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About Ed Saugstad
Expertise
Will accept most questions in general entomology, including those related to medical entomology, taxonomy, ecology, arthropod surveillance, and pest management. If you are requesting a 'mystery bug' identification, PLEASE either attach an image to your question, or post an image on a web page (such as Flickr) so that I can look at it, as verbal descriptions frequently are insufficient for a definitive identification.

Experience
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. Limited experience on surveillance of agricultural insects in North Dakota and Indiana.

Organizations
Entomological Society of America, West Virginia Entomological Society, Society for Vector Ecology, National Speleological Society, West Virginia Association for Cave Studies.

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.

Education/Credentials
B.S. in entomology from North Dakota State University in 1963, M.S. in entomology from Purdue University in 1967.

You are here: Experts > Science > Insects/Spiders > Entomology (Study of Bugs) > moth eggs

Entomology (Study of Bugs) - moth eggs

Expert: Ed Saugstad - 11/6/2009

Question

Ceiling

QUESTION: Hi,
I found moth eggs on my ceiling this morning. There was a moth flying around the kitchen the other day and the next day there was a black line, and now today the line has spread. When I got a closer look it almost look like ants, but they weren't moving. My question is how do I get rid of them and how long do i before what ever comes next happens? I am pregnant and I have a toddler in the house, I don't know why they are there, but I want to make sure I don't have to see them again. Thank you.

ANSWER: Dear Carina - Could you please take a photo of these and attach the image to a follow-up question? I doubt very much that these would be moth eggs, and even if they were, no pest species that I know of would lay its eggs in such a situation or pattern. This really does not sound like anything to be overly concerned about, but it would be helpful to have a better idea as to what it/they may be. Also, in case I would need to refer you to another source for assistance, could you please tell me your state of residence?

Waiting to hear back,
Saugy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Here are the pictures, my camera is MIA so I took it with my phone so the quality isn't very good. Hope this helps I live in San Diego, Ca

Answer
Dear Carina - These do not look like eggs of any kind; what it resembles most is a small critter, such as a larva of some kind, that died there, and now has been colonized by fungi. I would just try cleaning it off with some vinegar or mild detergent in water, and see if anything reappears. If it does, please get back to me. BTW, a good source for assistance in dealing with most home/yard/garden pest problems is your county office of the University of California's Cooperative Extension service - see http://cesandiego.ucdavis.edu/ for contact information.

Hope this helps,
Saugy

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