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| Subject | Date Asked |
| What to do to get rid of fabric eating bugs | 2/11/2012 |
| Q: I live in the south coastal part of New Jersey. For the past couple of years I have noticed little ... A: Dermestidae); likely in the genus Anthrenus. The adult beetles usually only are seen when they are ... | |
| orthopteran commensal w termites? | 2/10/2012 |
| Q: Friends and I were on Union Island in the Grenadines when we broke open a termite nest in order to ... A: Your specimen very well could be in the family Gryllacridae - see http://tinyurl.com/7qu97fe for a ... | |
| Dryotribus mimeticus | 2/9/2012 |
| Q: I am doing a pretty significant undergraduate biogeography paper on the Curculionidae of Florida, so ... A: I suggest simply including it as formerly occurring in Florida, adding that although officially ... | |
| Interesting Ant | 2/9/2012 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could tell me what the name of this species of ant is (at least I think it ... A: It appears to be a wingless wasp known as a 'velvet ant' (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Costa Rica is ... | |
| Insect ID, tiny white insect | 2/8/2012 |
| Q: I found this tiny insect crawling on the soil of my house plant. The first picture is the MM side of ... A: a primitive arthropod in the order Collembola. These used to be classified as insects , but now are ... | |
| Moth identification | 1/29/2012 |
| Q: Please can you help me with the identification of the attached picuture. Thank you. A: I will have to a bit of research and get back to you as soon as possible. It does not appear to be ... | |
| Mystery Millipede? | 1/25/2012 |
| Q: I recently got home from riding my bike, came upstairs to my bedroom and found a Millipede of some ... A: your image is not clear enough for me to see any detail that would be useful in identification. ... | |
| what is this beast | 1/12/2012 |
| Q: I came home from work tonight and went to my cupboard only to find this spider hanging gingerly from ... A: It belongs to the same family as the notorious widow spiders (Latrodectus sp.), but is not dangerous ... | |
| Mystery bug ID please | 1/10/2012 |
| Q: When I found a third one of these insects on a sock, my curiosity got the better of me and so I ... A: but your image is too small for me to make out enough detail for a more definitive identification. ... | |
| Flour or Mould Mites | 1/9/2012 |
| Q: I am a student living in London. I recently returned from the Christmas holidays to find a large ... A: as the circumstances you describe seem somewhat unusual to say the least, and they might be ... | |
| Possible Insect egg sack | 1/9/2012 |
| Q: I live in Arizona and while I was in my bathroom yesterday I found these little brown things lying ... A: such as the common house fly. Although their larvae (maggots) usually are found in decomposing ... | |
| Help! No idea what this thing is... | 1/9/2012 |
| Q: These things are in my patio laundry room. I'm in southern California, to be exact. They all attach ... A: Specifically, it is a household casebearer, Phereoeca uterella (Lepidoptera: Tineidae). a cousin to ... | |
| Unknown bug | 1/8/2012 |
| Q: Can you please help me idenify this bug I keep finding in my room A: that includes carpet beetles, skin/hide beetles, larder beetles, etc. This specimen could be in the ... | |
| black widow bite | 1/6/2012 |
| Q: My father was bit by a black widow 8 months ago he went threw treatment and was released two months ... A: and to the best of my knowledge, no long-term effects (including recurrence of symptoms) ever have ... | |
| ID please... | 1/5/2012 |
| Q: I work in an animal facility in southern Ontario, Canada. We have recently identified small bugs ... A: Der Amanda - Unfortunately, I cannot provide a definitive i.d. from your image and verbal ... | |
| Black centipede | 12/31/2011 |
| Q: we are under attack of "Black centipede" There is like a thousand of these Damn things at my front ... A: as I suspect that these are much more likely to be millipedes than centipedes because (1) centipedes ... | |
| Mystery worm, maybe beetle larvae??? | 12/31/2011 |
| Q: Sir, My wife and I have recently noticed these small critters on our house. I thought they were ... A: d., but there certainly is the possibility that it could be a larva of a beetle in the family ... | |
| Spider | 12/23/2011 |
| Q: I'm back with yet another ID request. I hope entomology includes spiders, as I know they aren´t ... A: It looks as if it could be in the genus Theridion, but I cannot be more specific. Although this ... | |
| black widow bite long term effects | 12/20/2011 |
| Q: by a extremely large Black Widow Spider(identified.) It put me in the hospital for 3 days back in ... A: but some people have reported problems subsequent to the administration of antivenom. Neurotoxins in ... | |
| Grub Identity | 12/13/2011 |
| Q: Found this in some oak I was splitting where the core was rotten. Any idea? A: Elateridae) in the genus Alaus; likely Alaus oculatus, known as the eyed elater. See ... | |
| Unknown Bug | 12/12/2011 |
| Q: I have found the attached bug in Melbourne Australia at an industrial site. The bug was found in a ... A: Curculionidae), I cannot see enough detail to be certain. Also, the pupae of these beetles usually ... | |
| old house borer | 12/5/2011 |
| Q: my question is about the old house borer. Are old house borers common in california. some say the ... A: Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is found anywhere west of Texas. However, I would not be surprised to find ... | |
| invisable spider | 11/29/2011 |
| Q: At a local Virginia carwash on the sandstone colored peagravel concrete floor. Stunned by the WD-40 ... A: About all that I can say is that possible suspects would include both fishing spiders (family ... | |
| Bug identification | 11/27/2011 |
| Q: My child has a captain bed with drawers. The bugs were found on the mattress and in the drawers. Can ... A: Dermestidae); likely in the genus Anthrenus - see http://tinyurl.com/3k5pj7c for an example. These ... | |
| Worm Identification | 11/26/2011 |
| Q: We started noticing these worms on our counter tops about one a week. I suspected they were coming ... A: such as the larder beetle - see http://tinyurl.com/7caf43t for an image to see if it looks anything ... | |
| pinched by tiny bug | 11/21/2011 |
| Q: I would like to ask if you could help me by identifying this tiny bug (picture attached). The photo ... A: your image isn't clear enough for me to see any detail that would be useful in identification. One ... | |
| Bug found on dog..NOT FLEA | 11/17/2011 |
| Q: My poor dog has been suffering since may with a reaction to a mystery bug bite, 3 vets haven't been ... A: it is nearly impossible to keep some insects, spiders, and other arthropods from gaining entry. But ... | |
| Bug found on dog..NOT FLEA | 11/17/2011 |
| Q: My poor dog has been suffering since may with a reaction to a mystery bug bite, 3 vets haven't been ... A: it likely will remain a mystery, as the insect in your image certainly would not be responsible. It ... | |
| help identifying a bug | 11/15/2011 |
| Q: I have seen three of these in my house, 2 in the bathroon and 1 on the hallway wall. Please help. A: They are harmless scavengers on decomposing organic matter, but may be considered nuisance pests ... | |
| little brown worm-like bugs by baseboards | 11/13/2011 |
| Q: for the past couple weeks, we have been noticing 1cm long brown bugs. they're worm-like but have ... A: arthropods in the class Diplopoda. For the most part, these are harmless scavengers on decomposing ... | |
| Wasps | 11/12/2011 |
| Q: I bought an older estate in Jupiter, FL. We have lots of space and land with a good deal of nature ... A: "It depends..." Wasps of the type you are seeing (family Vespidae) tend to be general predators, and ... | |
| Bug in Dorm Room! : ( | 11/11/2011 |
| Q: This morning I found a bug crawling across my floor, being a deep fear of insects indoors, I freaked ... A: but it certainly does not sound like anything that you need to worry about. The vast majority of ... | |
| Identification | 11/11/2011 |
| Q: We live in southern california and found this bug. We think it might have been cut in half. What ... A: crickets, etc.); it appears to be one known as a Jerusalem Crickets (family Stenopelmatidae) -0 see ... | |
| Please Identify This Insect | 11/5/2011 |
| Q: I have recently started to see these guys in my house near where I keep my plants. I cannot identify ... A: For the most part, these are harmless scavengers on decomposing organic matter, but there are a few ... | |
| Mite- type bugs. | 11/4/2011 |
| Q: A few weeks ago I was going to fill up my water bottle that had been sitting on the kitchen counter ... A: but I may not be able to help you much more here, other that to say that these likely would fall ... | |
| Mystery bug invasion! | 11/4/2011 |
| Q: We live in Los Angeles, CA and we have these weird bugs invading our apartment. We dont know what ... A: Dermestidae); likely in the genus Anthrenus. see http://tinyurl.com/3k5pj7c for an image. They feed ... | |
| spider expert | 11/4/2011 |
| Q: An entomologist studies insects. Is there another word for someone who studies spiders? Thanks Jo A: but seriously, those who study spiders and their relatives usually are referred to as arachnologists ... | |
| Insect I've never seen before | 11/4/2011 |
| Q: I live in southeast lower Michigan. I recently saw an insect on the side of my house about 3inches ... A: I hesitate to even guess without being able to see an image. Just in case, have a look at an image ... | |
| Brazilian Giant Spider Identification | 10/31/2011 |
| Q: I found this spider in my office this morning. It's around 10cm diameter. It spent the whole morning ... A: possibly in the genus Heteropoda - see http://tinyurl.com/3whrg4s for an example. Also known as ... | |
| Bug in dirty diaper | 10/31/2011 |
| Q: I found the about 30 of the attached bugs in my child's cloth diaper bucket. She had a vomiting bug ... A: and not an internal parasite of any sort; it is a larva (maggot) of a fly in the genus Fannia (see ... | |
| moth eggs | 10/29/2011 |
| Q: The large yellow moth, may be in the imperial family has laid yellow eggs on the porch screen. We ... A: so I am going to refer you to a couple of sites that appear to have fairly good information on ... | |
| Butterfly | 10/28/2011 |
| Q: Took this pic of a weird butterfly with long back wings like ribbons. It was quite a powerful flyer, ... A: J - Your specimen is indeed a skipper in the genus Urbanus, but it may be Urbanus dorantes instead ... | |
| Butterfly | 10/28/2011 |
| Q: Took this pic of a weird butterfly with long back wings like ribbons. It was quite a powerful flyer, ... A: - Could you please attach your image of this insect to a follow-up question? Most butterflies with ... | |
| We hear crickets at night in San Mateo CA but have never seen one | 10/24/2011 |
| Q: We hear cricket sounds in the evening/ at night in San Mateo CA but have never seen a cricket here. ... A: and it may be quite difficult to pinpoint where the sound is coming from in order to see who is ... | |
| Tiny round shiny black bugs | 10/19/2011 |
| Q: in 20/08/2008 a question came to you from a Megan from Virginia tiltled "Tiny round shiny black ... A: but I cannot provide you with a definitive answer. First off, there was no image associated with ... | |
| Mystery Bug in Texas | 10/15/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could help me identify this bug I occasionally see in my apartment. I notice ... A: known as a webspinner - see http://tinyurl.com/3t7696r for an image. Only the males have wings, and ... | |
| bed bug or carpet beetle?? | 10/13/2011 |
| Q: recently one of my daughter's friends notified us that they had bed bugs. We immediately starting ... A: possibly the varied carpet beetle, Anthrenus verbasci - see http://tinyurl.com/3fgq2ru for an image ... | |
| Indentify my swarm | 10/13/2011 |
| Q: We need help identifying a swarm. Our yard has been overwhelmed by a swarm of small bugs. Our ... A: I really hesitate to guess at their identity. If they were termites (and you are correct in ... | |
| Bee/Dragonfly unidentified insect sighting | 10/12/2011 |
| Q: need help identifying insect, home owner has three young kids. So need to know if said insect is ... A: It is an ichneumon wasp (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) in the genus Megarhyssa, what appears to be a ... | |
| Caterpillars leaving blood trails | 10/11/2011 |
| Q: I have the same issue as another subscriber: jack wrote at 2011-03-14 20:55:25 These things look a ... A: but completely harmless to humans. Waiting to hear back, Saugy | |
| Worms in bathroom | 10/10/2011 |
| Q: i do believe i have the exact same problem as this: ... A: ' as there are several different critters that can fall into the 'worm-like' category, including ... | |
| What is this bug? | 10/9/2011 |
| Q: I live in central Indiana. I found 8 of these bugs on my miniblinds. Have had curioius bites ... A: but I'm afraid that it is too small for me to tell for certain what it is. About all I can say is ... | |
| What is this bug? | 10/9/2011 |
| Q: I live in central Indiana. I found 8 of these bugs on my miniblinds. Have had curioius bites ... A: If you are unable to get a clear close-up image that you could attach to a follow-up question, i ... | |
| Translucent green biting bug | 10/9/2011 |
| Q: I live in Vermont. The other day I woke up as I was bitten by an almost translucent green bug. It ... A: your description is not sufficient for me to make any identification with confidence. About all that ... | |
| Need ID of attached picture | 10/8/2011 |
| Q: I found this attached to my screen of my outside window. We live in the NE section of US. Southern ... A: It is Ascalapha odorata, a moth in the family Noctuidae commonly known as the black witch moth. It ... | |
| feather-like bug | 10/7/2011 |
| Q: I found this a couple days ago. One the image most in focus, please note the pattern on the "tail". ... A: One of the peculiarities of the human brain is its propensity to see patterns in objects, so that ... | |
| Worm like bug in my home! Please Help! | 10/7/2011 |
| Q: about 3 months ago I was doing laundry and happen to look down and seen a worm like bug on the ... A: //tinyurl.com/44tagla for an image. You should consult with your veterinarian for confirmation, and ... | |
| trying to ID eggs | 10/5/2011 |
| Q: I live in Oregon, eastern Columbia Gorge, and was recently (early October) hiking through an area ... A: what you might have are colonies of freshwater algae in the genus Volvox. They characteristically ... | |
| little worms with antennas in tub | 10/5/2011 |
| Q: Ed, I have been finding these little worms in my bathtub. Half of thier bodies(the back 1/2)is ... A: //pics.davesgarden.com/pics/2006/07/30/Xenomorf/a7605f.jpg for an image of an adult specimen). They ... | |
| How Dangerous are Fleas? | 10/5/2011 |
| Q: Dr. Saugstad, I am wondering how dangerous fleas really are because I have an 8 month old ... A: to the best of my knowledge, dog fleas have not been implicated in transmitting diseases to humans ... | |
| How Dangerous are Fleas? | 10/4/2011 |
| Q: Dr. Saugstad, I am wondering how dangerous fleas really are because I have an 8 month old ... A: but this appears to be a rare occurrence; transmission occurs only when an infective flea is ... | |
| possible larva? | 10/4/2011 |
| Q: Could this possibly be the larva of some bug? I had a rash that 5 dermatologists could not ... A: larva or otherwise. The only insect larva found in/under human skin in the Americas is the human bot ... | |
| question | 10/3/2011 |
| Q: after i drained our fountain, there was a few inches of water left in and i saw something moving. ... A: they are a bit unusual for mosquitoes in that they larvae feed on other mosquito larvae - see ... | |
| Coffin fly | 10/3/2011 |
| Q: I am an entry-level forensic science student, and I am currently doing a research project on the ... A: the development time of this species is temperature dependent. About all that I can tell you is that ... | |
| Identification of a bug that bite my daughter | 9/30/2011 |
| Q: What type of bug I'd this and should I be concerned because it bite my 8yr old daughter? I can't ... A: as I have seen other images on this site that have been sent that way. If you are unable to find ... | |
| Tiny brown bugs on wood walls | 9/30/2011 |
| Q: My husband and I recently moved into a rental duplex. The basement is partially finished, and the ... A: I cannot see any detail on your image that would assist me in making an identification. About all ... | |
| Brooklyn Bug ID | 9/30/2011 |
| Q: Saugstad, I hope you can help me. One morning I woke up with several painful bites on my hands ... A: You're quite welcome, Michelle - If there is an office of Cornell University's Cooperative Extension ... | |
| Brooklyn Bug ID | 9/29/2011 |
| Q: Saugstad, I hope you can help me. One morning I woke up with several painful bites on my hands ... A: //tinyurl.com/ozhmej for an image. These do not bite, and none of the other uninvited 'guests' you ... | |
| Worms | 9/29/2011 |
| Q: I found small black worms in my shower. They are as thin as a piece of thread and the length of a ... A: I can only guess that they may be the larvae of a fly in the family Psychodidae. Commonly known as ... | |
| Thank you for your reply | 9/29/2011 |
| Q: I have had several medical workups by allergists, internists and dermatologists. That's where the ... A: I can't help but feel that there may be some environmental factor involved, as even if something as ... | |
| Thank you for your reply | 9/28/2011 |
| Q: I have had several medical workups by allergists, internists and dermatologists. That's where the ... A: but your lengthy posting was very typical of someone suffering from a condition often referred to as ... | |
| Please identify this bug | 9/27/2011 |
| Q: I have seen this bug a few times lately. I live in Orange County, Southern California. It is very ... A: Phereoeca uterella (Lepidoptera: Tineidae). It is related to clothes moths, but prefers to chow down ... | |
| is it a bug bite or not | 9/26/2011 |
| Q: . couple times i woke up with this strange bite mark.. its happened like 5-6 time already, i asked ... A: this likely will remain a mystery. Not only do most insect bites look pretty much alike, there are ... | |
| bug bite | 9/25/2011 |
| Q: I'm sorry there is no image to send you. My grandson got stung/bit while I was out. Two days ... A: about all that I can say is that it may have been a wasp of some type. He might try looking at some ... | |
| insect I.D. | 9/25/2011 |
| Q: after dark I saw a large (1.5") dark insect flying around into the flowers of a Moon Plant. This had ... A: Sphingidae). Some of these are known as hummingbird moths because of their hovering flight pattern ... | |
| Worms/Maggots | 9/24/2011 |
| Q: I found these pretty gross worms/maggots on my driveway the other day (9/21/11). I'm in Harrisburg, ... A: Sciaridae); they primarily are harmless scavengers on decomposing organic matter in the soil, but ... | |
| Larvae? | 9/23/2011 |
| Q: I recently moved to Bilbao, Spain and have found these creatures in my bed and on the floor around ... A: but these appear to be larvae of a beetle in the family Dermestidae that includes carpet beetles and ... | |
| kitchen bug | 9/21/2011 |
| Q: I live in Florida and recently discovered some bugs in my kitchen. I see them mainly around ... A: your image is not clear enough for me to see any detail that would be useful in making an ... | |
| Spider Identify | 9/21/2011 |
| Q: I have been trying to identify this spider and have had no luck. I live in upstate new york. At ... A: Der Richard - This definitely is not a recluse spider; my best guess is that it is in the family ... | |
