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The pictures below have been submitted by visitors.  If you can identify them you are invited to send us your answers. Your description  is also welcome.  Please Include the picture number in your answers.  
If you have a digital camera or scanner send us photos of any pest you would like identified.  Please include the location the pest was found and any other information you can offer.  Hopefully one of our visitors will be able to identify them.  
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#800  I found this outside of my work. I live in Allentown PA. It looked wounded and it eventually died later on in the night but it has me baffled. I usually leave work around 11PM and it is already 1:30AM, still wondering what the heck this is. If any one knows please let me know. Thank You.  JD
This a male dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus; Neuroptera: Corydalidae), in spite of their appearance, they are entirely harmless. Females are similar in appearance, but have much shorter mandibles, and are capable of inflicting a painful bite if mishandled. Dobsonfly larvae often are called hellgrammites, and can be found under stones, etc. in freshwater streams.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

#799  I am remodeling my lakehouse in East Texas due to extensive termite damage.  I tore out some old panels and trim and noticed these pupae on the wood studs.  They look similar to the pupae in #228 and #385.  Could they be dermestid pupae?  I appreciate any help.  Rich
These appear to be the egg cases (oothecae) of cockroaches. The pupae of carpet beetles are quite pale, and appendages such as their legs are readily visible.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

#798  Hi,  I just found this in my bathroom this evening.  I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  The bug is about ½ an inch long, and was quite dusty.  I’ve never seen a beetle like this and certainly not in December.  I’d love to know what it is, and if it actually is a pest.  I am keeping it in a plastic container until I know what to do with it. Thanks, Sidney

This is a nymph of an assassin bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), possibly the masked hunter (Reduvius personatus). Nymphs of this introduced cosmopolitan species often cover themselves with dust and other debris to camouflage (mask) their appearance. See no. 775 for another example. Assassin bugs for the most part are general predators on other small arthropods, but larger specimens can deliver a painful ‘bite’ if mishandled.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #797  This bug was found walking on the inside of the bedsheet.  My daughter also found one on the dogs bed however, it was already dead.  It is approx. 1/2 " in size and has a hard shell.  The shell brownish gray and the bottom is triangle part is almost black.  The underneath of the bug was creamy white color.   We live in Wilmington, DE  USA. 
 

This is a stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Most members of this family are plant feeders and some can be serious pests. This particular specimen superficially resembles a species recently introduced in the eastern United States, the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys), see http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/images/brMarmStinkbug2.jpg . You may wish to take your specimen to the nearest office of the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension Service to see whether this is the case. See http://ag.udel.edu/extension/ for links to county-specific information.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #796  Hello, I had a bbq in my backyard with friends coming in and out
of the yard and apt all day. The next day I noticed bites on one of my legs and continued to wake up with a new bite or 2. 10 or so bites later (small bites, but very itchy and still healing 3 weeks later! with a single hole in the center) - flea bites I thought? - I set off a bug bomb and thoroughly cleaned the apt.
I haven’t gotten new bites since, but these little bugs have shown up dead in the bedroom near the bed. Could they be the bugs were biting me? What are they? Much thanks!!
Ann-Marie  

 
These appear to be garden fleahoppers (Halticus bractatus); Hemiptera: Miridae); see no. 765 for another example of these insects being implicated as ‘biting’ humans. However, I still am unaware of any confirmed instances of them being proven to bite humans. I would suspect some other cause for your bites, depending on where you live, that could include pests such as fleas or chiggers.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

  #795    I found this bug in my garden in Ocala, Florida. It's 1.75
inches long, a beetle of some sort maybe? Thanks!  Sue
This is a click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae), specifically the Eyed Elater or Eyed Click Beetle, Alaus oculatus. It is the largest species in this family in North America. Their larvae occur under the bark of dead deciduous trees where they appear to feed on other insects. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This guy is an eyed elater (Alnus oculatus), or click beetle.  I you roll him over on his back, he will right himself by arching his back, and with a very audible click, flip himself into the air in an attempt to get rightside up.  They are also experts at "playing possum".   Dave. 
#794  Please help to find out about this pests. They look like a small dry leaf,  9 mm, from one side appears a long neck 1/3 length of leaf body, larva type extension, they move. We found them inside of the house,  in TEXAS on the walls, on the carpet and etc. Please help to identify.  Thanks in advance,  G>S.
  These appear to be household casebearers, sometimes called ‘plaster bagworms’ (Phereoeca uterella; Lepidoptera: Tineidae). They usually cause little if any damage, feeding primarily on old spider webs. See nos. 653, 745, and 755 for other examples. Unlike their relative the case-making clothes moth (see no. 793), their silken ‘case’ is open at both ends.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
#793 I have a billiard table that was covered by a blanket then a ping pong table on top of that. It was covered for about a year. Recently we took the table off the top to find hundreds of these critters I have never seen. They did eat some holes into the pool table cloth so I assumed they were moths. Quick research tells me that moths are brown. If anyone can help me identify these so I can find a way to rid them that would be great. Doug C.
 
