Pest Photos 1401 to 1500

Photos 1401 to 1500

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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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Click on the photos to enlarge. They are usually much clearer.

1500 What is this insect? In the last 3 days I have found more than 80 dead insects in a downstairs bedroom. Every time I look in there are a few more. I found 44 the first day, am still finding a few more. They were all around the bed and on the window sill. A few were crawling. I have stripped the bed and still find a few more. What do I do??? Joan, Calgary, Ab.
These are yellowjacket wasps that have probably come into your living space from a nest established in the walls or ceiling of your home. They must have entered through a crack around the widow frame, or some other hole or crack in the room. If most of them are on the bed, they could be falling from a ceiling light fixture. All of these wasps will die as cold weather approaches except queens that will seek out shelter to survive the winter.

1499 Hello - I have attached a digital image just taken on the outside of our house in Georgetown, Ontario. There seem to be swarms of these insects.
Can you tell me what they are please? S. Irwin
This is an eastern boxelder bug (Boisea trivittatus; Hemiptera: Rhopalidae). They are more of a nuisance pest than an economic one (they feed primarily on the developing seeds of boxelders); they often come to attention when masses of them appear on the sides of houses or on tree trunks. See No. 1469 for another example, and http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG0998.html for more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist, Sinks Grove, WV.
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This is a box elder bug. Quite popular in Ontario, completely harmless to humans, but quite a nuisance. Our garden and plants were overtaken with nymphs and adults...must have been millions of them. We have a female box elder tree nearby, which they like the seeds. I've heard soap and water will rid them, but we just left them alone. Sue Judges
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This is a box elder bug. They don't do a lot of damage, but they can be a nuisance in the house.

M Ward, elementary science teacher, Idaho

1498 Can someone identify this bug? It is around an inch and a half long and can fly.
Teena.
This is a giant water bug (a.k.a. ‘toe biter’ or ‘electric light bug’; Hemiptera: Belostomatidae).Voracious predators on other aquatic invertebrates as well as tadpoles and small fish, they also are strong fliers often found far from water, and are capable of delivering a painful bite if mishandled. See nos. 1457 and 1378 for other examples, and http://www.naturenorth.com/summer/bug/wtbgF.html for more information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist, Sinks Grove, WV.

1497 Found this big ugly guy sitting in my tub. He was very quick! Just wondering what he is. Shawn.

This appears to be a male spider in the family Agelenidae (funnel web/grass spiders), likely in the genus Tegenaria (see http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/spidermyth/images/gigantea.jpg for an image). Males in this family often wander quite some distance from their web, and then come to human attention when their wandering results in their accidental entrapment in tubs and the like. In spite of their appearance, they should pose no threat to human health. One species in this genus, the so-called ‘hobo spider’ (Tegenaria agrestis), has been implicated in cases of slow-healing ulcers (necrotic arachnidism) following a bite, but some controversy still exists on this subject. See http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/Spiders/Agelenidae/Agelenidae.htm for much more information on this group of spiders. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist, Sinks Grove, WV.

1496 Hi there, I sent you some pictures of the powder post beetles I have in the back addition of my house. (see 1488) I found these today along the outside of the chimney shaft for my woodstove where it goes up through the ceiling while repairing the drywall around it. There is no sign of insect damage anywhere like the powderpost nastiness in the back, just these guys, actually I had put masking tape along the edges of the chimney tube to block airflow and when I removed it today these little guys were stuck all over the tape! I've never seen one alive, and after inspecting the area I still never seen a live one up there, just these ones stuck to the tape. I put the tape there last year, so who knows how long they were stuck there. I'm just concerned because of the powder post beetles getting me all worried about infestations now, what are these little guys, are they anything to be worried about? Thanks! Chris. Barrington Nova Scotia
This appears to be a spider beetle (Coleoptera: Ptinidae); likely in the genus Ptinus; see http://www.ptinidae.de/images/Ptinrufi.jpg for an image. They can be pantry pests, feeding on a very wide variety of dried food products. See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2117.html for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1495 I found this rather slow moving very large spider almost the size of our toonie on the golf coarse today near Salmon Arm BC .I have not seen one like it before .Any Ideas? Dar.