| Insect? | 9/19/2011 |
| Q: I live on the eastern shore of Maryland. I recently visited a friends house on Hooper's Island, MD. ... A: From your description, about all that I can say with any certainty is that they are very unlikely to ... | |
| Tiny, but fast black bug | 9/19/2011 |
| Q: I current live in the Bay Area of California. For a few years now, I have had these small, tiny, and ... A: About all that I can say is that they do not appear to be any pest species that you need to worry ... | |
| Unknown Insect (Tiny Dobson Fly Variant?) | 9/18/2011 |
| Q: Saugstad, I live in Scottsdale, AZ just about fifty feet from a canal and I have these flies ... A: your image is too blurry for me to see any details that would enable me to identify them. I suspect ... | |
| Weird Bug | 9/17/2011 |
| Q: I found this bug on my desk, I've never seen it before. What kind of bug is and is it dangerous? ... A: Scutigera coleoptrata. They are general predators on other small arthropods, mainly insects, and ... | |
| spider identification (have pic) | 9/15/2011 |
| Q: I live in Caldwell, ID where this spider was found. It is mostly bright shiny silver on top w/a bit ... A: namely Argiope trifasciata - the banded argiope - see http://tinyurl.com/2t6xhx for images and more ... | |
| Identify bug | 8/28/2011 |
| Q: These little critters are driving my husband crazy. They normally come through the electric outlets. ... A: Sincerely, Saugy Dear Abigail - This is a wasp that is parasitic on other insects. There is no ... | |
| Is this lonomia? | 8/28/2011 |
| Q: I found out the range is primarily South America, but boy does it look like one... I'm in Payson, ... A: but is in the same family (Saturniidae); it is a larva of the Sedona moth (aka the cecrops eyed ... | |
| follow-up on moth ID | 8/27/2011 |
| Q: Sorry, I probably should have sent this photo to help with the ID:... A: but unfortunately it didn't help much; I still cannot narrow it down any further than in my previous ... | |
| Large Spider | 8/26/2011 |
| Q: A friend of mine took a photo of a very large spider in a pine tree. It appears to resemble a garden ... A: Nephila clavipes; the largest non-tarantula spider in North America. Spiders of this type formerly ... | |
| cocoon on bed | 8/26/2011 |
| Q: I noticed that the sheet on the bed in the spare room was scrunched up and when I looked closely ... A: as it does not look like a typical moth cocoon or a spider egg case/shelter; if you have an indoor ... | |
| burrowing bugs in yard | 8/25/2011 |
| Q: I noticed several 'burrow' holes in my yard near the front door, two right next to the wall, and one ... A: See http://tinyurl.com/3wauv4l and ... | |
| Identifying an insect | 8/25/2011 |
| Q: I live in Central Florida. I found him in the middle of a parking lot on a hot day. He was moving ... A: Belostomatidae); sometimes also called electric light bugs or toe biters. They are voracious ... | |
| female pin worms and egg laying | 8/25/2011 |
| Q: Why must female pin worms leave the human body to deposit their eggs? Is it temperature sensitivity? ... A: If the female pinworms did not deposit their eggs outside of their hosts' bodies, transmission would ... | |
| Costa Rica Insect | 8/25/2011 |
| Q: We saw this unusual looking insect in Costa Rica. Wondering if you know what it is? A: Lymantriidae), but I cannot identify it any further. Online resources available for identifying ... | |
| Mystery Insect | 8/25/2011 |
| Q: This "cocoon" appeared in a tree in my mom's house and she is intrigued by what it could be. She ... A: Psychidae). The larvae construct a very tough silken case incorporating bits of the plant material ... | |
| moth ID please | 8/24/2011 |
| Q: Saw this moth last month - at our home just outside Manila, the Philippines - but so far haven't ... A: from the angle your photo was taken, I cannot see certain diagnostic characters (primarily wing ... | |
| What are these tiny black bugs? | 8/23/2011 |
| Q: Okay, so I have a dog and when I let her out she likes to go into bushes. Then I let her in and she ... A: I cannot even tell if they have legs. If you are sure that they are not ticks of any kind, I doubt ... | |
| Bug ID? | 8/23/2011 |
| Q: I live in Manhattan NY and my house has recently seen an infestation of this black tiny bug. Be ... A: I cannot tell much about your 'guests' other than that they appear to be tiny beetles. Most of these ... | |
| bug(s) id | 8/22/2011 |
| Q: We are staying at a waterfront bay front house at Shinnecock bay in Hampton bays New York. My son ... A: your image is not clear enough for me to say anything other than that they are not bed bugs; the ... | |
| Dark oval bug | 8/22/2011 |
| Q: We have an infestation of some sort of dark oval bug. They appear to be rather flat and oval in ... A: the white-margined burrower bug, is quite a bit smaller than the 5/8" ones you described. Also, this ... | |
| Bug identificaction | 8/22/2011 |
| Q: Our yard seems to be infested this year with a large beetle like bug. I've only seen one alive so ... A: Depending on the species, these insects spend up to 17 years underground feeding on the sap from ... | |
| Dark oval bug | 8/22/2011 |
| Q: We have an infestation of some sort of dark oval bug. They appear to be rather flat and oval in ... A: but that introduced species I mentioned is known to occur in quite large numbers in or near ... | |
| Please identify this cocoon | 8/21/2011 |
| Q: We found this in the dirt while weeding. Can you identify it? Thanks! A: Pupae of this size found in soil just about have to be in one of two families; Sphingidae (hawk ... | |
| Bugs boring through drywall | 8/20/2011 |
| Q: After looking over older answers I have found nothing that is quite like what I have. I live in ... A: The two primary suspects would be termites and wood-boring beetles such as powder-post beetles. ... | |
| can you i.d. this insect? | 8/20/2011 |
| Q: I recently saw the attached insect outside my Los Angeles home but have no idea what it is. I am ... A: Pompilidae; Pepsis sp.). Wasps in the family Pompilidae generally are known as spider wasps, as they ... | |
| an unknow insect | 8/19/2011 |
| Q: Greetings Mr. Saugstad, I have some "mystery" insects found in my kitchen. In the past week (the ... A: they all are parasitic on other insects, and are characterized by having greatly enlarged hind ... | |
| anthrenus | 8/19/2011 |
| Q: do they bite? A: I am unaware of any reports of beetles in the genus Anthrenus (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) biting ... | |
| red worm in clean toilet bowl | 8/19/2011 |
| Q: Recently, after being away from home with the house empty of people for several days, I returned to ... A: I can only guess that it most likely was an oligichaete annelid (a group that includes earthworms ... | |
| young orange mystery bugs | 8/19/2011 |
| Q: I wondered if you could identify these orange insects that appeared to have "hatched" on our ... A: I believe that they more likely are in the family Coreidae (leaf-footed bugs) - see ... | |
| Book lice (I think) | 8/18/2011 |
| Q: A few days ago, I noticed tiny bugs in an old paperback book I was reading. Within a day, I seemed ... A: as their tiny jaws are not capable of chewing human skin. Periodic vacuuming and reducing indoor ... | |
| What to do with this Pine Sawyer Beetle? | 8/18/2011 |
| Q: My grampa works at a restaurant and found what I've finally identified as an adult Pine Sawyer ... A: Adult beetles in this genus feed primarily on the tender bark of twigs/shoots of pine trees - see ... | |
| larva | 8/17/2011 |
| Q: Here is an image of the larvae I found. A: That aside, I believe that it most likely is a larva of a crane fly (Diptera: Tipulidae) - see ... | |
| Wasp like insect identification | 8/17/2011 |
| Q: I have have attached a picture of a flying insect that I have been unable to id. It was in my house ... A: this insect is not capable of stinging, as it lacks a stinger or venom of any sort. On the other ... | |
| what is this bug | 8/17/2011 |
| Q: I live in south Louisiana and i never seen a bug like this before it's body is hard. And is it ... A: but it is a very important agricultural pest. It is a sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius, ... | |
| Identify Larvæ | 8/17/2011 |
| Q: Mr. Saugstad will you help me identify a larvæ? It was found at a wetlands park in Gresham, Oregon, ... A: Without one, about all that I can say is that they most likely are the larvae of a true fly (order ... | |
| ID of bug in tub | 8/16/2011 |
| Q: My wife and I live in the Los Angeles area of California, Gardena to be specific, and have been ... A: your image is not clear enough for me to be certain, but it looks very much like a young cockroach ... | |
| Insect Identification | 8/16/2011 |
| Q: Could you help us identify this insect. It was found indoors (along with quite a few like it) in ... A: but your image is not clear enough for me to determine the family to which it belongs; my best guess ... | |
| please identify this tiny critter | 8/15/2011 |
| Q: Recently, we had maggots falling out of the chimney. Upon investigation, we discovered a dead bird. ... A: They should disappear rather quickly once their hosts are no longer present. All members of this ... | |
| large light brown bug on deck | 8/11/2011 |
| Q: I have noticed a few of these beetle looking bugs on the support beams of my deck. They don't seem ... A: After spending anywhere from one to 17 years (depending on the species) feeding on sap from tree ... | |
| Sphecius "grubs"?? | 8/11/2011 |
| Q: I live in northern Ohio. Last summer was the first time I ever saw (or even heard of)a Cicada killer ... A: are you absolutely 100% certain that the wasps in question are cicada killers? It just does not ... | |
| Odd Nest | 8/11/2011 |
| Q: I am trying to identify an odd nest that is attached to a window at my fathers house. The house is ... A: Often called potter or mason wasps, they usually construct their nests in a more solitary manner - ... | |
| Ticks? | 8/10/2011 |
| Q: The black bugs are about the size of the tip of a pen and they are black in color. They have a hard ... A: but they could be mites or immature ticks; however, those should not be hard-bodied. On the other ... | |
| Black Pepper and Unidentified Mites | 8/10/2011 |
| Q: Can you please tell me what type of mites these are in the photos on this webpage ... A: ); something that nearly every human being on Earth harbors and that appear to cause absolutely no ... | |
| Bug Indentify | 8/9/2011 |
| Q: hey ED My family and i have been finding little black bugs around the baseboards and ... A: but I cannot be certain as to the exact species. It seems to resemble that of the smokeybrown ... | |
| Bug Indentify | 8/8/2011 |
| Q: hey ED My family and i have been finding little black bugs around the baseboards and ... A: but I simply cannot provide a definitive identification from such a general description. If you ... | |
| Flea, tick or bedbug possibilities? | 8/7/2011 |
| Q: Unfortunately I do not have a picture, but I did catch a bug on packaging tape. It is so small and ... A: As for bed bugs, see http://tinyurl.com/4rxnjm for images of bed bugs at different stages of their ... | |
| Mystery Bug | 8/7/2011 |
| Q: I took my kitchen trash out yesterday and I notices these little hard shelled bugs, almost like a ... A: If you cannot take a photo to attach to a follow-up question, I suggest that you place some of them ... | |
| Large Fly | 8/7/2011 |
| Q: I am wondering if you can identify this 'mystery bug'. We saw this large fly-like bug in PA today. I ... A: but a cicada (Hemiptera/Auchenorryhcha: Cicadidae) of a type known as dog-day cicadas as they ... | |
| Bug in pool | 8/5/2011 |
| Q: My friend found this evil little guy doing the backstroke in her pool. She lives in Shelbyville, KY. ... A: Asilidae) that accidentally fell into the pool (they are not aquatic!). These flies are ambush ... | |
| Adult Cutworm | 8/4/2011 |
| Q: Or at the very least if they reproduce inside apartments with no plants. Thanks in advance. A: //tinyurl.com/3zyv4bh and http://tinyurl.com/3d8nkxz for a couple of examples. They will not ... | |
| springtails | 8/3/2011 |
| Q: I need to know what species of springtails are in Texas. We have springtails invading our home and ... A: no species of collembolans have been proven to infest human hair, such as in the manner of true ... | |
| Centipede? | 8/3/2011 |
| Q: I have found a few of these centipedes in my house in northern New Mexico. Do you know if they are ... A: but only a very few tropical species pose any real risk to humans (unless you happen to be ... | |
| extremely tiny bugs | 8/3/2011 |
| Q: I recently have had a problem with these extremely tiny black hard shelled flying bugs. I know that ... A: there are many species of tiny beetles that could match your general description, so I cannot ... | |
| Unknown Bug | 8/2/2011 |
| Q: Ed, Would most appreciate your informed input on the bug shown in the attached pictures. It most ... A: Phereoeca uterella (Lepidoptera: Tineidae). It belongs to the same family as clothes moths, but the ... | |
| Polyphemus Moth | 8/2/2011 |
| Q: We found a large polyphemus caterpillar yesterday. We put him into a bucket with some dirt, grass ... A: these moths usually on;y have one generation a year, so your specimen likely will not emerge from ... | |
| Mysterious Mexican Widow Spider | 8/2/2011 |
| Q: Saugstad, Yesterday, I found this widow-like spider in the corner of the ceiling of a rented ... A: Ryan - This spider is not Latrodectus tredecimguttatus; I suspect that it is a western black widow, ... | |
| NYC Bug Mystery | 8/2/2011 |
| Q: I found this bug crawling on my desk near my computer last night. (i live in an apartment in new ... A: d. from your image, I can tell you that it definitely is not a bed bug! I suspect that it is a ... | |
| Strange flying insect/bug | 8/1/2011 |
| Q: Could you please tell me if this is an insect and what type. I see it every year around my purple ... A: Lepidoptera:Sphingidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/65fz46 for images and more detailed information. ... | |
| Please help me identify this bug in my kitchen | 8/1/2011 |
| Q: I have just recently moved into my first apartment so I'm not that familiar with different types of ... A: either a saw-toothed grain beetle (Oryzaephilus surinamensis ) or a merchant grain beetle ... | |
| Mystery Bug | 7/13/2011 |
| Q: My husband had this bug try to attack him, per se, at work today. It originally had two pinchers ... A: Megaloptera: Corydalidae). They do not deliberately 'attack' anything other than another dobsonfly; ... | |
| fuzzy bug | 7/13/2011 |
| Q: This looks like a ball of fuzz but it crawls (and no I haven't eaten any mushrooms). My wife and I ... A: there are two families of these, Chrysopidae (green lacewings) and Hemerobiidae (brown lacewings). ... | |
| Mystery Bug Infestation | 7/12/2011 |
| Q: We bought a property(in the UK)just over one year ago, which we have been been completely renovating ... A: and your specimens have eight legs, which is typical of mites, ticks, and spiders. See ... | |
| Question on bug bite and repellent | 7/12/2011 |
| Q: We live in the foothills/triad of North Carolina (basically on the line of the two regions) and have ... A: the skin eruption you noted (white-centered wheal) could have had a cause other than a bug bite, as ... | |
| Mystery Bug Infestation | 7/11/2011 |
| Q: We bought a property(in the UK)just over one year ago, which we have been been completely renovating ... A: but I am not sure exactly what kind. They superficially resemble some in the family Oribatidae (see ... | |
| please ID this moth | 7/8/2011 |
| Q: This little green moth has a wingspan of 3 cm, spotted in hills overlooking Manila, the Philippines. ... A: there are at least 25 species in the genus Comibaena. Given the inherent intraspecific variation in ... | |
| What is this | 6/28/2011 |
| Q: My sister lives in Wisconsin and found this on her wall. Can you please identify what kind of bug ... A: Lymantriidae); likely that of the white-marked tussock moth, Orgyia leucostigma - see ... | |
| bugs | 6/28/2011 |
| Q: I am 70 years old and dont know what to do. After one year of going to the doctor and having pest ... A: I am not a doctor, only a retired entomologist (I also soon will be 70), so I can only address ... | |
| my rice crispies ran away | 6/27/2011 |
| Q: I was having my breakfast this morning in the dark as usual, and for some reason I noticed movement ... A: not crunchies, but you were wise in not consuming them. The image is not clear enough for me to be ... | |
| do i need to worry? | 6/27/2011 |
| Q: Where am I from: Southern ON, Canada Problem: I opened my window after the winter to clean it out. ... A: as those are incapable of jumping. If you are certain that they are not springtails, other ... | |
| Please id this cicada | 6/27/2011 |
| Q: Could you tell me the species of this cicada? Approx. 4cm (1.6 inches) long. Spotted last week here ... A: and I do not have access to any of the taxonomic literature on them. I spent a couple of hours ... | |
| nasty little bugs | 6/26/2011 |
| Q: i have this question i have these really small reddish brown bugs that are oval shaped and when you ... A: your description is not specific enough for me to say much other than they most likely are true bugs ... | |
| Need an identification | 6/25/2011 |
| Q: I discovered an infestation of these critters outside my house, and I was unable to get an ID from ... A: Bill - The little red bugs are nymphs of a boxelder bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Rhopalidae; likely ... | |
| brown and white bug | 6/25/2011 |
| Q: I work at a daycare and our children are being bitten by something on the playground. Pest control ... A: From your verbal description, I would suspect a larva in the order Neuroptera, that of either a ... | |
| moth ID please | 6/25/2011 |
| Q: Please could you identify this moth; wingspan 19.5 cm (3.7 inches). Location: hills bordering ... A: Saturniidae), known as the the cricula silkmoth or golden silkworm. It may be found from India ... | |
| scary bug | 6/24/2011 |
| Q: here's my attempt to re-attach the picture, all experts doesn't like my email address for some ... A: it is the cast nymphal shell of a cicada. Depending on the species, these insects spend anywhere ... | |
| Beetles & Coconut Trees | 6/23/2011 |
| Q: Saugstad, We manage a property on Phuket (Thailand) where the main access road has been laldscaped ... A: the latest outbreaks (such as yours) may be caused by the coconut hispine beetle, Brontispa ... | |
| Need an id on a possible wasp | 6/23/2011 |
| Q: Trying to catch up on photos I took last summer, I came across this one. It is a small insect, I ... A: Bill - I believe that your wasp is in the family Crabronidae (square-headed wasps), possibly in the ... | |
| Need an id on a possible wasp | 6/22/2011 |
| Q: Trying to catch up on photos I took last summer, I came across this one. It is a small insect, I ... A: as it is a species that I do not recognize right off the bat, and I simply do not have the time to ... | |
| MT Hood bugs | 6/22/2011 |
| Q: I have been going crazy looking at a bug picture sent to me by a woman named Debra. There are a lot ... A: Walter - I have not seen any photo of the Mt. Hood creature yet, so I cannot comment much other than ... | |
| so many flies! | 6/22/2011 |
| Q: Martinsburg, WV, USA It all started about 3 weeks ago, a nauseating odor in our laundry room ... A: the flies may well persist until their food source is depleted. They very likely are flesh flies ... | |
| Flea like bug | 6/20/2011 |
