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You are here: Experts > Science > Insects/Spiders > Entomology (Study of Bugs) > Is it a black fly?
Expert: Jack DeAngelis - 11/4/2009
Question
QUESTION: I have been reading your website, http://www.livingwithbugs.com and trying to identify what insect(s) have been bothering me, but I am not sure my guess was correct. Please help ID the bug and advise the control method.
I often felt somethings latch on my body without being able to see them visually so I quickly used lint roller to catch them. I found black sand size dots on my lint roller. Under the 150x microscope, I saw a black head pulling a string. I also found a few dead bugs on my white window sill. I enlarged and attached one image here. I am not sure if the black dots are related to the bug, but these black dots irritate my skin a great deal. Besides skin irritation, some area of my skin felt pained with tiny read bumps but I still could not see what's biting me. Please help! Thanks a lot.
IMAGE: Tiny winged bug
ANSWER: Pam,
This is not a black fly but rather a small wasp. Small insects and mites can be very difficult to identify unless you have some experience. I'd suggest you take your sample of the lint roller to your county Extension Office where someone can examine it under magnification, or send it to the state university. If you have difficulty finding your local Extension office post a follow up with your county and state names and I can probably help you find it.
There are only a few insects and mites that actually bite people but a lot of things that can mimic bug bites. Here's an article about "unknown and mysterious bug bites" http://www.livingwithbugs.com/unknown_bug_bites.html as well as some things that mimic true bites. Post a follow up if you have questions after looking over this material.
Jack DeAngelis
http://www.livingwithbugs.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you so much, Mr. DeAngelis. It is good to know it was a wasp thanks to your expertise in this field.
I read the material about the unknown bug bite. I suspect the thing I caught with my lint roller may be something other than insect larvae. I hope you don't mind looking at the picture, enlarged 150x image, for me. It looks like a very primitive larvae to me, but in case it not an insect larvae, is it possible a fungus or some sort of primitive organism. Please advise.
If you can, could you help me find an extension office. I live in Northern Virginia, Fairfax county. Any extension office in the Washington DC metro area is good for me. Thank you again so much. Pam
Answer
Pam,
The Fairfax Co. Extension office site is http://offices.ext.vt.edu/fairfax/ and if you call them (703-324-5369) they should be able to look at your sample. Since these services are supported through the state ag. school most of the time it is free.
I can't see enough detail in the photo to do an id but it does not look like an insect or mite. If you get an id from Extension we can discuss possible control options.
Jack DeAngelis
http://www.livingwithbugs.com
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