for other examples, and
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2103.html
for a fact sheet that includes control
recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1188
Hi. We found these on our floor. Six of them in total. Very active guys. They
may have come out from under the base boards just after having our carpets
cleaned. We live in South Eastern Ontario, Canada. Thank you Bob
These appear to be
larvae of a beetle known as the cadelle (Tenebroides mauritanicus;
Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae/Ostomidae); see
http://res2.agr.ca/winnipeg/storage/images/lo-res/insect/cadel2-l.jpg
for an image and
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/entfacts/fldcrops/ef134.htm
for more information, including control
recommendations. These larvae will feed on a great variety of grains, as
well as on flour, meal, biscuits and bread, vegetables, dried fruits, etc.
Upon reaching maturity, they may move quite some distance form their food
source before pupating. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1187
i took this picture in the bush in my backyard... thank you,
~*MINDY*~
This is another orb-weaving
spider in the genus Argiope, likely Argiope aurantia; see nos.
1185, 1114, and 1113 for other examples. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1186
I found many of these tucked into the folds of discarded clothes
that had been sitting for probably several months. This one is one of the larger
and it's only about 0.3 cm. I live in Phoenix, Arizona in a very pest-friendly
trailer house (LOTS of gaps and holes for insects, etc.) Could it be a bed bug?
I've read a little about them, but other than direct transfer, how do they get
to a "food source"? I appreciate any help I can get. Marcella
This is definitely not a bed bug. It looks like a
carpet beetle larva that may have been dining on your woolen clothing.
Read more about
carpet beetles.
Bed bugs are smaller than a ladybug and very flat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This indeed appears to
be a carpet beetle larva, likely in the genus Anthrenus. In addition to
the link already provided, see
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2103.html
for more images and information. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1185
Hi I found this beauty on my back shed in Northern Wisconsin. It is about 3
inches long including legs. The body is about 1.5 inches long. Do you have any
idea what kind it is? Thanks, Rich
This is an orb-weaving spider in the
genus Argiope, likely Argiope aurantia, which goes by several
common names, including black and yellow argiope, yellow garden spider, zipper
spider, golden orb weaver, and writing spider. They are completely harmless to
humans. See
http://www.fcps.edu/StratfordLandingES/Ecology/mpages/black_and_yellow_argiope.htm
for more images, as well as nos. 1113 and 1114 on this site.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 1184
There is some debate among me and my friends about exactly what this is and what
we should do with it, My brother claims it is certainly a house spider, One
friend claims it is definitely a hobo spider and not a giant house spider
because the mouth leg things are rounded/curled at the ends like the hobo spider
pics on GIS and not like "little legs" as in the Giant house spider pics
on GIS . I am inclined to agree, those things look similar, and in the wikipedia
pics of the Giant house spider it's got pointy things (web dealys?) coming out
of it's abdomen, but the guy here has no such bum-spikery . So is this thing a
Friendly house spider or is it the much maligned hobo spider with it's scary if
not debatable/improbable necrotic bite? We await your judgement to settle our
ever more heated debate and decide the fate of the trapped spider in a jar
in my kitchen.
Although this could be a male hobo
spider (Tegenaria agrestis), one cannot be certain without examining the
structure of the palps (the leg-like structures with swollen tips) under
magnification. See
http://pep.wsu.edu/pdf/PLS116_1.pdf
for detailed information on this subject. The spinnerettes on this specimen are
not visible because of the angle at which the photo was taken.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1183
Hello, my name is Ashley. I live in Philadelphia, PA outside of the center city
by about 10 miles. I see these suckers at least 2 a week. They're in my house
usually on the floor, but i did see one or two on the walls and ceiling. Do you
know what this is? Thanks. Ashley
This is a house centipede. They usually are found in damp, dark places, such as
under stones, leaf mulch, or logs. Indoors, centipedes may occur in damp areas
of basements, closets, or bathrooms, or anywhere in the home where insects
occur. During the day they hide in dark cracks and crevices, coming out at night
to search for insects to eat. House centipedes are actually beneficial--they
capture flies, cockroaches, and other small household pests. They never damage
plants or household items. Read more on our
Centipede web
page |
 1182
Hi, This bug was found
crawling on a knapsack in our office in Brantford, Ontario. It looks like a
spider as the thorax/abdomen seem to be fused, but there are only 6 legs. Any
help on what this is would be great. Thanks, Patrick.
