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

  #698  Hello, I am in North Carolina and these bugs are all over a Rose of Sharon bush, particularly on the spent blossoms.  Can you tell me what they are?  Thanks!
These appear to be nymphs of a true bug in the order Hemiptera, but I do not recognize the species. If no one else on this forum can provide a specific i.d., I suggest that you contact your county office of the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service for assistance – see http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=countycenters  for contact information.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #697   Found these bugs while I was on a photo-taking hike in Northern California.  It was early October around sundown. Could they be assassin beetles? Or some similar species. - Chris    

#689  Great site - thanks! I use it quite a bit.  My friend just bought a home in Ajax, Ontario (NE of Toronto). It is 3 blocks from Lake Ontario.  The pictures are of some flying insects that have infested her sliding door. They can also be found on the upper-level windows. Mostly the windows facing the back yard. She has no garden. Close neighbours on either side of her have gardens and fruit trees.  Theses pests fly. They are bigger than fruit flies, smaller than mosquitoes. As you can see in the one picture, they are clustering at the base of her sliding door. The other is an attempt at a close up shot. Not sure if they bite. FYI her window and door trims are bright white; the room to which the sliding door enters is yellow, (maybe they're attracted to the light colours?).  If you can help my friend identify them, but more importantly help her to get rid of them, she would appreciate it.  Thanks!
    Sometimes called ‘blind mosquitoes,’ these are midges in the family Chironomidae. Closely related to mosquitoes, their larvae are aquatic, but the adults do not bite. Although totally harmless as far as humans are concerned, they can be pests just because they can occur in such enormous numbers. See http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IG092  for a fact sheet. 

These appear to be midges (non biting), living close to the lake your friend will encounter swarms of them through the warmer parts of the year.  Turning off exterior lights and closing blinds at sundown will help greatly as the are very attracted to light. J. Heppell

 #688  I live in Gander, Newfoundland, and this pest was found on the kitchen floor near the back door of our house in August (I guess it was carried inside on someone/something).  I saw another one just like this at a friend's house but it was bright green (looked like a leaf). Thanks! Jill Newhook
    This cute little guy has to be the same as # 615 and #629.  According to Mr. Saugstad:   "This a larva of a swallowtail butterfly (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), most likely the eastern tiger swallowtail, Papilio glaucus. The 'eye spots' on the thorax are thought to act as a deterrent to predation. These larvae more commonly appear in a green color phase, and in very early stages may resemble bird droppings".

  #687  Hi, My wife found this in our basement. She couldn't "sqwish" it with a tissue and ended up flushing it after taking the picture. The bug is aprox. 1" long Any ideas? Dan,  Kitchener Ontario
   This is a rove beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae).  I'm not certain what species, but they are harmless, and are not really considered pests.  They are often one of the first found in compost piles, and are attracted to decaying organic material.  More info - http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/iiin/brovebee.html
J.D. Roberts, entomologist

 #671  These bugs were found inside a load of our paper product. The load originally was manufactured in South Korea and shipped to the UK. The bugs were found upon opening the shrink wrapped pallet and discovering 2 dead and 2 live bugs as shown.  Can you identify this bug and let me know what country it is native to, Korea, Europe or ??? Thank you. Rick    

#669  Hi, I've found this bug in my bedroom downtown Montreal yesterday. It had two rear legs like the one on the second picture before I squished them off ! It's about an 1 1/4 inch in length including the antennas. From a quick web search, it seems to be some sort of longhorned beetle. What bothers me is that it appeared right after we opened a bag of a fabric we bought in an Indian store . Just hope it's not some dangerous Asian wood eating or disease infected variety. Can you please help identifying and tell me if it's dangerous. Should I fumigate the place ? Thank you very much. Pierre . Montreal

 #668  hi;  I live in Central New York, USA, and found  this bug in my back yard......can you tell me what it may be?  Thanks, Tom