This is another female orb-weaving spider (family Araneidae); it apparently has encountered a mishap, as mature females almost never leave their webs. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1494 Found this beauty in my backyard 9/15/07. Her orb is about 3' across, with the anchor strands adding a couple of feet on either side. She's been building this web every night for a couple of weeks. The round part of her body with the tell-tale arrowhead on it is about 1" (2.5 cm) across. She is very, very round. We live in Gilroy, California.
This is a female orb-weaving spider (family Araneidae); likely in the genus Araneus. They are all harmless to humans.. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1493 Hi there, I live in the northwest Toronto and found this insect in my house lying on my kitchen floor, although, y uncle saw him in the window the day before. All I can say is that he looks like a fly on steroids. Would you be able tell me what it is and if they are native here because in 35 years I have never seen anything like it. Thank you. Michelle
This is a dog-day cicada (Homoptera: Cicadidae); so called because they usually appear in the waning days of summer. They have a much shorter life cycle than their more well-known relatives, the periodical (13- and 17-year) cicadas. See http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek000722.html for more information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1492 Hi my parents found this on a leaf on one of their trees last year. They kept it for awhile but it has long since died. We were curious as to what it was, as we hadn't seen anything like it before or since. They live in Newfoundland. Paul

This is a larva (caterpillar) of a swallowtail butterfly (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), either the eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) or the Canadian swallowtail (Papilio canadensis - also known as Papilio glaucus canadensis). The orange projection at its head end is called an osmeterium - it gives off an odour thought to deter some predators. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1491 I found this little guy while walking along the edge of a field in southern New Brunswick. It was on a web suspended about a foot off the ground that ran from the tips of the grass up to the lower branches of the bushes. Its body was about as big as my thumbnail, and its colors made it worthy of taking a picture of. Any idea what it is exactly? Thanks- Andrew. Kingston, New Brunswick)

This is an orb-weaving spider (family Araneidae) in the genus Argiope, likely Argiope aurantia; see nos. 1187, 1185, 1114, and 1113 for other examples. They often attract attention late in summer when the adult females attain their full size. They die soon after laying their eggs in a tough sac that remains intact until the following spring. See http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Argiope_aurantia.html for more detailed information on this species. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1490 Hi there! We live in the East of England and we have been finding quite a few of these things in the bottom of the toilet! Does anybody know what they are? Thanks, Jason

This a rat-tailed maggot, the larva of a fly in the family Syrphidae (hover flies/flower flies). These maggots usually are found in water or very moist environments rich in organic matter that they feed upon; the long tube (‘tail’) is their breathing apparatus. The adult fly superficially resembles a honey bee - see http://ipm.ncsu.edu/AG369/notes/rattailed_maggots.html. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1489 This beetle showed up on my driveway near Winnipeg, Manitoba a couple of summers ago. All attempts to find it on the Internet have been unsuccessful. It is about 35 mm long. The spots on its back change colour from gold to green to yellow depending on the angle of the light. It had a hard shell, which was damaged just behind its head - perhaps by a bird? What is it? Alan
This is a ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae); likely Calosoma calidum, one of several species collectively known as fiery hunters or searchers - see http://weaselhead.org/profile/?s=1414. They are voracious predators on other small arthropods, particularly caterpillars. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1488 From what I see on your site I think these are furniture beetles.
What do you think? They are absolutely everywhere in the back of my house, in the floor, the walls, the ceiling! I thought they didn't bore through painted wood? There are little holes all over the painted wood surface where I assume an adult exited the hole. I stirred them up about a month ago while replacing a window, and I noticed the Swiss cheese wood in the wall, and started ripping up floorboards which were reduced to almost total powder underneath! Then the little beetles started appearing all over the place, on walls, near the baseboards of the wood floor, on the ceiling. I bought an insect spray and sprayed it everywhere, it seemed to kill them, but new ones kept emerging, so I kept spraying. I'm not seeing any anymore, are they all dead now? Will this kill a generation of hatchlings, or will more larvae be chewing in the wood and emerge again later, or do they emerge all at once? Should I remove EVERYTHING with a little hole in it to be safe, because that would mean the whole back addition of the house! I removed the major stuff I could find, but I've never seen a larva anywhere while ripping up all the wood and powder. Should I buy that tim-bor stuff? Thanks. Chris ;)
These appear to be powder post beetles, likely in the family Anobiidae (see http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2090.html). Because of the apparent wide extent of your infestation, you probably should engage the services of a professional pest control company with experience in surveillance and control of wood-damaging insects. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
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Tim-Bor is sold only to licensed professionals in Canada. Because you are spending considerable money upgrading your home, the cost of professional service would be a good investment. Larry Cross. PCS Gulf Islands.

