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Pest Identification Photos #601 to 700:  What is this pest?  

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  #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.
 There is a good website at  http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Clethrionomys_gapperi.html
H.J.Baker, DVM,  Etobicoke, Ontario
#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: 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

     This spider is one of the many species of orb weavers (Araneida: Araneidae) native to Canada. None are known to be dangerous to humans; see #s 609, 612, and 613 for other examples.  
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
#633   I'm so glad to have found your site! Soon I may be a pest myself . . .
This Eastern Ontario green fellow (or gal?) was wonderfully camouflaged, lurking in the woods in a patch of tall white lettuce. Jennie in Portland-on-the-Rideau
      I cannot be certain, but I have a hunch that this might be a nymph of an assassin bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). If you have the opportunity to observe it again, try taking a photo showing a side view.  
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

#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

#629  My son recently moved into a new apartment in Halifax, Nova Scotia and found this bug in his shirt. He said it is about 1/2 inch long. I am interested in the name and if it is harmful. thanks for any info. Evelyn
     This is a weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), but is not a species that I recognize. They all are harmless to humans, but many species are important agricultural pests.  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

#625  These bugs live in Eastern Ontario, near Big Rideau Lake (north of Kingston). The two photos were taken 1 day apart, almost by accident, as I was doing flower close-ups; taken in a wetland area near farms. Thank you!  Jennie
   
These are ambush bugs (Hemiptera: Phymatidae); nice photo of the mating pair! These bugs are ambush predators on other insects; they often are found on goldenrod flowers where their colouration helps to hide them. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
  #624  Hi, Hope that you can help me with this. Do you know what kind of butterfly or moth this caterpillar will be? Thanks for your help and input....Chris
     This appears to be very similar to #615 below.  If it is the same, according to the entomologists  it would be the
larva (caterpillar) of a Tiger Swallowtail butterfly
     
This does indeed appear to be a larva of a swallowtail butterfly (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae). Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
   This is actually not the larva of the Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, but is the larva of the Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus).  The larva look quite similar, but can be differentiated by the large eyespots they each have (I've heard some describe it as Tiger = sleepy eyes, Spicebush = alert eyes).  Also, the Spicebush larva has two additional smaller yellow ocelli directly behind its large eyespots.  The one in this picture is in its final instar (often called the brown phase), and about to pupate.  More info - http://www.floridanature.org/species.asp?species=Papilio_troilus
J.D. Roberts, entomologist

 

#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
                  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#622 looks like a wharf spider or fishing spider...they are not so common in Nova Scotia where I am, but I found one here last year. I gave it to the Museum of Natural history and they id'd it.  Dolomedes sp. I believe. They tend to be quite large compared to our other local spiders.  Shannon 
Department Of Physiology and Biophysics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS

 #621 During my afternoon walk with my dogs I found this little creature in High Park, Toronto Ontario.

      Would it be possible for the submitter of #621 to provide additional photos? Because of the orientation of the insect in question, I hesitate to guess.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV  

     This is a fly of the family Conopidae. It could be the genus Physocephala. These beautiful flies are parasites in bumble-bees, solitary bees (but not in honey-bees) and wasps, in which they lay their eggs during flight. They look like wasps them self, but they can not sting.  Martin Hauser,  Department of Entomology, University of Illinois .

 #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
  

This is indeed a long-horned wood-boring beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). It may be one of the species that attacks trees that already have been weakened by other causes, such as the sawyers in the genus Monochamus (see # 576) Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
                                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I can positively identify that critter as a Spruce Sawyer {monochamus scutellatus}. We have them here in Fort McMurray, Alberta {about 5 hours northeast of Spruce Grove, where this one was found} every summer without fail. They sound almost like a helicopter when they fly by, and they fly upright, not horizontally as most other insects do. Also, the males have larger antennae than the female, however, the female is a larger beetle overall. One thing I might mention on your site is that they bite ... and they HURT! I have seen people swell up on a lot of their bodies after being bitten by one of these. I hope this information helps you. 
Kind regards, P. Paulichen

 #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

   You have two different insects here. The one on the left is an aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) and the one on the right is a psocid (order Psocoptera), often called ‘booklice’ or ‘barklice.’ Aphids all are sap feeders on a very wide variety of plants, and some species can transmit viral diseases of plants. See http://muextension.missouri.edu/xplor/agguides/pests/g07274.htm for some control recommendations.

Psocids feed primarily on algae, lichens, fungi, and various plant products. Some booklice may be minor pests, feeding on starchy substances including stored grains, book bindings, wallpaper paste, fabric sizing, etc. 
See
http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/entomology/factsheets/booklice.html for control recommendations. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

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 sp
ider 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

This is the shed 'skin' (exuvium) of a nymph of a cicada (Homoptera: Cicadidae). The nymphs feed on sap from roots, only emerging above ground once their growth is complete and they are ready to become adults. There are many species of cicadas, perhaps the best known  being the periodical cicadas that emerge en masse at 13- and 17-year intervals.  As the adults do not feed, the leaf damage you noticed must have been done by some other insect.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV 

 #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.

  #607 This big lady was on the outside of the screen on our upstairs bedroom so the picture is not very clear. I am so terrified to go outside now, this one looked lethal! It was about two inches long, two wings on each side, and had a few yellow stripes like a bee in the middle. It was poking this long thing in and out of our screen which I am guessing was what was used to lay eggs. It was spotted in Central, Lower Peninsula, Michigan. I so hope someone can tell me if I should be deathly afraid or not! Thanks! Emily
   
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 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.
      

   Because of its overall shape (cylindrical throughout), I suspect that this may be a larva of a long-horned wood-boring beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), such as one of the so-called pine sawyers (Monochamus spp. – see http://www.ffpri-hkd.affrc.go.jp/group/konchu/Zukan/ImageS/101/045.jpg). These larvae can be quite noisy, which is what gives them the common name ‘sawyer.’ We have some working away in chunks of white pine, and the sound is quite audible at a distance of several feet. Larvae of the golden Buprestrid (as well as those of Buprestidae in general) have their thoracic segments broader and flatter than the abdominal segments – see http://www.forestry.ubc.ca/fetch21/FRST308/lab7/buprestis_aurulenta/golden.html   

Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #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

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