These appear to be larvae of the case-making clothes moth (Tinea pellionella; Lepidoptera: Tineidae). See no. 770 for another example, and http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/clothes_moth.htm for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
#792  I have been trying to find someone to tell me what this little buggers are.  They were underneath our deck this spring.  They just seemed to congregate under there.  The number were alarming, there were hundreds of these guys.  I took the pictures to the local greenhouse and they had no idea of what they were.  I live in Sioux Falls, SD.  Thanks so much.  Amy S.
 These appear to be psocids (Order Psocoptera) of a type commonly called ‘barklice.’ Most barklice species occur outdoors where they sometimes appear in mass aggregations, but some also will occur indoors. None are known to be of any economic importance; they feed primarily on various types of organic debris as well as molds, pollen, etc. See http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/trees/note43/note43.html for additional information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV 
  #791  After seeing the cicada in #19, I thought I would share with you my pictures from this summer at the Lewis and Clark campground over July 4th.  Does this wonderful green coloring go away as they age?  I found a shell nearby on the tree, so I figured it had just come out and was drying, but that was just a guess.  We found another one the next day as we were tearing down the tents, it was just relaxing on a tent.  They are the neatest!  Amy S.
This is a teneral (newly emerged) cicada. It will gradually darken in color for several hours thereafter. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

#790  Hi , my name is guy and I live in Edmonton, Alberta. I find these bugs in the bsmnt and on ground level rooms. Mostly in the bathroom, I also have a sub floor in the bsmnt. I find them again outside in the dirt. In the winter I catch maybe one a week, and at the worst in the summer I catch one a day on avg. I would like to know what they are , if they are dangerous to our health, and what to do to get rid of them. Thanking you in advance.
 The photo is a little fuzzy but these look like sow or pill bugs.  They are not dangerous to your health or harmful for your home. However their presence is an indication that you may have a moisture problem.  These crustaceans can not survive in dry conditions.  Read more about sow bugs and pill bugs.

 #789  Help, I'm so afraid that I got bugs that I can't get rid of any other way than remove all carpet from my house, I hope there is another solution!  I have found this larvae's almost every where in the carpet of the house, when I move away furniture's, behind drawers, my sofa & bed and a few in the carpet in the hall. Places where you don't clean frequently. So far I haven't seen any in my kitchen, there I spend a lot of time and always keep it clean. So there isn't any bugs in any food or food cabinet. I haven't seen any in our bathrooms either but a lot in the laundry room in the dust around the washing machine, I had some cloth there too, (cotton I guess) at the floor which I found several larvae's on and one in the ceiling. Please, help me out with this and tell me how to get rid of this disgusting creeps.  Thanks,  Tova
  This definitely appears to be an infestation of carpet beetles (Coleoptera: Dermestidae). The larvae of these beetles will feed on a very wide variety of organic materials, so elimination of all potential food sources can be quite difficult.
See http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/entfacts/struct/ef601.htm  for a fact sheet that includes control measures; severe infestations may require the services of a professional pest management service. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #788  My husband is guessing this is either a young Rat or a Mouse. I'm pretty sure it's a Vole. Can you help?  Digital Specimen: caught this afternoon, Dec. 10, 2005 near where it/they have been burrowing for months, under a cement stoop at the back door of residential bungalow, Winnipeg (inside city limits), MB; second of two successful captures. Cheers!  K. Jones.
 This is a young Norway Rat.  Somewhere nearby there are probably 8 or 10 brothers and sisters plus a fat mother ready to give birth to another batch.  Young rats are easier to catch than their older and wiser parents.  More about rats..