This is a nymph of an assassin bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae),
such as the masked hunter, Reduvius personatus; see
http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/pdfs/MaskedHunter.pdf .
The nymphs camouflage themselves by ‘gluing’ small bits of
debris to their exoskeleton; thus supposedly help them both evade predation and
to sneak up on unsuspecting prey. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks
Grove, WV
|
 1181
This insect was found in Montreal. It was found with crates that had arrived
from Luanda, Angola I believe it to be some sort of scorpion. Thanx.
Mark
This is indeed a scorpion, but
I cannot be more specific from the photo. Angola has a diverse scorpion fauna,
including some species of medical importance. As a rough guide, scorpions having
a combination of relatively slender chelae (‘pincers’) and a thick tail (see
http://www.afpmb.org/pubs/Field_Guide/Images/originals/Fig. 41.jpg
and
http://www.afpmb.org/pubs/Field_Guide/Images/originals/Fig. 33.jpg
for examples) are more likely to be dangerously
venomous than those having robust chelae (see
http://www.ub.ntnu.no/scorpion-files/p_imperator2.jpg
for an example.)
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 1180
Please let me know what kind of bug this is! Thanks, Angel
This is a larva of a green
lacewing (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). They are predatory on aphids and other
soft-bodied insects and thus usually considered beneficial. See
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/insects/lacewings/lacewings.htm
for much more
information on thsese insects, and their close relatives, brown lacewings
(family Hemerobiidae). Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
  1179
This was found on the side of our
building on November 8th, 2006. We are located near London, Ont. What
kind of bug is this. It’s the biggest bug I have ever seen around these parts.
We are sure it is not harmful, but we are all very curious as to what it is.
As you can see from the photo it is almost the same height as a typical brick.
Jenelle
This is a
giant water bug (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae), likely in the genus Lethocerus;
see
http://myrmecos.net/insects/Lethocerus2.html
for an image. Sometimes called ‘toe biters’ or ‘electric
light bugs,’ they are voracious predators on a wide variety of other aquatic
life, primarily insects, but also including tadpoles and small fish. They
capture their prey with their raptorial front legs, then using their beak to
inject digestive enzymes that liquify the tissues of their prey item. They are
strong fliers, often found some distance from water, and seldom fail to attract
attention when encountered. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
  1178
I have two bugs for you to i.d. We live in the Toronto area in Ontario, Canada.
The first one was found near our skylight and we have seen many of them in this
area. It has a powdery grey back and they range in size from less than a quarter
inch to a half inch long. They are pretty fast crawlers and can hang onto the
ceilings or walls quite well as we tried to vacuum them and we were not able to
until they started to run.
The second bug was found on our kitchen floor and we have seen them outside of
our house in the front walkway or backyard patio. They also range in size, the
picture here is about half an inch long. These are able to curl into a ball and
has a hard exterior shell. Kevin
The photo on the left is a firebrat or silverfish. There
is not enough detail to tell the difference. See this web page for details.
Silverfish.
The photo on the right is a common pill bugs, so named
because of their ability to roll up into a round pill like shape.
Read more about pill bugs. |
 1177
This was found in Toronto. Do you think it is a long horned beetle? Your answer
will be appreciated. Ken Horton
This is a leaf-footed bug (Hemiptera:
Coreidaae), such as the western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis;
see
http://www.forestry.ubc.ca/fetch21/FRST308/lab2/leptoglossus_occidentalis/leaf.html
). This species often enters homes in the autumn in search of hibernation
sites. Several other examples can be found on this site, including nos. 1152,
1141, 1127, and 1101. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1176
We live in Mississauga, ONT. We found this bug in my brothers bedroom crawling
around on the ground. There was a ton of them. And by a ton, I mean like 40ish.
Would love to know if anyone knows what these things are. Thanks, - Dave
This could be one of the
grain/seed-infesting weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the genus
Sitophilus. There are three cosmopolitan species in this genus that can
attack a wide variety of seeds/grains, including rice, maize, wheat, rye,
millet, etc.