1487 This slow flying ??? was on my tool box. We live on the Assiniboine river in Winnipeg. I sure someone can id this ???. I have not seen any thing like it before. Gary

This is a female pelecinid wasp (Pelecinus polyturator; Hymenoptera: Pelicinidae). They are parasitic on the larvae ("white grubs") of June beetles. Males of these wasps are quite different in appearance (see http://www.entomology.umn.edu/museum/links/coursefiles/JPEG images/Hymenoptera web jpeg/Pelecinus-male.jpg ), and are rarely seen. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
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This is a parasitic wasps and it is completely harmless for you and your kids! This species is called Pelecinus and there is a wonderful webpage about these graceful wasps:
http://iris.biosci.ohio-state.edu/projects/tpp/ Martin Hauser, Department of Entomology, University of Illinois

1486 Found Four of these spiders by the side of my house. There was a web connected between my house and our neighbors house. They ranged in size from a nickel to bigger than a quarter but not as big as a fifty cent piece. I caught two of them in a container and the bigger one killed the smaller one. I live in Shoreview, MN. Aaron
These are orb-weaving spiders (family Araneidae); possibly in the genus Neoscona - see http://www.samford.edu/schools/artsci/biology/invert04f/photos/Arabesque-Orbweaver--Neosco.jpg and http://www.tenczar.net/midwest/Araneidae/araneid1-1.jpg for images. Several species of these spiders occur in Minnesota; all are harmless to humans. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1485 We found two of these in our home in Saratoga Springs, NY. We were wondering what they are and if they are stinging insects. Tom
This is a wasp, and although technically all wasps are capable of ‘stinging,’ not all are venomous and many are far too small to be able to penetrate human skin. This specimen bears a superficial resemblance to the European wheat stem sawfly (Cephus pygmaeus; Hymenoptera: Cephidae) - see http://www.mnhn.lu/recherche/pics/symph/big/020.jpg, but its abdomen appears to be constricted placing it in the suborder Apocrita, whereas sawflies are in the suborder Symphyta. Perhaps a specialist can step in here. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1484 Hi there, I’m curious to know what kind of bug this is (see attached photo).
I live in Kleinburg, ON about 60 feet from a tributary of the Humber River. It’s very humid in the valley. Mainly cedar and evergreens stand behind the home (furthest away from the river) and deciduous trees, hard and soft woods, in front of the home, closest to the river.
I’ve been here for 12 years. I first noticed this bug inside my home last year. If I’m recalling correctly, it disappeared a month or two later. I noticed it again this year around the beginning of August. I’m also noticing that its numbers appear to be gradually diminishing as the nights get cooler. I’ve found it mainly in the bathroom and the kitchen. This may be because the floor colour in both these rooms is quite light and I just don’t notice them against the darker floors of other rooms. They appear to prefer the floor. I’ve seen them on the walls a couple of time. I have noticed them on the sink and in the bathtub a couple of times as well. It moves on the slow side, slower than an ant, but quicker than a lady bug. However, when its feeling threatened it does move quickly, but it’s still quite easy to capture. I have not seen them fly. I see them during the day and in the evening hours. Looking forward to finding out what this bug is.
Thanks, Karen. Kleinburg, ON
This is another cockroach nymph (see no. 1483). However, its overall appearance does not appear consistent with that of the commoner pest species in the genera Blatella, Periplaneta, or Supella. It could be a wood cockroach (Parcoblatta spp.) - see the left specimen at
http://www.lesinsectesduquebec.com/insecta/14-dictyoptera/parcoblatta_pennsylvanica-larves.JPG , but these generally do not breed indoors. If you consistently find these insects indoors, you may wish to consult a professional pest control service. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1483 This guy was found in my kitchen. It's less than a centimeter long. I believe he lost a leg when I captured him. Alan L , Toronto Canada
This is a young cockroach nymph, possibly a brown-banded cockroach (Supella longipalpa); see http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/brown_banded_cockroach.htm for a fact sheet that includes control measures. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1482 I found this large spider in the woods in Quebec, Canada, it was quite aggressive. I am wondering if it is a wolf spider or a fishing spider maybe? Oliver