 #667  I found these cluster of eggs (or so I presume) around my ground floor apartment, all outside my home. It sticks to the surface and is extremely hard to scrape off. Once I found a square of insects 'guarding' these eggs.  Literally about 7 x 7 small fly like insects next to one of these clusters. The insects were in an ordered square. I'm so bothered by them I'm having dreams about it. Please help! Thanks! Genevieve
    If at all possible, try to photograph the insects that were associated with these eggs. Several species in various groups (mostly Hemiptera/Homoptera) exhibit ‘egg guarding.’ Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #666  I live in west Burlington about 2 blocks from Lake Ontario and about the same from the Royal Botanical Gardens, ravines, walking trails, marshes, etc. I first saw this bug in my garden sitting on my million bells plant. I took pix of it and thought no more of it except that I was so impressed with its detailed wings. Its span was about 1 1/2 inches across. The next day, I saw it again on my hanging begonia and took more pictures.  I have searched numerous sites on the web but cannot locate it. I'm not sure if it is a fly or moth... I guess that is the problem. Any chance you know if its identity. Thanks in advance. Anne
     This fly appears to be a bee fly (Diptera: Bombyliidae). The adults most frequently are found on flowers, and their larvae are parasitic on a variety of other insects, including the larvae of Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera and the egg masses of grasshoppers.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #661  Me and my husband found this bug on our front door of our house and have never seen anything like it. It is about 2 inches in length and the stinger is about and inch to an inch 1/2 in length..  Quinn.
       This appears to be a  horntail (Hymenoptera: Siricidae), such as the pigeon tremex (Tremex columba). The ‘long thing’ is its ovipositor, a modified stinger used to deposit its eggs in wood -  the larvae are wood borers. See # 588 and 607 for other examples.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #660 Hi there I live in Warren Manitoba Canada.  I came across this fuzzy little caterpillar.. we have seen them around before. But I just don't know what kind it is.  I tried to look it up on line but with no success. we where going to let it go the next day but over night it spun itself into a cocoon. so we are going to wait and see what it looks like if it survives the morphing stage.  I need to know what kind of moth it will be. and does it need a cooler temp for it to change? I know it's not like a horn worm where it burries itself in the ground over winter.  The yellow fuzz and black fuzzy spines are actually irritating to the skin if you touch it..  makes you itch like as if you where handling fiber glass all day.  We knew not to touch it. but when it spun it's cocoon it dropped all it's fur and we got some on us. Anyway thanks in advance :)   Sheila
       Although this specimen superficially resembles a tussock moth caterpillar (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae; many species in this group can cause skin irritation), another possibility is that it a larva of the American dagger moth (Acronicta americana; Lepidoptera: Noctuidae); see http://www.cirrusimage.com/moths_american_dagger.htm. However, I am unaware of any reports of this species having urticating hairs. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #659  This was on the street behind our car. sorry there are blurry I didn't want to get to close. I was the size of a looney and had some hairs on the back.  thanks.  Brenda
    This is another orb weaver spider (Araneida: Araneidae), harmless to humans. There are many similar examples on this site, such as #s 612, 613, 634, and 647. 
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #657 We found this critter on September 13/05 on the sidewalk in our neighbourhood on the west side of Vancouver, about 5 blocks east of the UBC endowment lands (a very big old growth forest). He's about 2 1/2 inches long, and very fat, bright green, with small orange specs out of which his hairs stick out. His head is brown and dry looking, and on his tail he has a strange looking brown apparatus that looks somewhat like an X and perhaps helps him to "walk". We put him in a jar with some maple leaves and overnight he started to spin silk, so must be ready to cocoon. We've never seen anything like it. On Google image search for "moth larva" he looks most like the Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus). Is this anything to worry about in terms of his Vancouver location and is it the right time of year for cocooning? When would the adult moth hatch? Sincerely,  Monika ,  Vancouver, British Columbia
        This does appear to be the larva of a Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus; Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). This the usual time of year for pupation;(September) the pupa overwinters in its cocoon and the adult emerges in late Spring. See http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordLandingES/Ecology/mpages/polyphemus_moth.htm for much more information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #656  Hi, We live in Northern BC.  A few days ago my sister found this insect in her child’s plush dog…she actually found a few of them.  Her boyfriend told us that the week prior that the same kind of insect landed on his chest and bite him, which he had to pinch the head with tweezers to remove from his chest.  When picking these bugs out of the plush toy, some of the heads had to be pinched off as well.  Checking the web we were not able to identify the insect.  They are a grayish color with some black specks.  There doesn’t seem to be wings on this insect.  They seem to be 1.5 – 2 mm big. They look they have a weevil head, perhaps a pine beetle?  We’re not sure what it could be…we thought it might have been a carpet beetle as well…but the color wasn’t the same.  We are worried for the baby because it was found on his plush toy, my sister said that she has only found a few more since the first ones she found.  Any help would be appreciated.…  Crystal.
     This is a weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and not anything likely to bite let alone be harmful to a human. It does not appear to be a species normally considered a household pest, and likely is an accidental intruder. Bean weevils (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) are broader at the rear, and the wing covers (elytra) do not completely cover the abdomen.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #655  Hi, thanks for this website! I found a number of these bugs under or near my mattress, and along the mattress seams. The mattress rests directly on a creaky wood floor of a very hot third floor attic/apartment, although it is air conditioned at night when I sleep there. There is no boxspring or frame. I am near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, and have no pets. These do not appear to be bedbugs. They are very hairy, like a porcupine! They move slowly, and seem content to just stay still, instead of fleeing. Thanks! Julie
   These are larvae of dermestid beetles (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), a family that includes several destructive pests that attack a wide variety of organic material, usually that of a proteinaceous nature. See http://extension.usu.edu/files/factsheets/carpetbe.pdf and http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2104.html for fact sheets that include control recommendations.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