| Q: i'm from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I'd like to know what this bug is mostly out of curiosity, I live ... A: ' They breathe through gills, and must have access to abundant moisture in order to survive. They ... | |
| What is this? | 6/20/2011 |
| Q: I have a video of this as well if you'd like to see it. That is a Canadian quarter beside it (the ... A: Because of their appearance, common names include 'horsehair worms' and 'Gordian worms' (after the ... | |
| Mystery bug identification | 6/19/2011 |
| Q: I found this bug in south western Quebec. It has 6 legs but has appendages that do not function as ... A: the aquatic larval stage of the eastern dobsonfly, Corydalus cornutus (Megaloptera: Corydalidae). ... | |
| cocoons in house | 6/19/2011 |
| Q: My daughter found a cocoon on the wall in the hallway to her room and since then we have found about ... A: Phereoeca uterella (Lepidoptera: Tineidae). Also known as plaster bagworms, these cousins to clothes ... | |
| Strange Symmetrical Insect Bite | 6/18/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering if you might be able to help me identify a bug based on its unique bite pattern. ... A: 'mystery bites' are among the most difficult problems to resolve, as in addition to most bites not ... | |
| bee | 6/18/2011 |
| Q: i live in madison,ohio about a mile from the lake and this year there are bees in side my house. but ... A: Halictidae; see http://tinyurl.com/3jhu3rr for some images). Can you please try to take at least one ... | |
| unidentified insect | 6/17/2011 |
| Q: I found this ..thing ... in my bathroom about three years ago and have been puzzled by it since. It ... A: but this looks suspiciously like two spiders, such as a mating pair, one preying upon the other ... | |
| Re: bug identification | 6/16/2011 |
| Q: I live in southwestern Ontario and have been finding a large quantity of a black type bug in my ... A: but its overall shape is consistent with carpet beetles (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) in the genus ... | |
| Red/Brown wormy bugs around my matress | 6/16/2011 |
| Q: I was cleaning yesterday and went to move my matress (which is not on a frame, it just sits on the ... A: I can only guess. Have a look at images of carpet beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) larvae at ... | |
| Mystery bug sprayed my neice | 6/16/2011 |
| Q: We were hiking in central PA, my sister spotted what she thought was a butterfly resting on a log. ... A: Not only am I not aware of any butterfly or moth having a defensive spray mechanism, none of the ... | |
| identify small black bug | 6/15/2011 |
| Q: We've lived in the same house for 3 years (in SouthEast Idaho,USA) but have only seen these bugs ... A: Curculionidae; subfamily Entiminae); possibly grass weevils (Trachyphloeus bifoveolatus) - see ... | |
| Strange Symmetrical Insect Bite | 6/14/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering if you might be able to help me identify a bug based on its unique bite pattern. ... A: it is very difficult to identify an insect or other arthropod by the bite marks alone. That aside, I ... | |
| posting from 8/9/2009 | 6/14/2011 |
| Q: while looking for the answer to my question regarding a still unidentified insect, i read a ... A: I can only guess at what it might have been. It most likely was a wasp, possibly in the family ... | |
| Unknown Bugs | 6/14/2011 |
| Q: A friend of mine found these bugs in a box of clothes in his garage that had gotten wet. Trying to ... A: Leptinotarsa juncta (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Sometimes also called the horsenettle beetle, its ... | |
| beetle | 6/13/2011 |
| Q: found these in a huge wood carving we bought. Eggs also. wondering if it's a chinese beetle, or a ... A: your beetles likely are pine sawyers - there are at least three species of these that could occur in ... | |
| beetle | 6/13/2011 |
| Q: found these in a huge wood carving we bought. Eggs also. wondering if it's a chinese beetle, or a ... A: Cerambycidae), but it definitely is not the invasive Asian longhorn. As for it being a pine longhorn ... | |
| Bug Identification | 6/10/2011 |
| Q: Today I was out in my flowerbed doing some work when I felt a stinging sensation on my foot. I ... A: Hemerobiidae), a very beneficial insect that feeds primarily on other soft-bodied arthropods such as ... | |
| ity bitty long red bugs | 6/10/2011 |
| Q: I've been finding alot of these tiny, long, red bugs in my room lately. While searching for the ... A: From your description, thrips (order Thysanoptera) are a possibility - see ... | |
| Unidentified bug. | 6/10/2011 |
| Q: I just moved, I found this bug walking across my kitchen floor. I thought it was some type of roach. ... A: this is a totally harmless carrion beetle (Coleoptera: Silphidae); they perform a valuable service ... | |
| Flying beetle like bug? | 6/9/2011 |
| Q: I have been noticing more and more a bug that kind of looks like a beetle to me. It sort of flies ... A: Scarabaeidae) in the subfamily Melolonthinae belonging to a group of species commonly known as May ... | |
| follow up on the bugs | 6/8/2011 |
| Q: BUT, really this is just to let you know that we brought samples to Cornell this past Friday (6/3) ... A: and was fascinated by the insects I saw there. One of the first books I can recall looking at was a ... | |
| weird egg | 6/7/2011 |
| Q: Heyy, I was cleaning my kitchen today and realized it had been awhile since I cleaned under my dish ... A: the white larvae you noticed likely were fly maggots that had not yet pupated. As such, these would ... | |
| Tiny white bugs all over my stainless steel garbage can | 6/7/2011 |
| Q: I live in S.E washington state, near desert. While one day after dusting my home, including the top ... A: The good news is that although ones such as these certainly can be nuisances, they are not dangerous ... | |
| Teeny tiny black bug in NYC apartment | 6/6/2011 |
| Q: I'm living in an upper west side apartment with my friends, and there's a teeny little black bug ... A: the image you provided is too small and blurry for me to make put any details that would enable me ... | |
| Re: Carol M's question from 6/1 | 6/4/2011 |
| Q: I have the SAME bugs based on Carol M.'s descriptions...I live in Mississippi outside of the city ... A: your image lacks sufficient detail for me to attempt an identification. That aside, the most likely ... | |
| Flying Insect Identification (picture included) | 6/3/2011 |
| Q: I am currently in Minnesota USA and have come across a large wasp-like insect in my driveway. It ... A: I got the following message: "This is a known malicious web site. It is recommended that you do NOT ... | |
| Mystery Bug | 6/2/2011 |
| Q: Nearly had a heart attack when this bug started flying around my house. It looked HUGE and then ... A: namely a sexton beetle in the genus Nicrophorus; likely Nicrophorus orbicollis - see ... | |
| tiny bugs | 6/1/2011 |
| Q: I, too, have tiny bugs on my window sills and on my screen porch and have also been in my bathroom ... A: but I doubt that they are anything that you need to worry about. If you are unable to obtain a ... | |
| can you help identify | 5/31/2011 |
| Q: Attached is a photo of some of these beetle-like critters. We have had them in the past but not ... A: I suspect that you may be dealing with more than one kind of insect - insects simply do not grow as ... | |
| another moth/butterfly to identify | 5/31/2011 |
| Q: Hope you don't mind if I ask for your help again - to identify a 2nd moth/butterfly. We also saw ... A: it a swallowtail moth (Lepidoptera: Uraniidae) in the genus Lyssa - see http://tinyurl.com/42t8c4j ... | |
| stink bug? | 5/31/2011 |
| Q: I just found what I think is a stinkbug in my pantry but have never seen one around here (buffalo ... A: Although I have not read any accounts of them preying on ants, it would not surprise me if they ... | |
| stink bug? | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: I just found what I think is a stinkbug in my pantry but have never seen one around here (buffalo ... A: but it is a nymph of an assassin bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Reduviidae); likely Reduvius personata, ... | |
| Large Flying insect | 5/29/2011 |
| Q: Found in Mission British Columbia. Large (4 inches long including legs) Flying insect. See Picture, ... A: Tipulidae), such as the giant crane fly, Tipula abdominalis - see http://tinyurl.com/3rn3mjd for an ... | |
| can you help identify | 5/29/2011 |
| Q: Attached is a photo of some of these beetle-like critters. We have had them in the past but not ... A: Although the majority of beetles in the family Latridiidae that I mentioned previously appear to be ... | |
| can you help identify | 5/28/2011 |
| Q: Attached is a photo of some of these beetle-like critters. We have had them in the past but not ... A: That aside, they do not appear to be any of the common 'pantry pest' species. It is possible that ... | |
| Bug I.D. | 5/28/2011 |
| Q: We had a bug swarm today in the kitchen window. They are about 3/16 inch long, with stubby wings ... A: the insect in your image is too distorted and the image itself is not clear enough for me to provide ... | |
| mystery bug under bed (part 1) | 5/28/2011 |
| Q: I found a few bugs under my bed. I attached a picture of one of them below. I will send a second ... A: likely in the family Lepismatidae that includes the common household nuisance pests, silverfish and ... | |
| skinny black ant | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: I don't have an image. It looks like a very small black ant, dull black everywhere and very skinny. ... A: but I simply cannot provide a definitive i.d. from your description. There are a great many ant ... | |
| Bettles | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: I found a bug in my bedroom, I belive to a carpet beetle or biscuit beetle. I found them after I ... A: Unless a home is hermetically sealed, there simply is no way to keep the occasional casual 'visitor' ... | |
| Mystery bug | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: I have attached a photo of a bug crawling on my pillow. When I killed it, it looked like a small ... A: but your image is not clear enough for me to attempt an identification. The only insect that I would ... | |
| Tiny Inchworm(?) | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: I live in Spokane Wa and my son just found a tiny little bug or caterpillar outside and we were ... A: about all that I can say is that it most likely is a young caterpillar of a moth in the family ... | |
| BIG FURRY Centipede | 5/24/2011 |
| Q: From the description I've seen I think what I saw was a house centipede but NO pictures clarify this ... A: but I cannot provide a definitive answer from your description; I would need to see an image. My ... | |
| Black bugs on wooden floor | 5/24/2011 |
| Q: I have been living in my apartment (wooden floor) for more than a year and a half now. Out of ... A: You should contact your local extension service office (see http://tinyurl.com/4yfjbw4) for ... | |
| Black bugs on wooden floor | 5/24/2011 |
| Q: I have been living in my apartment (wooden floor) for more than a year and a half now. Out of ... A: but this could be a larder beetle (Dermestes lardarius; Coleoptera: Dermestidae) - see ... | |
| black bug with light yellow stripe on its back | 5/24/2011 |
| Q: I caught 2 bugs about 1/8 inch long located in NYC in an apartment building. I am trying to ... A: this could be a young nymph of a German cockroach, Blattella germanica - see ... | |
| larvae | 5/20/2011 |
| Q: I live in WNY area. We have had an over abundance of rain this season and have noticed that the ... A: I really cannot provide a definitive answer without seeing a clear image of at least one of these ... | |
| Insect Identification | 5/19/2011 |
| Q: I came across this bug at work today. It is large and flat, like a cockroach, and has pincers. ... A: Belostomatidae - see http://tinyurl.com/3q6t3hz for an example. They are voracious predators on ... | |
| Mystery bug | 5/19/2011 |
| Q: I have a mystery bug that I was hoping you could identify. Here are some details... Northeast US ... A: Ichneumonidae) in the genus Megarrhyssa - see http://tinyurl.com/3k4oa9x for images and more ... | |
| Bug Identification | 5/17/2011 |
| Q: I live in New York City and I found a small bug in my bathtub. I have seen these bugs in other ... A: No need to worry about this one, Alex - it is a spider beetle (Coleoptera: Anobiidae; subfamily ... | |
| possible mites or still have the fleas | 5/11/2011 |
| Q: you sent me an answer that you could not help. Why do you say it could not possibly be mites? At ... A: it is very unlikely that you would have a rodent mite problem. We get the occasional mouse (and ... | |
| Dead Flies | 5/11/2011 |
| Q: We live in Dubai in the UAE and moved to a new house last october. The weather was very cool we ... A: you likely would have noticed that yourselves. Flies often get into our house as well, and at times, ... | |
| possible mites or still have the fleas | 5/11/2011 |
| Q: you sent me an answer that you could not help. Why do you say it could not possibly be mites? At ... A: I did not intend to say that it was completely impossible that your problem was mite related, only ... | |
| spider identification | 5/10/2011 |
| Q: My husband saw this spider on our bathroom wall and we would like to know if you can identify it. ... A: see http://tinyurl.com/44wfftn for an image), I cannot see the one feature that would confirm that, ... | |
| Looking for ID for Bluish black beetle (?) with Yellow Stripe. | 5/8/2011 |
| Q: My mother found this in her garden on the east coast of Newfoundland, Canada last summer. Just ... A: Cerambycidae) in the genus Desmocerus. Beetles in this genus are known as elderberry borers, as ... | |
| Huge fly likebugs | 5/7/2011 |
| Q: I live in Abbeville, SC. And as long as I lived there (about 7 years) I never seen these bugs. They ... A: //tinyurl.com/4ypkxqe), they sometimes cause the death of terminal twigs/small branches by severing ... | |
| Giant Horse Flys | 5/7/2011 |
| Q: I have lived all over north America and have seen black horse flies to near 2 inches long. In parts ... A: Tabanidae) in North America is Tabanus americanus (see http://tinyurl.com/mkxxg7 for an image), ... | |
| Weird cocoon finding | 5/6/2011 |
| Q: I was clearing out a friends back yard yesterday. There was a pile of wood in a corner and we found ... A: I can only guess. Most large cocoons will be those of moths in the family Saturniidae (giant silk ... | |
| neem oil and black vine weevil | 5/4/2011 |
| Q: Sir, Our many rhodies are infested with black vine weevils. I have read that neem oil can ... A: which feed on the leaves of the plants (as you probably already know, the larvae feed on the roots ... | |
| Black widow bites long term effects | 5/4/2011 |
| Q: I live in Las Vegas NV and our area has many Black Widow spiders. Over the last two years I have ... A: I seriously doubt that you would have been bitten numerous times by black widow spiders. These ... | |
| mystery bug identification | 5/4/2011 |
| Q: I live in southern Louisiana and need help identifying a bug that keeps popping up in different ... A: Curculionidae); specifically, it looks a lot like an alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica) - see ... | |
| Request to Identify | 5/3/2011 |
| Q: I am interested in knowing the name of the insect in the attached photo. My wife says she has heard ... A: Tipulidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/mlhtfj for an example. Although they look like giant mosquitoes, ... | |
| Huge fly likebugs | 5/2/2011 |
| Q: I live in Abbeville, SC. And as long as I lived there (about 7 years) I never seen these bugs. They ... A: ; Hemiptera/Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/yrr8tw. Various species of these ... | |
| Ant-like sewer bug? | 5/2/2011 |
| Q: Last week we experienced an invasion of sorts. Our property manager suggested that the bugs we were ... A: it could apply to just about any insect found under the circumstances you describe. I cannot be ... | |
| Do you know anything about hornets? | 5/2/2011 |
| Q: me again! Today outside I was pulling some weeds from my flower beds, when I noticed what at first ... A: the term 'hornet' often is misapplied to many other wasps; true hornets comprise the genus Vespa of ... | |
| Mystery bug | 5/1/2011 |
| Q: I found a super adorable little tarantula-wannabe in my flower pot today. I'm calling it a "her" I ... A: See http://tinyurl.com/3f8p46t for an image of a male Phidippus audax. As for its ultimate size, I ... | |
| varied carpet beetles | 5/1/2011 |
| Q: I am having a significant reaction to what appears to be varied carpet beetles. I have seen the ... A: and it would take a dermatological examination by a physician to make a determination. Hairs from ... | |
| Mystery bug | 5/1/2011 |
| Q: I found a super adorable little tarantula-wannabe in my flower pot today. I'm calling it a "her" I ... A: I believe that your guest is Phidippus audax, a jumping spider (family Salticidae) commonly known as ... | |
| Entomology | 4/30/2011 |
| Q: I have an insect found on my attached to my cats neck that I cannot identify - it is almost 1 cm, ... A: but lacking that, anything actually attached to the cat's skin would just about have to be a tick. ... | |
| camel crickets | 4/29/2011 |
| Q: I live in rockland countyu ny- i have camel crickets in my family room, laundry room and downstairs ... A: Rhaphidophoridae) generally are only nuisance pests, as they seldom do any real damage. It would ... | |
| Powder Post Beetles | 4/28/2011 |
| Q: We sold some wood flooring in 2009 to a client in Texas. In 2011, they claim there are a few boards ... A: to the best of my knowledge, if your wood was properly kiln-dried and shipped very shortly ... | |
| Huge fly likebugs | 4/28/2011 |
| Q: I live in Abbeville, SC. And as long as I lived there (about 7 years) I never seen these bugs. They ... A: d. from your description, as there are a variety of insects that can resemble a large fly in ... | |
| Geotrupids | 4/27/2011 |
| Q: I'm an entomologist for a pest control company and I have been trying to find information on a ... A: I received no follow-ups to that query or any similar requests since then. Also, I would have to see ... | |
| Small ant-like bugs appear suddenly in home | 4/26/2011 |
| Q: I live 20 miles north of Fort Worth in Texas, in a developed but rural neighborhood. I have lived ... A: your image is not clear enough for me to make a definitive identification. The only insects ... | |
| worm like bugs with wings | 4/25/2011 |
| Q: i live in ft.lauderdale,fl. When i wake up 2 take a shower in the morning their are these bugs in ... A: but the only insect that I would be concerned about under these circumstances would be termites. ... | |
| Unknown bugs in my balcony | 4/24/2011 |
| Q: As the weather started to get better in Holland, I've decide to lift all the balcony rubber tiles to ... A: primitive arthropods closely related to true insects. For the most part, springtails are harmless ... | |
| beetle?! | 4/22/2011 |
| Q: UK. I've recently been on a field trip to Northern Cyprus with my university, I was hoping you could ... A: I cannot see sufficient detail in your image to be certain of an identification. There are small ... | |
| Giant Flying Insect | 4/21/2011 |
| Q: I found this GIANT insect clinging to the roof of my Patio in Las Vegas. I used a power sprayer to ... A: When you access the AllExperts page where you submit your question, you should see a blue link ... | |
| Can you please identify this insect? | 4/21/2011 |
| Q: A close friend found one of these in the grass in her yard in New Jersey today. I thought cicada ... A: and given the distasteful nature of these beetles, that would not seem to be a very likely ... | |