This appears to be a female fishing/dock spider, Dolomedes tenebrosus; see http://spiders.entomology.wisc.edu/Pisauridae/Dolomedes/tenebrosus.html for an image and no. 1475 for another example. Large females have been reported to behave in an aggressive manner and are capable of a painful bite; see http://entomology.uark.edu/museum/dolomede.html for detailed information on this species. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1481 Hi, Here's a macro photo of a praying mantis, I'm pretty sure M. religiosa. (While difficult to see in this photo, there is a black oblong marking, with a pale yellowish circle within it, on the medial surface of each coxa, at the proximal end.) Here, she's feeding on a cockroach we fed her in order to get photos. I found her standing in a parking lot in Toronto. This is only the second mantis I've ever found. I took her home to get revenge on the cockroaches infesting my apartment. (The roaches are, unfortunately, encouraged by circumstances beyond my control.) I just put her in a cupboard frequented by roaches, and she seems to have taken to it quite well. She was loose for a few days, and in that time laid an ootheca, which apparently fell down before I found it. I hung it on a string, and put that into a pop bottle with the top cut off and a piece of cloth stretched over the top. I also cut a hole in the bottom and plugged it with a sponge, to allow CO2 to escape.
I have some specific questions I'm hoping an entomologist might answer.
Is this species of mantis parthenogenic? (I know some are, but I don't know about this one.) Also, will they lay an ootheca even if the eggs are not fertile?
Am I taking the right approach to hatching the ootheca? Will they hatch in room temperature and without extra moisture?
I understand that when the nymphs first emerge, they will hang on a thread to dry. How long will they hang there for? How big will they be? How many will come out in the case of this particular species?
I'm not exactly sure what to do with them when the nymphs emerge. I know that if they are not isolated, they will eat each other. I'm wondering if the nymphs will be able to eat small roaches.
I'd love to just let the nymphs loose in the kitchen, but I foresee three problems. The first is, I'm not sure if they will be big enough to feed on roaches. The second is, there are spiders in the kitchen, too, and I'm afraid these might eat the nymphs. The third is, it'd be impossible to keep track of them; an adult praying mantis is large enough that if I put it somewhere like a cupboard, it won't get out, but I suspect the nymphs will go wherever they please, and quite likely disappear.
I suppose my best bet would be to isolate each nymph in a separate container, and feed each fruit flies, until they are large enough to put in the kitchen. This sounds like a lot of work, though.
No need to tell me this is a rather eccentric approach to pest control, but these big green bugs are rather fascinating and make for amazing photos.Thanks for any help, Kevin.
First off, this species is not parthenogenic, but they can lay infertile oothecae - see http://skeysource.com/TopicDB29/praying_mantis.php. They newly hatched nymphs hang from a silken thread only long enough for their cuticle to harden; they then crawl up the thread to the ootheca and then disperse. Room temperature should be fine for hatching; oothecae of this species can contain 100-300 eggs. Your proposed care may be overly detailed; see http://www.livemantis.com/prayingmantiseggs.html for guidelines on rearing mantids, and http://www.earthlife.net/insects/pub/philbragg.html for a book on rearing mantids. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1480 I live in Markham, Ontario, just north of Toronto. There are lots of these bugs in my backyard in late summer and they love to hang on to the siding of my house. Please help me to identify this bug, thanks! Kevin
This is a ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae). The vast majority of carabids are general predators on other small arthropods and thus considered beneficial or neutral from a human standpoint. As in most large families, there are a few rogues such as the seed corn beetles - see http://www.ent.iastate.edu/imagegal/coleoptera/seedcorn/0669.4seedcbeetle.html for an example. Yours appears to be in the ‘good guy’ category. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1479 Attached are pictures of a bug we found on the exterior of our garage in Madison, Wisconsin. It looks to be more brightly colored than a grasshopper, with longer antennae too. We are also wondering what the curved brownish colored thing is at the rear of the bug’s body. Scott
This is a female long-horned grasshopper (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) of the type often referred to as bush katydids (subfamily Phaneropterinae). Your specimen likely is in the genus Scudderia; see http://www.twofrog.com/images/katy3.jpg for an image. The brownish abdominal appendage is its ovipositor, used to deposit its very thin eggs between the epidermal layers of leaves - see http://buzz.ifas.ufl.edu/g060a.htm for details. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1478 These were found one evening on our back porch outside. We are located in Tahsis on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Any help identifying these would be appreciated. Bug01 was almost twice the size of Bug2. Cammy