 #654  Howdy from Drumheller Alberta, Canada. I was sitting on our front steps yesterday and spotted this large insect buzzing from flower to flower.  Due to it's size and constant wing motion, I first thought it was some type of hummingbird. After I got closer, I noticed a large proboscis sucking nectar from the flowers. The proboscis was approx 1 inch long,  and I estimate the bug was about 2.5 inches in length. We've been here for over 10 yrs and have never seen a critter like this, any ideas what it might be ? I've asked some old timers from the area and a bunch of friends, no one seems to know what it might be, my curiosity is getting the better of me. The attached pictures are frame grabs from a camcorder. The picture Big Bug 2 is a close-up of it's head and proboscis. The insects wings were constantly in motion.. much like a hummingbird.  Thanks in advance. Yours truly, Fred S
    This is a white-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata; Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). Moths in this family commonly are referred to as “hummingbird moths.” See http://www.birds-n-garden.com/white-lined_sphinx_hummingbird_moths.html for more information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    It appears to be a white-lined sphinx moth. Diane, retired junior high science teacher, Waupaca WI

 #653  I have a few of these bugs on the inside walls of my home. Don't know where they are coming from. They are very small, about 5mm long and 2mm wide. At one time I noticed a "tongue" like appendage coming out of the body. It seemed to be probing for food. It does not move much but does twitch. A few times it was just barely stuck on the wall and I could see underneath it's body. Looks the same as the "top". No legs or anything. They do move but I've never seen them in locomotion. I live in Florida.
     This appears to be a household casebearer (Phereoeca uterella; Lepidoptera: Tineidae). It also is known as the plaster bagworm, and frequently is found on walls of homes. Unlike their close relatives, the clothes moths, they feed primarily on old spider webs. See http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN129 for a fact sheet.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

  #652  Can you identify this creature? We are in Richmond, VA and have never seen anything like it before. You have one on your homepage but I can not seem to find out what it is called. Thank you! Mandy
   This appears to be a larva of a swallowtail butterfly (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), such as the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) – see #s 615 and 624. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

#651  found in Canada, appears like hornet, about a cm in length, wondering what is the correct classification of this insect.  Thanks , Li-Der
     This is a wasp in the family Vespidae. Perhaps a specialist in this group can provide a more specific identification. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

 #648  We keep finding these bugs around our bathroom, and suspect that they might be coming from the drains. Our bathroom is in the basement, and it's kind of moist down there. People keep saying that this is a silverfish, but compared to the pictures we've seen, they don't seem to match up. They are really alarmingly large, to the point where the only way we can seem to kill them is by pouring bleach on them. They seem to sit still until you start pouring bleach on them, then they scurry around, and try to escape. We live in Kingston, Ontario.  Thanks, Jo and Jeanette   
        That is a house centipede or Chilopoda:Scutigera coleoptrata.  As ugly as it is, it's a rather beneficial bug as it eats flies and other insects.  More on House Centipedes here http://ppdl.org/dd/id/centipede.html  , Anon.
    This is a house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata). See #s 332 and 322 for other examples. They are general predators on other small arthropods, and thus may be considered beneficial. They are not aggressive, but large specimens are capable giving a painful bite if mishandled. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

#647  Hello, This following bug was outside of a screen door at the cabin we were staying in. The cabin was in New Hampshire and the surrounding area all tree's. It was maybe the size of a half a dollar or even larger. Any idea's to what it is?

