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A little background on a volunteer expert respondent:
Ed Saugstad.
B.S. in Entomology - NDSU, 1963.
M.S. in Entomology - Purdue University, 1967
A life-long interest in natural history. Formally trained in entomology, he
also has a personal interest in herpetology and has read widely in many
biological fields. 21 years in the U.S. Army as a medical entomologist;
duties varied from surveillance of pest populations (including mosquitoes,
cockroaches, ticks, and stored products pests) to conducting research on
mosquito-virus ecological relationships and mosquito faunal studies. Ten years
as a civilian analyst for the Department of Defense, primarily on distribution
of vector-borne diseases worldwide.
He is a member of Entomological Society of America,
Society for Vector Ecology & National Speleological Society.
Publications
American Journal of Public Health, Contributions of the American Entomological
Institute, Japanese Journal of Sanitary Zoology, Journal of Economic Entomology,
Mosquito News, and Mosquito Systematics.
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The pictures below have been
submitted by visitors. If you can identify them you are invited to send us
your answers.
Your description is also welcome.
Please
Include the picture number
in your answers.
If you have a digital camera or
scanner send us photos of any pest you would like identified.
Please
include the location the pest was found and any other information you can offer.
Hopefully one of our visitors will be able to identify them. Send your photos
as an attachment, not embedded in the body of
your email to:
webmanager@pestcontrolcanada.com
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photos to enlarge. They are usually much clearer. |
 1600
Hello! For the last two years I have been experiencing small red itchy bumps
from my waist up, 1-2 a day. I had an exterminator here yesterday, and he
treated the whole house. Afterwards, I came home and washed the pillow cases
just to remove any residue from the insecticide, although he said it was safe.
After washing, I shook them out. I found about 10 of these tiny insects. They
are just over a millimeter long and amber in color. I think they are book lice (psocids)
as I had a stack of books next to the bed that have been there for about two
years, but the research I did says they don't bite but people can have an
allergic reaction to them. I still got bites after the first treatment, but I
will have the house treated again. I just want to know what this little pest is.
Consequently, my husband has no symptoms, but my bites itch something fierce.
Thanks for any information you can provide. Sincerely, Carol
Although the image is fuzzy, it does
appear to be a booklouse (Psocoptera: Liposcelidae). They definitely would not
be responsible for any bites, and allergic reactions attributed to them have
been respiratory rather than dermatological in nature - see
http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19991029/ige29035.html
for an example. Unfortunately, treating your house with pesticides
without knowing what exactly is causing your symptoms may be an exercise in
futility. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1599
Could you please help me identify this bug. I found him in my front yard in
Houston, Texas where it's still 85 degrees Fahrenheit in November. This photo
shows him against a blade of grass so you can tell he is very small. Sabra.
This is a lovely photo of a green
lacewing (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). They and their larvae are voracious
predators on small soft-bodied arthropods such as aphids, and thus considered
beneficial. See
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/green_lacewing.html
for more information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1598
Hi, I live in an older home in Toronto and we recently found a couple of these
bugs near the seams on our mattress! We were actually in the process of getting
a new bed at the time when they were noticed. They are about 2-5mm in
length. We have never had any bites we were aware of nor was there any evidence
of dark feces stains on the mattress. We had an exterminator come who felt
confidant they were NOT bed bugs. He thought they may be a larval form of a
sowbug/pill bug or something similar. He did spray the baseboards with a
general insecticide. I have since found them on the carpet in the bedroom. I'm
wondering if they might be larvae of the carpet beetle? Torin. University
of Toronto
These are larvae of carpet/furniture
beetles (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) in the genus Anthrenus. See
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2103.html
for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1597
Hello, We live in a small town outside of Houston, Texas. My husband found this
wormlike creature while cleaning out his barbecue pit yesterday morning. It has
white fur, like a mammal, and a red/dark orange grooved ridge on its back. We
couldn't tell which end was its head, and it writhed along the grill plate