| Can you please identify this insect? | 4/21/2011 |
| Q: A close friend found one of these in the grass in her yard in New Jersey today. I thought cicada ... A: Meloidae) in the genus Meloe; there are several species in this genus that can look very much alike ... | |
| Food for Insect | 4/19/2011 |
| Q: What do Stag Beetles Eat? A: Lucanidae) appear to feed very little. They are incapable of eating solid foods, but will lick up ... | |
| ant management | 4/19/2011 |
| Q: After sifting through the load of biased or anecdotal information on how to control ants I came ... A: no one method works for all species. I suggest looking at the publication "What to do about ... | |
| Acquiring a queen ant. | 4/19/2011 |
| Q: I usually wait until the nuptial flights in the summertime. However, I never find the queen ant that ... A: but the 'smoking out' suggestion seems impractical to me, as the entrance(s) to most ant colonies ... | |
| Huge cocoon | 4/18/2011 |
| Q: I was pruning my trees and found this huge cocoon hanging from one of the branches. I have never ... A: based on the foliage visible in your image. Just FYI, it often is a great help to me when ... | |
| Huge cocoon | 4/17/2011 |
| Q: I was pruning my trees and found this huge cocoon hanging from one of the branches. I have never ... A: the largest and most spectacular moths in North America. I cannot tell you for certain which species ... | |
| red headed bugs | 4/16/2011 |
| Q: Could you please tell me if you can identify these bugs. We are in St. George, Utah, USA. When ... A: Meloidae); specifically, the appear to be Lytta magister , a species known as the master or desert ... | |
| mystery bug | 4/14/2011 |
| Q: I cannot seem to get a picture that shows any detail but I hope that you will please still see if ... A: the only ones matching your description that I would worry about at all are carpet beetles ... | |
| What is the bug/insect | 4/14/2011 |
| Q: I find these kind of bugs daily in my house while cleaning the floor . I want to know what bug it is ... A: but it looks a lot like a case-bearing caterpillar in the family Tineidae known as a household ... | |
| can you pls identify this insect? | 4/12/2011 |
| Q: Saugstad, I took a picture of this particular insect a while ago, and up until now I'm unable to ... A: Pterophoridae), so-called because their wings are longitudinally split in a feather-like fashion ... | |
| Insect boring threw my drywall | 4/6/2011 |
| Q: I have this small 1/4 in slit in my bathroom wall. On Monday it was have that size,Tuesday the slit ... A: About all that I can say at this point is that (1) it is not a termite, and (2) it does not sound ... | |
| Tiny black bug | 4/5/2011 |
| Q: In my laundry room there was a piece of dry dog food and when I went to pick it up there were ... A: d. based on such limited information, these do not sound like any of the commonly encountered stored ... | |
| Please help!! | 4/4/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could help me identify the bug casting that I have found. We do have a ... A: but I can tell you that they most definitely have nothibng to do with bed bugs, so you don't have to ... | |
| Household Pest | 4/4/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering if you maybe able help me identify a species of fly that seems to be taking up ... A: Anisopodidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/3hcldp7 for an image. These sometimes are called window ... | |
| Help identify a worm | 4/4/2011 |
| Q: Saugstad, I moved into my home a year ago and had a serious problem at first with these ... A: as you did not state where you lived), there is no need for control as they are completely harmless. ... | |
| bug in bed-not typical bedbugs | 4/3/2011 |
| Q: sorry no picture, but i can tell you all the details. it was in my parents bed. they have been ... A: but I simply cannot offer an identification from such a sketchy description. All I can say is that ... | |
| bed bug vs spider beetle | 3/30/2011 |
| Q: I live in Brooklyn and my boyfriend thinks he found a bed bug yesterday morning. He had a few bites. ... A: but it looks more like a bed bug than a spider beetle (and spider beetles are not in the habit of ... | |
| insects on my patio and in my kitchen | 3/30/2011 |
| Q: this week i keep finding these bugs that are brown and almost have a furry coat with about 4-6 legs, ... A: but your description is too vague for me even to guess at what they might be. If you cannot take a ... | |
| Help identify a worm | 3/29/2011 |
| Q: Saugstad, I moved into my home a year ago and had a serious problem at first with these ... A: Most terrestrisl 'worms' (annelids in the order Haplotaxida) require a very moist environment in ... | |
| varied carpet beetles? | 3/28/2011 |
| Q: We live in Northwest Arkansas. It is an older home with an addition built on top. We went away for ... A: Coleoptera: Dermestidae). Their larvae will feed on a wide variety of organic materials, including ... | |
| Ichneumonidae II | 3/28/2011 |
| Q: I would like to know which species is this. Location: Portugal, Europe Thanks, Valter A: this is an extremely large family with several suites of species that can bear very close physical ... | |
| Ichneumonidae | 3/28/2011 |
| Q: I would like to know which species is this. Location: Portugal, Europe Thanks, Valter A: I am not an authority on this family, and thus am unable to provide a specific i.d. in most ... | |
| Beetle | 3/25/2011 |
| Q: I found this pastel green beetle at a gas station. I collect insects, but I can't find anything on ... A: Meloidae); likely in the genus Lytta. Blister beetles can be serious garden pests as adults; their ... | |
| bugs in my kitchen | 3/24/2011 |
| Q: I live in Dundee, Scotland, and I have recently found bugs in my kitchen. They are on the floor and ... A: They will feed on an extremely wide variety of organic materials, and some species can be pantry ... | |
| SPIDER> | 3/24/2011 |
| Q: Ummm. I have a question about a spider. It was outside my house by my door. It was as big as a ... A: some of these can be quite pale - see http://tinyurl.com/4ob6akh for an example. These spiders are ... | |
| Mysterious black/gray object | 3/22/2011 |
| Q: I would like to ask you what these things on my pictures. You could find these hanging by the ... A: //tinyurl.com/4uamwjn - the color of the case depends more on what exactly the caterpillar is ... | |
| maggots | 3/22/2011 |
| Q: i had a wet cardboard box in my basement. i moved it and there were what appeared to be maggots ... A: the order of insects to which true flies belong (Diptera) includes many thusands of species. That ... | |
| Bug in apt | 3/21/2011 |
| Q: I found this bug in my NYC apartment. Can you identify it for me? Thank you. ... A: but this image also is too out of focus to see any detail necessary for identification. About all ... | |
| Bug in apt | 3/21/2011 |
| Q: I found this bug in my NYC apartment. Can you identify it for me? Thank you. A: ). See if you can take a more clearly focused image from directly overhead and attach it to a ... | |
| Having trouble identifying this fly | 3/19/2011 |
| Q: I've been going through some photos from last June and found this one I took of a fly outside my ... A: Bill - my apologies for the delay in responding; your question came in after I had departed home for ... | |
| Mysterious black/gray object | 3/19/2011 |
| Q: I would like to ask you what these things on my pictures. You could find these hanging by the ... A: Lepidoptera: Tineidae). Although related to clothes moths, they appear to chow down mainly on old ... | |
| Boxelders | 3/16/2011 |
| Q: I'm from northwest Indiana. I just had my dog out this morning and I noticed along the bottom of my ... A: Although annoying when they occur in large numbers around or in homes, boxelder bugs (Boisea ... | |
| varied carpet beetle??? | 3/13/2011 |
| Q: based on a previous answer you provided I did a search and came up with the possibility that have an ... A: Anthrenus verbasci (Coleoptera: Dermestidae). They can be difficult to control completely, as their ... | |
| cream colored wood boring insect | 3/12/2011 |
| Q: We live in San Antonio and found what appears to be a wood-boring insect in our home. It is ... A: If you cannot locate this, I suggest that you take your specimen to the Bexar County office of Texas ... | |
| Brown Bug with White spots | 3/3/2011 |
| Q: I have found several bugs in and around my bed, they are very small, too small to get a detailed ... A: but these may be carpet beetles (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) in the genus Anthrenus. Have a look at the ... | |
| unindentified bugs | 2/20/2011 |
| Q: We found some wormlike bugs in our bathroom and don't know what they are. Attached is a picture of ... A: likely in the genus Anthrenus - see http://tinyurl.com/ox6k2d for an example. They will feed on an ... | |
| Bed Bug? Photo | 2/19/2011 |
| Q: I am taking a pic of the bugs I keep finding in my NYC apartment. I have found these bugs ... A: The image of the critter in your photo is too small to see any identifying detail, but its overall ... | |
| Furry grey bug found in bed | 2/17/2011 |
| Q: Hey Ed, Last night I was making my bed and saw what looked to be a tear drop shaped clump of ... A: I can only hazard a guess or two. If you live in a southern state (including California) and you did ... | |
| Question about an object I find in my room | 2/16/2011 |
| Q: I have found many of what I think are some kind of insect egg case in my room. If they weren't so ... A: a caterpillar in the family Tineidae known as the household casebearer. Although they are related to ... | |
| mystery bug | 2/15/2011 |
| Q: We see these bugs during this time of year inside our home. At first only on the walls. What is ... A: This is a carpet beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) in the genus Anthrenus; likely the varied carpet ... | |
| hawaii bugs | 2/14/2011 |
| Q: I don't know how much you can help with this but I reside in Hawaii (Oahu to be exact) and this ... A: your description could fit literally hundreds of potential 'suspects.' Although it is true that ... | |
| I keep getting bitten by something every 3-4 weeks | 2/10/2011 |
| Q: I'm hoping you can help identify what kind of insect could be biting me every 3-4 weeks. These ... A: As for spiders, unprovoked bites are extremely rare outside of a couple large tropical species found ... | |
| I keep getting bitten by something every 3-4 weeks | 2/10/2011 |
| Q: I'm hoping you can help identify what kind of insect could be biting me every 3-4 weeks. These ... A: it nearly is impossible to pinpoint the cause of bite symptoms. That aside, based on your ... | |
| Mystery bug. | 2/8/2011 |
| Q: Last two springs, we found a small, round black bug with white spots in our bedroom. When the ... A: Dermestidae), but as you stated, the presence of distinct spots would seem to rule those out. ... | |
| Spider Beetle? Please don't be a bed bug! | 2/7/2011 |
| Q: I just got out of the shower and found this small bug on my foot. I live in Brooklyn (bed bug ... A: You really don't have to worry overmuch about this one - it is a spider beetle (Coleoptera: ... | |
| Identification | 2/7/2011 |
| Q: Sir, I am a research student working on wetlands. I am attaching an image which looks like a worm. I ... A: //tinyurl.com/4c53835 for an example. Depending on the species, these larvae may be either ... | |
| Is this a carpenter bee? | 2/1/2011 |
| Q: Location: Plano, Texas (just north of Dallas) From what information I could find, I think this is a ... A: perhaps a female Xylocopa mexicanorum or Xylocopa varipuncta (both have been reported from Texas - ... | |
| what kind of bug is this? | 1/31/2011 |
| Q: This bug is brown and hard shelled, about an inch long with long antenn's and a stinger on the tale ... A: //tinyurl.com/4pa8lu6 for an image. The 'stinger' actually is the egg-laying organ called an ... | |
| grasshopper vs locust | 1/26/2011 |
| Q: OK, I really do get it. The locust is a swarming, color-changing grasshopper. Sorry, but to me this ... A: Whereas scientific names are quite specific in their meaning, common names can be so fluid as to be ... | |
| What is it? | 1/26/2011 |
| Q: Wonder what this bug is. I haven't seen one in Minnesota in the winter before. ... A: this insect has been marching steadily eastward, and now is found nearly nationwide at northern ... | |
| What is it? | 1/25/2011 |
| Q: Wonder what this bug is. I haven't seen one in Minnesota in the winter before. A: Leptoglossus occidentalis (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Coreidae); see http://tinyurl.com/yfgs49v for an ... | |
| Mystery Bug | 1/24/2011 |
| Q: 1st I have not seen any bugs in my house including bedrooms until last night. While sitting on the ... A: as your description simply does not match up with any household pest species one might expect to ... | |
| Photo for my question | 1/21/2011 |
| Q: Sorry, I forgot to upload the photo with my question, and it wouldn't let me re-submit it A: The image you provided this time is indeed a pest species; it is a carpet beetle (Coleoptera: ... | |
| Bugs in bedroom - have been finding randomly for a few years. | 1/21/2011 |
| Q: I attach an image of just one of the bugs found in my room over the past few years. Approximately 3 ... A: there does not appear to be any image attached to your question. Can you try again, or perhaps post ... | |
| creatures in my bathroom | 1/19/2011 |
| Q: I ahve seen these creatures on my bathroom- color is brown, they can run very fast-although I did ... A: and I'm sure you would recognize them) and terrestrial crustaceans known as sowbugs, woodlice, or ... | |
| Weird bug- What is it? | 1/19/2011 |
| Q: I have a question about a weird bug that I saw. This was in June I believe of 2010, I was at my ... A: Elateridae) known as the eyed elater (Alaus oculatus) - see http://tinyurl.com/m3ht3a for images and ... | |
| insect in bed / fabric furniture | 1/17/2011 |
| Q: I have found an insect invasion in the bed of our guesthouse and also in the fabric upholstered ... A: I am not familiar with thatch mites; I suspect that that term has been 'made up' by pest ... | |
| insect in bed / fabric furniture | 1/17/2011 |
| Q: I have found an insect invasion in the bed of our guesthouse and also in the fabric upholstered ... A: my best guess is that they may be booklice (Psocodea: Liposcelidae - see ... | |
| beetle | 1/15/2011 |
| Q: I have attached 2 pictures of a beetle that we have found in our home. There are times we kill one ... A: but a stink bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Pentatomidae); it appears to be a brown marmorated stink bug ... | |
| Insect found in bathroom | 1/14/2011 |
| Q: I found the insect seen in the picture on my bathroom wall. I'm curious as to what it is. I have ... A: ticks, mites, etc.) called a pseudoscorpion. They are general predators on other small arthropods ... | |
| what is this bug in my bathroom | 1/13/2011 |
| Q: http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/8071/… found in my bathroom. only seen once. doesnt move fast. ... A: These are nuisance pests that do no real damage indoors. At worst, some may gnaw on the stems of ... | |
| what is this bug in my bathroom | 1/13/2011 |
| Q: http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/8071/… found in my bathroom. only seen once. doesnt move fast. ... A: Can you please try attaching an image directly to a follow-up question? In the meantime, have a look ... | |
| grasshopper vs locust | 1/13/2011 |
| Q: OK, I really do get it. The locust is a swarming, color-changing grasshopper. Sorry, but to me this ... A: so to speak. "Locust" is the common name for any member of several species of short-horned ... | |
| creatures in my bathroom | 1/12/2011 |
| Q: I ahve seen these creatures on my bathroom- color is brown, they can run very fast-although I did ... A: my best guess is that they may be bristletails, primitive insects in the order Thysanura. A few ... | |
| Little tiny bugs in panty. | 1/12/2011 |
| Q: These bugs came from my sugar and you can barely see them, they are flat, light brown in color and ... A: you do not have to worry overmuch as they fall more into the nuisance pest category as opposed to ... | |
| Bug | 1/11/2011 |
| Q: I saw this bug in Denver, CO. during the summer of 2009. I was hoping to get a bug ID or a ... A: Curculionidae), very large (more than 40,000 species known) and diverse grouping - you can see a ... | |
| Dark brown/greyish crescentic larvae shape | 1/11/2011 |
| Q: Is it possible to get an some idea as to which category of parasite that has an 1 inch length by 6mm ... A: but this would be an unusual finding in/on a dog in the UK. I would hope that the examining ... | |
| Possible drain insect | 1/11/2011 |
| Q: We have had an infestation of a small (about 1/8" long) bug that we find crawling (we have never ... A: //smith-tx.tamu.edu/). Someone there should be able to assist both in identification and in making ... | |
| Dark brown/greyish crescentic larvae shape | 1/10/2011 |
| Q: Is it possible to get an some idea as to which category of parasite that has an 1 inch length by 6mm ... A: Diana - Can you resubmit this as a private question? I am extremely reluctant to put my private ... | |
| Dark brown/greyish crescentic larvae shape | 1/10/2011 |
| Q: Is it possible to get an some idea as to which category of parasite that has an 1 inch length by 6mm ... A: as that would really help narrow down the possibilities. I believe that you mentioned earlier that ... | |
| Possible drain insect | 1/10/2011 |
| Q: We have had an infestation of a small (about 1/8" long) bug that we find crawling (we have never ... A: Psychodidae); they resemble tiny moths, and do fly, albeit in short 'hops' - see ... | |
| Dark brown/greyish crescentic larvae shape | 1/10/2011 |
| Q: Is it possible to get an some idea as to which category of parasite that has an 1 inch length by 6mm ... A: there should be a 'button' that allows you to attach an image. If you cannot find this, do you have ... | |
| Entomology case study help required | 1/8/2011 |
| Q: i am studying forensic science and in my forensic biology module i have been told to research a case ... A: weather conditions (especially temperature) comprise an important factor in forensic studies - see ... | |
| crescentic larvae shape | 1/7/2011 |
| Q: Is it possible to get an some idea as to which category of parasite that has an 1 inch length by 6mm ... A: what exactly were the circumstances under which this critter was found, and (2) an image of some ... | |
| How to keep cockroaches away ? | 1/7/2011 |
| Q: First I chose you because its written that you're open for pest management questions. I'm moving to ... A: the material from which the cabinets are made is less important than how they are constructed. Look ... | |
| Little tiny bugs in panty. | 1/6/2011 |
| Q: These bugs came from my sugar and you can barely see them, they are flat, light brown in color and ... A: I suspect that you have tiny insects in the order Psocodea (formerly placed in the order Psocoptera) ... | |
| Mystery beetle? | 1/6/2011 |
| Q: I have had a really bad infestation of these tiny black beetles of size arnd 1-1.5mm in my newly ... A: the image of the insect in question is not clear enough for me even to be certain that it is a ... | |
| black widow long term effects | 1/5/2011 |
| Q: I have read many of your answers on question where you state that there are long term effects from ... A: To the best of my knowledge, I have only mentioned long-term effects of black widow spider bites ... | |
| Unseen orgnism | 1/5/2011 |
| Q: Ed: I am beside myself. I am a 70 year old, quite lucid female who owned a gentrified farm for most ... A: as after carefully reviewing the information you provided, I do not believe that you have an ... | |