#645  Hi, What a great site this is!  These little guys have just started appearing on my floor, at a rate of about 4 or 5 a day. They’re  usually dead or half dead . . .  I’ve never seen one actually crawling around.  They are almost always lying on their backs!  Are they some type of ant?  I live in Vancouver and started noticing these around the end of August.  Thanks for any help you can offer.     Joanne
     Unfortunately, what you have here is a termite; specifically, a reproductive that has shed its wings. You may wish to contact a professional pest controller in your area and schedule a thorough inspection of your home.  See http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/insects/ec1556.htm for a fact sheet that includes diagrams comparing ants with termites.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #644  While walking our puppy near the Grand River in Brantford Ontario, we happened across this strange looking caterpillar that we have never seen the likes of before. It had a curious red downward pointing "spike" which it was quite obviously trying to strike us with. When disturbed, it flailed its tail like an Iguana. It was quite beautiful.  Thank you for your time,  Tracy
   This is a larva (caterpillar) of a sphinx moth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae); see # 623 for a similar example. The ‘horn’ is completely harmless, and the whipping motion simply is a reflexive response to a perceived threat, and does not in any way constitute aggression on the caterpillar’s part.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #643  I live in Kingston, ON and ever since we moved into a new apartment (4th flr)3 months ago, I have noticed these little critters in one particular room - no not the bathroom but my baby's nursery. Below the change table I have his clothes stored in those wicker baskets with linen/cotton linings and several times a week I pick up the baskets and notice anywhere from 2-10 of these bugs. Ever since we purchased these baskets (December 2004), I do have to occasionally clean underneath b/c the baskets deposit tiny piles of "wood dust" but the bugs were never an issue until we moved from our old apartment (in a home) to our new apartment (in an apartment bldg). I am also finding them in the carpet at the base of the change table, around the wicker or wooden baskets on the floor and on the window sills. I do have baskets in other rooms but I have yet to see these bugs anywhere else. They are approx. 4-5mm long, slender with a dark reddish brown colour. While they appear to have wings, I haven't seen them fly.  They are easy to pick up, crush easily and do not bite. I examined the wicker baskets thoroughly but can't seem to figure out where these bugs are coming from. Can anyone identify these bugs and offer suggestions as to how to get rid of them?  Sincerely,  Trish  

 #642  My cat found this, it was sitting on piece of driftwood I have in my apartment in Berkeley, California. There are cheerios in the photo, I put them under the glass with it because it seemed to prefer an uneven, curved surface. When just on the table it flipped over a lot, and had trouble righting itself. This is a profile view, head end to the right, rear to the left.  It’s about 3/8 inch long (Cheerio is good for scale, too!)  Thanks.  Diana

 #641  Hello!  I’m from Russia, Ural region, Ekaterinburg city. This summer my daughter discovers paddles along forest road. She finds out those bugs. They swim at the bottom quick enough. What is it? It looks like prehistoric insects. I made digital photo in two projections - view from above, bottom view and merged in one. Best wishes!
These are very interesting animals which live only in temporary dry puddles. They are called tadpole-shrimps or scientifically Triops (in Europe and in your picture it is the species cancriformis in the US it would be longicaudus). They did not change very much in the last 200 million years, but they are not related with the trilobites, which are only known from fossils.
http://www.triops.cc   Martin Hauser.  Department of Entomology,  University of Illinois
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#640  Hi I'm from Chicago IL  I found this on a Grape Vine plant in the garden center, we asked the people if they knew what it was , but they were not sure. I don't know if you can tell that their is a yellow eye on it's back, it looks kind of like a grub Yellow stripes on the side, dots all over, Brownish , with white colors around it. If you could please tell  / or try and tell me what this is, it would be really nice. thanks! Dan

#639  I am in the process of painting my house and ran across this situation.  Some of the wood from the beams was chipping away so I decided to sand it to the surface, re-prime then repaint.  I discovered that burrough holes in the wood.  That didn't surprise me as before I bought the house three years ago, the house had to be tented.  At first I thought they were long ago abandoned so I decided to fill them with wood filler, sand and repaint.  In the course of the last 24 hours since I sanded, I found a fresh bunch of these tiny, round, black caviar-like pellets.  As you can see in the picture, some of them were present last time the house was painted as they too were painted over.  But many of the fresh ones I found when trying to apply the wood filler, also seen in the picture.  Are these eggs or droppings, and from what?  I live in Los Angeles.  Thanks, Michael 

#638    Hello, I found this spider in my garage.  I live north of Toronto, Ontario.  It was about 2” at full length (about 8 lines on a sheet of paper).  Thanks, Ewen

#636  These insects have invaded our garden every year in late summer, and seem to attack every flower.  I took a sample to my local gardening center for indentification, and they told me that they were very common, but did not know what they were, or either  a method for control.  What are these insects? Terence.
   These are leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Although they bear a close resemblance to the northern corn rootworm (Diabrotica barberi see http://www.ent.iastate.edu/images/coleoptera/rw/3939.12ncrw.jpg), rootworm adults primarily are feeders on corn silk, and yours likely are another species. Regardless, they should be susceptible to most pesticides registered for use by homeowners, such as Sevin. However, be aware that Sevin is highly toxic to bees, and should not be applied when bees are active on the flowers. If you live in the USA, try looking up your local Cooperative Extension Service office for assistance in identification and control measures.   Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