shown, as if it was a worm. My husband knocked it to the ground, and it curled
up, then rolled over and continued scooting along the ground. I have never seen
anything like this, and I'm a little worried if it's harmful or not. Thanks for
any insight you might be able to offer. Best, Amanda
This is a flannel moth caterpillar
(Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae) in the genus Megalopyge. Specifically, it
appears to be a southern puss moth caterpillar (Megalopyge opercularis),
sometimes known as the asp moth caterpillar or puss moth caterpillar - see
http://www.bugsinthenews.com/puss_caterpillar_092602.htm
for much more information on this species. Beware - its soft fuzzy appearance
belies the sharp venomous spines hidden beneath - touching these caterpillars is
not advised! Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1596
Hi, We live in Southern
California and found this in our bathroom sink. It moved kind of like a
maggot. Can you please tell me what this is. Thank You, Cindi
This specimen is too
badly damaged to be certain, but the stubs of what appear to be three
terminal abdominal appendages lead me to believe that it could be a
bristletail (order Thysanura) such as a silverfish or firebrat - see
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/uniramia/thysanura.html
Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
 1595
Good Day: We discovered this
"little" wonder bug crawling along the family room wall, just down by the
baseboards. The room is clean with relatively new carpeting and is used
regularly. I would suspect that it recently entered the room. The bug is a tan
coloured "thing" with black stripes running horizontally across it's torso and
legs. the body is 1 inch long and the longest legs (at the back) are 3/4 inch
long. The body is 1/4 inch wide across. there are small spikes at the joints
of the legs and it has a long whip like antenna thing sticking out the back. it
moves at a reasonable pace until it is scared, then it takes off at a pretty
quick pace. If you could let us know what this thing is, whether we should
be weary of it, whether it's in any way poisonous and whether it breeds like
rabbits (dear God no!) we would deeply appreciate it. My two children were
really freaking out when I was trying to catch it. Any information deeply
appreciated as my children are dying to know what this thing is. Thank
You: Chris Jenkins
This is a House Centipede.
Centipedes prefer to live in damp portions of basements, closets, bathrooms,
unexcavated areas under the house and beneath the bark of firewood stored
indoors. They do not come up through the drain pipes. 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 this web page:
http://www.pestcontrolcanada.com/INSECTS/Centipedes.htm
|
 1594
Can you advise what kind of spider this appears to be. We live in
the Brooks area of south eastern Alberta. I look forward to
your response. Regards, Rob
This is a female orb-weaving spider (family Araneidae); specifically, it is the
banded argiope/banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata - see
http://www.photoquest.com/dsoto/twentythree.shtml
for an image.
This species appears to be fairly common in prairie areas of Alberta - see
http://www.canadianarachnology.org/data/canada_spiders/SpecimenLists2.asp?SpeciesCode=15415
for collection records.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1593
I would like to identify this bee.
My son was stung and he had an anaphylactic reaction. It must be a type of honey
bee since it lost its stinger, but it does not look like the pictures of honey
bees. The nest was inside a rotting log in a woodpile in Mississauga Ontario.
I have attached a picture of a bee that was still slightly alive, and the nest
it came from. Thanks. Paul
|
 1592
What is this, it was 2-3 inches long, flew onto my brother in laws leg in the
evening in the Okanagan valley in British Columbia, between Peachland and
Summerland, near the lake. Robert.
This is a giant water bug (Hemiptera:
Belostomatidae). Also known as toe-biters and electric light bugs, they are
voracious predators on other aquatic life. They are excellent fliers, and often
can be found at quite some distance from any water source. They are capable of
delivering quite a painful ‘bite’ if mishandled. See nos. 1546, 1513, 1498,
1457, and 1378 for other examples.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1591
Hello Friends. Hoping to find some answers as to what this insect is and if it
should be of concern. It was found outside mid-October in the Spokane,
Washington area. North slope in a mixed mesic forest at 3,000 feet. There
seemed to be a hatch of them as I had about 12 on me after walking outside for
10 minutes. My dog also had a bunch on her. They were slow moving but very
clingy. This is not the first time I've seen them - I believe I have seen them
in past years around the same time. Any help would be much appreciated.
Sami
This appears to be a louse fly (Diptera:
Hippoboscidae); they are ectoparasites of birds and mammals. They can be winged
(see
http://cc.oulu.fi/~lcervi/lcervi_lajikuva.jpg)
or wingless (see
http://www.myrmecos.net/insects/Hippoboscid1.JPG).