 We are seeing these more and more frequently, do we need to be alarmed ? Could you send some general  info. Thank you in advance.

 This is another house centipede. See the answer to the next question.

 #787  I live in the Toronto area.  I saw one of these bugs this summer in my basement (it was dead and dehydrated), one in my kitchen in October (alive) and one yesterday (December) again in my kitchen.  It came crawling out from under my stove.  This was the first time I was able catch it and get a picture.  They move extremely fast.  It is about 1 1/4 inches in length with another inch antennae.  Please help me with an id of this insect and how to get rid of it.  Could this pest be dangerous to my cats?  Thanks, Becky

This is house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata), a general predator on other small arthropods. They generally are considered harmless, but a large specimen could give a painful nip if mishandled. See http://www.uark.edu/depts/entomolo/museum/house_centipede.html for more information and no. 679 for another example.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
                       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 More house centipede information in this web site

  #786  Hello;  Wondering if you could help me identify the attached pest. It was found in Mount Forest Ontario, in the shipping and receiving department. Thanks
Karen.

My best guess is that this is a leaf-footed bug (Hemiptera: Coreidae). With a few exceptions, these are plant pests, with some of economic importance (squash bug, western conifer seed bug, etc.).  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

  #785  Just curious if anyone is familiar with this spider.  It's white with purple markings and the head and legs are sort of translucent greenish grey.  The photo was taken just north of Toronto, ON.  The spider is on the trunk of a willow, in my back yard.  This was the first and only time I've ever seen this spider.  Robert
 
This appears to be a type of long-jawed orb weaver spider (family Tetragnathidae) I'm not entirely certain of which species, but it appears to be either an Orchard Orbweaver (Leucauge venusta ) or the Silver Orbweaver (L. dromedaria).  More info - http://www.spiderzrule.com/venusta.htm & http://troyb.com/photo/gallery/089-11-OrchardSpider.htm  J.D. Roberts, entomologist

 #784  Hello , I live in Bridgewater Nova Scotia and while outside today I found this beautiful spider on my smoke tree. I am hoping you can identify it for me. I love your site it is very interesting. Thanks for your help. Sincerely Kathy Welch
 
This looks to be a crab spider (Araneae: Thomisidae), most likely the Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia), also called the Flower Spider.  There is some variation where the red lines may be absent or the yellow will be very faded to near white.  These are very interesting to watch, as they are quite skilled at ambushing their prey.  More info -http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/pictures/Misumena.html
J.D. Roberts, entomologist
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is a crab spider (family Thomisidae); specifically, the goldenrod crab spider. These spiders are ambush hunters, laying in wait in flowers or other cover for prey to come within their reach. (
Misumena vatia; see http://www.dayspringretreats.com/photogallery/photo041/Goldenrod%20Crab%20Spider.jpg). Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV 

  #783  I am finding these little things on my kitchen floor. As you can see, there are quite a few I have collected. They start off smooth and turn hairy as the mature. We live in England.  Julia
 These are larvae/pupae of true flies (order Diptera); possibly of two different families. The smooth ones may be soldier flies (Stratiomyidae) and the 'thorny' ones could be Anthomyiidae, a family that includes the 'little house fly' and 'latrine fly.' All appear to be scavengers in decaying organic matter. 
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV 

 #782   I found this bug in Vancouver. It's about 1 inch long, and it makes a noise when you approach it.  Thanks,  Nancy
This appears to be a 10-lined June beetle, Polyphylla decemlineata (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).
 For more information
see:
http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?fotogID=861&curPageNum=10&recnum=IS0028 .

Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

#781  A friend took this photo in Singapore. Could you help me? It looks like a species of Cerambycidae to me.  Thank you, Michelle
This is indeed a cerambycid beetle; it belongs to the genus Batocera (possibly B. rubus), subfamily Lamiinae. This genus is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
  #780   Hi!  The website is fascinating !  I saw one of these under the cap on my tiki torches, then again tonight after the rain !  It kind of grosses me out, but it's really neat at the same time.  I recently got bit by something and being 5 month pregnant- the redness around the bit got worse and had to have an IV of an antibotic.  Not sure if it was a spider- but can you identify for me?  Jennifer in Holly, Michigan (about 60 miles north of Detroit).  (We also live on an inland lake (Tipsico Lake)
This spider appears to belong in the family Araenidae. Collectively known as ‘orb weavers,’ none are known to be of any medical importance. See nos. 710, 676, 670, and 609 for other examples.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
#779   Hi there,  I'd like some help identifying this fellow.
I live near Toronto Ontario. I noticed sawdust accumulating on the steps of my back porch. Above the pile I found a 1/2 inch diameter hole bored into the handrail. A blast of insecticide forced this huge fly out. It is about 3/4 inch long. Any idea what this is? Will the larva continue to chomp on the wood or will the insecticide deal with that problem?  - Regards, Peter
This appears to be a carpenter bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae, subfamily Xylocopinae). The holes are made by the adult females to construct rearing chambers for their larvae. The larvae do not bore, but feed on pollen and nectar brought in by the adult female. Male bees often exhibit ‘guarding behavior’ near the nest opening, but cannot sting.  See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2074.html for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
#778  Greetings, a woman in Nova Scotia has several of these in her basement.  What type of beetle is it?  Keith.
This is a ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae). With a very few exceptions (and this is not one of them), they are voracious predators on other small arthropods and generally are considered beneficial.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV
#777   I found this guy on the bathroom wall of a room underneath my house currently being used as storage.  I live in Los Angeles, CA.  It is 1/8" long and has about 7-8 little legs on each side and weird fin like things on each side of its hind end.  Thanks, Nina.
Another fuzzy photo, but this appears to be a larva of a dermestid beetle, a family that includes the various carpet beetles as well as other pantry pests. See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2103.html for a fact sheet that includes control measures. See nos. 751 and 719 for other examples.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
#776    Hi, can you please identify the beetle shown in the attached photo's. They like to fly around my living room lights at night and I would like to know how to get rid of them.  Thanks, John M. S. 
The photo is too fuzzy to be certain, but this could be a beetle in the family Scolytidae (bark/engraver beetles). They will not attack any timber in the house, but tunnel under the bark of trees. They might be coming in on firewood. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
#775  Dear Pest Control,  Although it probably doesn’t fall under your definition of ‘PESTS’, I would really appreciate your help to identify the insect in the attached photograph. It is about 1.5mm in length and was found walking on my desk.  It’s ugliness is out of proportion with its size - but nature is often like that.  Best regards,  Alexander.  France.
This is a nymph of an assassin bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), possibly the masked hunter (Reduvius personatus), a cosmopolitan species native to Europe and introduced into North America; For an image of a nymph see http://www.insecta.ch/media/images/galerie/staubtierchen04s.jpg   and for an adult:  http://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/images/entomology/colorslide/maskedhunter.jpg  They feed primarily on other insects, but can deliver a painful bite to humans. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
#774   Hi.. love the site and really appreciate your service.  For the last 2-3 weeks we have been inundated with small 1/4-1/2 inch moth and, what we assume, are their larvae.  Their appearance is limited to our dining room.  The larvae crawl up the back wall to the ceiling and then fall off if we don't kill them first. The moths are dark grey to black with a band of pale grey about a third of the way down their bodies.  The larvae are white/cream color with distinctive brown heads and are about an inch long.  We can find no infestation anywhere.  What are these, how do we get rid of them... we have a baby due anyday and certainly don't want these in the house.  Many thanks for your help and expertise! Prebble in Herndon, VA
  
You may have an infestation of Indian meal moths (Plodia interpunctella). They can infest an extremely wide range of foodstuffs (including dry pet food) made of or containing grains, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, etc.  Mature larvae often will travel some distance from their food source before pupating. See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2089.html for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
#773  Hey,  I was wondering what type of spider this was. It was found outside and I also saw two or three of them in my room and on my bed once. Let me know what they are. Thanks!  Mohammad 
  Looks like a Black Widow Spider. Quite poisonous. Human deaths have been reported to have occured from bites by this species. At the very least seek immediate medical attention should you be bitten by this spider. Seek professional help with removal from your home and surroundings.  Cheers! Caroline
               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Those spiders you're seeing are the notorious Black Widow spiders (Latrodectus mactans).  They have potent venom and a bite will send you to the emergency room.  If you have found more than one in your room, that indicates that you had a female nesting somewhere in your house.  When the young hatch, they will spread out to find their own nook or cranny, and often will remain in the immediate vicinty where they hatched.  We had a widow problem on one side of our basement, but they never traversed to the other (finished) side.  There are many spider sprays, bombs, and dusts that you can use to kill these dangerous pests.  I've never seen the need for professional treatment, but depending on the infestation you have, you may want to do so.  Black widows however, are not particularly agressive, and only tend to bite when molested (which happens if you roll over onto one), and will usually flee when disturbed.  Don't mess with them and select a treatment immediately to rid your house of them.  There is more info on the spider page of this very website - http://www.pestcontrolcanada.com/INSECTS/spiders.htm#Black_Widow
J.D. Roberts, entomologist.
                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is a widow spider, most likely the black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans), probably the most venomous spider in North America. The genus Latrodectus is very widespread, occurring on all continents except Antarctica. Serious envenomations by these spiders may require administration of antivenom/antivenin; several companies (including Merck in the USA) manufacture an effective product. In spite of its reputation, this spider usually is not aggressive; I have on one occasion, accidentally stuck my finger into a web occupied by a female black widow, and it made no attempt to bite. See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2061A.html for a fact sheet.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