See
http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/cereal_pantry_pests.htm
for a fact sheet that includes images of these weevils as well as several
other pantry pests. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 1175
Hi, I'm from Ajax, Ontario and I need help identifying this spider. I took a
picture of it in my backyard and haven't seen anything like it. Trevor
McCorquodale. Pickering Ontario,
This is long-jawed orbweaver (family
Tetragnathidae) so named because of their oversized (in relation to body size)
chelicerae.
See
http://canadianarachnology.dyndns.org/data/spiders/14265
for a representative species. Several species have a tendency to make their webs
over water, capturing emerging small aquatic insects such as mosquitoes.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 1174
I found this spider just a few days ago in my basement in Calgary, AB. I want to
know what kind it is and if I should be worried about a spider this big. This is
the third one that I've killed how many more could there be? Stacey,
Calgary, AB
Although the spinnerettes are not
visible in the photo, this appears to be a funnel web/grass spider in the genus
Tegenaria rather than a wolf spider. These spiders, especially the males,
often are found wandering some distance from their web. They are harmless to
humans, but large specimens are capable of delivering a painful bite if
mishandled. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV |
 1173
Some insect must be
responsible for these stalactites protruding down from our ceiling. We live in
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. There are about ten of these things hanging down within
about a two foot square. They very in length from 1mm to 5 Centimeters. Any
ideas? Richard Andrew
As these could be
tubes constructed by termites, you may wish to have your home inspected by a
certified pest management technician.
See
http://www.termite.com/termite-control/oklahoma-city.html
for a starting point.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 1172
Hello TO ALL PEST EXPERTS!!! MY NEW BEST FRIENDS!!!! I LIVE IN MISSISSAUGA
ONTARIO CANADA and would lov if you could please ASAP, help me learn more about
this insect I found in my house while cleaning up! as a matter of fact I m not
sure what room he came from...the bedroom, office or basement....as i FOUND HIM
IN MY HAIR WHILE FOLDING MY LAUNDRY!!!!! AHHHHH LOOK AT THAT NOSE!! AND THOSE
FEET...THEY LOOK LIKE THEY CAN HOLD ON TO A HAIR...IS IT A FLEA OR A BED
BUG.....I HAVE CATS!!!! MY BED IS A FEW YEARS OLD, I AM VERY CLEAN....AHHHHHHH
.....IS IT SAFE TO SLEEP!!!!! I DON'T WANT TO KILL HIM...BUT I DO
WANT TO KNOW WHO THE HELL HE IS!!!! AND WHAT IF ANY THING I WOULD NEED TO DO IF
THERE MIGHT BE MORE IN THE HOUSE:(((( PLEASE HELP....YOUR VERY NERVOUS HOUSE
WIFE....AHHHH THAT THE INSECTS HAVE TAKEN OVER MY HOUSE.... THANK YOU
THANK YOU THANK YOU! COCO LEFORTE
This is a weevil (Coleoptera:
Curculionidae), but the photo is too fuzzy to be more specific. However, it is
not a threat to either your house, its contents, or your health. Weevils such as
this one often are accidental intruders in homes, and can be safely picked up
and evicted. See nos. 989 and 949 for other examples. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It looks
like a type of weevil....probably just lumbering through, on his way to
somewhere else, and ran into some hair on the way (these fellows never go
around anything, they just lumber on through, la la la)....harmless, won't
bite, won't hurt kids or animals, doesn't carry disease, etc.
Catherine
|
 1171
This insect was found on our bed and on our ceiling in the
hallway. Niagara Falls, Canada. Grant
This
could be a weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae); but to be sure, a few more
images showing side and ventral views would be helpful. At initial glance,
it does not appear to be a significant pest species, but again, more images
would help. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the caterpillar of a giant leopard
moth, here is the actual picture you submitted:
http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek020608.html
and here is some more information:
http://extension.osu.edu/~news/story.php?id=2730
David.
|
 1170
Hi. We live in New England in the US. I am not sure if the
photo I will insert is of a "pest," but it is something we need to identify with
limited information for a school extra credit assignment. This creature was
found in Bridgewater, Massachusetts in a grassy area near a field. If you would
be so kind as to help us determine its name, we will take it from there and look
up the rest of the info we need to know. This is for two sixth graders who have
been given too little information for this assignment. Other info we know about
this creature is that it is not a woolly bear; it is bigger and black. The
photo is attached because I was having difficulty sending it any other way.
