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Pest Identification Photos :
What is this pest?
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The photos below have been
submitted by visitors.
If you can identify them you are invited to send us
your answers.
Your description is also welcome.
Please
Include the picture number
in your answers.
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This space reserved for
your pest photo |
The pictures below have been
submitted by visitors. If you can identify them you are invited to send us
your answers.
Your description is also welcome.
Please
Include the picture number
in your answers.
If you have a digital camera or
scanner send us photos of any pest you would like identified.
Please
include the location the pest was found and any other information you can offer.
Hopefully one of our visitors will be able to identify them. Send your photos
or answers to:
webmanager@pestcontrolcanada.com
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Click on the photos to enlarge. They are usually much
clearer.
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 #600
I found this spider lounging on one of my plants outside next to my porch. It's
coloring is quite similar to a bumble bee. I live in Tonawanda. It is
approximately 3" long. I am estimating because i am not getting close to it! I
am not very fond of spiders and this is the biggest one i have ever seen around
here. Any idea what kind of spider this is? Thanks a lot! Kim
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have found the answer to my question by way of someone else sending in another
picture of the same spider! (#532)
This is a garden Argiope (Argiope aurantia; Araneida: Araneidae), also known as
the black and yellow argiope. They usually are noticed late in the summer as the
females mature. The head-down posture in the center of the web is quite
characteristic of these spiders. 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
|
#599 This seems to be the year of the spider for us. I live
in Southeastern, Pennsylvania, USA and these spiders have been in this house
since 2001. When we first moved into the house the spiders were literally the
size of golf balls, Floor crawlers and extremely agressive - they would chase
you at extremely fast speeds. We had one year reprieve and now they are back the
are small at this point maybe the size of a dime or nickel. Does anyone know
what type of spider this is? I haven't been able to locate anything close.
You
appear to have noticed two entirely different spiders. From your description,
I suspect that the larger ones noted earlier were wolf spiders (Lycosidae),
that commonly are accidental invaders in homes. Larger specimens can deliver a
painful bite if mishandled, but are not dangerous to humans. This specimen
appears to belong to a different family, whose members, like wolf spiders, do
not spin capture webs, but actively hunt down their prey.
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
#598 This Spider was found outside our house in Calgary,
Alberta. We don't normally get spiders like this, and we are vary curious to
find out what kind of spider it is. It was brown and had a black hour glass
shape on its underside, which is like the reverse of a black widow spider.
Jen
This
is another orb-weaving spider (Araneae); see #596.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
#597 I live
just outside Atlanta, Georgia. For the past few hot and humid summers I have had
loads of these grubs or worms in my compost bin. So many in fact, that although
I continue to add to the pile I don't use it in my garden because I can't
identify what they are. They have no legs but do have tiny hair like protrusions
on either their belly or back. They look the same either way. My compost looks
like black mush except what they are feeding on at the time. They don't seem to
evolve into any insect, but do disapear during the winter. Any ideas? Thanks!
Suzy
This
is a maggot (larva) of a fly, possibly in the genus Fannia. These are
scavengers, often found in decaying vegetable matter.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
I agree with Ed Saugstad that this is a
fly, but it looks more like a Soldierfly (Startiomyidae) of the genus Hermatia.
Especially considering the size of the maggot compared with the banana. Hermetia
illucens is common in Georgia and it is beneficial in helping out with the
compost. Here is a picture of the larvae:
http://ipm.ncsu.edu/AG369/notes/black_soldier_fly.html
Martin Hauser. |
#596 I live in Toronto, the shot was taken August 21, 2005
in the early afternoon on my balcony divider. Would like to know what type of
Spider and if dangerous. Thank you. Regards, Avi
This is an orb-weaving
spider (Araneae), a very large assemblage of species. Although some can get
quite large, none are known to be dangerous to humans.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 #595
Hi Entomologists, We
live in San Jose, California and we saw the most magnificent 2 inch creature
flying around our back yard. When he landed on our wood terrace, I got the
closest picture I could. He has a green and orange back with an iridescent green
underside. His antennae almost look like they have eyeballs on them because they
were moving around. Birds seemed to be avoiding it when he was flying around.
What kind of insect is this? Thanks,
Dave
This appears to be a green
June beetle (Cotinus nitida; Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). See
http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4th/kkhp/1insects/junebeetle.html
for a fact sheet. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
#594
This bug first appeared
outside, here in the Boundry area of BC 2 years, but very few and none appeared
inside the house. This year they are every where outside and attempting to
come in and making a complete pest of themselves. Now I found one that was
preparing to nest, I believe, after chewing insulation. This was inside
the house. Last night I found one on the bed - well that did it! I have to
find out what they are and how to get rid of them! They seem to have an
extremely hard body as it takes a hammer to smack them dead! Fly swatter doesn't
even fizz on them. Would really appreciate if you can id this as it is
starting to drive me up a wall! no one around here seems to know what they are.
Thanks so much for your time, Lynn
This is nymph of a cricket
relative in the order Orthoptera. They are harmless to humans, but several
species in this group will invade houses, where they are considered pests,
although they seldom will do significant damage. They should be susceptible to
most common pesticides registered for household use, or the occasional strays
may be controlled simply by vacuuming them up.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
#593 I have found several of these little beetles in
my home over the past couple of weeks. We just had our hardwood floors repaired
and refinished recently, so I was thinking the workers may have brought them in
with their wood??? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely,
Vincent Pearase, Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada.