#635  Hello! I live in Southern California. I found this spider in my backyard on my deck August 2004. It was probably about 2" long.  Mike
This is a lynx spider (Araneida: Oxyopidae). For the most part, they are active hunters running down their prey on vegetation, but some use ambush tactics as well. They are quite common in the southern USA.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #634 Enclosed please find an insect that I have discovered recently. Thanks Anne
A spider located at Red Bay, Ontario near Sauble Beach.  Anne

#632  Hi, We live in Minneapolis, MN and have had these bugs in our master bath for a couple of weeks now. They are very small 2-3mm. I originally thought they may be springtails because of their affinity for the moist environment around our sinks and shower but upon closer inspection I no longer believe this to be true. This photo is of one of these buggers on his/her back. Most of these walk but some can fly...they all have leathery looking wings but only a small portion of the population seem to choose this mode of transportation. They are quite fragile and crush easily. They do not bite. They love water! Any ideas? Jeff
    Although I cannot be certain from the photo, the timing and location of the occurrence of these beetles is consistent with the foreign grain beetle (Ahasverus advena),
see http://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/e603foreigngb.html. In spite of their name, they are not important pests, feeding primarily on moldy grain, and other decomposing organic material. However, you may still wish to inspect infestible dried foodstuffs for signs any insect infestation. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #631 Hello, part of our business is receiving automotive parts from Mexico.
This spider appears to have wandered out from one of the boxes. There has been cases of venomous spiders from Mexico packaging arriving alive in similar industries in our community. Can you identify this particular species, I'm trying to determine the risk to our employee's. We are located just east of Toronto in Whitby.
Thanks. Jason
    Although I do not know what species this is, it does not appear to one that would be considered of medical importance. Among the spiders native to Mexico, the only truly dangerous ones are the recluse spiders (Loxosceles spp.) and the widow spiders (Latrodectus spp., including the black widow, Latrodectus mactans). Some tarantulas have a bad reputation, but for the most part, their venom is not particularly potent. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

Click on the photos  for a closer view.

 #630  This insect was found in our home. It was struck lightly when it landed on my mom and we later found it dead. We live in the city of Grande Prairie, Alberta. What is this strange looking bug?  Peter.
        This is a parasitic wasp of the family Ichneumonidae.  It belongs to the genus Ophion and they lay their eggs in caterpillars. Most Ichneumonidae are harmless for humans, but this genus is able to sting you if you hold the wasp in your hands.  Martin Hauser, Department of Entomology, University of Illinois .
                        http://www.nhm.org/research/entomology/common_insect_la/ichneumon_wasp.htm
       This is an ichneumon wasp (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), likely in the subfamily Ophioninae. This subfamily is characterized by a laterally compressed abdomen and a very short, sharp ovipositor. In some larger species, this ovipositor can penetrate human skin, delivering a pinprick ‘sting’ if mishandled. Most ophionids are parasitic on the larvae of Lepidoptera.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #628  Hi found this guy at my barn with my horses what is it? looks like a caterpillar body with wings of a bee. with two stingers that are huge. The strips are black and orange with a bit of yellow, someone here suggested maybe a robber fly but I checked out the pictures that's not it. It's about 2in in length with a wing span about the same. I live in Duncan about 1hr north of Victoria, B.C.  Thanks Terri
      Although the photo is fuzzy, the description is consistent with it being a horntail (Hymenoptera: Siricidae). The abdominal projections are not stingers, but consist of a spear-like extension of the last abdominal segment and the ovipositor, used by the female to insert eggs into the wood of trees where the larvae develop.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #627  Hi, I don't know if you can help me with this as I live in Germany, but this has been the most helpful site I've come across yet so I'll give it a go. And sorry for the picture, this insect's so small I had it under the microscope and had to draw it instead. They're 1 mm (adult) creatures who have appeared in my home sometime during the summer. They seem to like light (density) wood and booky areas. I'm a musician, and they're now in my instruments! They don't seem to be doing any damage, but seeing as they're so small I don't know if I could see the damage if there was any. When they're young they are white, the adults are brown. I think they might have wings, and their hind legs have more power to them: I think I saw them jump. Can someone tell me what they are? Thanks from Jen, Neustadt/Weinstr., Germany.
          This appears to be a so-called ‘booklouse’ in the order Psocoptera, possibly in the family Liposcelidae (see http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/entomology/factsheets/booklice.html). They feed primarily on mold, and need relatively high humidity in order to thrive. They do little actual damage, but often are considered pests by their unwanted occurrence in human habitation.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
     Nice drawing! This is a Booklouse (Psocoptera) (see also #618). They are harmless for your instruments but they indicate that your house has a high humidity (I do not know if this is good or bad for your instruments).  These insects are called Buecherlaus in German. By the way, I was born close to the beautiful town you are living in and I lived there for a few years - small world.  Martin Hauser,  Department of Entomology, University of Illinois .