Thanks so much for any input you can provide. Respectfully, Mom of
two sixth graders
This could be
the larva of the giant or great leopard moth (Hypercompe scribonia - also
found as Ecpantheria scribonia; Lepidoptera: Arctiidae); see
http://www.carolinanature.com/moths/cat0028.jpg
for an image of a larva and
http://images.enature.com/butterflies/butterflies_l/BU0175_1l.jpg
for an adult moth. To be more certain, check to see if the caterpillars ‘skin’
has reddish rings hidden under its stiff black hairs; these usually are visible
when the caterpillar stretches out - see
http://www.floridanature.org/photos/Ecpantheria_scribonia_1b,_Tallahassee,_200305.jpg
. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks
Grove, WV. |
 1169
Accompanying picture shows a moth... one of many (too many) of this variety
cohabitating with us in McLean, Virginia. They appeared en masse this past week.
We are uncertain as to whether the timing coincides more with our bringing in
the houseplants ... or with several recent political scandals (it DOES look sort
of Republican, doesn't it?). We are concerned about what they might be eating
...or planning to eat. So far they haven't gotten into the pantry or figured how
to open the fridge. But a similar species recently made a mess of wool clothing
in the closet. Lovely website. Paul
This moth appears to be
in the family Noctuidae, a very large family that includes several pest species
such as armyworms and cutworms. However, none are pantry pests, and it is only
the larvae (caterpillars) that cause damage by feeding on plants.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1168
I'm not sure what kind of spider this is, and I want to make sure it's not
harmful to me or my pets. I live in Fairdale West Virginia (Southern West
Virginia) I found it crawling on the floor, at around 2:00am. It's November 1st
06. It crawled under the couch in the living room. It approximately the size of
an US half dollar. I'm from Wisconsin and not used to big spiders, so hopefully
you can help me out because I am very afraid of spiders. Thank You,
Miranda Collins
This is a large female
wolf spider (family Lycosidae). They often enter homes in search of prey,
which they actively hunt and run down, having excellent (for spiders)
eyesight. They are not aggressive and are harmless to humans, although large
specimens are capable of a painful bite if mishandled.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1167
Montreal, Quebec. Photo taken early October; outdoors, on side of house.
Several of similar appearance seen all around exterior of house. Size is quite
large - for my liking- about the circumference of a looney (as seen, i.e. legs
not spread out). Thanks. Adam
This is an orb-weaving spider (family Araneidae); likely in the genus
Areneus - see http:/www.nic.funet.fi/index/Tree_of_life/arachnoida/araneida/araneidae/araneus/diadematus-1U.jpg
This is a very large and widely distributed family, with all species harmless to
humans. If you scroll through the pages here, you will see many other examples.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
   1166
The first picture has a small creature in center about 2/3ds up,
perhaps you can identify and or otherwise tell what is causing this in my crawl
space . Thank You for trying. Soini
The other photos look like a good example of Carpenter ant
frass. (they love to chew tunnels in styrofoam insulation) It is difficult
to tell, but the first photo may be a tunnel entrance with an ant slightly
visible. Larry C. |
  1165
I live in the Los Angeles area. These critters have been
appearing on our tiled den in the morning, especially now, in October-November.
They kind of blend in with the grout and so for a long time we didn't realize
they were something that was alive-- they kind of looked dull and dead, until we
realized they were somehow moving. The picture with the terracotta background
is what they normally look like when we find them and they're not
disturbed. They're very flat and we couldn't see how they managed to move about.
I now suspect they don't like the light too much and so appear "overnight"; that
suspicion is also supported by the fact that when I placed one on my countertop
and shone a light on it to avoid using the flash, it stuck out this
"proboscis"-- - for lack of a better term --see picture with the white
background. It then stuck this thing out and seemed to sniff or look around and
then used it to sort of propel itself about. I think they move in a different
way when undisturbed but am not quite sure how. The termite pest control person
couldn't make it out either. Hope someone out there can. B.G.