Despite the size difference, both specimens appear to be female dobsonflies (Corydalus spp.; Megaloptera: Corydalidae). Although basically harmless, female dobsonflies can deliver quite a painful bite if mishandled; male dobsonflies have greatly elongated mandibles that are incapable of anything more than a mild pinch. The larvae (naiads) of dobsonflies are called hellgrammites and are aquatic where they feed on other small arthropods. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dobsonfly for more information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1477 I live in St. Albert, Alberta and recently came across this wasp nest between our two garden sheds under the garage eaves. It was approximately 18” across and 24” long before my husband knocked the bottom off it. Since then, the “guts” fell out and we thought the wasps would leave. Not so! They are very industrious and have rebuilt – the nest is now about the size of a basketball beneath the umbrella of the old nest top (attached to the sheds). The wasps are black, about ¾” to 1” in length and have white markings. I think they are bald faced wasps, but others have said that the shape of the nest suggests they are hornets. What’s the difference? And how can we get rid of them? The nest is at the end of a 10’ long by 18” wide tunnel and no one can get into and out of it safely (without getting stung). Thanks for your help…Janet
These are the so-called ‘bald-faced hornets’ (Dolichovespula maculata; Hymenoptera: Vespidae), which actually are not true hornets - see http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/baldfaced/baldfaced.htm. To see how a professional pest controller tackles their control, see http://unexco.com/gallery/hornets.htm.l Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
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Many professionals use a long wand for nests that are difficult to reach and to maintain a safe distance. An aerosol can is attached to the wand to dispense insecticide into the nest opening. Some professionals prefer to use insecticide dust which is blown with compressed air into the nest opening through a long plastic tube attached to the wand. While it is best to do this at night, it may be difficult to see the nest opening, and professionals doing a number of treatments could not schedule them all after dark. So called "aerosol wasp blasters" will project insecticides a number of feet but it is important to get it into the nest opening and not pollute the surrounding area. PCS Gulf Islands.

1476 This green bug was found in my apartment building on a hallway wall. It has a long thin green appendage on its underside from below its head to about halfway down its body. The insect can fly pretty good and sticks to surfaces well. I live in Barrie, ON just north of Toronto. If anyone can ID it, thanks! Also, thanks to Ed Saugstad for his insight into so many of the posts! You rock! -Adam Shortt Barrie, ON Canada

This is a stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Most species, such as the green stink bug (Acrosternum hilare), are plant pests. The feeding punctures made by the beak that you noted (the thin appendage under its head) often results in unsightly disfiguration of the item fed upon - see http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/tarbug.htm for an example. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1475 I found this spider on a dead cedar tree that was fallen into the water of a fair sized lake in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The body was about 25mm long (not including legs). Middle of August, about 18 degrees C. and very windy. Sorry I could not remember more information about it, but hopefully someone knows what it is!! Thanks, Jason
This appears to be a dock/fishing/nursery web spider (family Pisauridae); see http://spiders.entomology.wisc.edu/Pisauridae/Dolomedes_tenebrosus/index.html for an image and http://entomology.uark.edu/museum/dolomede.html for more information. They are active hunters like wolf spiders, but lack wolf spiders’ enlarged front eyes. They usually are found near water, but sometimes individuals can be found wandering quite some distance from water sources. They are harmless to humans. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1474 HI, I found this ,what I think is a black and white springtail on a stump by the Skagit River, near Concrete, Wa. I got some good pic's of it. If you could help me with the rest of the info on it I sure would appreciate it. THANKS. ROBERT E. W