It appears to be quite unusual for these to be found off their host, especially
in any numbers as you seem to have encountered. Females produce only one
offspring at a time, with the larva developing internally - see
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/livestock/deer_ked.htm.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1590
I found this spider last night
outside our door in Vancouver BC. It hadn’t been there long – maybe since the
morning. We’re letting it stay there for now and we’ll make our next move when
we find out exactly what type of spider it is. Hoping it will stay outside and
not make the move inside. Thanks! Christine
This is a female orb-weaving spider
(family Araneidae); likely in the genus Araneus. They are completely
harmless to humans, and it should not make any move to come indoors. If you
scroll down this site starting at no. 1586, you will see many other examples of
this family of spiders. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1589
We
found these in our cabin at Thunder Lake Alberta. They seem to migrate to water
as every time when we return to the cabin, usually every weekend or two We
find several in the toilet and in the tub. They are usually spotted in the
baseboards and then they proceed to crawl to the ceiling where they will
actually crawl until they fall off. When accosted they “turtle” and are easy to
pick up and throw in the trash. They do not seem to be in the dry goods but are
in all the walls. I pick up between 10 and 15 a day. Our basement is a dirt root
cellar and it is a bungalow. I have seen traces in the root cellar but it is a
crawl space and rather uncomfortable to get into. My wife thinks they are cute
so therefore harmless. I believe they are short snouted weevils. Dwaine
This is indeed a
short-snouted weevil (subfamily Entiminae), such as the strawberry root weevil (Otiorhynchus
ovatus). These weevils often enter homes at the onset of cold weather in the
autumn - see
http://weaselhead.org/profile/index.php?s=1435
for an image and more details. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove,
WV. |
 1588
Hello friends, I found these two specimens in my backyard here in Winnipeg, MB.
Just wondering what they are. V. Pearase
This appears to be a fruit fly (Diptera:
Tephritidae), bearing a strong resemblance to the sunflower maggot, Strauzia
longipennis - see
http://www.cirrusimage.com/fly_fruit_Strauzia.htm. These
flies should not be confused with those in the family Drosophilidae, which also
sometimes are called fruit flies (they more properly are termed pomace flies or
vinegar flies). Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1587
My husband & I found this on our carport one night this summer
sitting on an empty box. We live in central Illinois & neither of us has ever
seen one of these before. It was about 5 inches long & about 3/4 inch thick.
The colors in the photo are pretty accurate. It was a bright green with yellow
bumps towards what I think was the front, It had groups of what looked like 5-10
bright blue hairs running along both sides of its body. We're dying to know what
it was! Thanks, Sara Carter
This is a larva of a cecropia moth (Hyalophora
cecropia; Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), arguably the largest moth in North
America. See
http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4TH/KKHP/1insects/cecropia.htm
l for detailed information on this fascinating insect.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1586
Could you please tell us something about this beautiful spider
which has been living on our patio on one of the potted plants. We have been
taking many photos of it and it doesn't seem to mind one bit. We are worried
that it might be dying, however, as today it is seems not as active. The back
end seems to be changing to a solid tan colour. Thank you
for your assistance. Al Grant
|
1585 These
have started to appear about one per day in my bathroom. They do not scatter.
This one was unfazed by several flash photos taken at about an 8 inch range.
Some have been maybe up to 25% larger. How to get rid of them?
This is a cockroach in the
genus Periplaneta; most likely the American cockroach, Periplaneta
americana; Blattodea: Blattidae). See
http://www.entomology.cornell.edu/Extension/DiagnosticLab/IDLFS/Cockroaches/images/1435178.jpg
for an image and
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IG082
for detailed information on control methods.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1584
Can you please tell me what kind of spider this it? I
caught him/her in the large margarine container you see in the picture, so you
can judge the size of it from that. I have many spiders outside my house but i
have never seen one like this before. I scooped it up off my living room floor
this past spring, at my home in Victoria B.C., Canada. Some insight please!
Mark
This appears to be a
woodlouse spider (Dysdera crocata; see
http://www.uksafari.com/woodlousespiders.htm
). This spider is widely distributed in the northern hemisphere; it
preys primarily on woodlice (Crustacea: Isopoda), also known as
sowbugs, pill bugs, or roly polys. Their overly large fangs easily
penetrate the tough exoskeleton of its prey. They can deliver a
painful bite if mishandled, but do not appear to be particularly
dangerous. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1583
I'm really interested in knowing what kind of insect this is. I
can't seem to find it anywhere. When it is stretched out, is about 2-3" long.