This is a
household casebearer, aka "plaster bagworm" (Phereoeca uterella;
Lepidoptera: Tineidae). Close relatives of clothes moths, they appear to feed
primarily on old spider webs. The ‘proboscis’ actually is the forepart of the
caterpillar that inhabits the silken case, which is open at both ends. See
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/occas/household_casebearer.htm
for much more information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove,
WV. |
 1164
I have found one of these critters in my apartment, and a couple outside. It
looks like a huge termite to me, but it is larger than any termite I have ever
encountered. Please take a look and let me know what your thoughts may be on
this pest. There is a penny in the picture for size identification. Todd
The photo is a bit
fuzzy, but this likely is wingless cricket in the family Stenopelmatidae,
related to the so-called Jerusalem cricket - see
http://kaweahoaks.com/html/jerusalem_cricket_back.jpg
for an image. They would only be inside a house by accident. They primarily are
scavengers/root feeders (some also may consume other insects) and usually do not
occur in large enough numbers to be economically important. They do have very
powerful jaws, and can deliver a painful bite if mishandled.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1163
This picture was taken in Petrolia, Ontario, Canada. There was a
swarm of them living in the Gravel. (If you look you can see the hole they made
in the mud. They look kinda red & seem to be meaner then a average bee. Any help
identifying them would be great.
Thanks Krista.
This appears to be a great
golden digger wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus; Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). This
species is very widespread in North America, and provisions its burrow with food
for its young; prey items can be quite large, such as katydids - see
http://www.stephencresswell.com/s/sphex.html
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
1162 Hello, found these on wood floor inside home in North Carolina
Mountains. Wonder if new couch I purchased is contaminated with these
creatures. They were on top of couch also. Thank you for your most
informative site. Blessings, Mary S
These seem to look more like seeds than insects.
Larry C.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
These are seeds of a
grass, but I do not know the specific identity, as many species of grass
have seeds of similar appearance with long, hair-like awns. These awns may
aid both in seed dispersal by clinging to the hair of animals or clothing of
humans, and in germination by keeping the seed in contact with the ground.
In some cases, such as wild oats, the awns coil and uncoil in response to
changing humidity, literally drilling the seed into the ground.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1161
I would be very happy if someone could identify this for me. Has
a multi- jointed body and is as long as my finger when stretched out. Curls up
when touched. Thanks! B. Keene.
This
is a larva (or larviform female) of a beetle in the family Phengodidae. The
males are more beetle-like in appearance, but with greatly reduced wing
covers and very prominent flabellate antennae (see
http://www.texasento.net/Phengodes.htm).
They feed primarily on millipedes, and in most species, the larvae and
females have luminous spots on their bodies, and may be called ‘railroad
worms’ or ‘glow-worms.' See no. 1107 for another likely candidate.
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1160
Every fall we seem to get this moth like insect in our house. We
live in Ottawa, Ontario if that helps. The insect does not fly quickly and
when caught it seems to leave a powder residue on the wall. They are likely
coming from the basement but we do not store food there other than our second
refrigerator. thanks in advance. Ezio
This
is one of the better photographs of a moth/drain fly (Diptera: Psychodidae) that
I have seen. They are not pantry pests; their larvae can be found in the organic
film that builds up in floor drains and the like. Although they are completely
harmless, they usually are considered nuisance pests. See no. 1139 for another
example, and
http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/mothFliesHome.htm
for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It looks like a moth fly. Check out the following website.
www.pestproducts.com
on the left side of the screen scroll down to the fly index, click on it and
once you get to the fly index page click on moth fly.
Perry
|
 1159
This Bug Was Found crawling on My Kitchen Table in Cochrane
Alberta. Would Like to know what it is. Thanks--Willy.
|
 1158
Any Ideas on this one?--Willy in Cochrane Alberta.
This caterpillar is a larva of a
moth in the family Noctuidae, such as the fall armyworm - see
http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/selhome/gbu/spodoptera.jpg
for an image. Moths in this family can be very common around lights at night.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1157
Hello. I found this bug on the landing outside never seen anything like this
ever. can u help me with this? Thanking you in Advance. George.
Barrie, Ontario
preying mantis -- Allan
Morris
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a praying mantis, a
distant relative of grasshoppers and cockroaches. Formerly included in the order
Orthoptera, they now are placed either in the order Dictyoptera or Mantodea.