 #626  I am trying to figure out what we've got in the basement of our new house (located in Toronto).  It's brownish and shaped like a grain of rice, but much smaller - about the same size as three (pen) dots in a row.  I took a picture, but it's almost impossible to differentiate the bug from other specks on the floor (it's the elongated dot to the left of the penny).  It's got antennae at one end, and a few legs on each side - can't see any wings.  It seems to be able to jump, or at least move very quickly at times.  From your site, the closest match seems to be the book louse - although without a microscope I can't tell if it's got the separate head and body of the book louse.  Any help is much appreciated. Amanda
      Sorry Amanda, but your photo is far too small to guess the identification of this insect.  If you don't have macro on your camera, try taking some pictures through a magnifying glass. Be sure to focus carefully.  Webmanager, Larry.
      Without a clearer photo, my best guess is that these might be ‘springtails,’ primitive insects in the order collembola. See http://www.missouri.edu/~bioscish/coll.html for some examples to compare with your specimens. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

#623  Hi, I am sorry for the quality of this photo, it was taken with my phone camera. I included a nickel and straw in the photo for scale. The color is kind of hard to see so will describe it. The main body and single horn at rear yellowish olive green with a row of  bright yellow dashes which are surrounded by black on each side of the upper back running the entire length of the body. They are much larger then a standard tomato worm. The other thing is, they are extremely aggressive and pack a pretty good bite.  I was picking them off some assorted annuals which they basically demolished, and as soon as I would touch them, they would swing around and bite.   They closest thing that I could find that they resembled would be the white lined sphinx worm. But the coloration is not the same, I was wondering if it may be a morph of that species. There are quite a few of the humming bird moths in the area. They were found in Wisconsin, but for your information they were found on a army base where there is a constant flow of personal from all states and around the world, so they may have been imported. Thank you very much in advance.  Mike
   It is quite possible that this is a larva of a white-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata)
- see http://www.dallasbutterflies.com/Moths/Larva/Pics/Hyles lineata larva.jpg. Because of individual variation, color patterns alone often are unreliable in making species determinations.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #622  Hi, I live in Southern Ontario; this beauty has been staked out inside my garden shed for a while, usually at head level where the roof meets the wall. The other day it molted (see second picture). It seems aware when you get close but doesn't back away. Is this a wolf spider?
  As I cannot get a good look at the eyes, I cannot be certain whether this is a wolf spider (family Lycosidae) or a closely related nursery-web spider (family Pisauridae), sometimes called fishing spiders or dock spiders (see http://www.peterspics.net/gallery/Butterflies_etc/Dock-spider.jpg  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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 #621 During my afternoon walk with my dogs I found this little creature in High Park, Toronto Ontario.

 #620 I recently bought an antique pine desk, and upon getting it home, I noticed tiny holes, the size of pinheads in various areas on the desk, including the bottom of it which has what looks like several trails of these holes. I have no photos of the pest, but I do of the damage which I have attached. Given that this is an old desk, i'm guessing that this may be an ongoing problem.  The photo with the edge of one of the four leg posts looks recent to me. Can this problem be stopped in its tracks? Can I do it myself, or do I need professional help. Can the problem be transferred to other furniture that I have (I have isolated the desk for now).
Catherine. Toronto, Ontario.
     The damage  was probably caused by powder post beetle larva.  If they are still alive in the wood, they could spread to other furniture or wood in your home but they usually attack only unfinished wood. Spraying the surface with pesticides will have little effect.  They may be controlled by exposing the desk to freezing temperatures for a few days or having it professionally treated in a pressure chamber with pesticides. Read more on this page: Powder post beetles,

#619  Hi there!  I live in Millet, Alberta (central Alberta) and found this rather large and docile beetle with huge antennae hanging on my back door handle.  Our home is surrounded by coniferous trees of all varieties and so I was wondering if this is one of the long-horned wood-boring (?) beetles that someone else wrote about on your site.  Can you tell me if it is harmful to our trees?  Thanks!!  Kerry
  

 #618 Hi, I live on a farm in southern Ontario and this "bug" has just appeared inside one of our buildings, starting last summer. They seem to typically be found on flat wood or metal surfaces, but as their numbers increase they are found on vertical surfaces as well. I have used a pyrethrum extract to try to control their spread. It works well when applied directly, but this method doesn't get to those hard to reach places. Any ideas on identification and effective control? The "bugs" vary from 1/16 inch to 1/8 of an inch (approx) at maturity. Thanks, Parry

The picture on the left is an aphid, they are pests on plants and would not survive in your house (except on your indoor plants) and the picture on the right is a Booklouse (Psocoptera) they like it humid and they eat microscopic fungi. See also #476.  Martin Hauser, epartment of Entomology,  University of Illinois