| Insects reserch paper. | 1/4/2011 |
| Q: I am assigned a research paper, one of the requirements is to contact an expert on the subject and ... A: First off, I presume that by 'bugs', you mean insects and other terrestrial arthropods - true bugs ... | |
| Bed Bug? Photo | 1/1/2011 |
| Q: I am taking a pic of the bugs I keep finding in my NYC apartment. I have found these bugs ... A: which are quite secretive in their habits. The image you provided is not clear enough for me to be ... | |
| beetles | 12/22/2010 |
| Q: I have been seeing these small reddish brown beetles under my daughters matress in her wooden framed ... A: If they are indeed beetles, it is extremely unlikely that they would be responsible for any bite ... | |
| larvae in my kitchen | 12/19/2010 |
| Q: I moved into a new house recently and began seeing small approximatley 1/4 to3/4 inch white larvae ... A: the moths will be unable to reinfest them. If you were to see more larvae, that would indicate to me ... | |
| larvae in my kitchen | 12/19/2010 |
| Q: I moved into a new house recently and began seeing small approximatley 1/4 to3/4 inch white larvae ... A: Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/d5pu6j for a fact sheet with images and detailed ... | |
| Glowing bugs | 12/12/2010 |
| Q: sorry I dont have pictures I tried to take some but they did not turn out. I am in Hope, British ... A: as your observation is consistent with some firefly (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) behaviour, but I am ... | |
| Looks like a regular house fly but much smaller. | 12/10/2010 |
| Q: I have these very annoying tiny flies that seem to be getting worse over the last 3-4 months. I ... A: see http://tinyurl.com/25xy8k7 for a similar example. Please bear in mind that this is a large ... | |
| Looks like a regular house fly but much smaller. | 12/9/2010 |
| Q: I have these very annoying tiny flies that seem to be getting worse over the last 3-4 months. I ... A: but there also is a chance that they had come indoors earlier, found shelter, and just are noticed ... | |
| Looks like a regular house fly but much smaller. | 12/9/2010 |
| Q: I have these very annoying tiny flies that seem to be getting worse over the last 3-4 months. I ... A: It definitely is not either a house fly or moth fly, but there are some flies in the family ... | |
| Minute bugs or insects in tea. | 12/4/2010 |
| Q: I found very small bugs in our boxes of fruit tea, we have about ten different flavours, I noticed ... A: I cannot provide a specific identification from your description; it does not match that of any ... | |
| What is this larvae? | 12/4/2010 |
| Q: I just found this live larvae on my hardwood floor. After talking to my wife, I found out this was ... A: Buprestidae). These larvae commonly are known as flat-headed wood borers, and most species feed on ... | |
| marys bug from ttigoniidae family | 12/3/2010 |
| Q: I have the same bug that mary had they are in my basement and now have started getting in the house. ... A: You really need to determine the potential points of entry where they may be coming into the house, ... | |
| Tiny micro bugs ! Help ! | 12/2/2010 |
| Q: Hey Hi ! I recently found out that i got bugs in my room (clothes, bed, everywhere) but don't know ... A: I can only guess. Given their small size, the two main suspects are mites and small insects in the ... | |
| big brown bug | 12/1/2010 |
| Q: lately my entire neighborhood has been infested with large( inch and a half to two inches long)brown ... A: as these certainly sound as if they could be large cockroaches. It also would help if you told me ... | |
| Bug found in a bag of rice | 11/27/2010 |
| Q: Please can you id this bug found in a bag of rice. I've attached a picture magnified x400. Thanks! A: This insect is in the order Psocodea (they formerly were placed in the order Psocoptera), family ... | |
| Beetle like Insect of the carribean (Dominican) | 11/26/2010 |
| Q: hey i have just come back from a 2 week vacation in the Dominican Republic and have found a beetle ... A: but it was too fuzzy to see any detail. About all I can say is that it appears to be a long-horned ... | |
| INSECTS | 11/25/2010 |
| Q: Nov 27 2010 Long Island NY USA, Hi, What dark brown insect kind of looks like a large hairless ... A: it is nearly impossible to keep them out entirely. Just make sure that you have sealed off as many ... | |
| INSECTS | 11/25/2010 |
| Q: Nov 27 2010 Long Island NY USA, Hi, What dark brown insect kind of looks like a large hairless ... A: my best guess is that these could be camel/cave crickets (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) see ... | |
| Larvae? | 11/25/2010 |
| Q: I find this on the carpet next to my bed. My cat does like to unstauff my older bed from underneath- ... A: They can be garden pests when they feed on young plants, but they are not a household pest and will ... | |
| Bug identification please! | 11/24/2010 |
| Q: I live in Wisconsin and have found these bugs in the basement. I found one crawling on the basement ... A: in the meantime, have a look at some sowbugs (terrestrial crustaceans in the order Isopoda) at ... | |
| bed bugs | 11/23/2010 |
| Q: Recently i found approx. 6 bedbugs and had the exterminator. i washed ALL MY CLOTHES in HOT HOT ... A: It truly is extremely difficult to eradicate an infestation entirely, but it can be done. For a very ... | |
| Tiny black bugs with two white spots | 11/22/2010 |
| Q: I'm sorry that i can't attach a picture, but they're approximately .33mm at largest and i don't ... A: but I hesitate to offer a firm diagnosis without being able to view an image. There are some very ... | |
| Madagascar Hissing Cockroach | 11/21/2010 |
| Q: I work in an aquarium and one of my jobs is to do a presentation about Madagascar hissing ... A: but never witnessed any 'spitting' behavior. They are known to do this however, see ... | |
| Is there something in my hair? | 11/18/2010 |
| Q: well for a minute i thought i thought i had something in my hair so i tried head lice treatmeant the ... A: and these lice are the only insect that habitually infests a human scalp/hair, either you have a ... | |
| bug identification | 11/17/2010 |
| Q: Found about a dozen of these in our house. Mostly, been finding them on the floor, walls and a few ... A: likely in the genus Anthrenus, which includes the varied and furniture carpet beetles, among others. ... | |
| Re: What else could this bug be? | 11/12/2010 |
| Q: We have a situation in our household with suspected to be lice, but now we are not sure because its ... A: what you describe does not match up with anything that routinely and habitually infests human ... | |
| TONS OF BUGS IN ROOM! SOS! | 11/11/2010 |
| Q: How do i start . Well , first of all , thanks for your time for reading my mystery question ! I ... A: primitive arthropods previously placed in the insect order Collembola. They basically are nuisance ... | |
| I cannot empathize with my sowbugs | 11/10/2010 |
| Q: That subject sounds weird. But it really is the problem! I have these greyish, fuzzy centipedes that ... A: moisture control through lowering indoor humidity and eliminating unnecessary water sources (leaky ... | |
| Flying insects... | 11/9/2010 |
| Q: We live in Arvada,Co. and have these annoying flying insects all over the front of our house and ... A: ; Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Rhopalidae). They basically are nuisance pests that do little if any real ... | |
| Dark Brown Bug | 11/9/2010 |
| Q: Daisy, my golden retriever discovered this 6-legged, 1-cm-long bug crawling on the bedroom carpet in ... A: the pestcontrolcanada site is indeed having server problems; I received an email from the webmaster ... | |
| mysterious bites | 11/6/2010 |
| Q: My husband has been getting mysterious bites. We don’t think they are bug bites but are desperate ... A: Judging from the image provided, bed bugs would be an extremely unlikely suspect at best. You also ... | |
| Unknown bug | 11/6/2010 |
| Q: England, United Kingdom. Dear Ed I have located 2 of these on my interior walls. Managed to capture ... A: likely in the genus Anthrenus. They will feed on a very wide variety of organic materials including ... | |
| ID small biting insect | 11/5/2010 |
| Q: Driving in Tucson AZ yesterday I felt a sting on my forearm and discovered this guy dining on it. ... A: This is a larva of a green lacewing Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). They are general predators on other ... | |
| Spider in upstate ny | 11/5/2010 |
| Q: I found these guys on a paper bag I left on my front porch and everyone I have shown the picture to ... A: It appears to be Araneus trifolium, a very common and widespread species that goes by a variety of ... | |
| BigInsect ID | 6/9/2010 |
| Q: Found in MA, burrows into the ground. What is this? ... A: Corydalus cornutus (Megaloptera: Corydalidae). They are aquatic, usually sound under rocks or other ... | |
| small bug | 6/9/2010 |
| Q: I have a small bugs around my windowsills and I am curious about what type they are. They are about ... A: a primitive arthropod in the order Collembola (authorities differ as to whether these should be ... | |
| Bug?? | 6/8/2010 |
| Q: I have these bugs in my house. Mostly around windows and sometimes they will show up on things like ... A: but your image is so far out o focus that I cannot even hazard a guess at what it might be. Try ... | |
| Mystery Bug | 6/8/2010 |
| Q: I seen this mystery bug, while camping along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in ... A: It is a click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in the genus Alaus, and is the largest one in the ... | |
| basement jumping bug | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: There is a black basement bug, large with long "legs" that resembles a cricket. It jumps high and ... A: Rhaphidophoridae). They are fond of dark, damp places, so eliminating unnecessary moisture sources ... | |
| Mystery Bug with Picture | 6/4/2010 |
| Q: I had ants gathering under my welcome mat, near my side door. After about 10 minutes from spraying ... A: it appears to be a sphinx moth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) that ran into trouble while emerging from ... | |
| strange night bug | 6/4/2010 |
| Q: I saw this strange insect tonight (6/3/10), that looked like a cross between an ant and a spider. I ... A: but an arachnid (the group that includes spiders, mites, ticks, scorpions, etc.) in the order ... | |
| transferring insects | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: If I was hauling or delivering dirt or soil to another state or country would have to worried about ... A: "It depends." In most cases you don't need to worry about this, especially within the continental ... | |
| tiny green hopper bug? | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: I hope I'm asking the right person this question - Unfortunately I don't have a picture so I will ... A: What you describe just about has to be either a plant/treehopper of some kind or a nymph of a ... | |
| Bug ? | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: Can you tell me what this is ? A: For reasons not entirely clear, several species occasionally occur in a pink form caused by a ... | |
| Help in identifying this mud tube | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: Can you tell me what type of insect would possibly be building this mud tube? Attached is a photo. ... A: They provision these nests with prey (primarily spiders) that they have stung and paralyzed. Their ... | |
| pretty never seen before | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: I live in the Shenandoah valley of Virginia. Approached my car and on the window was a bug, round in ... A: but this sounds like it could be a tortoise beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae; subfamily ... | |
| identification of 'fire-flashing' flying insect | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: In Greenville, North Carolina at dusk today whilst walking a regular route by a slow flowing pond ... A: the only flying bioluminescent insects in North Carolina would be fireflies (Coleoptera: ... | |
| Caterpillar identification | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: Mr. Saugstad, I live in San Antonio, Texas and recently came across the caterpillar in the attached ... A: sometimes called hawk moths or hummingbird moths). Although identifying characters cannot be seen in ... | |
| unknown bite. | 6/1/2010 |
| Q: First, I want to apologize for not having a photo or good description of the insect. I actually ... A: //tinyurl.com/27hjvcw for an example. They are not venomous, but they have a stout and very sharp ... | |
| Mystery bug - shell only | 6/1/2010 |
| Q: my question is about a bug shell i keep finding. i do not have a picture, please pardon that, but i ... A: About all that I can say from your description that these could be either empty pupal cases of a ... | |
| I think it's a worm | 6/1/2010 |
| Q: We live in Pensacola, FL. We have noticed something that looks like a small worm with many legs ... A: See http://tinyurl.com/25o8vc6 for an image. These primarily are nuisance pests (especially when ... | |
| Need bug identification | 5/28/2010 |
| Q: The bugs in the photo are all over my raspberries and i'm finding them everywhere!!! i thought they ... A: Fear Kristina - These are flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in the genus Disonycha - see ... | |
| Lime green insect | 5/28/2010 |
| Q: I live in Maryland, cannot give a picture of the insect because it moves so fast, it's impossible. ... A: and never saw anything that exactly matches your description. About as close as I can come is a ... | |
| what is this | 5/28/2010 |
| Q: while setting up my fishing gear on the river kolpa (slovenija/croatia border) this beast scuttled ... A: You are correct in believing it to be a sort of cricket; it is a mole cricket (Orthoptera: ... | |
| Large flying insect | 5/27/2010 |
| Q: I had asked you about a large flying insect earlier. You sent two images, the second one I could ... A: and it was not clear enough to make out any detail. About all that I can say is that its overall ... | |
| Flying insects | 5/27/2010 |
| Q: I have recently found several large, flying insects in the house. They are about 1" to 1 1/4" long, ... A: I can only guess that they might be ichneumon wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae; see ... | |
| bug identification | 5/26/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to identify a bug that I keep seeing in my house and I can't identify it by looking at ... A: primitive arthropods in the order Collembola (see http://tinyurl.com/2dwe542). These are harmless ... | |
| SPRINGTAILS | 5/25/2010 |
| Q: CAN PIGTAILS ENTER THE HOME AND GET INTO THE LAUNDRY AND CLOTHING. WHEN U PUT ON YOUR CLOTHES , I ... A: as it will go straight into the trash folder! Dear Vincent - This does not sound at all like ... | |
| Tent caterpillars | 5/25/2010 |
| Q: Do you ever recommend 'treatment' of our fellow creatures? I recently treated some tent cats to a ... A: The propane torch sounds like fun, though! Have you posted any pics? Cheers, Ed S. | |
| red or orange and black bug | 5/25/2010 |
| Q: It's only been the last few years I've seen this bug, but now they're all over the yard and I was ... A: ; Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Rhopalidae). They feed primarily on the developing seeds of boxelder and ... | |
| bug identification | 5/25/2010 |
| Q: I live in Karachi, Pak. From the past few days we have noticed these bugs in our house.We first saw ... A: but it could be one of the several species of small beetles that can infest stored food products of ... | |
| What bug is this? | 5/24/2010 |
| Q: Please help me to identify this caterpillar-like bug. Thanks!! Nick A: These are eastern tent caterpillars, Malacosoma americanum (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), a serious ... | |
| bugs on cat | 5/24/2010 |
| Q: I live in Egypt and have a Siamese cat. He has some bugs on him that are NOT fleas. They are about ... A: try putting them in a refrigerator for a while first. If they have legs, they obviously are not ... | |
| cocoon | 5/19/2010 |
| Q: I live in the Champlain Islands in Vermont. I was digging up some dirt next to my house and found a ... A: such as a tomato hornworm. Have a look at examples at http://tinyurl.com/2fnqma6, ... | |
| Need help identifying a beetle | 5/19/2010 |
| Q: I was recently catching up on my photo processing and came across this beetle I shot in July 2009 in ... A: but a plant bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Miridae). See http://tinyurl.com/2gyvk2w for a very similar ... | |
| assassin bug or not | 5/18/2010 |
| Q: Saugstad, I live on a almond farm in the Central Valley (CA) and have seen this little critter a ... A: your image is not clear enough for a positive identification, However, its general outline is more ... | |
| Bug Identification | 5/18/2010 |
| Q: I have found this insect twice in my room, both times it was crawling around on my bedsheets. They ... A: but it could be a carpet beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae0 such as the varied carpet beetle, ... | |
| Please identify this insect | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: I was not aware that these tiny “specks” were actually winged insects until I looked at this one ... A: Most of these are plant feeders (including some important pest species), and some are predaceous on ... | |
| myrmecosystus mexicanus (honey pot ants) | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: I am a big fan of ants. I started by building my son and I an ant farm. We did not fool with an ... A: you likely scooped up some virgin (non-breeding) reproductives in your initial collecting forays. It ... | |
| carpet beetles / larvae | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: Saugstad, I am coming to a breaking point mentally. I grew up in a very clean home (my mother had ... A: you are getting worked up needlessly. Annoying as these insects may be, they are no threat to you or ... | |
| unidentified worm | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: I am unable to supply a picture that is clear enough- I have on a few occasions gone to use the ... A: but this is indeed an instance where an image is essential to making a definitive identification. ... | |
| What bug is this in my home? | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: I notice these bugs normally later in the day and at night. They seem to keep close to the wall and ... A: Species such as silverfish and firebrats often can be nuisance pests indoors. Although they will ... | |
| Black bug found in newly renovated wardrobe | 5/16/2010 |
| Q: I just moved into this flat which was left vacant for 2 years. We're very careful - We have fumigate ... A: which doesn't explain what they might be doing in your wardrobe. To the best of my knowledge, none ... | |
| Black bug found in newly renovated wardrobe | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: I just moved into this flat which was left vacant for 2 years. We're very careful - We have fumigate ... A: d., I can at least assure you that they are neither cockroaches nor bed bugs; also, they do not look ... | |
| Unknown creature | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: Please help me identity what is in the photo as I am finding at least a couple every day even day ... A: it appears to be a larva of a carpet beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae). They can be quite destructive ... | |