#772   Hi!  I live in North Eastern Ohio, and I found this insect on July 18th in my flower garden.  It was about two inches long and had semitransparent red wings, long fuzzy antennae, and a big bulky body.  I've seen something like it a few years back, and I've been miffed ever since.  Please help!  Emily
This is one of the clearwing moths in the family of sphingid moths (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae).  Based on your photo, it is most likely the Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe ), although H. gracilis is very similar and without seeing the wings not in motion, I can't be absolutely certain.  But H. thysbe is much more common than H. gracilis and so it's most probable that it's the Hummingbird Clearwing that you're seeing.  More info - http://booksandnature.homestead.com/moth39.html  J.D. Roberts, entomologist
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This is a clear-winged sphinx moth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) in the genus Hemaris. Some members of this family often are called ‘hummingbird moths’ or ‘hawk moths.’ See http://typhoon.wcp.muohio.edu/western/insects/moth_excellent.jpg for a clearer image. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #771  I found this critter- several of them in a package that was sent from Greenville, SC. This occurred in November of 2005. The package contained plastic parts in a plastic overwrap. The package was received in Michigan.
  This is a parasitic wasp, either in the family Braconidae or Ichneumonidae. They are harmless to humans.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

#770  Dear Bug Master!!  We found one of these on our door and one on the wall. Both were roughly a quarter of an inch long and had some kind of casing that they crawled out of to move. The casing looks like it was made of fuzz? paper? We assumed it was a larvae of some sort. The head was a dark brown color and the body was segmented and cream/ translucent. It never came out of its casing. Do you have any idea what this little guy could be? Should we be concerned about some sort of infestation even though we've only seen 2 or 3? THANK YOU!!  Sincerely,  Jannelle and Dana from Seattle
This appears to be a case-making clothes moth (Tinea pellionella; Lepidoptera: Tineidae). See http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/clothes_moth.htm for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

#769  Hello, I live in Castro Valley, California, which is around the SF East Bay/Northern California. We recently cut down our palm tree, and the hole were the stomp used to be has since filled with rainwater. It has become murky, and I've noticed odd larva in the water. I have included several pictures of them. I'd say they are about 12 mm in length, plus their tails. Their tails are wormlike, and project to the top of the water, while their fat bodies remain hidden in the sediment. I don't know what on earth they are, but I am very curious, can anyone help me?  Thanks,  Carol
    These appear to be rat-tailed maggots, the larvae of a hover fly (Diptera: Syrphidae) in the genus Eristalis. They feed on
decaying organic matter and sediment at the bottom of pools of stagnant water, obtaining air through spiracles at the end of their ‘tail.’ The adults superficially resemble bees, and often are found on flowers – see http://www.cirrusimage.com/Flies/Eristalis_dimidiatus_1.jpg for an image. They all are harmless.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #768  Love this excellent site! I moved into a new (to me) house in Northeast Tennessee in December.  I have been seeing these guys nearly every day in my basement, I used to freak out. Then I'd shuttle them outside, only to find another one the next day. If it's the same one...he's got a great sense of direction. Now I'm used to them, and the cats have started ignoring them also. After looking through all your photos here, in my extremely un-arachnesque opinion...I would say it is another variety of Wolf Spider. I did not see any here that looked exactly like it...so here it is!