 # 617  hi, I am from northeast US. my family came home from being away for a few days to find these guys all over our house. I have been sitting here at a table with a lamp on and I have about 30 over a period of 30 minutes.  They have clear wings and resemble ants. What might they be? Thanks for your help. Joel
   These are ants.  They appear to be reproductive females or future queens (with wings) but the detail is not clear enough to determine which species.  Larry.  PCS Gulf Islands

 #616  Can you tell me what this is?  I saw it on a storefront window in New Jersey, USA.  It looks like a cross between a walking stick & a moth.  I’ve searched a bit online, but have found nothing even close. Thank you!  Jim Reynolds   
   This is a Plume Moth or Pterophoridae. Very beautiful moths!
http://bugguide.net/node/view/4561/bgimage   Martin Hauser, epartment of Entomology,  University of Illinois
   This is a plume moth (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae). They are so named because their wings when spread resemble the plumes of feathers. See http://www.marylandmoths.com/Moths/Pterophoridae/Pterophorinae/Oidaematophorus_balanotes.jpg and http://www.perhostutkijainseura.fi/kuvat/Pterophoridae/92-2219_Merrifieldia_leucodactyla_m.jpg  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

#615  Hi, I saw this caterpillar in a shady part of my garden in Sarnia Ontario on Aug. 26, 2005. It appears to be a caricature of a caterpillar but was very much alive.  It is 2-3cm in length. I would appreciate knowing if I should be concerned about it.  Bill
     This appears to be the larva (caterpillar) of a Tiger Swallowtail (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae).  When these caterpillars are finished feeding and about to pupate, they change from the dark green into the brown phase that you see in your picture.  This species is most likely the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) or the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (P. canadensis).  J.D. Roberts, entomologist.                      More info - http://www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/species/CanadianTigerSwallowtail_e.php & http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN218
     This a larva of a swallowtail butterfly (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), most likely the eastern tiger swallowtail, Papilio glaucus. The 'eye spots' on the thorax are thought to act as a deterrent to predation. These larvae more commonly appear in a green color phase, and in very early stages may resemble bird droppings. See http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/johnson/hort/Butterfly/TigerSwallowtail.htm for more detailed information.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #614 While staying in a hotel in NM recently, I had a bug run-in. These were 2-3mm bugs appearing in two stages. The adult had translucent wings and appeared much like a gnat (in flight). The nymph stage on the other hand had a tendency to "hop" short distances when disturbed, but otherwise had a "fast walk". Every evening when returning to the room, I found that they had congregated on the exposed white sheet under the light, on the window, and in the bathroom at the base of the commode (some also apparently drowned). They never bugged me and in fact, I found they were easily drawn away by a small light, allowing me unconcerned sleep. While they appear to fit nicely in Hemiptera, I cannot do much better. I'm confident they are not a bedbug but can't say they fit as a pirate or bigeyed bug---more like a miniature assassin bug. For the life of me, I just can't figure out what they were doing there. Although I was just trying to slow them down a bit to photograph, they died quickly (under 20sec) in the fridge! I'll be returning next week and would like to help give them a better idea about what they're dealing with. Thanks. Jeremiah
     My best guess is that these are lygaeids (seed bugs). The family Lygaeidae is a large one, with most species being rather small plant feeders. It is divided into several subfamilies that some authorities may consider as separate families under the superfamily Lygaeoidae.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #613  We found this spider and think it is a Araneus gemmoides. Can u please confirm either us being right or wrong?  thank you for your time,  Aces.
   Your photo is a little grainy but it looks similar to the Araneus gemmoides on this interesting web page: http://www.manchaca.com/~sradowski/bugs/araneus.html  One of the entomologists may have a better answer.

 #612  I found this spider in our backyard (Toronto Ontario). We actually found 3 different spiders in a 2 day span, but only took pictures of this one (the other ones were black & yellow and black, red & brown. Thanks, Kathy.
   Another Orb Weaver.  There are a number of other photos of this spider on this and previous web pages.
  (#609, 598, 596, 563)

 #611  I find many "shells" of these bugs mostly at the base of my tree, and I have found one in my garden.  I live in northern Illinois.  The live ones move quite slowly and have large eyes and legs that are curled beneath its brown body.  I think the tree is an elm, is has medium-sized elliptical serrated leaves, which presently look like Swiss cheese.  Maybe this bug is eating them?  Thank you, Tracy

 #610  Good afternoon: I am from Trenton, Ontario. If you could identify this bug it would be appreciated. This one is dead. From what I remember from school bugs are broken down by number of legs, body sections and wings.  This bug is about 3 inches long has 4 wings. Thank you for your assistance.  James
   This is a Dobson Fly adult. The larvae are water dwelling predators.  Not a pest . Just a curiosity.. These are in the order Megaloptera... Here's a website link  for those who are curious about the life cycle of this insect. The larvae are popular as fishing "flies" if you know what I mean... Sam Bryks,  Manager, Pest Control MTHC,  Toronto.