| weevil? | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: I live in in the Columbia Basin of eastern Washington state. I have these teeny tiny bugs on my ... A: the usual method is to spray a band of a contact insecticide around the trunks of infested trees so ... | |
| weevil? | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: I live in in the Columbia Basin of eastern Washington state. I have these teeny tiny bugs on my ... A: Dermestidae) in the genus Anthrenus - see http://tinyurl.com/23jorfm for an example. The adult ... | |
| mystery bug | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: I was cleaning up in the bathroom and i noticed that on one of my towels there was a bit of white. ... A: your description is not sufficient for me to attempt an identification. About all I can say is that ... | |
| mystery bug | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: any idea what kind of bug this is? finding them on my floor A: It most likely is in the genus Dermacentor, such as the common wood tick or American dog tick, ... | |
| Thin Black bugs of south Florida | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: so first let me say that I tried very hard to get a picture of these guys, but unfortunately they ... A: dark, and slender insect damaging vegetation that I am familiar with are thrips (order ... | |
| Buh bites every spring | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: I live in Sacramento, California. For the last four years myself and my family have lived in the ... A: as (1) it is nearly impossible to determine the identity of 'mystery bites' without actually ... | |
| Very tiny bugs invading my home | 5/9/2010 |
| Q: I first started to notice these very very little bugs a few days ago outside of my home in my dogs ... A: but if you noticed them moving in a 'hopping' manner, they might be springtails, primitive ... | |
| red markings on house and concrete | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: We have noticed some catapillers around our house mostly in the shady side. They appear to be ... A: I suggest that you contact your county office of the University of Florida's Cooperative Extension ... | |
| red eggs? on my maple trees | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: on my maple trees on the leaves, it has what looks like tiny red eggs, can you tell me what they are ... A: but I suspect that they more likely could be galls caused by mites or tiny flies in the family ... | |
| clover mites | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: Do they morph into larger bugs eventually? Do they just die after a month in your house if you ... A: either from desiccation or starvation. They will not reproduce indoors, nor will they 'morph' into ... | |
| Found this bug in child's nursery | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: We live in College Station, Texas. We found an insect crawling around our infant's nursery. I ... A: it is a stink bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). These insects often enter buildings during ... | |
| insect identification | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: I am currently doing an assignment to do with insect classification and am struggling greatly with ... A: I suggest that you submit your images to the insect identification service at ... | |
| Glowing slug | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: My parents live in country Victoria, Australia. They recently (April 2010) observed a glowing ... A: I suspect that it was covered with bioluminescent bacteria, as I am aware of no reports of ... | |
| Larvae or excrement? | 5/1/2010 |
| Q: I don't know if I am trying to identify excrement or larvae. I'm just trying to find out what is ... A: but I cannot offer a definitive i.d. from your description. There are any number of possibilities, ... | |
| Insect cocoon | 5/1/2010 |
| Q: I live in Indiana and we just had a huge storm. One of my willow trees that is staked for stability ... A: They are very pretty and harmless; the adults do not appear to feed, and their larvae (caterpillars) ... | |
| Unknown Fly | 4/30/2010 |
| Q: Ed, I have an unknown fly in my house. It started maybe a month ago just seeing a few flies which ... A: As they likely are too small to photograph clearly, please tell me your state of residence, and I ... | |
| Tiny little catepillar type bugs on my back deck | 4/30/2010 |
| Q: I was standing under my deck and while looking up I saw hundreds of little black bugs on one of the ... A: the image is not clear enough to see any identifiable detail on these critters. If they are too ... | |
| other names | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: My daughter has a school project and one of the questions is; What is another name for a ... A: larvae); larva is the general term for the actively growing immature stage of insects that have ... | |
| bed bugs | 4/27/2010 |
| Q: can you describe what happens when there is a bed bug infestation that is not reported and what ... A: the population will continue to increase in accordance with the amount of habitat (harbourage) ... | |
| black gnats | 4/27/2010 |
| Q: I have little black gnat type bugs crawling all over the patio and in the dirt. I haven't seen them ... A: my apologies for the delay in responding - I somehow overlooked seeing your question yesterday. ... | |
| blue beetle? | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: Viewed this magnificent beauty last week (late April) climbing on the rocks in a small river in ... A: Meloidae). It could be in the genus Meloe; see http://tinyurl.com/249e78k for an example. When ... | |
| I want to know what type of bug this is | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: I found a red larva (or something)in my moms flower bed and I want to know what it is. Please help. ... A: It could be in the family Noctuidae (se http://tinyurl.com/2agv7xu for an example) - caterpillars in ... | |
| What kind of insect is this? | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: These bugs have showed up outside our house the past couple of days and I can't figure out what they ... A: They are harmless, but can be nuisance pests when they occur in large numbers. Their larvae are ... | |
| How to care for an injured sphinx moth | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: I found, what I believe to be a Clark's Sphinx moth in my garden a couple of days ago. He/she has ... A: as those are among the host plants favored by their larvae, and produce little if any nectar that an ... | |
| How to care for an injured sphinx moth | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: I found, what I believe to be a Clark's Sphinx moth in my garden a couple of days ago. He/she has ... A: but I do not believe that this moth is one that you want to nurture. It is not a sphinx moth (family ... | |
| update on previous question - positive ID | 4/21/2010 |
| Q: Well, I do have an update on a previous line of questioning. The question occurred on November 23, ... A: What you experienced appears quite unusual, and illustrates the importance of persistence when ... | |
| Indentify bug?? | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: I've noticed that there's these tiny black round bugs in my room lately. They're really small and ... A: From your verbal description, about all I can say is that they most likely are some kind of small ... | |
| Mystery Bugs | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: We have lived in our apartment now for going on 4 months. We began noticing these strange mystery ... A: they are bristletails, primitive insects in the order Thysanura. A few species, such as silverfish ... | |
| What Bug is this? | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: This bug is all black but it has like a brownish color stripe about at its neck but its bigger than ... A: I think that it could be a larder beetle (Dermestes lardarius; Coleoptera; Dermestidae). These ... | |
| A Fly or a Bee? | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: . I apologize if I seem too "greedy" and ask too many questions, however I cannot find the ... A: it looks a lot like Agapostemon virescens - see http://tinyurl.com/y4zcns9 for an image. Your ... | |
| Carpet Beetles? | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: I live in a 2 bedroom apartment in Tampa Florida. I'm sorry I don't have a picture as I cleaned up ... A: I can tell you that it would not have been carpet beetles. Most small wood-boring insects will not ... | |
| Insect | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: First week of April 2010. The weather was in plus teens Celcius. South Ontario. What is it? Does it ... A: but you still should handle it gently as it appears to be a blister beetle (Coleoptera: Meloidae) in ... | |
| Tiny White Bugs | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: I have these tiny clear bugs flying around my lights in my bathroom I have seen them in my tub! ... A: as verbal descriptions (such as in this case) usually are insufficient for a definitive ... | |
| Ladybugs | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: I live in Dallas, Texas. I moved to Bethlehem, Connecticut with my job and lived in the Litchfield ... A: an introduced species known as the Asian multi-colored lady beetle or harlequin ladybird because of ... | |
| worm/larva | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: I know you would like a picture but i can not provide one. On the bathroom cieling i had two ... A: I cannot provide a definitive answer without seeing these. About all I can say is that from your ... | |
| Grain Beetle Infestation!! | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: Let's get right to it... I have a TERRIBLE infestation of these damn critters. I first started ... A: as what you describe does not sound like typical grain beetle behaviour. The only grain-infesting ... | |
| HELP!! | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a feeling it may be a termite..but it's hanging out on the curtain?? the pic., is kind of ... A: Curculionidae); this is a very large family containing thousands of species. You did not mention the ... | |
| Arachnid/insect identification | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: This photo was taken in Kerala, India. Could you please identify the spider/insect? It seems to be ... A: Most (but not all) spiders in this family have very long slender bodies and legs. They all are ... | |
| Eggs on Ceiling?? | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: I just read a similar question where a young lady thought she had just discovered moth eggs on her ... A: but the pattern of deposition and their location certainly would make a moth a prime suspect. If ... | |
| nighttime bugs thru screens | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: :) we have a camper near a lake in Ohio/USA. and love our screened in porch especially in the ... A: insects such as these are going to be a continual problem. Most of these are going to be nuisance ... | |
| Eggs on Ceiling?? | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: I just read a similar question where a young lady thought she had just discovered moth eggs on her ... A: but unless you have already cleaned them up, you might just want to watch and see what (if anything) ... | |
| Mystery | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: This was found at a gas station in south western British Columbia. Approx. 4" long. A: Belostomatidae). Also known as toe biters or electric light bugs, they are voracious predators on ... | |
| fungus gnats | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: I live just outside Houston, Texas and moved into a home just built in September 2009. From the day ... A: your 'guests' look more like fungus gnats than anything else. This being so, they must be breeding ... | |
| Little Black Bugs | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: I noticed by our French Doors some very small hard material (see picture) and then noticed a few ... A: but an any event, you might try placing some of these in a small container of rubbing alcohol and ... | |
| Little Black Bugs | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: I noticed by our French Doors some very small hard material (see picture) and then noticed a few ... A: based on either your photo or verbal description. As these obviously are too small to photograph ... | |
| Weird worms | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: I have tried several times to get a picture of some weird worms I have in my back yard but am unable ... A: I suggest that you take one or more of these critters to your nearest office of Rutgers University's ... | |
| Ants & Company | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: Our neighborhood is infested with small ants. We do not have a concrete basement, it is more like a ... A: depending on the particular species involved. See http://tinyurl.com/lholv, ... | |
| Weird worms | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: I have tried several times to get a picture of some weird worms I have in my back yard but am unable ... A: I really need top see an image in order to provide a definitive identification. If you cannot obtain ... | |
| fungus gnats | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: I live just outside Houston, Texas and moved into a home just built in September 2009. From the day ... A: as this does not sound like typical fungus gnat behavior; the vast majority of indoor fungus gnat ... | |
| little dead black ant like bugs in bathroom | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: i was wondering what on earth these little insects are that have invaded my bathroom... they look ... A: and only extends through the weekend (I will be away from my computer quite a bit and thus be unable ... | |
| Brown Recluse Spider | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: I am writing a story for a Creative Writing class which involves a character being bitten by a Brown ... A: ) bites occur on the extremities (arms/legs), but theoretically, anything is possible. Also, ... | |
| Mystery Spider | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: A few weeks ago you identified a male hacklemesh weaver for me. I was hoping you might be able to ... A: possibly a Hogna sp. - see http://tinyurl.com/yf2pk2m for an example. These spiders frequently come ... | |
| Urgent need for ID of organism we think is a bug. | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: We discovered a serious infestation of an unknown type of bug (we think) in our bunny's play area. ... A: as the combination of characters you mention are not readily matchable to any particular arthropod ... | |
| Mystery Bug ID from Iraq | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: The picture being sent to you is of a Insect that we have found mainly under peoples laptops and in ... A: a primitive insect in the order Thysanura; some species also are known as silverfish or firebrats. ... | |
| Yellow Jacket or Wasp? | 4/3/2010 |
| Q: So I'm not quite sure what I have flying around my townhouse...I've seen paper wasp nests in the ... A: Vespidae), but it is not one of those commonly referred to as yellow jackets. Rather, it is in the ... | |
| white round bug | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: From Northwest Indiana USA - It was one of the 1st warm days of spring. My wife was driving with the ... A: as your description does not match any stinging/biting arthropod that I know of that would occur in ... | |
| BIG flies | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: I am living in a house and the windows have been closed for months. These huge flies started showing ... A: I can only guess tat you might be seeing cluster flies (Pollenia rudis; Diptera: Calliphoridae)) ... | |
| Bed bugs in my sons room | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: This morning when I went into my sons room to wake him up from school, I noticed that there were ... A: bed bugs can be very challenging to control. I believe that The article that I provided a link to in ... | |
| Tick looking Bugs | 3/30/2010 |
| Q: I have a question about a reddish,hard tick looking bug.They are quite small under 5 millimeters in ... A: and they don't bite. They are spider beetles (Coleoptera: Anobiidae; subfamily Ptininae). They will ... | |
| Bed bugs in my sons room | 3/30/2010 |
| Q: This morning when I went into my sons room to wake him up from school, I noticed that there were ... A: //tinyurl.com/5l5y95), it would be nearly impossible to confine them to one room, as they are ... | |
| Info regarding bees | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: ) I'm doing a magazine article on the declining bee population, Do you have any thoughts as to what ... A: The best I can do is to extract material from someone [Doug Yanega] with far more knowledge on this ... | |
| Bug in my Livingroom | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: I live in Melissa, Texas. A small town north of McKinney, Texas. This is the 3rd bug I have found ... A: the beetle species in your image poses no threat to your house. Although several species of ... | |
| Job | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: Saugstad, I am 17 and a junior in high school in the US and am beginning to search for colleges and ... A: there are a multitude of entomological opportunities, not all of them immediately obvious. If you ... | |
| Bug in my Livingroom | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: I live in Melissa, Texas. A small town north of McKinney, Texas. This is the 3rd bug I have found ... A: there are hundreds of species of these beetles in Texas, and would not be at all unusual for you to ... | |
| Bug in my Livingroom | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: I live in Melissa, Texas. A small town north of McKinney, Texas. This is the 3rd bug I have found ... A: It is a long-horned wood-boring beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae); their larvae bore in the tissue ... | |
| glow in the dark pill bugs? | 3/27/2010 |
| Q: About 20 years ago I was cleaning my corral and in a particularly moist spot that had been covered ... A: there are no bioluminescent pillbugs/sowbugs. Based on your geographic location, I suspect that are ... | |
| termites | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: I bought a house in May '09, had ALL of the inspections done that I should have. Long story short, ... A: The entomology staff is within the college of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources. Faculty ... | |
| fire ants | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: I lived in Huntsville Alabama for a few years and was bitten by fire ants 3 times. I found out that ... A: but there does not appear to be great differences in venom composition among them. Also, these ants ... | |
| Carpenter Bees | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: I have Carpenter Bees surrounding my property and they seem to think that I am invading their ... A: often literally getting in one's face. However, it is all a bluff, as they do not have a stinger. ... | |
| Catterpillar?? | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: What is this? There was a hoard of around 10,000 outside the garage of the house I recently ... A: that includes many pest species such as cutworms and armyworms. The ones that curl up into a 'C' may ... | |
| Catterpillar?? | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: What is this? There was a hoard of around 10,000 outside the garage of the house I recently ... A: but these do look more like the larvae (caterpillars) of a moth than anything else. Although they ... | |
| Mites in kitchen cupboards | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: She mentioned they were about the size of a period (.) and you replied that they sounded like mites ... A: If mites especially were present in really large numbers, you likely would notice a bad odor in the ... | |