    This indeed appears to be a wolf spider (family Lycosidae). They commonly enter homes in their search for prey, as well as for shelter with the onset of cooler weather in the autumn. Although some large specimens can give a painful bite if mishandled, none that I know of pose any real threat to humans.   Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #767  Hello! I need help. I found some pests in my room. They are black tiny ones. When I found them, they always move slowly or nearly dead. But it was keeping showing in my carpet, no matter how much pesticide I sprayed and how many time I clean my room. I am living at Toledo, Ohio. Please see the photo I got. Hope you can give some suggestions for me. Thanks a lot! Y.W.
 

    This is a weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), but the photo is too unclear to make any further identification. You may wish to submit specimens to your county office of the Ohio State University Extension service for assistance in identification and any control recommendations – see http://extension.osu.edu/counties.php for contact information. 

Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 

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#766  Hello,  Found this little fellow out in my back yard under my deck. I live in the Muskoka district in Ontario Canada. Identification appreciated. Cheers.  James

    This is a long-horned wood-boring beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Perhaps someone familiar with this family can provide a specific identification.

Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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  This is Monochamus notatus, Northeastern Pine Sawyer, judging by the fact the head appears to be widest below the eyes . For more examples see:  http://bugguide.net/node/view/26712/bgimage   Jim McClarin

 #765  I live in Dallas, Texas. This pest, with many of his odious friends, live in an area of my garden filled mostly with ornamental sweet potato vines. We discovered these pests when many of them leapt (of flew) from under the vines onto my wife's ankles and immediately started biting. She received over 20 bites in a few seconds. The bites were painful, and have left large festering welts (2+ cm in diameter). As you can see, they are very tiny - barely visible - approximately 1/2 mm long. Thanks for your help. Robert.

This appears to be a garden fleahopper (Halticus bractatus); Hemiptera: Miridae). They are common pests on many plant species (including sweet potatoes), but seem to prefer members of the legume family (such as clover and alfalfa). See http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN235 for a fact sheet that includes control measures. However, I am unaware of any reports of them biting humans, so I will be interested if anyone else is familiar with such an occurrence.

Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #764  I have found this pest in my storage room where I store vacuum, luggage, boxes, books, toilet paper, etc, on 2nd floor.  It is not close to any food or water.  It is very small like a sesame (about 2 -3 mm) in dark brown.  It is mostly still but will crawl (slower than an ant) if touched.  I can't see where it is from.  I clean the whole room but will find about 10-15 the next day.  It doesn't seem to bite and easy to be caught.  It likes to go where carpet and wall meet and under vacuum (?). Can someone help me to find what they are and how to get rid of them?  I live in bay area in CA. Thanks, Kathy

   The photo is too unclear for me to attempt an identification. I suggest that you submit specimens to your county office of the California Cooperative Extension service (affiliated with the University of California) for assistance. See http://ucanr.org/ce.cfm for contact information.

Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #763  Need help in Houston Texas.  We just moved into a apartment and 2 weeks later these little creatures started flying or crawling in to the entryway at night (50+)and some of the more determined are getting in the apartment. I do have a fica plant in the entryway and some were in the soil but can not tell if they crawled in or are breeding there (It has been well polluted with chemicals at this point). I have checked around and do not believe these look like Larder or Carpet beetles and may be Pine Bark Beetles but I am not a bug fellow.  All I know is my lovely wife is not happy with me because of my inability to eradicate despite the numerous trips to Home Depot. Thanks in advance.  Bob.  

    These appear to be burrower bugs (Hemiptera: Cydnidae) – see http://www.entomology.umn.edu/museum/links/coursefiles/JPEG images/Hemiptera web jpeg/Pentatomomorpha/Cydnidae.jpg for an image. They are plant feeders, usually feeding on the roots. As they are not common pests, it is difficult to find control recommendations tailored specifically for them. I suggest that you contact the nearest county office of the Texas Cooperative Extension service (affiliated with Texas A&M University) for advice in this matter. See http://county-tx.tamu.edu/ for contact information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #762   I have included a couple of pictures of these bugs. If you can help identify them or post the pictures for others to identify it would be much appreciated. I need to find a way to control these darn things. The one photo of the top of the gazebo shows what appear to be shells of the young ones before they become the dark grey bugs you see crawling around. They definitely seem to be dropping from the large willow tree overhead.  Many thanks,  Hans

    These are aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae); sometimes called ‘plant lice.’ They are sap feeders, and often produce copious amounts of ‘honeydew’ as they remove excess water from the very dilute sap they ingest. See http://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/e448aphidstrees.html for a fact sheet that includes a number of control measures.

Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #761  Hello, Well i have attached some photos of a bug that we have in our house hold that we are trying to get rid of.  could you please tell me what it is. Found in our basement near hot tub and in room close to hot tub.  Saskatchewan.
    This is a sow bug, a terrestrial crustacean in the order Isopoda. They usually do no harm, but often are considered nuisances by their very presence. As they breathe by means of gills, they require moist conditions to survive. Therefore, one of the best things one can do control them is to make their home as dry as possible. See
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2072.html for a fact sheet that includes control measures. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

#760   i fiund these in carpeting wedged down into the fibers they are 1/4 to1/2 inch.  Steven.
     These are last stage larvae (maggots) and pupae of  a species of higher Diptera. There must be a food source for the maggots fairly close by; once mature, maggots of many species (including house flies) tend to wander away from their feeding area in search of a drier area in which to pupate.  
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #759  Hello,  I found this 2 inch wide moth in Dallas, does anyone know what this species? Joe.

    Based on your photo and your region, this is most likely a Lunate Zale moth (Zale lunata) in the family Noctuidae, subfamily, Catocalinae.  Sometimes identification of moths in this particular genus can be difficult, because there are several similar looking specimens, and some variation within species.  Nice photo.  J.D. Roberts, entomologist
More info
-
http://www.bugguide.net/node/view/4197.
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This appears to be a moth in the family Noctuidae, related to the underwings (subfamily Catocalinae). It resembles those in the genus Zale, but I cannot be certain.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

#758 North Vancouver, BC. Live in 20 Floor, High-rise concrete bldg. Found on all floors & thru-out bldg. Always found near water (sinks, bathtubs, swimming pool, sm amounts of leftover food). Look like a very tiny reddish ant. Appear to have six legs, two very large antennae, long narrow body & darkish arrowhead shaped end. Much smaller than conventional ant. Seem harmless; but ??? How is best to control them?
  This is a Pharaoh ant, one of the most difficult pests to eliminate, especially in large buildings. They are considered a serious health risk because of the pathogens they carry.  Spraying pesticides causes  colonies of up to 300,000 to split and spread to new locations.  This is not a job for the building janitor. It may take  very experienced pest professional service months to get the problem under control. The longer you wait the worse it gets.  See our Pharaoh Ant page for detailed information.
A list of qualified professionals in North Vancouver is published in our directory

 #757  Here is a spider that lives in Tappen, BC, Canada. Tappen is located in the Southern Interior of the province. The spider is 2 to 3" long, lives in the basement in complete darkness in significant numbers, has a random web which never appear to have any trapped food. The photo was taken in low incandescent light so appears a little to red/orange.  Mike

This appears to be a cellar spider (sometimes called a ‘daddy long legs’); Pholcus phalangioides – see http://caliban.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/%7estueber/essays/pholcus/pholcus_phalangioides.html. This is a cosmopolitan species, frequently found in homes. It is harmless to humans, but somehow rumors abound of it having very potent venom.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

#756 Hello, I live in Singapore (south-east Asia). Please can anyone tell me what this is? They roost and multiply in danky areas among green leafy plants. The biggest one I've found was about 4mm long.
 
These appear to be mealybugs (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae), relatives of aphids and scale insects. They are sap feeders, and some species are of economic importance.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #755  I can't get a very good photo but I have these small brown cocoon like things all over my house. They attach themselves to the walls or like to live around the baseboards in the bedrooms mostly. Sometimes I see what looks like a small caterpillar poke out and pull the cocoon along with it as it moves. I have caught some to see what they turn into but they never seem to become anything. What are they?  Mia.  Los Angeles.
 
This is a household casebearer, sometimes called a ‘plaster bagworm’ (Phereoeca uterella; Lepidoptera: Tineidae). They usually cause little if any damage, feeding primarily on old spider webs. See nos. 653 and 745 for other examples. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #754  Hi found this on the wall outside in the carport down low on the wall behind a flat piece of wood propped there was smaller dead spiders od other types around and a very low very thick sticky web not a pretty round web but a low thick sticky mess similar to thick dust web. this spider is about the size of a sticky note pad paper.
 