  #609   This spider is living in our backyard in Calgary, and we are curious to know what type of spider he/she is. Could be the same as #596? Shannon
    This is yet another orb-weaving spider (Araneae), a very large assemblage of species. Although some can get quite large, none are known to be dangerous to humans. See # 596 for another example. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

 #608  Hi There;  Any clue what this little guy is?  He was crawling across our deck in in Nelson, BC.  He is cute!  Best, Sannie 
   This is another caterpillar of the Spotted Tussock Moth.  See entry # 584 below.
J.D. Roberts, entomologist.
    This is a larva of the spotted tussock moth/Yellow-Spotted Tiger Moth (Lophocampa maculata; Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). They are not considered a pest, but their body hairs can cause irritation to sensitive skin. For detailed information on this species see http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/natural/insects/bugsfaq/tussock.htm and # 584 for another example. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

 #606  We found this in the creek by our home in Port Moody British Columbia. We are not sure if it is even and insect. It is about an inch long, has the upper torso like a craw fish but no front pinchers, and the back end is like an earwig with pinchers that squeeze together at the bottom. Under its legs it has like hair/fur very odd. We have searched all over and cannot find any picture online that would resemble it. Carlene
   This appears to be a nymph (naiad) of a stonefly (order Plecoptera). They are aquatic, and the ‘fur’ around the legs actually are gills through which they obtain oxygen from the water. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

 #605  Found this bug in my basement, in Michigan.  It doesn't appear to have any wings, and I have searched everywhere for some info. I found your site, and thought you might be able to help. Thanks~
   This appears to be a nymph of an assassin bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), general predators on other small arthropods. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

  #604  I found this beetle near Crater Lake, Oregon. Beautiful thing. What kind is it?  Dave.
   This looks like a Golden Buprestid beetle, common in the Pacific Northwest. The larva of this beetle can be very destructive burrowing tunnels for decades. (See the next photo) They sometimes go undetected when logs are sawn into building lumber. They are often discovered when old fir floors are sanded for re-finishing. When they eventually emerge as a beetle the hole is oval  & about 1/4 inch across.

  #603  Noisy bug! first we saw very tiny black/brown hard shell type bug. Very tiny - about 1/8" inch long. Leaving very tiny holes in the softwood.  Cut wood was making a weird noise, almost like a squeaky floor. Turned out to that something was eating the wood. Piles of rough sawdust (not fine like a chainsaw) were found. We observed these little bugs pushing the sawdust out of equally tiny holes.
Just split a noisy log and found this very large larva.  What is it? Found in softwood (pine, spruce, cedar) recently downed but also know of some standing trees with this issue. As we all have wood foundations and the odd log house, we are all very concerned!  Thanks,  Michelle,  Sebright, Ontario (Orillia)
     The larva in the photo is probably that of a Golden Buprestid beetle (see photo above) The tiny bug you describe is probably a Powder Post Beetle who's larva can be destructive chewing very small tunnels for up to 10 years. When they emerge as beetles the hole is about the size of a round toothpick.
      

 #602  Hello, we live in central Florida and my children saw this weird looking bug on our tree.  As you can see he really blends in with the bark on the tree, I couldn't see him until he moved.  He has a beetle like body and a praying mantis like head and arms.  He has antennae and he is black and white.  He moves very quickly and can see really well.  He moves before we can touch him with a blade of grass, he sees it coming.   Thanks.  Michelle from Florida.
   This looks very much like the mantid species, Gonatista grisea.  It is called both the "Grizzled Mantis" and the "Lichen Mantis."  I personally prefer Lichen mantis, and from your picture you can see why.  They blend in extremely well in such an environment.  Here's another more clear photo of a Lichen mantis - http://www.kingsnake.com/westindian/gonatistagrisea1.JPG   J.D. Roberts, entomologist  

 #601  This was photographed near Ste. Anne, MB.  Thanks, Don Tulloch
     This appears to be a Ctenucha moth (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae).  I believe it is most likely the Ctenucha virginica - http://www.heiconsulting.com/dls/08262.html  J.D. Roberts, entomologist
    This appears to be a scape moth (Lepidoptera: Ctenuchidae), likely in the genus Ctenucha. See http://www.pma.edmonton.ab.ca/natural/insects/bugsfaq/pics/img0004.jpg Their larvae feed primarily on grasses.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV