|
| |
Pest Identification Photos
#601 to 700:
What is this pest?
|
The photos 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.
e-mail your answers
|
|
|
Receive a FREE pest evaluation today.
Rid your home of annoying pests today. Terminix®, the world’s largest
pest control company, will treat the inside and outside of your home to
eliminate mice, ants, roaches, and other pests for good. Call Terminix
with your pest problem and you’ll have a solution within 24 hours. Total
satisfaction is guaranteed.
Receive a FREE pest evaluation today.
|
\
|
Get rid of pests for good—guaranteed. Terminix® treats both the inside and
outside of your home—to eliminate all the pests, even the ones you can’t
see.
Click here to learn more
|
|
Get rid of pests for good—guaranteed. Terminix® treats both the inside and
outside of your home—to eliminate all the pests, even the ones you can’t
see.
Click here to learn more
|
|
Get rid of pests for good—guaranteed. Terminix® treats both the inside and
outside of your home—to eliminate all the pests, even the ones you can’t
see.
Click here to learn more
|
|
Get rid of pests for good—guaranteed. Terminix® treats both the inside and
outside of your home—to eliminate all the pests, even the ones you can’t
see.
Click here to learn more
|
|
Get rid of pests for good—guaranteed. Terminix® treats both the inside and
outside of your home—to eliminate all the pests, even the ones you can’t
see.
Click here to learn more
|
|
|
This space reserved for
your pest photo |
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
|
|
|
Click on the photos to enlarge. They are usually much
clearer.
|
#700 I live on
the south shore of Montreal, Canada. The area where I live is a very woody
area. This spider made a web on the wall of my pool. The last time is saw this
spider I was about 10yrs old when we hiked around in the bushes. I have no idea
what type of spider it is or how good or bad??? Carlene
Yet another orb weaver, this one appears to be
Argiope trifasciata, a species less commonly encountered than the familiar black
and gold garden spider (Argiope aurantia). In spite of reaching a rather large
size, they are harmless to humans.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove,
WV.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is definitely and Argiope and most likely a Argiope trifasciata.
In addition it is also a male (I suspect), the female has a quite different
appearance. Usually the female has dark banded pale legs and a silvery carapace
(front section).
Jacob Duarte, aspiring arachenologist. |
#699 Help! I was outside
gardening and suddenly noticed the spider in the attached picture climbing up my
pant leg. I live near Toronto, Ontario. The body was distinctly orange with
spotted legs and not like anything I've ever seen around here. Does anyone know
what this is? Tiffany
This appears to be one of the many species of
orb-weaving spiders native to Canada. They all are harmless to humans. See nos.
670, 659, 647, 634, 613, and 612 for other examples. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Definitely from the Araneus family. Perhaps it is
a female Araneus marmoreus, or the Pyramid Orb-Weaver, which can have a
cream-yellow or orange abdomen.
Jacob Duarte, aspiring arachenologist.
|
#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
Those are the
nymphs (immature stage) of the Red Milkweed Beetle! This mundane name
does not do justice to the gloriously-coloured Tetraopes tetraophthalmus,
another of many insects whose life-cycle depends on the milk-weed. In the
feral parts of Toronto, these beetles range in colour from fire-engine red to
sunset pink.
H.J.Baker, DVM,
Etobicoke, Ontario
These are nymphs of milkweed
bugs (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae), not
beetles. The milkweed beetle (Tetraopes
tetraophthalmus; Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)
has larvae that bore in the roots and
stems of the milkweed plant. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 #696
Anyone know what kind of spider
this is?? Stephanie
This Orb weaver spider has several common names such as Spined Orb Weaver, or
Crablike Spiny Orb Weaver. It is the Gasteracantha elipsoides, which is
considered synonymous with G. cancriformis in many arachnid circles.
These spiders are relatively harmless, with very minor bite reactions. Many of
the webs that people walk through while hiking belong to these guys, and the
spiders usually flee rather than bite. I've walked into dozens of Gasteracantha
webs and have never (noticeably) been bitten. J.D. Roberts, entomologist
|
#695 I live in Fairfield, CT, USA
and have come across a few of these guys in my house. They are usually dead
when I find them, but I don't know why. The few live ones I have found resemble
lightning bugs slightly. They do fly, but infrequently, usually crawling on the
carpet or tile floors. They are about an inch long and I wonder if they are
harmful or simply visiting and feeding on something else that has found it's way
into my home. Thanks, Steve H.
This is a click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae). I'm not entirely sure of which
genus/species. The adults are not considered pests, but the larva, known as
fireworms, can be a problem to gardens and turf in large numbers. J.D.
Roberts, entomologist
|
 #693
My cat brings in at
least 4 of these a week. Some sort of Rat? We live in the Pacific Northwest,
west of the Cascades.
That is a vole, also called a field mouse.
It might possibly be the "red-backed
vole",
Clethrionomys gapperi.
|
#692
We live in Brantford, Ontario. Just
recently we noticed these tiny bugs on our son's bedroom carpet. They are
usually around the baseboards and in corners. Some of them fly some don't
that's why they haven't spread too much, yet. They are reddish/brown in
appearance and relatively small around 2-3 mm. They very easily "crush" even to
the touch. We hope that somebody can identify them for us.
Best
regards, Greg
The photo is a bit fuzzy, but these could be
small wood-boring beetles such as in the family Bostrichidae. Examine any
unpainted/unvarnished wood surfaces in that room for exit holes that would be
made by such beetles; these holes will be perfectly round, and quite small,
roughly corresponding to the diameter of the adult beetles. See
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2090.html for a fact sheet.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 #691
Hi, I found this insect on the
front of my house in Louisville, KY. I have never seen anything like it before
and I was wondering if you could tell me what it is. I have attached a couple
photos. Thanks so much for your help. Melissa
This is a crane fly (Diptera: Tipulidae). The adults are
completely harmless, but the larvae (sometimes called ‘leatherjackets’) of some
species can be injurious to plant roots, particularly turf (see
http://www.pfc.forestry.ca/diseases/nursery/pests/european_e.html ).
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
#690 This was found on a stuffed
animal given to my daughter by a friend. We are located in Houston Texas.
This appears to be a newly hatched
spider, but exactly what kind I would be hesitant to guess.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
The shape of the cepholothorax and the positioning of the
eyes make me believe that this is a newly hatched jumping spider. They are all
harmless to humans. They have excellent eyesight; an interesting thing about
these spiders is that they are very aware of humans. If you look right at one
and walk around it, its eyes will follow you.
Jacob Duarte Spiel, aspiring arachenologist. |
  #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.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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 |
#686
I
have found these bugs in our basement (slightly moist) in long island New York
they jump 6 inches to 18 inches. What are they and how do we kill them?
This
appears to be another ‘camel cricket’ or ‘cave cricket’ (Orthoptera:
Gryllacrididae; subfamily Rhaphidophorinae). They frequently are found in
basements and other dark, humid environments. See #s 665, 527, and 487 for other
examples. Unless they occur in huge numbers, they should not be of concern, but
if control is deemed necessary, just about any pesticide labelled for use within
the home should suffice. See
http://entweb.clemson.edu/cuentres/eiis/pdfs/hs21.pdf for a fact sheet
that includes control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks
Grove, WV |
#685 This was taken here in
The Netherlands. I believe it's a silverfish and I believe it came out from the
back of our stove back because it has come out from the wall a little bit.
Laura.
This is a silverfish. They like dark
moist places so it probably came out of the wall. The stove would be too
dry but it may have been foraging for food. These insects prefer vegetable
matter with a high carbohydrate and protein content. However, indoors they will
feed on almost anything. A partial list includes dried beef, flour, starch,
paper, gum, glue, cotton, linen, rayon, silk, sugar, molds and breakfast
cereals.
|
#684
Hi, there. I found
this bug in eastern MT in the badlands. It was about 2 inches long. It looks
like the Giant Water Bug mentioned on this page. But, this is a very dry climate
where it was found. There is no water around the area, as far as I know. Also, I
read that the Giant Water Bugs bite. A friend of mine picked this one up and it
didn’t bite her at all. It also didn’t show any signs of trying to fly. Any help
would be greatly appreciated. Bridget.
This is a giant water bug (Hemiptera:
Belostomatidae), also sometimes called electric light bugs or toe biters. They
are strong fliers, and can be found quite some distance from water. I grew up in
North Dakota, and often encountered them there. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 #683
Hi; We found this bug crawling along the hand rail of our deck. Any
ideas? We would love to know what it is! Location: Charlotte, North
Carolina. There are two pictures, a side view and a top view. thanks
so much!! Wendy
This is a wheel bug (Arilus cristatus; Hemiptera:
Reduviidae). Bugs in this family are called assassin bugs, and for the most part
are general predators on other arthropods. The wheel bug can give a painful
‘bite’ if mishandled. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
#682 Hi, I think your web page is great and tell everyone about it.
I have this spider in my basement in Newfoundland and have killed 10 so far
within a few days. Each one found has been on the baseboards or heaters
and only found at night. I haven't seen them spin any webs. Each one
is identical to the picture and about a half inch in length. I was
wondering if it's some type of Recluse Spider? I realize that they are not
found in my area, but we do a lot of traveling and I'm afraid it may have come
back with us. Thanks, Scott Parsons
Although I am not certain as to this spider’s
identity, it definitely is not a recluse spider – see
http://www.marion.ohio-state.edu/spiderweb/SpiderPictures/Loxoscelidae/Loxosceles
rufescens.jpg Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
#681
Hi,
hope you can tell me what this larva might be? I live in US in Pa. We found it
in our logs. Thank you very much Liza
This
is probably the larvae of a Golden Buprestid
Beetle. They usually start their life cycle in a dead or
fresh cut tree and can survive up to 50 years chewing
tunnels along the grain. They are often found in the wood used in house
construction when renovations are done. The adult beetle is quite colorful
as can been seen in the picture. They emerge from the wood after
chewing an oval hole about 1/4 inch wide. |
#680
Met up with this insect when I climbed up a
small mountain in Malaysia 1010 meters (3313 Ft) . It was at the summit.
Not sure if this will help - it moved in a snake-like motion, had many
legs and about 2 inches long. Any idea what it is?
Eugene.
This appears to be a larva of a beetle in the
family Lampyridae (fireflies, etc.); see
http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/okwild/misc/images/firelarv2.jpg for
another example. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
#679
I’m a student at The
Catholic University of America, and I’ve seen 2 of these buggers running around
my dorm their fairly sizeable and move very fast never wanted to get close
enough to measure it but its about 4inches long, maybe more if you include the
long front antennas. Mark. Washington, DC.
This is a house centipede.
With cooler weather they are becoming more visible indoors, especially in damp
locations.
House centipedes feed on
small insects, insect larvae, and on spiders. Thus they are beneficial, though
most homeowners take a different point-of-view and consider them a nuisance.
Technically, the house centipede could bite, but it is considered harmless to
people. For more information see our
centipedes web page
|
#678 Hi, I live in New York State near the Pennsylvania border. I walked
outside this afternoon just in time to see hoards of these guys near the corner
of my house by the front door. After searching the net and finding your site, I
was hopeful that these are ants, not termites, but I wanted to make sure. The
hoards were gone when I went back to take the picture, but there were a few live
ones still about and this dead one. The dead one does seem to have a definite
waist but I couldn't really get a good look at the live ones, as they didn't
seem to want much to do with me. They are more brown-colored than they look in
these pictures. Thanks for your help. Kathy.
This is definitely a reproductive ant,
probably a queen. It is difficult to determine what species because the
photo is not too clear. It could be a carpenter ant. There is a single
node (the spike between the abdomen and thorax. Total size is not indicated and
the mandibles are not very visible. Carpenter ants have a smoothly rounded thorax
which would show on a side view. |
 
#677 Hi, I hope you can help
us out with this. We live in Southern N.H, and we found these larvae looking
things in the cellar, on the insulation in the ceiling. Not on the visible face
of the insulation, but the part against the cellar ceiling / floor up stairs. I
noticed the dust on the chair first,( pic 15) so I looked up and noticed the
insulation dis-colored. There is no damage or rot on the joists or plywood,
there isn't any odor, and the area is dry. Any idea what these are, or why
they're there? Thank You, Jerry & Lauri
This the kind of evidence
professionals look for when inspecting for carpenter ants: sawdust falling from
ceiling onto furniture, fluffed up insulation with frass present. The
white things appear to be a pupa casings. Before you disturb the area any
more have a pest professional inspect it. If you start spraying pesticides
you may scatter a nest to new locations. |
#676 I think this is the same
as #670. I was reaching out to unlock my door when I saw this thing at the last
second. Freakiest spider I have ever seen! This was outside my home in
Calgary, AB, Canada. #609 was our spider, too, and then it disappeared. Is
there any way this could be the same spider? Thanks, Shannon
This is an orb weaver, probably identical to 670
but it is not the same as your other spider #609 |
 #675
I found these insects on my gardenia bush in north Florida a few days ago, and
collected them into a jar a day later along with the part of the plant shown in
photo. While in the jar they doubled their size and became duller in colour, but
still didn't eat the leaves which puzzled me, until I found some of their black
skeletons at the bottom of the jar. They are eating each other, and the
survivors seem to be thriving, but I wonder for how long (until there is one)?
Are these beneficial insects, if so I have a job for them to do? Thank-you,
Marjorie.
I cannot be certain, but these may
be nymphs of leaf-footed bugs (Hemiptera: Coreidae); see
http://www.humblewildlife.com/pages/bug/upclose/images/leaffootednymph.jpg
for an example. Most species in this family are sap-feeders, but a few are
predaceous. You may wish to take specimens to your county office of the
University of Florida Extension Service to see if they can assist in
identification. See
http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/index.htm
for contact information. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 #674
I found this insect in Argusville, ND. My dog was actually scared of it! It's
approximately 2 - 2 1/2 inches long and 3/4 inch wide with two mean looking
pinchers! Cheri.
This is a giant water bug, largest of aquatic bugs, some of them more than 4.5
in. in length. Giant water bugs are also strong fliers. Their piercing, sucking
mouthparts can deliver severe wounds through injection of proteolytic
(protein-breaking) enzymes. |
 #673
I live
in Louisville, KY, and I found this spider on my driveway today. I have never
seen one like it with the yellow on it's back. I'm sorry to say that I sprayed
it with spider killer spray so that's the milky white liquid you see under it.
It scared me! If anyone can tell me what kind of spider it is, I would greatly
appreciate it.
Thanks. Margaret
This is a garden Argiope
(Argiope aurantia; Araneida:
Araneidae), also known as the black and yellow argiope; see #s 532 and
600 for other examples. They usually are noticed late in the summer as
the females mature. In spite of their large size, their fangs are relatively
small, and they are harmless to humans. For more details on this spider, see
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Argiope_aurantia.html
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
#672
Recently did some landscaping and the next day found these beetles covering the
house and trying to get under the siding. I think the landscaping rocks had a
nest of some sort that came along. Can you identify? Will they go away on
their own or will we need an exterminator? Live in NE Wisconsin.
This is a box
elder bug. They migrate to warm locations in the fall after spending
summer in trees. They will attempt to enter the home and will emerge
in the spring. Some of them may end up inside by accident. Spraying them
with soapy water when they are the side of your home will reduce the populations
but control should take place while they are in the trees. More
information on Box Elder Bugs.
|
 #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
The larger beetle is a scarab
beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and the smaller one appears to be a ground
beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae). The photo is a bit fuzzy, so I do not know
whether a specialist in scarabs would be able to make a specific
determination. This family is a huge one that includes many important plant
pests such as the Japanese beetle and chafers. The ground beetle could be any
of literally hundreds of species very similar in appearance. For the most
part, they are general predators on other small arthropods. However, as in
most large families, there are a few rogues. In the case of ground beetles,
examples include those such as seed corn beetles that can be pests. Your
specimen does not appear to be one of those. The British Museum of Natural
History in London has very extensive entomological holdings, but I do not know
whether it provides any public service in the line of assistance in insect
identification. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
#670 Larry,
The sample in the attachments were sent to me from an internet "friend" in the
States. A spider of some sort...my best guess was a crab spider... but I'm
not 100%. All the details I have is that it is about 1-3 inches long,
built and lived around a web and scared the crap out of the house owner.
Any help with a positive ID would be greatly appreciated. Kevin.
Richmond, BC.
This is another orb-weaving spider (Araneida:
Araneidae), harmless to humans in spite of their appearance. There are many
similar examples on this site, such as #s 612, 613, 634, 647, and 659.
Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
Thanks for your help Mr. Saugstad. Is it possible that the so
called "Cat Faced Spider" is part of the orb-weaving family? I found a
photo of one and it look very much like this one. Thanks, Kevin
Yes, Kevin; the so-called 'cat-face spider' (Araneus
gemmoides) is an orb weaver, and it is possible that the spider in your
photo is that species. Although it appears to lack the characteristic darker
markings (see
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Pests/catspid.htm),
there is good deal of individual variation among individuals of the same
species in arthropods, and colour alone often is not a reliable key
character when identifying them.
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
#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
This appears to be another
leaf-footed bug (Hemiptera: Coreidae); see # 668.
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
 #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
This is a leaf-footed bug
(Hemiptera: Coreidae). Most species are sap feeders (a few are predaceous), and
some (like the squash bug) may achieve pest status.
Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
 #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 |
#665 Long island, New York. I have no idea what this is, I thought it was
a spider but it hops like 1-3 feet at a time and that's not characteristic of a
spider. It started with one in my basement. It was impossible to catch because
it hopped so far and fast so i left it alone. Now there's at least 20 of them
in my basement, they only come out at night for some weird reason and they are
very annoying. Very curious as to what these are. Steve
This
appears to be a so-called ‘camel cricket’ or ‘cave cricket’ (Orthoptera:
Gryllacrididae; subfamily Rhaphidophorinae). They frequently are found in
basements and other dark, humid environments. See #s 527 and 487 for other
examples. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV
|
#664 Another photo from Dan in New Jersey.
This a beetle in the
family Scarabaeidae, a very large family that includes May beetles, June bugs,
dung beetles, rose chafers, and Japanese beetles, among others. See #570 for
another example. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
#663 i found these creatures in nj what are they? The first 2
was a strange little guy that when felt with a blade of grass sprung up its tail
like a scorpion. Dan.
These are
rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), they are general predators on other
small arthropods, and in spite of their appearance,
generally are harmless to
humans (some small tropical species are capable causing eye irritation from
their secretions). See # 571 for another example.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
#662 This picture was taken by a friend from work. It was taken in
the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. It is hairy like a bee, but shaped like a
mosquito. What is it? Thanks! Trina.
This is 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.
See # 634 for another example. 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
|
#658 Suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. My husband and I found a
new spider in our home. They are fairly large ranging from a quarter to a half
dollar and are extremely aggressive. They are Brown almost blackish with a
marking on their top. They are extremely fast, immediately attacking and have a
huge stinger. Unfortunately we can't determine where they are coming from
basement? Outside? Garage? We found one today on our sofa and also there was one
upstairs in our baby's room which has us concerned. Can anyone identify this
spider? Thank you!
Would it be possible to
submit a photo of a live specimen, or failing that, at least a dorsal view?
Spiders don’t have ‘stingers’; the object at the end of the abdomen could be an
artifact or a spinneret. At any rate, it does not appear to be a species of
serious medical concern. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
I originally sent a dorsal view, but it
was not posted so I am sending it again. Would it be possible to post
along with the other picture? Thank you.
Although the dorsal image would not enlarge, I believe that it most likely is a
wolf spider (family Lycosidae); they often wander indoors at this time of year
(we've had several 'visitors' ourselves already). Larger specimens can give a
painful bite if mishandled, but to the best of my knowledge, no North American
species are considered dangerous to humans. 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.
|
 #650
This guy or gal is in our upstairs bathrooms, and getting more numerous all of
the time. We find them in the sinks and bathtubs, although they seem to be
walking in other places. They are easily squished with fingers and do not seem
to bite nor fly. They do not appear to be destroying anything. What are they,
and how can we get rid of them? Judy. St. Louis Missouri.
This appears to be a
saw-toothed grain beetle (Oryzaephilus
surinamensis; Coleoptera;
Sylvanidae), a common pantry pest that can infest a wide variety of dry
foodstuffs, primarily those of cereal/grain origin. See
http://entweb.clemson.edu/cuentres/eiis/pdfs/hs46.pdf
for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
#649 We saw a fly amazingly like #24 in a suburb of
Minneapolis Minnesota, this summer was the first time we have seen them, but
have seen them at least 3 times now. The one we saw did pulse its "stinger" and
flew a lot like a bee. But it clearly had the mouth parts of a fly, sponging
away at the table and our cups, and everything else. We had to stop and marvel
at evolution for a moment! Thanks for helping us to identify this bug! Renee
Coon Rapids, MN
You are correct in
believing that your specimen is similar to #24. It is a hover fly or flower fly
(Diptera: Syrphidae). Many adult flies superficially resemble bees or wasps, but
they are completely harmless. The larvae of many species are predaceous on
soft-bodied insects such as aphids.
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?
This is an orb weaver spider (Araneida:
Araneidae), harmless to humans. There are many similar examples on this site,
such as #s 612, 613, & 634. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
#646
Valley of the Rogue
campground, South Oregon just North of Medford. Slow moving and approx 1 ½
inches in length, ½ in width. What is it? Scott
This is a Jerusalem
cricket. They are about an inch and a half long wingless insect. Nocturnal
predators, Jerusalem crickets burrow into the ground for the day. Renowned for
their proportionately large head with strong jaw muscles, this beast can catch
and consume just about anything in its size range and will pack a powerful bite
if startled when picked up. |
#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
I suspect that you have an infestation of powder-post beetles (Coleoptera:
Bostrichidae; Lyctinae) in that wicker basket. See
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/beetles/s_lyctus_beetle.htm
for more information, including suggestions for control.
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have recently found these powderpost
beetles in a basket that I had in the nursery as well. The basket is filled
with stuffed toys and I'm wondering if I should throw them all out. Do the
lyctid powderpost beetles infest stuffed toys as well? Or will just
eliminating the basket get rid of the problem? I've read that putting the
infested basket out in a black garbage bag in the hot sun for a day with get
rid of them...? Kelly
A
rapid change to an extreme temperature will kill many insects. If the
basket is not too large it may be more effective to put it in a freezer for
a few days. The extreme temperature must reach the core of the wood where
beetle larva are alive and active.
|
 #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
This is a treehopper (Homoptera:
Membracidae). All members of this family are sap feeders, but only a few
species are considered of economic importance.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
#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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
These are freshwater
crustaceans often called ‘tadpole shrimp’ (Triops spp.) They often are
marketed as ‘pets.’ See
http://www.tadpoleshrimp.info/index.html
for much more information. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
#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
This appears to be a
larva (caterpillar) of the Achemon sphinx moth (Eumorpha achemon;
Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). The larvae lose the ‘horn’ typical of sphinx moth
caterpillars late in their development. They feed primarily on grapes and
other vines – see
http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/eachemon.htm.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
#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
The photos are too unclear to be certain as to the identity of the ‘pellets,’
they even may be unrelated to the damage you have exposed. I suggest that you
take a sample of the damage and the ‘pellets’ to your county office of the
University of California Cooperative Extension Service for assistance in
identification. See
http://ucanr.org/ce.cfm
for contact information.
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
#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
This is a male spider,
but the photo is too blurry for me to attempt a more definitive
identification.
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
 
#637 Hello, I live in Singapore. I found this dead, brown coloured insect
outside our house. It's about 4cm long. I was wondering if anyone knows what it
is. The second photo is of a very pretty little spider which I know not
it's name. The third photo was taken in Japan during summer. Does anyone know
what it is? I'm guessing it's a hummingbird moth? It was very small, about the
size of my thumb and looks like a fat bee. I wouldn't consider it a pest, but
I'm curious.
Thank you for curing my curiosity. FSC, ps: I love your site.
I am not sure about the bug (order Hemiptera) on the left; possibilities include
Coreidae (leaf-footed bugs) and Coriscidae (broad-headed bugs). The spider is a
jumping spider (family Salticidae). They are active hunters with excellent (for
spiders) eyesight. The moth is indeed a hummingbird moth (Lepidoptera:
Sphingidae).
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
#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:
Chr | |