This appears to be a banded alder borer (Rosalia funebris; Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). See http://www.forestryimages.org/images/384x256/1192006.jpg for an image and no. 731 for another example. In addition to alder, the larvae also may be found boring in ash and other hardwood species. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1473 Hello. I live in Ontario Canada. This thing is wild! It appears to carry it's offspring with it while it travels. I've never seen a bug quite like this. I also can't find photos online that even remotely resemble this little creature. When it's flying it appears to be a hornet. You really need to take a good look at it to realise that it's not. At first glance this beetle appears to have a cap. But it's really a shell that parts when it expands it's hornet like wings. It has fuzzy yellow down behind it's head that is exactly identical to a bumble bee. I'm going to include another picture of the tiny reddish orange bugs that are attached to it's body. When I first caught it the tiny bugs were attached to her beetle wings. (Not the hornet wings underneath) Now they are underneath her and clinging to her chest. Her wing span is roughly an inch and a half wide. Her body is half an inch. Please try to identify this bug quickly. I'd like to let her go if she is a natural bug of this area or isn't harmful to our region. Thanks Kindly.
This is a sexton or burying beetle (Coleoptera: Silphidae) in the genus Nicrophorus. They are becoming increasingly scarce over much of their range; see http://www.texasento.net/ABB.htm. The reddish creatures you noted are mites that hitch a ride on the beetle (a phenomenon known as phoresy); they feed on the eggs of flies that are laid on the beetles’ food source (carrion), and also appear to perform a cleaning/grooming service to the beetles - see http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/Diversity/ABB/ABB.htm. You definitely should release this beetle. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

1472 Could you please help me identify this bug found in our home in New Brunswick, Canada. It is reddish brown and approx. 4mm long. They appear to be living around the baseboards and I found quite a few around the cat food. I have been vacuuming them as they appear but would be happy to receive tips on how to get rid of these pests. Thank you. Pestered in NB
This appears to be either a saw-toothed or merchant grain beetle (Coleoptera: Silvanidae; Oryzaephilus sp.). See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2086.html for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

1471 Hi we live in the south of the UK. We have 2 'things' in our home, I'm not 100% sure if they are totally separate or the young and adult of the same 'thing', I suspect the latter. The larvae type (thing 1) is generally found on the floor (carpet), especially at the edges and where it's dark, tiny - mm in length. The other around the walls, especially in the kitchen, again tiny things, mm in length, find small collections of 'thing2' amongst dried flowers and the other day found some in a box of vanilla candles! The house is 5 years old was built on a malt factory, I have read a bit about the Khapra Beetle, it might be this. Does anyone know for sure? Are they harmful and how can they be got rid of? Charlotte
The insect in the left photo is a larva of a carpet/furniture beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae); likely in the genus Anthrenus. The right photo is too blurry to be certain, but it is unlikely to be a khapra beetle - see http://ipmworld.umn.edu/chapters/krischik/ch13f17.jpg for an image. See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2103.html for a fact sheet on carpet beetles that includes control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

1470 I am finding these in every room of my home. They measure 3 to 5 millimeters. What are they? Thank you. Peter

This is a larva of a carpet/furniture beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) in the genus Anthrenus. If you have carpeting/overstuffed furniture that includes wool fabric or other animal-derived material (hair, leather, etc.) of any kind, you should check it carefully, particularly around the edges, for the presence of these insects or signs of their damage. See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2103.html for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

1469 We are located in Southern Ontario and have a tree in our yard that appears to be under attack by the insect in the photo. Over the past month the leaves have begun to wither and tree appears to be dying. The insects gathered in great swarms on the trunk from the ground upward into the lower branches. They gather on the side of the tree facing the sun and follow the sun around the tree trunk as the day goes by. Those that are sprayed daily with soapy water die off but are replaced by others the next day. Can anyone identify this critter and how do I get rid of them? Dave.

These are eastern boxelder bugs (Boisea trivittatus; Hemiptera: Rhopalidae). They are more of a nuisance pest than an economic one (they feed primarily on the developing seeds of boxelders), and control measures usually are not needed. See http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG0998.html for more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1468 Hi, I have attached a picture of a creature that was found in drinking water in the west of Ireland recently. He measures approx 1.5-2 mm in length. Does anybody recognize him?? Many thanks, Dr. Brenda Lennon, Executive Chemist, Public Analyst's Laboratory, Galway.
This appears to be a fly (order Diptera) larva; but beyond that, I cannot say. If a specialist views this, they may be able to help further. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1467 Hi! Fantastic site, so interesting to read! I found a lot of bugs here that I have seen around, and wondered about. This bug/fly (??) shows up in September/October, on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia, Canada (these pics were taken in Porters Lake). They float, rather than fly, and are extremely easy to catch on your hand. They have varying levels of what looks like fur, light purpley-blue in color. The wings are see-through with a rainbow iridescence. I call them "fairy flies" :) I'd love to learn more about them - does anyone have a name? What do they eat? Thanks! Ann in NS
This appears to be a winged woolly aphid (Homoptera: Eriosomatidae). Some species can be serious pests on deciduous trees; see www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/e453woollyaphid.html
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
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I'm the one who sent in mystery bug 1467 - please thank Ed Saugstad for me, I really appreciate finding out the answer to my mystery! (Even if it did turn out to be a crappy little aphid, and not something more majestic). :) Thanks, Ann

1466 This insect was found on my potted orange tree on my deck in McComb in southern Mississippi. It was around 9am in the morning, about 85F and kind of overcast. I have seen it only that one day, August 30, and never again. I think it is very pretty and would like to know what it is. Can anyone help. I can not find it in any of my books or on the internet. Thanks for any help I can get. Eva
This appears to be a scarlet-bodied wasp moth, Cosmosoma myrodora (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) - see http://www.texasento.net/Cosmosoma.jpg for an image. You may want to report this finding to the entomology department at Mississippi State University (http://www.msstate.edu/Entomology/contact/index.htm), as records for this species from Mississippi may be scarce - see http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3865 Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1465 Hello. I found this critter on the outside balcony wall of my 3rd floor apartment here in Toronto, Canada at 2:20pm September 1. The weather was sunny and 21 degrees Celsius. The critter has not moved in the last half hour. Any idea what it is? Thanks.
Alan B. Toronto, Canada
This is a cranefly. They are often seen in late summer/early fall. Females will lay eggs in lawns and grass. These will develop into larva known as Leatherjackets. They can be quite destructive, chewing on the roots of lawn grass. Extensive patches and sometimes entire lawns will turn brown next spring. Pesticide use bylaws in Toronto prevent spraying for theses pests. With no control, cranefly populations are expected to explode in coming years. For more information see: http://www.pfc.forestry.ca/diseases/nursery/pests/european_e.html

1464 Dear entomologists, Please advise what kind of insect is it? Is it dangerous? I found it in one of my tennis shoes and it bit me very painfully. The shoes were left in the balcony on the 10^th floor of an apartment building in Northern Toronto. There are a lot of parks nearby. Thank you. Serge
This is an assassin bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) called a wheel bug (Arilus cristatus); see no. 1455 for another example.. They are general predators on other small arthropods, and larger specimens can deliver quite a painful bite if mishandled. The pain is caused by the proteolytic enzymes in the bug’s saliva; these enzymes are what breaks down the tissues of the bug’s prey items. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1463 My husband found these 2 bugs while trimming the outskirts of our yard. Our property backs on the Holland River. We live in Holland Landing, Ontario just north of Newmarket I have captured 1 right side up and 1 upside down. They are about 1
1/2 cm long and 1 cm wide a red stripe on each shoulder edge and yellow stripes fanning out over back body from black center. The underside is sort of light shade green Can anyone help identify these. Are they harmful to my gardens? Joanne P
Your specimen appears to be a nymph of the green stink bug, Acrosternum hilare) - see http://ipm.ncsu.edu/AG271/soybeans/stink_bugs.html. We currently have them feeding on our pole beans. The majority of stink bugs are sap feeders and some can do considerable damage to plants. A few species are predaceous on other small arthropods and thus considered beneficial. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

1462 Found in large numbers in a bathroom draw and also in boxes of old breakfast cereal. Very small, perhaps 1 or 2 mm in length. Location Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Would it be a booklouse? Steve.
This beetle may belong to the same family as the saw-toothed and merchant grain beetles (Coleoptera: Silvanidae). However, it lacks the saw-like prothoracic margins charact