| Mites in kitchen cupboards | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: She mentioned they were about the size of a period (.) and you replied that they sounded like mites ... A: the most likely culprits would be flour/grain mites (Acarus sp.) or close relatives - see ... | |
| What is this bug? | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: I'm an American living in Holland. Last summer I took my dog to a park here and he swam in a pond. ... A: These bugs are plant feeders in the superfamily Fulgoroidea, possibly in the family Cercopidae ... | |
| Mystery Bug | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: We keep finding these beetle looking insects on the carpet and in the bathroom of the house we just ... A: Pentatomidae); likely the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, an introduced species now ... | |
| Spider Identification | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: After doing some spring cleaning I seem to have driven out some nasty looking spiders. Their most ... A: likely in the genus Amaurobius - see http://tinyurl.com/yf8jm37 for an example. These spiders are ... | |
| Yellow colour and its attraction to insects | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: "How and why do the yellow color attract insect? I'd setting a sticky trap with a lamp to trap the ... A: For example, although many aphids and some small flies appear attracted to yellow (which is why ... | |
| Strange bug | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: I seem to have a bug in my room that resembles a carpet beetle but it's completely black and cannot ... A: carpet beetles have not demonstrated resistance to any insecticide, so any contact insecticide ... | |
| Help with insect identification | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: can you help identify this insect on the attached photo. It crawls up on our walls and hangs on the ... A: ; Lepidoptera: Tineidae). Unlike clothes moths, these insects appear to prefer old spider webs and ... | |
| Strange bug | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: I seem to have a bug in my room that resembles a carpet beetle but it's completely black and cannot ... A: As it stands, your description is general enough to fit a number of possibilities, the vast majority ... | |
| possible hobo spider and widow spider found in home | 3/20/2010 |
| Q: these aren't the greatest photos, but i found what i believe to be a hobo spider under my infant's ... A: Rather, it appears to be a wolf spider (family Lycosidae); these are active hunters that often ... | |
| Isopod in Eastern Afghanistan | 3/20/2010 |
| Q: Good day, I hope you are all well. I have been working in Afghanistan for five years and just had ... A: The closest I can come is an unnamed species from Afghanistan that can be seen at ... | |
| varied carpet beetles | 3/19/2010 |
| Q: I need help of getting rid of these.i find them everywhere in my house, in the bathroom, in everyone ... A: you should also have noticed damage caused by their larvae to items such as silk or woolen fabrics ... | |
| How to raise bed bugs | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: i currently run a bed bug detection K9 and am having problems not only obtaining them but they are ... A: This is a new one - most people want to get rid of the little buggers! I suggest that you contact ... | |
| Which bee is this? | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: PLease help me in identifying this bee. I want to know its species and common name. Can you also ... A: but a wasp in the family Vespidae. This is a very large family, and I cannot provide a specific name ... | |
| pantry or carpet beetle?? | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: I was hoping to have a household pest identified. I have attached a picture. I have found this bug ... A: Dermestidae); likely the varied carpet beetle, Anthrenus verbasci - see http://tinyurl.com/ycowta7 ... | |
| mites | 3/16/2010 |
| Q: on day my dog scatching ears as though they were really bothering him. I woke up next day w 20+ ... A: as I have a hunch that there may be something besides mites causing your symptoms; there are several ... | |
| Beetles | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: These beetles are outside of my house everyday. I noticed that they especially come out when it is ... A: but a true bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera) in the family Largidae, genus Largus. It appears to be Largus ... | |
| mites | 3/14/2010 |
| Q: on day my dog scatching ears as though they were really bothering him. I woke up next day w 20+ ... A: you should have a thorough medical exam to determine whether mites indeed are the cause of your ... | |
| BLACK AND ORANGE BUG | 3/13/2010 |
| Q: I read some of your replies to a couple questions about this black and orange bug. I too have seen ... A: Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Rhopalidae). The good news is that these basically are nuisance pests that ... | |
| Kitchen drain bugs | 3/13/2010 |
| Q: For the past week,when I return home from work, there are 10-15 small, round dark bugs in kitchen ... A: If it is not feasible for you to take a photo that you could attach to a follow-up question, I ... | |
| what is this bug? | 3/12/2010 |
| Q: I have seen a couple of these bugs around my house and I am not sure what it is. It looks kind of ... A: They do have eight legs like spiders, but they are easily detached, and your specimen obviously has ... | |
| Bed bug or flour beetle | 3/10/2010 |
| Q: We had recently moved into an apartment in Minnesota. We had started moving around items in our sons ... A: that is possible, but (1) flour beetles are a year-round pest; they do not just "...come out in the ... | |
| psocids or barklice | 3/10/2010 |
| Q: So i was sitting on my carpet and noticed the cat went to get something, that at first I did not ... A: but if you had booklice, you likely would see more than one. Also, I don't think tat they can move ... | |
| Worms on floor | 3/9/2010 |
| Q: Augie (Is that tyou nick? I was assuming due to other answer) I I have noticed dried hard worm ... A: From your description, these most likely are harmless millipedes that wandered indoors and died from ... | |
| Bug | 3/9/2010 |
| Q: Ed, Just trying to identify an insect that has decided that my apartment is home. I've had them ... A: This is a beetle in the family Dermestidae (carpet/skin/hide/larder beetles); their larvae (which ... | |
| Did I discover a bug??? | 3/7/2010 |
| Q: I was up in Canada two years ago, and found a beetle that resembled a ladybug, only that it was ... A: it is a leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in the genus Calligrapha. This genus is widespread ... | |
| preserving bees | 3/6/2010 |
| Q: I am wondering what the best way would be to make last a group of honey bees that I collected from a ... A: then allow them to air dry. No coating s necessary, as pinned specimens stored in insect-proof ... | |
| some kind of pest in our house | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: Saugstad, I originally thought that our family was experiencing a lice infestation. However, this ... A: See http://tinyurl.com/yllela5 for an image and more information, and if this does not match what ... | |
| Carpet Worms | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: I have a cat and I've been noticing that there are itty bitty worms (just like those in your image ... A: Could you please try to take a close-up photo of one or more of them and attach the image to a ... | |
| please identify | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: Please identify this bug. It is barely visible with the naked eye. I have them in my bedroom. My ... A: possibly either bird mites (see http://tinyurl.com/y9kwlll for an example) or rodent mites (see ... | |
| Apartment Infestation... | 3/3/2010 |
| Q: I have a bug problem. In the six legged, black with a brown spot, antenna, and pleated body variety. ... A: See if you can take a reasonably clear, close-up photo of one or more of these and attach the image ... | |
| caterpillar nests in a pine tree, White Rock, BC | 3/2/2010 |
| Q: I have noticed the sudden appearance of a dead patch in a huge pine tree in our back yard, and near ... A: there are many species of caterpillars that have urticating hairs with the potential for causing ... | |
| caterpillar nests in a pine tree, White Rock, BC | 3/1/2010 |
| Q: I have noticed the sudden appearance of a dead patch in a huge pine tree in our back yard, and near ... A: Although there does appear to be some resemblance to the pine processionary caterpillar, these do ... | |
| eggs on bathroom wall | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: Found some mysterious "eggs" on bathroom floor adjacent to the wall yesterday. Cleaned them out. But ... A: but the frass (fecal pellets) of drywood termites. These termites usually are noticed only when the ... | |
| Tick? Flea? Something else? | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: I found this insect on my pillow right by where my dogs was just sleeping. Ick! It doesn't look like ... A: or is it a blood feeder of any kind; at worst, it is a minor pantry pest. It is a beetle in the ... | |
| white bugs mites? | 2/27/2010 |
| Q: I noticed you have had a previous question about the same thing I seem to have in my kitchen in ... A: no eyes visible) or booklice (usually more than 1 mm long, with well-developed eyes), the basic ... | |
| Cockroaches | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: Ed, Would there be a higher population of cockroaches in Virginia (Falls Church) area or Arkansas ... A: .." - you can get high populations just about anywhere that favorable conditions (abundant food and ... | |
| insect ID | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: Upstate New York---Please identify since I'm concerned it might be a termite species. straight ... A: it is extremely unlikely that these are termites. A better guess would be small parasitic wasps in ... | |
| Spider I.D | 2/24/2010 |
| Q: I was in Namibia for a period of time and saw some HUGE spiders. I was just wondering if you could ... A: anyway) orb weaving spider (family Araneidae) in the genus Argiope. See http://tinyurl.com/ybhy9nn ... | |
| Varied Carpet Beetle | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: I have just recently bought a condo in San Diego, CA. Over the past week and a half I found about 5 ... A: //tinyurl.com/aklstg for an image) will feed on a very wide variety of organic material, primarily ... | |
| bees saliva on grass | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: I was informed by a vet that my dog is allergic to bee saliva on grass. This is something I have ... A: as it absolutely beggars belief. I also have never heard of this, and as far as I know, bees are not ... | |
| Flies | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: Why are houseflies and/or other flies attracted to human beings and/or other animals? A: and the larger the animal, the more potential excrement. To house flies, humans are just other large ... | |
| dengue mosquitoes | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: Currently I live in a tropical country called Malaysia where Dengue fever is prevalent, spread by ... A: the mosquitoes that vector dengue fever belong to the genus Aedes; the primary vector being Aedes ... | |
| Identify small dark brown, tear-drop shaped insect | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: Mr. Saugstad, I found a small, tear-drop shaped insect in my kitchen. It's brown with some ... A: I really need to see an image in order to do more than make a guess. First off, are you sure of your ... | |
| Unusual insect | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: Could you please help to identify this insect which I found in my house about two years ago. I live ... A: Staphylinidae); specifically, it appears to be Britain's largest species, Staphylinus olens, ... | |
| insect identification - from Brazil | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: My sister in law is traveling in Brazil, and is trying to find out what type of insect this is that ... A: Reduviidae) in the genus Arilus. A very similar species (Arilus cristatus), known as the wheel bug, ... | |
| Flour, tobbacco, drustore beetle | 2/13/2010 |
| Q: I have purchased koi food and found that 9 large sized koi were dead after 2 feeds ph and ammonia ... A: The only grain/cereal product beetles that give off secretions sufficient to affect food quality are ... | |
| Hermit Flower Beetle | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: My wife bought a large beetle home from work 2 days ago and my son wants to do a school talk on it. ... A: However, at last count, there were 29 genera and 146 species of scarab beetles in that subfamily ... | |
| Worm | 2/9/2010 |
| Q: I live in Spring, TX, right outside of Houston and found a 1 to 2-inch brown worm or worm-like thing ... A: d. from the image provided, I do not believe that it is a roundworm. See http://tinyurl.com/ybz35b8 ... | |
| fly cycle | 2/9/2010 |
| Q: When something dies and the flies swarm the dead bodies, which fly comes first and which comes last? ... A: Although blow flies (family Calliphoridae) usually are first on the scene of death, flesh flies ... | |
| spider ticks? | 2/8/2010 |
| Q: Good Day! My husband and I both got a deer this past deer season in WV. (thats the good part, the ... A: but wingless flies known as deer keds (Lipoptena mazamae; Diptera: Hippoboscidae). They are ... | |
| Tiny bug with pinchers in bathroom | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: This bug is 1/8" and brownish. Body excreted a yellowish fluid when squished on the wall. A: ticks, mites, etc.) called a pseudoscorpion. They are general predators on other small arthropods ... | |
| nits | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: What can I use to kill nits? I know about the combing, and lice shampoo, but those things still do ... A: Even if a few nits should remain after careful combing, treatments at intervals short enough to ... | |
| Large Grasshopper | 2/2/2010 |
| Q: Los Angeles CA, LaCienega / Wilshire Area. I noticed this large grasshopper this afternoon. I ... A: the largest grasshopper species native to California. See http://tinyurl.com/yl9uq7j for images and ... | |
| bugs flying out of hair | 2/2/2010 |
| Q: sorry I don't have a picture but I'm desperate. My sister and I have had really itchy heads all ... A: they certainly do not fly, and their eggs are pale, not dark (see http://tinyurl.com/ylxnvod). ... | |
| What kind of bug is this? | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: I found a bug in my new apartment, and I want to make sure I don't have more of these... can you ... A: They are harmless to humans; at worst they might be able give you a little nip if you were to handle ... | |
| Bugs in my home | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: I have had a problem with little black flying bugs that are smaller than a fruit fly, I am finding ... A: but these now are for all practical purposes restricted to parts of the world where sanitation and ... | |
| Return of the flies... | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: Several months ago I asked you to help with small flies at my basement patio door. ... A: I re-examined the photograph you provided with your prior query, and believe that they might be in ... | |
| BUgs in my home | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: I have had a problem with little black flying bugs that are smaller than a fruit fly, I am finding ... A: but I cannot help you unless I can see an image or images of whatever it is that you are seeing. If ... | |
| Flat oval beige worm pod | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: I stumbled upon a question someone else had asked on this site, but it was not answered: "I am ... A: Lepidoptera: Tineidae). Unlike their pestiferous relatives, these insects appear to prefer dining on ... | |
| small 1-2mm long brown flying insects | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: recently i founf some tiny brown insects on the walls of the living room, on my study table, and one ... A: and these harmless nuisance pests are totally wingless. Clothes moths (Lepidoptera: Tineidae) are ... | |
| Bug Carcass found under night stands | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: While cleaning, I found some bug skins or carcasses in spider webs under my nightstand. I was ... A: they definitely are not bed bugs. A more likely suspect is that they could be the shed 'skins' ... | |
| small 1-2mm long brown flying insects | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: recently i founf some tiny brown insects on the walls of the living room, on my study table, and one ... A: There are several species of these insects that can occur in Singapore. Although not a hard and fast ... | |
| Looks like a large tick | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: Any idea what this might be? Found it dying on the floor in my spare upstairs bedroom. Just want to ... A: this insect will not lay eggs indoors; they are there solely for sheltering purposes. Also, you are ... | |
| What bug is this? | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: I found this bug on our fejoa tree that I've never seen before, it appears at first to be a curled ... A: It appears to be the steelblue lady beetle, Halmus chalybeus - see http://tinyurl.com/yb4aksk for ... | |
| Looks like a large tick | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: Any idea what this might be? Found it dying on the floor in my spare upstairs bedroom. Just want to ... A: but a stink bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). Specifically, it appears to be a brown ... | |
| Bed Bugs | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: This past Saturday (the 15th), I've slept in an apartment that wasn't mine. During this week, I ... A: it is nearly impossible to be certain of the cause of 'bug bite' symptoms without actually ... | |
| small 1-2mm long brown flying insects | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: recently i founf some tiny brown insects on the walls of the living room, on my study table, and one ... A: I cannot provide a definitive identification from tour description. I realize that their small size ... | |
| saw tooth carpet beetles | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: We have what we believe to be an infestation of saw tooth carpet beetles in our furniture and can ... A: as there are no such things as saw-toothed carpet beetles. There are saw-toothed grain beetles (see ... | |
| what is it | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: I live in NC and whenever I leave a damp towel on the floor I can almost be sure that a tiny black ... A: a primitive arthropod in the order Collembola. Ones such as this one are harmless scavengers on ... | |
| entomology | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: why do many biologist get ticked off if you call an insect or a spider "bug" A: the term 'bug' refers specifically to insects in the order Hemiptera, a large assemblage that ... | |
| mineola moth larva | 1/18/2010 |
| Q: in the last week about a dozen larva [mineola?] have crawled out from under my baseboard. how did ... A: it would be extremely unlikely, to say the least, for these to be larvae of moths in the genus ... | |
| Brown shells or eggs in my basement | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: I noticed that someone asked a question about the brown shells or eggs they have in theri basement. ... A: could you please take a close-up photo or two of what you are seeing and attach the image(s) to a ... | |