This might be another funnel-web spider (family Agelenidae), see no. 751.   Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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   It is a giant house spider. Like almost all other spiders, it is harmless to humans and non-aggressive. It is related to and often misidentified as the hobo spider which is considered dangerous though there is conflicting data. Finding it inside is a near guarantee that it was a giant house spider and not a hobo spider. It takes a microscope and a real entomologist to tell the difference for certain.  http://www.zoo.org/educate/fact_sheets/spiders/giant.html 
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/spidermyth/myths/insidewolf.html
-Ashley Pond V, nature enthusiast, Seattle, WA.

#753  Hi, we live in a condo unit in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. We often saw this pests / bugs on the floor. Please refer to the attached jpeg, that is the closest shot we can get. Any ideas on identification and effective control? Thanks!  Ching L.
This appears to be a firebrat (Thermobia domestica; Thysanura: Lepismatidae); see http://216.109.89.105/insects_spid/insects_spid_l/IS0311_1l.jpg for an image and http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7475.html for a fact sheet on firebrats and their close relatives, silverfish. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

#752  We live in Winnipeg Mb. Recently we had a food bug problem, and it was pretty bad, so I seem to think it was. They were starting to spread across our kitchen counter, thats when I started to look inside our cupboards, sure enough there was plenty. We washed everything down with javex and sprayed with 3 in 1 home and apartment bug spray we bought at Poulins. We did everything they recommended, now i am seeing these other creatures, coming up from behind our kitchen sink on the counter and along the whole counter behind our toaster,etc.in our drawers. We do have older cubboards that are solid wood so there is sawdust under the drawers. They do squish easy, they crawl some faster than others. But mostly dead in little piles I guess because they are still dieing from coming in contact with the spray we used. What in the world are these? I am also noticing where I also sprayed along the baseboards that there seems to be these even smaller ones, maybe eggs? its hard to tell they could be the same they are to small to tell. I am sending a photo please help thanks M.
   Sorry, the black specks in your photo are so small it is difficult to tell if they are even insects, never mind identify them.  The sawdust under the drawers may be coming from the drawer slides.  This is common misleading evidence in many homes. You obviously do have an insect problem but we can not offer any help based on the information provided. If you take a specimen into Poulins office I am sure they will be glad to identify it for you.

 #751  Thanks to your great site and all of the great entomologists lending a hand, I think I've narrowed this critter down. I think it's a carpet beetle larva *but* I could be mistaken. I only wish I could get hold of one of the adults that occasionally whiz by.  Please let me know what you think. I've dug through almost everything and can't find the source here in the apartment.  We've (my wife and I) have pulled out the fridge, stove, gone through cupboards, cereal boxes, under carpets etc. and so far no luck.  The thing I worry about is that should I need pesticides, are there any that are cat friendly that will kill these critters?  I've attached a pic of a larva.....ugh! The other image is spider I found in the basement of the building. The little guy was only about 1.5-2cm from front to back legs. I still have no idea what kind of spider it is.  All my best.  Ron
  
The larva indeed appears to be that of a dermestid beetle, a family that includes the various carpet beetles as well as other pantry pests. See http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2103.html  for a fact sheet that includes control measures. As for the spider, other than it being a male (see the enlarged pedipalps), I am uncertain as to its identity – it might be a funnel-web spider (family Agelenidae).  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV

 #750  I live in Cambridge Ontario.  We have found 4 of these tiny bugs in our upstairs bathroom over the past two weeks - and one in the kitchen..  They are about 2 mm long reddish brown in colour and seem to be quite active.  The bug has a pair of antenna similar to an ant - although it is not an ant.  The bathroom can be a moist area at times.  I would appreciate it if you could help us identify this bug and how to get rid of it - hopefully the picture is not too blurry - thanks D.
 
The photo is a bit blurry, but I suspect that this could be a foreign grain beetle (Ahasverus advena), see http://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/e603foreigngb.html and no. 632 for another example. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;

#749  Need help identifying this bug.  We are in North Central Texas and this bug was on a Zennia.  Can you tell me what it is? It is about an inch long.  thanks, Susie
  This is a male scorpionfly (Mecoptera: Panorpidae), so called because of the fancied resemblance of the male terminalia to the telson of a scorpion. However, they are general predators on other small arthropods, and are completely harmless to humans. See http://www.discoverlife.org/nh/tx/Insecta/Mecoptera/