Mantids are voracious predators on other arthropods, and thus usually are
considered beneficial. This particular specimen is an introduced
species, likely the Chinese mantis (Tenodera sinensis; see
http://www.life.uiuc.edu/ib/109/Insect rearing/mantis.htm
for an image). The European mantis (Mantis religiosa; see
http://www.pansphoto.com/mantis/pages/13.htm)
also can occur in Canada, but the only mantid native to Canada is the agile
ground mantid (Litaneutria minor), found in dry grasslands of southern
British Columbia - see
http://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/end_species/species/grmanti.html.
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1156
I have had these dark worm like insects for the last two years
(they seem to have legs?). They cluster in a corner outside my front door and I
often find one climbing a wall in my house or on the floor. They also climb the
outside of the house all the time. This is in Whitby ON. Tamara
The photo is a bit fuzzy, but these
could be millipedes, such as the garden millipede; see no. 1112 for another
example,
www.uidaho.edu/so-id/entomology/Home_&_Garden/millipede.jpg
for an image, and
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/millipedes.htm for
a fact sheet that includes control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 1155
This was in my back yard in Elyria, Ohio on October 21st. The
temperature was about 50F. There were dozens of these in an apple tree eating
rotten apples still in the tree. They all were approximately 1.25" in
length. I've never seen a bee or yellow jacket in this area that was this
massive. Thank you, Matthew
This is a European hornet, (Vespa
crabro; Hymenoptera: Vespidae). A native of Europe, it has become widely
distributed in eastern/central North America. Unlike bald-faced hornets and the
like, this species does not appear particularly aggressive, and stings are
unlikely unless a wasp is actually picked up. See
http://www.vespa-crabro.de/hornets.htm
for much more information. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1154
Hello, I live in Lawrenceville, Georgia in the
southern US and recently found the insects all over the top of the railings on a
deck I just built 5 months ago. At first I saw the black and orange spiny guys
and thought nothing of it. However I now have hundreds of the little green ones
all over the railings. At first I thought they were spiders until I noticed
they only had 6 legs. Also I learned that as they get bigger, they grow wings.
I used "Gorilla Glue" on the caps ,where the seem to congregate, when it was
built. Are there insects out there that like to eat glue? Are the green ones
offspring of the black and orange ones. Someone please help with identification
and possible extermination ideas. Thank you, Bryce
The insect in the photo is a
larva of a ladybird beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). These beetles are for
the most part voracious predators on aphids and other soft-bodied insects. The
few exceptions, such as the Mexican bean beetle, have larvae that are entirely
different in appearance from yours. Also, although I’m not sure what your "green
ones" are, they certainly are not the offspring of the lady beetles, and might
even be the aphids that the beetles are feeding upon (see
http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/entomology/factsheets/gaphids.html
). Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks
Grove, WV. |
 1153
This bug was found in our 5th floor apartment in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and is
usually found close to our baseboards but is sometimes found in other places. I
am thinking it's some kind of beetle larvae?? Although we have never actually
seen a beetle in our apartment. Please help identify this bug. Thanks. Christine
& Jake
This appears to be a larva of the
black carpet beetle, Attagenus piceus (Coleoptera: Dermestidae); see
http://bru.gmprc.ksu.edu/ImageDB/m_BcbLa2.jpg
for an image and
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2103.html
for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1152
I recently found this bug in my home in Torrance, California. It is about an
inch long. I'm hoping someone can identify it for me. Thanks,
Brandy
This is a leaf-footed bug (Hemiptera:
Coreidae). See nos. 1141, 1127, and 1101 for other examples. Most species are
sap feeders, and some species (such as the squash bug) can be quite injurious.
Although the photo is too fuzzy to be positive, it does resemble the western
conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis; see
http://www.forestry.ubc.ca/fetch21/FRST308/lab2/leptoglossus_occidentalis/leaf.html
). This species often enters homes in the autumn in search of
hibernation sites. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1151
I found these bugs in my wood pile long with wood
shavings. We live in Oakville ON. They look like pill/sowbugs but they are not
suppose to eat wood!!! Jess
The 2 protruding
appendages on the rear indicate they are sowbugs. They can not chew on
healthy wood but are often found in soft wet wood that termites have chewed.
|
 1150
This spider was found in Petrolia, Ontario, Canada.
The pipe the spider is on has a four inch inside diametre no one i know knows
what it is thanks for help Krista
This
appears to be a large wolf spider (family Lycosidae). About the only other
spiders of that size and general appearance in your area are the
fishing | |