You can see a long black antennae type thing that kind of circles around its
body, then goes into the hole in the tree. Now, this tree is starting to die,
and were not sure if it's due to these insects. All suggestions would be much
appreciated. Thank You, Josh
This is an ichneumon wasp
(Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) in the genus Megarhyssa; see nos 1531 and
1437 for other examples, and
http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/Images/Hymenoptera/megarhyssa.html
for more information. It is not responsible for your tree’s decline,
as it is parasitic on the larvae of wasps in another family (Siricidae) that
bore in the wood. Likewise, those larvae usually are found in the wood of trees
that already are dead or dying.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1582
Hi, I live in southwest Washington state and been seeing these beetle-like
bugs for a while now. They are always around my flowerbed along the house. The
attached pictures show the bugs on the side of my house. I usually see them in
groups of a dozen or so in the afternoon. I would like to know if they are
harmful to the house or to my family or pets. Thanks, Cindy in Shelton
This is a bordered plant bug (Largus
succinctus; Hemiptera: Largidae). Like boxelder bugs, they appear to be more
of a nuisance pest than an economic one. See
http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/21/
for more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
1581 I found this guy in the middle of the living room in my Tulsa,
Oklahoma townhouse. Weather outside is usual November weather, generally
between 50-70 degrees. I honestly can't tell whether he's eating another small
insect, or whether he has an extra set of small antennae on his head (don't have
a magnifying glass). He doesn't appear to be in too good of shape, as he didn't
crawl away when I was trying to focus the camera. Look familiar to anyone?
Thanks! April
This appears to be a ground beetle (Coleoptera:
Carabidae); the vast majority of these beetles are general predators on other
small arthropods. From the angle that the photo was taken, the antennae likely
cannot be seen clearly; what appear to be short antennae likely are its
maxillary palps. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1580
This is the larvae of some sort of wood boring
pest. I found it (with others like it) eating my baseboards in my house. I
live in Pismo Beach California which is on the central coast in San Luis Obispo
County. After noticing in exit holes and frass I removed the baseboard and when
I tapped on it the little buggers emerged. The one in the photo is dead (from a
spray treatment I used). Sorry I wasn't able to get a better picture. Hope
someone can tell me what it is for sure. My best guess is that it might be a
powder post beetle. Thanks. Les
This does not appear to be a powder
post beetle larva (they usually are somewhat C-shaped), but could be a drywood
termite (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae). Activity of these termites often is detected
by finding piles of frass near holes in wood (powderpost beetles usually do not
routinely eject frass from their feeding tunnels, but instead pack it back in as
they feed). In those that do expel frass (family Lyctidae), the frass feels like
fine flour or talc, whereas drywood termite frass feels like small, hard
pellets. See
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/termites/western_drywood_termite.htm
for detailed information on these termites. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1579
My sister found this bug, moth? on her snapdragons this past summer and we are
curious to know what it is. She lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. We would
appreciate it's identification. Thanks, Laurie.
|
 1578
I believe this is the underside of the spider. I live in
Richmond, VA and found this guy between the railing and garden in front yard.
I've noticed that I usually only see him early in the morning and nighttime.
Jaycee
This
is a female orb-weaving spider (family Araneidae); possibly in the genus
Neoscona - see
http://frank.itlab.us/sasha/araneus_cavaticus.jpg
for an image. All orb weavers are harmless to humans.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1577
My mother found this bug in her house along with another one only
smaller. Can anyone tell me what it is? I thought it might be in the ant family
because of its head which looks like a carpenter ant, but its body has me
confused. This bug has six legs and no wings. Rick from Rockford, IL.
This is a blister beetle (Coleoptera:
Meloidae); likely in the genus Meloe - see
http://perso.orange.fr/pechelacsariege/images/meloe.JPG
for an image. Beetles in this genus have the wings greatly reduced, and when
threatened, exude an oily liquid from their joints. This liquid will stain skin,
and has a very unpleasant odor. Their larvae are parasitoids on bees, and in at
least one species, have a very unusual means of dispersal in that after
hatching, they congregate on vegetation, imitating the form of a female bee.
They then climb on to any male bee that stops to investigate and get a free ride
to the bee’s nest; see
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v405/n6782/full/405035a0.html. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a flightless Blister Beetle, Meloe sp., beetle family
Meloidae. They are parasitic as larvae in the nests of ground-dwelling solitary
bees. Jim McClarin
|
 1576
Many of these were swept off the
floor of an older home in Burlington Ontario, Canada. They are about 1.5 mm in
length and have a reflective, almost iridescent purple/blue sheen. They were
collected in October 2005. Best I can figure out is they may be some kind of
Springtail? Corey Lewis, Beamsville, ON
These indeed are
springtails; see
http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/insectid/insect_info.php?64.
Authorities are divided as to whether or not they should be considered true
insects. The vast majority are harmless scavengers, but a few species can be
pests on tender vegetation; see
http://www.discoverlife.org/20/q?search=Sminthurus+viridis .
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1575
Here it is the end of October and we never thought we’d be
bothered by bugs while camping… hundreds of them …. at 20 mile Bay at Harrison
Lake, British Columbia. We’ve come away with a few bites and they are swollen,
red and itchy. We assume they’re from these bugs but that’s not a certainty, I
suppose. We’d love to know what these critters are. - Dave and Maureen
There are a number of biting
flies in British Columbia that can be serious nuisances. Unfortunately, I cannot
tell for certain what you have photographed. It might be a deer fly or small
horse fly (Diptera: Tabanidae); see
http://eny3005.ifas.ufl.edu/lab1/Diptera/Tabanid.htm
and
http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/youth/bug/bug142.html
for some images. Other problem flies (besides mosquitoes) include biting midges
(Ceratopogonidae; see
http://i.pbase.com/u36/holopain/large/32189277.Ceratopogonidae.jpg
) and black flies (Simuliidae; see
http://www.uku.fi/~holopain/stt/Simuliidae1.jpg
), but your specimen definitely is neither of those.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
  1574
Hi, Recently our whole family (my husband, both my sons & myself) suffered very
itchy red spots on our body, like on our stomach, arms, backs and thighs (one of
my sons even got it on his face). Doc. (dermatologist) diagnosed it as bug
bites, not scabies, not allergic. It was 3am, and I found these two bugs on
my mattress (next to me who was sleeping!). Are they bedbugs? I showed them to
my doc, he said it wasn't bed bugs but he can't tell what. I'm kind of sure
they are bedbugs because last week I went abroad for 5days and suffer no new
itchy red spots. When I came back home, the next morning my family & I got new
itchy red spots again. Please help. The itch is driving us crazy. Thanks.
Helen
Whatever these are, they definitely
are not bed bugs - see
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef636.asp.
However, the images are not clear enough to offer a definitive identification.
They may be mites or even spider beetles -
see
http://www.galerie-insecte.org/galerie/image/dos12/big/insecte.jpg.jpg
. It also may be that the occurrence of these creatures and the bite
symptoms are coincidental. Diagnosing arthropod bites without actually catching
the culprit(s) in the act can be quite problematic.
See
http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/ent/ent58/ent58.pdf
for more information on this subject. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi Ed, following your
suggestion about the possibility of mites, I found this website
http://www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th5i.htm#birdmite.
I found its BIRDMITE pic to have similar body shape and proportion of the
head vs body with the bug I found. Furthermore, the long sharp front-leg on
the sides of its head is also similar with the pic of this
http://medent.usyd.edu.au/fact/birdmite.html.
Do you think now
we can say it’s bird mite definitely? There is this scary website about
birdmites (birdmites.org) that says despite popular information that
birdmites can’t live away from its host (birds), birdmites can parasite on
humans forever, do you think is it true? Helen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Although mites definitely
are a possibility in this case, there is something about the image that
keeps me from being confident about identifying it as such. If at all
possible, could you take some more close-up photos that would more
clearly show its legs and underside? As for bird mites becoming
permanently parasitic on humans, I would be extremely skeptical to say
the least - there is a lot of misleading if not downright erroneous
‘anecdotal’ medical information on the web. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1573
This guy was found in my kitchen, which I am guessing snuck through a hole where
the air conditioner is in the window. It has very distinct markings...black and
white stripes on his head, a brown smooth body with 2 black lines running from
the tip of his abdomen to the back end. The underside of his abdomen is more of
a beige colour, also with 2 black lines running to both ends. I've never seen a
spider with these kinds of markings before.
I thought of a wolf spider at first, but this guy's body isn't hairy like the
others and the markings are different. His abdomen isn't as flat as most either,
its more round. Is there a similar species that isn't so hairy? Sue Judges.
Pembroke, Ontario.
This is a grass/funnel web spider
(family Agelenidae, possibly in the genus Agelenopsis - see
http://www.wildutah.us/spdr_010906drpr14.jpg
for an image. Agelenids can be distinguished from
wolf spiders (family Lycosidae) by the presence of the long spinnerets seen at
the end of the abdomen, and by the lack of enlarged front median eyes.
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1572
We had some juniper trees felled
this year and slabed for benches. They are curing in my shop. This summer
these fellows started to fly in the shop. We live in Central Oregon, USA.
Thanks for any help. Randi
This appears to be a horntail
(Hymenoptera: Siricidae). Their larvae usually bore in the wood of trees that
already are in decline or already dead. Thus, they seldom are responsible in
themselves for tree death, but if numerous, they can adversely affect lumber
quality. In turn, their larvae often are parasitized by large ichneumon wasps in
the genus Megarhyssa - see
http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/Images/Hymenoptera/megarhyssa.html.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1571
We live in northeast Iowa, in a very, very small town surrounded
by miles and miles of corn fields. We found this thing in our yard in Sept
2007. It measured 4" long 1"wide. What is it? Only found 1, never saw any
others, and hope not to. Thank you.. Brenda
This appears to be a mature
caterpillar of the Imperial moth (Eacles imperialis; Lepidoptera:
Saturniidae); see no. 1543 for another example and
http://pick5.pick.uga.edu/mp/20q?search=Eacles+imperialis
for images of larvae and an adult moth. Although they feed on a variety of
foliage, including oaks, maples, sassafras, sweetgum, and pines, they seldom are
numerous enough to cause real damage, and appear to be on the decline in the
northern areas of their range. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
|
Looking for pest control supplies?
Buy from a reliable Canadian source listed on this web page:
Supplies for Pest Control |
 1570
Hi, I live in Montreal, Québec and I found this mother in my basement. She
impressed me quite a bit with her 58 babies. I have seen this specie quite
frequently in and around the house and don't think they cause any harm. I
thought it was a daddy long legs but there body usually looks like one round
ball while this one clearly has a separated abdomen and head. Please let me know
what specie this is. Thanks for the info - tiben26
This spider is in the family
Pholcidae; namely, it appears to be the cosmopolitan species Pholcus
phalangioides - see
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/Spiders/Pholcidae/Pholcidae.htm
for much more information. Commonly called ‘cellar spiders,’ they also can be
known as ‘daddy long legs,’ but they should not be confused with opilionids (see
, relatives of spiders also known by the same common name as well as by
‘harvestmen’ - see
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/Spiders/Opiliones/Opiliones.htm.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1569
Hi, I've been looking online to find out what kinda insect this is, it looks
like a REALLY BIG mosquito, I'm hoping I'm wrong and it's harmless. I almost
had a panic attack in front of my 2 little kids before when son found it in the
bathroom with us. Please let me know what this is, I see them all the time
where I live, Staten Island, NY. Thanks so much for your help! -Norma
This is a crane fly (Diptera:
Tipulidae). They often are mistaken for giant mosquitoes, but they do not bite
and are entirely harmless to humans. See no. 1562 for another example.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1568
I live in Staten Island, NY. I have a huge problem with small
ants in my house, especially my basement. I noticed them when I tried to do some
gardening and then they appeared in the house. Today I went outside and noticed
them on the stems of some lilies that I had to cut down. When I removed the
stems I saw these small bugs and I have no idea what they are. The are extremely
small and hard to photograph. I put it on a paper plate and zoomed in as close
as I could. the stick in the picture is smaller then the width of my finger,
under an inch. I hope someone can help. Shari
This is an aphid (Homoptera:
Aphididae). Sometimes called ‘plant lice,’ aphids feed on the sap of plants.
Some species of ants have an intimate association with aphids in that they seem
to ‘farm’ them like domestic cattle, feeding on the honeydew secreted by the
aphids. For more insight on this behavior,
see
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_10-10-2007-9-58-53
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1567
I found this spider in my backyard in late August/early September right outside
of my backyard door in a corner. It was unlike any other usual spider you would
probably find in a backyard of a townhouse in the middle of Mississauga,
Ontario. Thanks! Julia
|
 1566
This spider was in my friends garage in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada. It was August
of 2007 and the spider was about the size of a dime. That's about the only info
I have so any info would be great! Hugh.
This is a female orb-weaving spider
(family Araneidae); likely in the genus Araneus - see
http://www.cirrusimage.com/spider_cat_face.htm
for an image and no. 1540 for another example. All are harmless to humans.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1565
They are everywhere in my backyard usually in large clusters,
what are they? Tiff
These
are boxelder bugs (Boisea spp.; Hemiptera: Rhopalidae) - see no. 1551
for another example. Essentially harmless, they can become nuisance pests
when they congregate in large numbers on or near homes.
See
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2106.html
for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1564
Hey there. I found this in the
insulation of my attic. It is cellulose insulation, and I only saw one. I live
in Calgary. Can you help me out? Sorry about the pic, it was still alive, and
can actually move pretty quick. Thanks a lot. Stuart.
This
is a beetle larva, but the image is too fuzzy to say much more.
However, it does not appear to be any of those species that can
be serious household pests. It may be in the superfamily
Tenebrionoidea. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1563
So far I have found two of these little critters in my bedroom in Northern
California. I tried to figure out what they are on my own but am left in the
dark. Is this the dreaded C-word? (Cockroach??!) Should I be worried about an
invasion while I am sleeping? Thanks, Dianna
This is a leaf-footed bug (Hemiptera:
Coreidae); possibly the western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis);
see no. 1559 and
http://www.forestry.ubc.ca/fetch21/FRST308/lab2/leptoglossus_occidentalis/leaf.html
. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1562
This lovely insect was found in September, 2007 on the side of a
cottage in the Quebec Laurentians. Hope someone can identify it. Andre
This is a crane fly (Diptera:
Tipulidae); specifically, it appears to be a giant eastern crane fly, Pedicia
albivitta -
see
http://pick5.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_NAT1834&res=640
for an image. Crane flies are in the same subfamily as mosquitoes (and often are
mistaken for giant mosquitoes), but they do not bite and are completely harmless
to humans. Their larvae (often called ‘leatherjackets’ because of their tough
cuticle) live primarily in damp/subaquatic environments; a few species can be
turf pests, causing damage by feeding on grass roots.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1561
Hello: We found this bug, and a dead one similar to it, beside our
daughter's crib. Specifically, it was crawling out of the baseboard underneath
the nightlight in late evening. We were looking because she has received
three bites to the abdomen over the last 4 weeks. We have had our place
inspected for bed bugs and there was "no evidence" of the critters, save for the
pictured sample that "may be an early nymph." A microbiologist at the hospital
stated "it doesn't look like any bedbug I have ever seen." Any ideas on what
this is? Thanks and best, Simon
This is a larva of a dermestid
beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae); likely in the genus Anthrenus. It would
not be responsible for any ‘bug bites.’ These insects feed on a wide variety of
organic substances, primarily of animal origin, including wool, silk, fur, hair,
leather, and accumulations of dead insects. Occasionally, they may become pantry
pests as well.
See
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2103.html
for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1560
Anyone know what kind of spider this is..? Found in Springhill ,
Nova Scotia , Canada on a clothes pole in a web...date is October 22, 2007.
Thanks. Ron Arseneault
This is a female Argiope aurantia,
an orb-weaving spider (family Araneide). These spiders usually attract attention
in late summer/autumn when the females reach full size. They are all harmless to
humans, and there are many similar examples on this site, beginning with no.
1558. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1559
Date: October 23, 2007.
Location: North Vancouver, Burnaby. Current conditions: recent heavy
rains. Unusually wet summer. Our little visitor was found indoors, may
have flown out of a air vent. Size: 2cm x 3cm. Is this a pest
that we should take care of asap, or are they harmless? Thanks.
Kent
This is a leaf-footed bug (Hemiptera:
Coreidae), such as the western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis);
see
http://www.forestry.ubc.ca/fetch21/FRST308/lab2/leptoglossus_occidentalis/leaf.html.
Coreids often enter homes in autumn, in search of overwintering shelter. If you
scroll down this site, you will see many similar examples, beginning with no.
1532. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 1558
Hi, we have this 4 inch visitor in our window at work in Oklahoma
City. Everyone loves passing by him to see if he's moved or done something new
overnight. I even used his photo for my Halloween party invitations. We think
he might be a Banana spider. Do you know for sure? Thanks,
Shannon Cornman, Photographer , Oklahoma Gazette
This is a female orb-weaving spider
(family Araneidae) in the genus Argiope; if you scroll down through the
images on this site starting with no. 1525, you will find many similar examples.
Although the females can reach quite an impressive size, they all are harmless
to humans. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 1557
What is this spider. Jeff & Kelly.
| |