This is not a wood-boring insect nor a pantry pest, so you don’t have to worry
about your house or contents. It is a weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) that
bears close resemblance to the strawberry root weevil Otiorhynchus
ovatus; Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
see
http://www.koleopterologie.de/gallery/FHL11/otiorhynchus-ovatus-foto-wmueller.jpg |
#592 I am from Guelph (southern Ontario) and recently
cut down a box-elder right by my house. Soon after these bugs started infesting
the stump. They mainly drill their way in. Since my house is a wooden board and
baton I am worried they might decide to move in. The small guys are
red/brown whereas the bigger ones are all brown. They antennae and legs are red.
Thank you, Gregoy
You don’t mention the size of this beetle, but
if it is about 4-6mm long, I suspect that it is an anobiid (deathwatch/drug
store beetles). If you find some specimens (males) with flabellate antennae
(see
http://212.84.179.117/i/Ptilinus.jpg),
it might be Ptilinus ruficornis. This species reportedly infests
hardwoods including beech, maple, oak, sycamore, mesquite, and may be an
injurious pest of woodwork and stored wood products. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
 #591
I hope you can identify this bug--beetle??, I found it drowned in our small
water feature in the back yard in Boise, Idaho.It had been in the water a while
as it was kind of soft, I laid it on this rock and when I went out a bit later
it was gone. I think the birds ate it.
If this beetle is more than an inch long, I believe that it is a female
prionid, a long-horned wood-boring beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae).
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
 #590
Mr. Larry, This is some kind of spider we see a lot around here in north
central Texas-Texoma area.
Is it a beneficial predator or a Pest? Thanks, Mrs. Shawn in Texas.
This appears
to be a nymph of an assassin bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). North American species
generally are considered beneficial, as they are predators on other small
arthropods. However, from Mexico on south, there are species that are blood
feeders on humans and other mammals. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
#589 Can you
tell us what type of moth this is? we found it in our upstairs loft. also
found larvae in our towels in the same area. thanks! Tracy and Adam
This
moth looks more like a member of the family Pyralidae than a clothes moth
(family Tineidae – see
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2107.html),
and may be unrelated to the larvae seen in the towels.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
#588 Good afternoon, I found what looks like
a bee/wasp in the Province of Quebec, near Hawkesbury (1 hours east of Ottawa)
in August 2005. The insect is over an inch long and was found near a wooden
area along the Ottawa River. Can you please help me identify it? Thank you.
Sophie
This as a horntail (Hymenoptera:
Siricidae), such as the pigeon tremex (Tremex columba) – see
http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg326.html.
They seldom are serious pests. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 #587
This
all white spider was found on our balcony sitting upright on a flower. It
believe it has been living around this plant for but I never gave it much notice
until today as I noticed how very unusual it was. We live in British Columbia
in A suburb of Vancouver. The patio is north west facing but receives a lot of
sun during the day. The spider seems to come out during the cooler times but
can be seen sitting in direct sunlight. I would appreciate some assistance
in ID of this creature as I will have to do something soon as I have small
children that I do not wish to expose to and venomous threat. Thanks,
Bill W.
This is
a crab spider (family Thomisidae). They do not spin webs, but lay in wait
(usually on/in flowers) for prey to come within grasping distance.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
#586 This is the 11th or 12fth spider of this type that I
have found in my room. I'm located in Burnaby, BC, a suburb of Vancouver. I've
included pictures of it beside a DVD movie to show its relative size, sorry I
wasn't able to find a ruler or anything, but you should be able to get a fair
idea of its size. I'm sending a few picture, please post the one(s) you think
has the best chance of getting it identified. Thank you so much for making this
service available, I have been trying to identify this for days online and in
real life with no success. Thank you, Kurdt
This male spider might be one of
the larger species of funnel-web spiders (Agelenidae), such as in the genus
Tegenaria. Check in and around corners of the house or wherever cracks are
evident for the web typical of this group – see
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/spidermyth/images/funnelthumb.jpg
. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks
Grove, WV |
 #585
I work for the Oakville Beaver and Burlington Post newspaper. We are doing a
story on Bronte Creek Provincial Park. I came across this spider that the park
staff could not identify. Attached is a photo of this spider.
Thanks, Barrie Erskine, Staff photographer, Oakville
Beaver/Burlington Post
This could be a
Theridiid (comb-footed/cobweb) spider, but I have no idea as to which species.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV |
 #584
I live in Grande Prairie, AB. I
found several of these caterpillars on my apple and ornamental plum trees when I
returned from vacation. Can anyone tell me what they are, that they turn into
and the best way to manage them? Thanks, KMB
This is the larva (caterpillar) of the Spotted Tussock moth (Lophocampa
maculata) belonging to the Arctiidae family. It appears to be in late
instar form. More info -
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/moths/ca/1864.htm
J.D. Roberts, entomologist
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Picture #
584 is the familiar yellow& black "woolly bear" caterpillar which feed on the
willows, maples, birch and poplars. They turn into the spotted tussock moth
which has a nice pale yellowish-brown pattern with white splotches and is
common at lights in the first part of summer. I live in central Alberta and
they are common here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks
Grove, WV
|
#583 I live in Central
Alberta and I have found many, many of these bugs (some are orange some are
mainly dark--same bug but different stage????) on my plants and vetetables. Are
they maple bug larva??? I want to know if they are harmful or not. They do not
seem to be eating, just loitering???? We have a lot lf Manitoba Maple and
Caragana. I have never had to spray, I do not like doing it, but have never
seen so many of these on my plants!!!!! The dark ones are about 1 cm long and
have some orange on their head and four orange dots on their back--in a square
formation...... Anybody???? Julia
This is a type of Ladybird beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinelidae) - the one on
the left a larva, and on the right a pupa. I'm not certain of what species;
possibly the Convergent Ladybird (Hippodamia convergens), as they
tend to be the most common. The larva in the picture is about to either
molt or pupate. These beetles are considered valuable because they feed on
pests such as aphids and scale insects, so don't worry, having these guys
around is good. J.D. Roberts, entomologist
More info -
http://www.agr.gc.ca/cal/epub/1895e/1895-0004_e.html.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
These are
different stages of lady bug larva and pupa. They are generally beneficial-
if you have large numbers of them, it often means that you have a large
number of aphids nearby (doing damage to your plants). The lady bugs will
devour the aphids if you allow them the opportunity! Jeff Levinn, backyard
naturalist, Honeoye Falls, NY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This appears to be a resubmission
of #515, a larva and pupa of a ladybird beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).
Most species are beneficial, feeding on aphids and other small, soft-bodied
insects. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
#582 I was wondering if someone could please tell me what this bug is.
Some are smaller 1 1/2 inch and some are like 3 inches long. They remind me of a
miniature lobster minus the color. I have seen them in black and brown. I live
in Shilo, Manitoba, Canada. Thanks in Advance..
This specimen appears to belong to
the same family (Stenopelmatidae) as the Jerusalem cricket. Some authorities
place these insects in the subfamily Stenopelmatinae in the family
Gryllacrididae. See #507 for another example. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
According to my bug book this is the field
cricket. Males have 2 pointy things-the cerci- out the back of their abdomen,
while females have 3, -two cerci and one egg laying ovipositor. They are found
in the southern half of Alberta. Nancy Meyer |
 
#581 Hi I was wondering if you guys
could help me out...These big Wasps/Bees(?) are burrowing in my neighbors
yard...some of these guys are probably close to 3 inches long!! No
exaggeration!! I'm trying to ID them on the internet with no success...I live in
New Jersey close to the Atlantic Coast in Monmouth County...any help would be
appreciated...they seem to burrow where the sidewalk meets the lawn..I've
enclosed pics of a smaller one I found dead and their burrows.....TY
~~~~~~~~
Looks to me like a Cicada Killer to me. Here’s a website I found on them with
some good pictures.
www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordLandingES/Ecology/mpages/cicada_killer.htm
I could be wrong though. I’m just a hobby bug-lover.
J
Crystal
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus). It is a large solitary
wasp (Hymenoptera). As the name implies, these wasps primarily hunt Cicadas,
which they paralize with their sting and then place in their burrows for their
larva to feed on. They are not very aggressive, although the female can sting
if bothered. More info -
http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg331.html.
J.D. Roberts, entomologist
~~~~~~~~
This is a
Cicada killer wasp (Sphecius speciosus; Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). Despite their
appearance, they are not aggressive and rarely sting - see #510 for another
example. I have observed them going about their business in the presence of
crowds of people without any incident whatsoever. See
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2078A.html
for a fact sheet on these fascinating insects.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
~~~~~~~~~
Cicada killer wasp? I live in
NJ also and have been seeing them lately. |
#580 This is a picture of a
larvae i have found today in the wood from a mature white pine I cut down last
November. I notices the sawdust throughout the woodpile and a grinding noise
coming from throughout the wood. The tree was healthy and alive when cut
down---at least 30 year old white pine- I checked in a part of the tree I have
not cut into log size yet that was some 200 feet away from the woodpile where i
found these and they are resident in there also--so whatever they are they were
present in the tree when cut down in November 2004. I live in Holland
landing Ontario Canada. I am burning off the wood now to be safe because
there are a lot of them and they bore their way in 4-6 inches--but I want to
know what they are and any precautionary measures to take for trees that are
still alive. Please advise. Thanks, Karl
This is a
larva of one of the pine sawyers (Monochamus spp.; Coleoptera:
Cerambycidae). See number 576 for an adult specimen. These beetles do not attack
vigorous, healthy trees, but go after those that already are unhealthy or dying.
Unfortunately, the beetles can carry a nematode species (the pinewood nematode) that does attack healthy trees, causing them to go into
decline and thus become attractive to attack from the beetles. About the best
you can do is to cut down and burn infested trees before the beetle larvae can
complete their development. See
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/entfacts/trees/ef437.htm for
more information.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
#579
This little bug made it’s way into my house last
night and sat under the light on the wall for me just to take a picture of it. I
used to find these hanging off the ceilings of the porch outside of my old house
in Cloverdale. There would be herds of them, 10-15 at a time spread out over a
large deck roof, hanging upside down, and still until you touch them. Then they
would just fall and fly off. I thought it was a katydid of some sort, but
research on the net hasn’t found me a pic quite like this pretty thing. My
roommate thought perhaps it was a grasshopper. It was about an inch long and
moved quite quickly when I did touch it.
Crystal
This appears to be a type of meadow Katydid (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae:
Conocephalinae). It bears a close resemblance to the Gladiator Meadow Katydid (Orchelimum
gladiator -
http://buzz.ifas.ufl.edu/263a.htm),
and is probably a species of Orchelimum. See more examples here -
http://buzz.ifas.ufl.edu/258a.htm,
&
http://buzz.ifas.ufl.edu/252a.htm.
J.D. Roberts, entomologist.
This is one of the long-horned grasshoppers
in the family Tettigoniidae. This family includes the bush katydids, true
katydids, meadow grasshoppers, cone-headed grasshoppers, and shield-backed
grasshoppers. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 #578 I
am writing once again from Louisville, KY. This morning, I noticed a red
colored bee-like insect and I have never seen it before. I sprayed it with bee
killer (sorry) and took a few pics. Can you let me know what in the world it
is? And are they harmful? Thanks. Margaret McClinch, Louisville,
KY
This is a called a velvet ant, but is actually a
type of solitary wasp (Hymenoptera). The females are wingless, thus giving them
the ant-like appearance. The one you have there is likely the commonly called
"Cow Killer" (Dasymutilla occidentalis). The wingless females can give a
painful sting if handled. Here is some more info -
http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/entfacts/trees/ef442.htm
J.D. Roberts, entomologist
This is a velvet
ant (Mutillidae) with the scientific name Dasymutilla.
They are not real ants. Velvet ants are parasites of wasps and bees and the
females are wingless while the males have wings. They can sting when touched
(they are not very aggressive, I held many in my hands and was only stung once)
and in some regions they are called "cow killer", which is a Texan exaggeration.
The species in your picture is featured on an US stamp:
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~CH2M-NITU/usae.htm
Martin Hauser, Department of Entomology, University of
Illinois.
This is a wingless wasp
(Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), often called ‘velvet ants’ because of their ant-like
appearance and dense covering of setae (‘hair’). Some larger species are called
‘mule killers’ or ‘cow killers’ because of their very painful sting. However,
none are particularly dangerous to humans, and they are not aggressive – just
don’t pick them up! See
http://eny3005.ifas.ufl.edu/lab1/Hymenoptera/Mutillid.htm
for more information. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 #577
Can
anyone tell me what this insect is. I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It was found
on the leaf of a maple tree. Thanks. Jeff
That
little guy is called the Red-banded Leafhopper (Graphocephala coccinea).
Leafhoppers are part of the group of true bugs (Homoptera:
Cicadomorpha: Cicadellidae). They are considered pests because they pierce the
plant to suck the sap causing the plant to be injured or wilt. More info -
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~dietrich/Leafhome.html
J.D. Roberts, entomologist
This is a leafhopper (Hemiptera [Homoptera]):
Cicadellidae. Species such as this specimen often are called ‘sharpshooters.’
Some can be very serious pests, including spreading viral diseases of the plants
that they feed upon. See
http://ltreadwell.ifas.ufl.edu/insects/0709.JPG
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 #576
This beetle seems to have infested a large
white pine. The pine is near dead and has quite a number of these on it. The
photo actually shows two bugs one atop another. They are about 4cm or 1 1/2inch
in length are a gray brown colour. I am
located in Muskoka, Ontario and am concerned that the nearby trees are at risk.
Thanks for any assistance. B.
Brock
This appears to be a species of longhorned beetle
(Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), called the Pine Sawyer. I'm not exactly sure of
what species, but it seems to be one from the Monochamus genus. These
are considered very destructive pests of shade and forest trees. More info -
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05530.html
J.D. Roberts, entomologist.
This appears to be a mating pair of sawyer beetles (Coleoptera:
Cerambycidae) in the genus Monochamus. They may be northeastern pine
sawyers (Monochamus notatus). The term ‘sawyer’ comes from the
sound made by their larvae feeding, which is easily heard within a few feet of
infested logs. They breed in many species of dead and dying conifer trees, most
commonly in white pine and balsam fir.
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 #575
Hi there, I recently found this
large bug south of Hazenmore Saskatchewan. It closely resembles a grasshopper
except for a large abdomen and a long tail. It has long antennae so I wondered
if it was a long-antennae grasshopper but none of the images I can see have the
same size abdomen which is very round and about 1 inch long. The tail is also
about 3/4 to 1" inch long with a black tip. There don't seem to be any wings
which is part of the confusion since someone suggests it was a cicada. It
doesn't seem to look like any of the pictures of locusts that I could find. If
you take a look and tell me what it is, I'd appreciate. The landowner said they
had all sorts of them in that area but he didn't know what it was either.
Cliff
This appears to be a coulee cricket (Peranabrus
scabricollis); a shield-backed grasshopper (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae;
subfamily Decticinae). See
http://buzz.ifas.ufl.edu/279df.jpg for an image. This
species has been reported as a pest on grasslands in southern Canada.
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. |
 #574
We live
on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. My boy found this beetle in the
bush and I have looked for hours and cannot find anything with the exact
characteristics as this one. Any Idea what it is?
Thank
you
This is a longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae)
of the subfamily Prioninae. Like all longhorn beetles their larvae live in
wood. http://bugguide.net/node/view/5094
Martin Hauser, Department of Entomology, University of Illinois.
This is a long-horned wood-boring beetle (Coleoptera:
Cerambycidae) in the genus Prionus. The larvae of some species can be
pests on roots of trees and shrubs.
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
 #573
This little guy
flew into me at Ebey's Landing, Whidbey Island, WA . Seemed friendly enough.
Any idea what it might be? It's about 3cm long or so. Thanks! Great website!
--dae
This is a ten-lined June Beetle (Polyphylla decemlineata;
Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). See number 516 for another example.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.
|
#572 Hello. We are
wondering what type of moth this is and what it eats. It looks like an African
moth, but my sister found it at our neighbours house. We live in the woods and it
was found on their front porch. On the outside pair of wings they look like a
giraffe. On the inside pair, they look like a leopard.
Brian.
This
is a moth in the family Arctiidae (‘tiger moths’), that includes the well-known
‘wooly bear.’ Your specimen bears a close (though somewhat faded) resemblance to
Arctia caja, the Garden Tiger Moth or Great Tiger Moth – see
http://www.bjbug.com/special/friends/yuani/images/mo0001.jpg. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a tiger moth (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). It appears to be the "Great
Tiger moth" also known as the "Garden Tiger moth" (Arctia caja).
J.D. Roberts, entomologist |
#571 Hello. Please
see the attached. This critter was found in my basement. I found about 5-7 of
them within the past few days. I believe it may have come out of any area where
the crack was not sealed appropriately.
I live in southern Maine. I don't think
it's an ant but I can tell you it's black in color and it has wing(s). You can
tell they are not very big as I compared a nickel to it.
Can you identify this pest?
Thanks, Norman
These are small rove beetles (Coleoptera:
Staphylinidae), they are general predators on other small arthropods.
Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
#570 Hello! My husband and I
found this on our screen door one night this summer. It was completely harmless.
It flew around the kitchen a few times. It was about 5 centimetres long and fat.
It looked like something out of A Bug's Life! We let it go and it flew away.
I've never seen anything like it before OR since. We live in Verdun, Quebec. Can
you satisfy our curiosity?
This appears to be a spotted pelidnota, sometimes called the grapevine beetle (Pelidnota
punctata; Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). The adults feed on grape foliage and
fruits, but are not important pests in maintained vineyards. Their larvae
(grubs) feed in decaying stumps and logs, so grapes attacked by the adults
usually are near wooded areas.
Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
#569 This ichneumon wasp was
on Queen Anns Lace on July 24th 2005. Any further info as to species would be
greatly appreciated. Thank you. D.D. Victoria,
British Columbia, Canada.
|
#568 Hi folks. Thanks in advance for any assistance. The
attached mating pair was photographed on dogbane pods in Lively ON- close to
Sudbury. cheers, Don
These appear to be large
milkweed bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus; Hemiptera [Heteroptera]: Lygaeidae).
See
http://insected.arizona.edu/milkinfo.htm
for more information on these insects.
Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
These are called Large Milkweed bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus). They are
true bugs (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) and are not considered to be pests in most
areas. Very nice photo. More photos,
http://www.texasento.net/MWpix.htm, and
http://www.cirrusimage.com/bugs_large_milkweed.htm.
J.D. Roberts, entomologist |
#566 Hello, I was
wondering if you could identify the following bug. I have found a few of these
crawling very quickly across the kitchen counter and even one in the kitchen
cupboard! Yikes! Tonya, Wareham, MA
It appears that you may have an infestation of
German cockroaches, Blattella germanica. See
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2099.html
for a fact sheet that includes control recommendations. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
 #565
I
found this bug in the backyard after a party with lots of sweets and cake.
Any idea what it is?
Thanks, Ken
This appears to be a
tachinid fly (Diptera: Tachinidae). Most species are quite hairy/bristly in
appearance. They are considered beneficial, as all known species are parasitic
on other insects. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
This
looks like a Tachinid fly, member
of Tachinidae. Not sure of the species however.
Farndale
|
 #564
hi, i live in London Ontario. every few days this insect comes and visits me on
my seventh floor apartment balcony. I am very afraid of wasps and this thing is
twice the size. it has long legs, a small head, large body, what looks to be a
stinger and detailed clear and black wings. at first i though it might be a
cicada but at a close glance the head looks to small for it to be a cicada,
maybe a hornet though. it took all my strength to get close enough to this thing
to take a good picture so if anyone could help me find out what it is that would
be greatly appreciated. Cassandra
My best
guess is that this could be a bee fly (Diptera: Bombyliidae), but a photo
showing the wing venation would be more helpful. See
http://cedarcreek.umn.edu/insects/thumbnails/exoprosop9718.JPG
for a representative image. Flies in this family
usually are found on flowers, and their larvae (maggots) usually are parasitic
on the immature stages of other insects. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
 #563
Hi, I live in North eastern Ontario Canada in a small Town called Timmins. I
have found a rather large web in the back yard spun between and old kids
swimming pool that's being stored vertical and the garage. The whole web is
around 2 feet in size. I decided to take a stick and make the spider that spun
the web think something was caught, I wanted to see what could make such a big
web. After hitting the web a few times the Spider came out and was the
biggest spider I ever seen up here in the north. The spider is about 2" leg tip
to leg tip. I'm scared because there are kids that play in this yard and I
don't know if this spider will hurt them. What I have done for now is not let
the kids near the area where the spider is just incase. I don't believe in just
killing it though because it deserves to live to. I hope you can tell me if this
spider is a threat or not to us and if it is what I should do. I'm sorry for the
blury images I attached to the email, I don't have a tripod and have unsteady
hands. Thanks for your help. Brian
This
is an orb-weaving spider (Araneae: Araneidae), a very large family of spiders.
Although some can get rather large, none are known to have a particularly potent
venom or to be dangerous to humans, and most have ‘jaws’ (chelicerae) that are
quite small for the animal’s size. However, as in most instances of
stinging/biting arthropods, some individuals may be hypersensitive and could
suffer an allergic reaction to a bite.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
  
#562 Hello , I noticed Bees going in and out of
my Lilac trees when I got closer I noticed a huge hive the size of a football.
When I got a little closer to take a look at least what seamed like two of these
insects came out. Can you tell me what kind of insects they are Thank You. Ray
Barillaro, Verdun, Quebec
This is not a bee, but appears to be a bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula
maculata), an
insect that from sad personal experience I can say has little or no sense of
humor when disturbed. They are general predators on a wide variety of other
insects, so if their nest is not in a place where it is easily disturbed, just
leave them alone.
See
http://www.vespa-crabro.de/baldfaced/baldfaced.htm
for more information. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
That is the hive of one of the more common paper wasps called the Bald-faced
Hornet (Vespula maculata). Although the common name implies that this is
a hornet, it is actually not a true hornet, but is a wasp. It is part of the
same family (Hymenoptera) but is a member of a group of wasps known as paper
wasps, because they build "paper" nests - of which the Bald-faced Hornet's is
one of the largest. These guys usually won't bother you when they are out
foraging for food, but they will viciously attack to defend their nest, so be
careful. J.D. Roberts, entomologist |
[a]#561 Hi, Wondering if you can ID these? Located in
Jerusalem, Israel.
How about this one? I was told since it is a brown scorpion it is not deadly.
It's been preserved in alcohol for a year or so. Thanks!
Regards, Meir, Jerusalem
Please note, I retain copyright to these pictures
(a)
I cannot identify this scorpion from your photo, but as a general (not
absolute!) rule, the more dangerous species in the Middle East, regardless of
body color, have very slender pedipalps (pincers) and a thick tail. You might
try to locate a copy of the book “Fauna Palestina. Arachnida I : Scorpiones” by
G. Levy and P. Amitai (1980). Copies may be available from the Israel Academy of
Sciences and Humanities; see
http://www.academy.ac.il/
and go to the online catalog. It shows up there for N.I.S. 60.00.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
[b]
This is a so-called
‘hornworm,’ the larva (caterpillar) of a sphinx moth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae).
The adult moths also are known as hawk moths or hummingbird moths.
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
 [c]
My best guess is that this is a gecko, such as Hemidactylus turcicus (see
http://www.herpetofauna.at/gallery/korfu/bilder/hemidactylus_turcicus.jpg),
one of the 12 species of gecko known to occur in Israel (see
http://herpetology.com/1phs31.html).
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
|
|
 #560
These two pests
were taken in Louisville, KY, USA. The first one got into the house and I
sprayed it with hair spray until it died (stiff). The second one got caught in
our fly tape in our garage last night and it got loose. I then found it by our
front doorstep this morning. I moved it with a broom thinking it was dead, and
it's wings started going. But then it stopped and now it's just sitting there
on our front doorstep. Magg
 The
large greenish insect is a cicada (Homoptera: Cicadidae). The so-called 17-year
‘locusts’
(periodical cicadas) belong to this family. They are harmless to
humans, but the egg-laying of the females often kills terminal branches on
trees. See
http://www.gpnc.org/dogday.htm for a fact sheet. The
brownish insect is an assassin fly (Diptera: Asilidae). They are general
predators on other insects, usually laying in wait on vegetation, fences, etc.
for potential prey to come by. They then dart out, capture it in their spiny
legs, and return to their perch for a leisurely meal. They are harmless to
humans, but some of the larger species can give a painful bite if mishandled.
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 #559
Hi, I love your site and I hope that one of your readers can help
me identify this critter that was in my backyard. It seems to have small, soft
wings but did not fly. It is large- three to four inches long, and was moving
very fast through the grass. It has a long spotted body, and really creeped me
out in general. We took a pic of it in a plastic jug and then let it go. I hope
the picture isn't too blurry. Thank you so much!! Tina
This is a recently emerged sphinx
moth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) in the genus Manduca that includes the
tomato hornworm and the tobacco hornworm. Given a little more time, the wings
would have expanded fully, and it could have flown away. See
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/field/hornworm.htm for a
fact sheet.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist;
Sinks Grove, WV
Okay, the picture is quite blurry and a bit small, but I'll give it a go. This
looks to me like a Sphinx moth (Lepidoptera:Sphingidae) that emerged from its
pupa with malformed wings. Some time ago, I was studying and raising larva of
the Carolina sphinx moth (Manduca sexta), sometimes called the Tobacco
Hornworm. Once in a while, an adult would emerge from its pupa with malformed
wings that would not expand and harden, but would stay crumpled and soft. They
looked just like your picture, with the long furry body and small crumpled
wings. It's possible that it is simply a newly emerged sphinx moth whose wings
have yet to expand, but I have not commonly observed them traveling any
significant distance before their wings have expanded and hardened. Although I
cannot be certain of the species, based on your picture, it appears to be newly
emerged sphinx moth (very possibly from the Manduca genus) with malformed
wings.
J.D. Roberts, entomologist |
#558
I found this spider in my front yard while
weeding. I live in Dollard-Des-Ormeaux (suburb of Montreal) and am wondering if
it is harmful. I measures roughly 2 1/2 inches from fromt leg to back leg. Ken
This appears to be an immature
female orb weaver in the genus Argiope. This genus includes several large
species whose web features a thick zig-zag pattern in the middle, where the
spider usually rests while awaiting visitors. They are harmless to humans. One
of the commoner species in North America is Argiope aurantia,
often called the garden spider or the black and yellow Argiope – see
http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordLandingES/Ecology/mpages/black_and_yellow_argiope.htm
for a photo of a mature female.
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
#557 Hello. I live in Central Illinois where we are in the
middle of a hot, dry summer. We have found a few dozen of these bugs in our
finished basement over the past few weeks. They are only seen out at night, and
I will see a few at a time scattered around the basement. They are about .25"
long, slightly wider toward what I think is the front. The exoskeleton is brown
with about 7-9 faint lines going across the back. Legs appear long for its body.
We keep dry cat food stored in the basement but they are not more common near
the food. Thanks for any help. Jef.
The photo is a bit fuzzy,
but this could be a nymph of one of the smaller cosmopolitan cockroach species,
such as the German cockroach, Blattella germanica. See
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2099.html for a
fact sheet.
Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
I got a better look at
one of the insects, and it does appear to be a German Cockroach nymph. Thanks
for pointing me in that direction, but I guess it's bad news for me and my
house. :( Jef |
#556
Found this up at
Mile 36 near Squamish, BC. beautiful sunny day,
forest/riverside, in mid July. Someone told me it’s a June
bug, but isn’t that sort of a catchall phrase for pretty shiny beetles? Crystal
This is a
stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Most species are general plant feeders,
with some species causing enough damage to be of economic importance. A few
others, such as the spined soldier bug, are predaceous on other insects. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 
#555 I hope that someone can help to identify this little
snake .It was found in my flower bed here in Southern Ontario. I was mowing the
lawn and noticed it scramble into the flower bed to elude being mowed down. It
was about 12". long, about 1/2" thick with a light satin charcoal color with an
orange belly and orange ring around its neck. It only became aggressive once my
son started handling it a lot and it actually bit him. It left a very tiny bite
mark. You could only see a very tiny spot of blood on his forearm. Thanks
for any info. Frank.
This appears to be
a northern ring-neck snake, Diadophis punctatus edwardsi. They feed on a wide
variety of smaller creatures, including earthworms, slugs, small salamanders and
lizards, and sometimes even smaller snakes. They are not aggressive, but may
attempt to bite if mishandled. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a ringneck snake, Diadophis sp. It's probably the Northern
Ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii). That one you found is
pretty much full grown, as they only get between 10 - 15 inches with the average
being about 12. Their first defense when picked up is giving off a musk that
smells pretty bad, and they usually don't resort to biting until they've been
handled too roughly or too much. This is a good snake to have in your garden,
as they consume many small garden pests such as earthworms, slugs, snails, etc.
I hope the bite didn't turn your son off to snakes - they're fascinating
creatures.
J.D. Roberts, Entomologist (and all-around naturalist!) |
#554 Hi, I live in Abbotsford, BC and have been
living here for the past 5 years.
I've attached 3 photos of a moth - 2 years ago, I never saw this moth; last year
I saw a few of these all summer, but this year I am being inundated by them! Is
this a problem moth? Should I do something to control their population, and if
so, what? I've used your site for other answers to my questions, but haven't
seen a picture of a moth like this before. Thanks! Eric.
It's a little harder to tell from the picture, but this appears to be a moth of
the family Noctuidae. I wished that I could see the hindwings on this moth.
The hindwings look as if though they may be orange with a black band, which has
me lean towards an underwing moth of the Catocala genus. There are very many
species in this genus, and they can be very difficult to tell apart. But based
on the size, forewing pattern, and possible hindwing color/pattern, I'd say you
have a species of Underwing moth (Noctuidae:Catocalae). J.D. Roberts,
Entomologist |
#553 Hi, I found this incredible creature with 4 others eating from a
wolfwillow 50 km south of Edmonton, AB. Could anybody tell me what it is? They
are 2" long and half " round, as big as my little finger. They look rather
exotic. Lili
This is the larva (caterpillar) of a Cecropia moth. The Cecropia moth (Hyalophora
cecropia) is from the family Saturniidae. The Cecropias are quite large and
beatiful moths, as many of the Saturniids are. You may spot some adults
possibly fluttering around the porch light at night. Their wingspan is anywhere
from 4 - 6 inches and they have reddish brown wings with various markings, and a
red body with white bands on the abdomen. Nice photo. J.D. Roberts,
Entomologist |
#552 Hello, I am from
Longueuil near Montréal, Québec. My dog has found this larvae in our garden.
It is about 6 to 8 cm. long and the diameter is that of my little finger. At
first I tough it had a snakes head, but found that it was the wrong end, the
«tail» is like a snake head, with wath looks like an eye on top. And when it
is in danger, it flick from side to side rapidly always presenting its snake
head «tail» towards the danger. Thanks! Sylvie
This is the larva (caterpillar) of a Sphinx moth (Lepidoptera:Sphingidae)
called Abbott's Sphinx moth (Sphecodina abbottii). This particular
larva is in the "grey phase" and is sometimes called a "snake caterpillar" or
"snakeworm." There is also a green phase. The adult moth is rather dark and
drab with the exception of a yellow burst on it's underwings. It has an
average wingspan of about 2.5 inches, and very angular/scalloped forewings.
J.D. Roberts, Entomologist
|
#551 While pulling weeds I came across 12-15 of these bugs in varying
sizes. They seemed to come from the root area of the plants I pulled, but I have
seen the larger ones on leaves of nearby plants since then. The area is shaded
by an avocado tree, and the area underneath is filled with ferns. Can you tell
me what they are and are they good or bad?
|
#550 I found this beetle walking through my garage. It's slow moving and
played possum when touched a little. I live in Madison, WI where we've had a
drought most of the summer with a LOT of rain in the last week and a half. Any
ideas on what type it is? I'm sure it's a common one, but the kid wants to know
if we can feed it bugs and I'm not sure what kind! Dan
This beetle resembles a scarab
beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in the genus Osmoderma. See
http://entomologia.rediris.es/aracnet/9/notasbreves/osmoderma/osmoderna.jpg
for an image. The adults will feed on soft sugary items, such as banana slices.
The larvae usually are found in very rotten punky wood. See
http://www.angelfire.com/oh3/elytraandantenna/USInsects/RearingOeremicola.html
for hints on rearing these beetles.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
 #549
We live in Southern Oregon, we
noticed a few of these bugs on plants in mid-late spring, then in July they
congergated on the back of the house in these patches. Most were 1/4 inch or
smaller. Most of them are black a few red. They didn't seem to be harming the
plants they were on, no sign of webs, eggs or any such thing. A few days later
they began scattering, but leaving the front part of their shell. We aren't
sure if they were getting larger or shape shifting. We've seen a couple larger
black ones (1/4 -5/8 inch) that have a red spot on the back. No one here has
been able to identify them, or tell us if they are friend or foe. Any help will
be appreciated. Wendy and Roger.
If no one viewing these
photos can provide a definitive identification, I suggest that you submit
specimens to the nearest county office of the Oregon State University Extension
Service for assistance.
See
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/locations.php
for links to contact information.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
#548 Hi, I hope you can help me. I have these beasts in my
carpet and they seem to be spreading. What are they and how can I eliminate
them? If you view them at full-screen size you should be able to see
plenty of detail. Bill, Vestal, NY,
These are larder beetles (Dermestes
lardarius; Coleoptera: Dermestidae). They are scavengers, feeding on a wide
variety of proteinaceous materials, and often are pantry pests. See
http://pmo.umext.maine.edu/factsht/Larder.htm
for a fact sheet that includes control measures. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV |
#547a Fabulous website! I have spent an hour of what should be work
time looking at images and reading up on bugs and insects. Can you identify
this large ant? There are lots of them around, we live in Rockwood Ontario.
I assume they are beneficial as they are attacking larva feeding on garden
plants. I'd also like to know what the caterpillar might be.
Thanks for the compliment about the web site.
This is a carpenter ant. Not sure what species but it is similar to the
Vicinus species we have on the west coast. Perhaps one of our
contributing entomologists can be more specific. Ants will often be seen
where there are aphids. The aphid excrement (called honeydew) is a
favourite sweet food source. Larry Cross, Webmanager.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The caterpillar appears to be in the
family Lycaenidae (hairstreaks, coppers, and blues). The larvae of some species
have a very complex relationship with ants; see
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Entomology/courses/en507/papers_1999/mann.htm.
In some cases, the larvae secrete a chemical that some ant species find
attractive, so that the ants pick them up and transport the larvae to their
nest, where the larvae then turn carnivorous, feeding on the ants’ young. Ed
Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
#547b I'd really like to know what this ant is. We have also
since seen the same ants "farming" or "nursing" strange looking insects on
the underside of sunflower leaves, below is a close-up of the insects in two
stages of development, I have no idea what they may be, look prehistoric
somehow, tall for their size slender and odd shaped when mature.
With Thanks, Maianna Fitzgerald
I cannot identify the ant species, but the other
insects appear to be adults and nymphs of a treehopper (Homoptera: Membracidae.
The adults of many species resemble thorns, and some may sport very bizarre
extensions of their pronotum. Ed Saugstad,
retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
The ant is a member of the Camponotus sp. Please
remember, not all Camponotus species nest in wood. This could be a species
that is nesting in the soil and will do more good than harm. -AnT
|
|
Directory of Pest Management
Professionals in Ontario |
#546 I live in Southeast
Texas. I found this bug in my
garage on my washing machine. I put a bar of soap beside it to show it's
size. What is it? Is it harmful to my wild geckos. Thank you,
Rose
This is a stick insect (Orthoptera:
Phasmidae), sometimes called “walking sticks.” They are general feeders on
leaves of deciduous trees, especially oaks. Usually of no economic importance,
some species such as Diapheromera femorata occasionally occur in enormous
numbers, such that the sound of their eggs dropping to the ground can resemble
a light rain. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
|
#545 I had this moth on my window. It looks like it could be a male
gypsy moth, but I think the markings on the wings are wrong. Any ideas? We
live on a heavily wooded lot and would be very concerned if it is indeed a
gypsy moth. We are in Rockwood, Ontario. Great website!
Thanks, Maianna
Definitely not a
gypsy moth; it more likely is the adult of a tent caterpillar, such as
Malacosoma americanum (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae). See
http://www.floridanature.org/photos/Malacosoma_americanum,_Tallahassee,_20010415.jpg
for an image. Ed Saugstad, retired
entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Every 7 to 11
years, you can't miss this Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth. They live only long
enough to lay shiny, dark bands of eggs around small branches. The eggs are
covered with foam that changes from silver to brown. The larvae emerge the
following spring. These caterpillars cluster together and can defoliate trees
(aspen, elm, poplar, ash) in a very short time. Nancy Meyer (AB) |
 #544
The attached picture were taken
7/26/05 in Westchester County, New York (NYC Suburbs). The evergreen trees
on my parent's deck are infested with cocoons and the trees appear to have
been ravaged. There are literally scores on these on one tree which
is about 8' high. The cocoons appear to incorporate pieces of the
leaves. One photo contains a cocoon with a caterpillar sticking out and the
other is a caterpillar I removed from one cocoon. Do you know what these
are? Should this infestation be reported? What can be done to eradicate
the pests? Thank you, Rachel
Maybe is a bagworm? cheers, Grant
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a bagworm (Lepidoptera: Psychidae),
likely the evergreen bagworm, Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis. These can be very
damaging pests on many species of evergreens, particularly arborvitae. The
adult female remains larviform and only leaves the bag after laying her eggs
within it. She then drops to the ground and dies. The males are winged and
seek out the females. See
http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/bagworm.htm
for a fact sheet that includes control measures.
Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV
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