| ANTS (very small) | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: our home was invaded by ants (fire ants to be precise) to avoid chemicals sprayed in our house, we ... A: Torres - It is impossible to be certain with out examining them. Although fire ants (Solenopsis sp.) ... | |
| eaten larvae | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: i live in the south eastern part of australia (victoria), i finished nearly all of it, when i ... A: d. from your description, I do not believe that they are anything to worry about. The only larvae ... | |
| catepillar | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: I live in Israel, Tel Aviv area and we are having rain ... everything is crawling about ! Today I ... A: but it might be a larva (caterpillar) of a moth in the family Sphingidae known as the oleander ... | |
| Hatching of large Black flies | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: I have a house in Indiana, USA. I recently returned home after an extended absence to find someone ... A: I doubt very much that these flies and larvae are from either of the two families (Calliphoridae and ... | |
| insect nest identification | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: Mosselbay - South Africa. Please indentify this curled up,dried out insects we found in a garden. ... A: but millipedes known as 'pill millipedes' because of their ability to curl up into a ball as a ... | |
| indentification of bug | 1/1/2010 |
| Q: please can you tell me what these are that have infested my carpet, it looks like a worm/caterpillar ... A: Could to try again, or post it on a site like Flickr? In the meantime, have a look at an image of ... | |
| spider's sense of taste | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: My science fair project is on a spider's sense of taste. Almost 100% have chosen to feed on sugar ... A: it is very difficult (if not impossible) to equate what a spider 'tastes' with human perceptions. ... | |
| insect identification | 12/25/2009 |
| Q: I was traveling in southern Costa Rica, on the Osa Penisula when I saw 3 of these bugs in a lodge ... A: but it appears to be a non-venomous arachnid (related to spiders, scorpions, etc.) called a tailless ... | |
| unidentified bug in my bathroom | 12/22/2009 |
| Q: For the life of me, I cannot identify the bug I have seen in my bathroom a couple of times. ... A: as I am having a difficult time reconciling your description with any household 'visitor' that I am ... | |
| unidentified bug in my bathroom | 12/22/2009 |
| Q: For the life of me, I cannot identify the bug I have seen in my bathroom a couple of times. ... A: a primitive insect in the order Thysanura. Some species such as silverfish and firebrats can be ... | |
| entomology preservation | 12/22/2009 |
| Q: What type of glue should we use to repair some mounted insects? Also, what type of solution should ... A: repairing broken dries specimens, I have had some success with water-based glues such as Elmers. ... | |
| Small tiny bitting bugs | 12/18/2009 |
| Q: In our yard and In our home we have extremyly tiny bitting bugs that fill like a sting we at one ... A: The only flying insects that small that also might bite humans are midges in the family ... | |
| insect ID | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: Greetings Ed, I would like to identify these insects by common name and genus species. If I can ... A: Pentatomidae). Numbers 2 and 3 are a nymph and adult, respectively, of the harlequin bug, Murgantia ... | |
| tiny worms in my shower area | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: tiny reddish-brown worms, about a few mm this and an inch long sometimes appear on the tiles of the ... A: If they did, they would not be worms of any kind, but very slender centipedes in the order ... | |
| Cockroaches | 12/11/2009 |
| Q: so this is a random question but I am interested in finding out how cockroaches got to Hawaii. I am ... A: an admixture of those native to the Pacific region such as Diploptera punctata, known as the beetle ... | |
| mosquito anaphylaxis | 12/11/2009 |
| Q: My husband was bitten by a large mosquito (I killed it) on the forehead. Within 4 minutes his blood ... A: There are very few places one can move to where there would not be some risk of mosquito bite - they ... | |
| brown recluse bite | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: We had an associate who we believe was bitten by a brown recluse spider on his elbow. It was a ... A: //tinyurl.com/yetfu27 and http://tinyurl.com/yew4kbg for University of Tennessee publications on ... | |
| brown recluse bite | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: We had an associate who we believe was bitten by a brown recluse spider on his elbow. It was a ... A: it would be very helpful if I knew where your associate was when this bite occurred. Unless he was ... | |
| 1inch brown worms | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: finding several 1 inch brown worms in my bathroom and kitchen weekly. Never had before. Coils when ... A: but the most likely suspects would be millipedes. These are nuisance pests that do no real harm ... | |
| Writer Spider | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: I love this spider. First time ever seeing one here in NC. This lovely lady is unfortunately gone ... A: Although the eggs may hatch sometime during the winter, the young spiders will not emerge from the ... | |
| What is this beetle I found in Vietnam?? | 12/3/2009 |
| Q: I took this photo back in June 2009, in Dalat, Vietnam. I have tried to search for similar ... A: Cerambycidae), it looks like one known as the Aristobia longhorn beetle (Aristobia approximator) - ... | |
| Looking for ent. for new Discovery show | 11/30/2009 |
| Q: I'm looking for an entomologist to help with a new show for Discovery. If you’re interested, would ... A: David - I am flattered at your offer, but I would like more details as to what would be expected of ... | |
| brown cocoon looking things on walls | 11/30/2009 |
| Q: We live in South Florida, and have dozens of light brown cocoon-like things stuck to the walls, ... A: I believe that these most likely are cases of a caterpillar known as the household casebearer or ... | |
| found bug in son's diaper | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: It is the size of a small rice grain. Yellow to off-white main color with some black stripes on ... A: If it has more than six legs, it would not be an insect. If you cannot photograph it, please tell me ... | |
| Need help in identifying this worm | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: You have been a great help for the previous question that I post about the unidentified black ... A: but millipedes, arthropods in the class Diplopoda. They look like ones called the red rounded ... | |
| Help me identify this insect | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: I live in Singapore in an apartment, 11th storey high. Yesterday night there was this big black ... A: Although I am obviously not familiar with all the insects that can occur in your area, I can tell ... | |
| many 1/8 inch holes in willow tree | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: i have a 6 yr old willow that seems to be doing well. the leaves have small brown marks on them and ... A: If the holes seem to occur to be spaced fairly regularly in horizontal or vertical rows, a bird ... | |
| Help me identify this insect | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: I live in Singapore in an apartment, 11th storey high. Yesterday night there was this big black ... A: your image is too fuzzy to see enough detail for a positive identification of your visitor. If its ... | |
| Worm in Bed | 11/26/2009 |
| Q: My husband woke me in the middle of the night, he had a half inch size worm like insect on his ... A: If it had a definite dark head, it might have been a small caterpillar such as that of an Indianmeal ... | |
| dremistids | 11/26/2009 |
| Q: We have a small business growing crickets for pet shops, zoos etc. We grow the crickets in an ... A: I will tell you that this is one situation that I never have encountered before! That aside, I think ... | |
| bug in bed = bedbug? | 11/25/2009 |
| Q: I found this in my bed. I think it looks like some kind of beetle, but I'd like to confirm that it ... A: but the images are not clear enough for a specific identification. Because of its very small size, ... | |
| brown house centipede? | 11/25/2009 |
| Q: Is this a house centipede? We just recently moved into a new home and have never seen one of these ... A: When judging the size of these, remember that the length refers to the body alone; their long legs ... | |
| black spots on my wall that seem to be worm like insects | 11/24/2009 |
| Q: Two nights ago i noticed that there was a black spot on my wall near the ceiling in my kitchen. I ... A: Sincwerely, Saugy Dear Nora - Unfortunately, unless your house is hermetically sealed, it ... | |
| stinging or biting insect - flea? | 11/23/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I have been plagued with insect problems since we returned from Belgium on a United ... A: the Extension Service is associated with the University of Maryland in College Park. If no one at ... | |
| unknown cocoon worm in home | 11/23/2009 |
| Q: I have found several cocooned worm like bugs in my sons closet and on his clothes and the corners of ... A: (1) If you live in a southern or west coast state, they might be household casebearers (sometimes ... | |
| Sesame seed mystery solved | 11/23/2009 |
| Q: I've found these eggs -- a little smaller than sesame seeds, same tan/blond color, most flat, some ... A: Jane - This will be added to the long list of things that I never knew before but should have. ... | |
| small brown bug ID | 11/21/2009 |
| Q: I have spotted two of these little guys hanging around my windows lately. They're very hard to kill ... A: there's not much you can do to make your place less attractive to these beetles. They are not really ... | |
| Bug in my bed | 11/21/2009 |
| Q: i awoke this morning to the feeling of something crawling on my neck. Turns out this bug i rubbed ... A: at worst, it is a nuisance pest. It is a primitive insect called a bristletail (order Thysanura), ... | |
| stinging or biting insect - flea? | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I have been plagued with insect problems since we returned from Belgium on a United ... A: //annearundel.umd.edu/ for contact information. I lived in Maryland from 1978-1999, mostly in ... | |
| Sesame-seed-like eggs | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: I've found these eggs -- a little smaller than sesame seeds, same tan/blond color, most flat, some ... A: as these certainly do not sound like the eggs of anything likely to be pest/parasite of pets or ... | |
| stinging or biting insect - flea? | 11/19/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I have been plagued with insect problems since we returned from Belgium on a United ... A: the winged ones appear to be aphids ('plant lice') which definitely would not bite, but I cannot see ... | |
| tiny white bugs (again) | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: I've read through the tiny white bugs Q&As here, but i'm not sure if those apply to the ones I am ... A: it is difficult to say exactly what they might be; that would take an expert on the group examining ... | |
| ID of fly | 11/17/2009 |
| Q: I will attach a photo that I took of flies I found in great numbers this year in northern Wyoming. I ... A: as the wing venation still is not visible, but I believe that this is a picture-winged fly (Diptera: ... | |
| Very tiny white mites | 11/17/2009 |
| Q: ..I hope you may be able to give me some advice...about a week ago I was cleaning and noticed a ... A: However, because of their extremely small size, they often go unnoticed unless they occur in very ... | |
| tiny red centipede/worm with pincers | 11/17/2009 |
| Q: these tiny (approx 5 mm) red centipedes/annelids/arthropod/worms have been found scattered around ... A: its flattened appearance and the urogomphi (pincer-like structures at the rear of the abdomen) ... | |
| mystery bug identification from the Caribbean | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: and thank you for this service. I am getting bites in the night that itch for a couple days. I ... A: it is a weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and these all are plant feeders. It is nearly impossible ... | |
| Brandy and Flying Insects | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: I noticed something very odd in the last month or so. In past times when I drank other kinds of ... A: I can only offer a suggestion that there may be some volatile compounds present in brandy but not in ... | |
| Attraction to light | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: I've been wondering for a long time why insects are attracted to light. Please, can you enlighten ... A: several theories/hypotheses have been posited, but to the best of my knowlefge, none have been ... | |
| Tarantula Feeding | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: So how do Tarantulas actually eat I always thought spiders inject there prey with venom and drink ... A: tarantulas can only ingest liquid food. However, they use the powerful bases of their chelicerae ... | |
| ID of fly | 11/14/2009 |
| Q: I will attach a photo that I took of flies I found in great numbers this year in northern Wyoming. I ... A: Could you please try submitting a clear photo of the dorsal (top) aspect of this fly? I need to see ... | |
| aggressive flour beetles in my kitchen | 11/14/2009 |
| Q: I have a really frustrating infestation of flour beetles which appeared quickly and is attacking odd ... A: Although pyrethrum-based insecticides certainly appear safe from a human health standpoint, they ... | |
| White worm in wood | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: Ed, you answered a question about a white boring wood worm in firewood purchased near Lake Tahoe ... A: there are no buprestids that are a serious threat to trees in Idaho, as they all appear to attack ... | |
| Spider in son's room | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: Sorry for the horrible resolution. My camera battery was dying, plus the spider was in an area where ... A: I can say that it is definitely not a recluse spider of any kind, but anything further would simply ... | |
| White worm in wood | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: Ed, you answered a question about a white boring wood worm in firewood purchased near Lake Tahoe ... A: To the best of my knowledge, the most dangerous beetles from a timber standpoint in your area are ... | |
| arthropod herbivory | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: Do leave eating insects perfer tree that grow in creek beds over dry land trees? If so is there any ... A: Factors influencing 'choices' of herbivory among insects are far too numerous and complex to treat ... | |
| Identification | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: Could you help me to identify this one? It can move its flower like tail end such a way that at ... A: it is Diaphania indica, a pest species sometimes known as the cucumber moth, melon moth, or pumpkin ... | |
| insect head orientation | 11/9/2009 |
| Q: please may i know the types of insect head orientation and its importance to any particular species ... A: (1) Hypognathous - mouthparts directed ventrally - this is the commonest orientation among plant ... | |
| tiny mystery bugs on the outside of my home. | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: I live in Keller TX. And I have started to notice ALOT of these VERY tiny little bugs on the outside ... A: //tinyurl.com/yjf5ar7 and http://tinyurl.com/ylfmwh8 to see if there is any resemblance to what you ... | |
| dust like insect craw on wall | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: Recently there is plenty of dust like insect in my room, they usually hanging on the wall and ... A: //tinyurl.com/ykbhp9y for an image. These cases are constructed by larvae (caterpillars) of moths in ... | |
| moth eggs | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: I found moth eggs on my ceiling this morning. There was a moth flying around the kitchen the other ... A: what it resembles most is a small critter, such as a larva of some kind, that died there, and now ... | |
| moth eggs | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: I found moth eggs on my ceiling this morning. There was a moth flying around the kitchen the other ... A: and even if they were, no pest species that I know of would lay its eggs in such a situation or ... | |
| SEED TICK | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: NEED YOUR HELP URGENTLY. I IDENTIFIED ON YOUR SITE A PICTURE OF SEED (SESAME) TICKS DATED 10/7/09 ... A: the only tick species that would actually infest a house is the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus ... | |
| looks like a devil's coach horse beetle | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: Curious what this bug is. Looks like a devil's coach horse beetle, but it's not all black as most ... A: Staphylinidae), the same family as to which the devil's coach horse beetle belongs. This is a very ... | |
| brick repointing? | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: We are experiencing bites,have had 2 exterminators here and no one can find anything.We recently had ... A: //tinyurl.com/c63ox9, you will see a state map where you click on the area of the state where you ... | |
| brick repointing? | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: We are experiencing bites,have had 2 exterminators here and no one can find anything.We recently had ... A: identifying the cause of 'mystery bites' is extremely difficult without actually catching/seeing the ... | |
| Bug I found in the house | 11/1/2009 |
| Q: I found this creepy looking bug in my house today. I have seen one of these before. What is it? ... A: this is an arachnid (the group that includes spiders, scorpions, mites, etc.) called a ... | |
| What kind of bug is this?? | 11/1/2009 |
| Q: I live in Washington State, Tacoma. I have seen this thing a couple of times before in my bathroom, ... A: ; Lepidoptera: Tineidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/yk8x4x3 for an image. It is in the same family as ... | |
| bug in kitchen - boston apartment - what is it? | 10/31/2009 |
| Q: Have been living in an apartment in Boston for the past 1.5 years, and never found a bug (except ... A: likely in the genus Attagenus (black carpet beetle and relatives) - see http://tinyurl.com/mml94l ... | |
| Sun Spiders / Solifugidae | 10/31/2009 |
| Q: found one like this http://tinyurl.com/pp93wz exactly, with the "one" dark eye, ugly pinchers ... A: wind spiders, camel spiders, and sun spiders among other common names) are arachnids, more closely ... | |
| Unkown Bug | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: This one was seen in northwest Mexico, i have lived here my whole life and haven't seen something ... A: Cerambycidae)in the subfamily Laminiinae; it may be in the genus Saperda (see ... | |
| Can't figure this bug out! | 10/29/2009 |
| Q: About four this morning, I found two tiny bugs under my daughter's pillow. For six weeks she's been ... A: as your description does not match up with any human biting pest that I am familiar with. Just a ... | |
| crickets | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: I am doing a project on crickets and I'm trying to figure out the best types of food to give them ... A: This one really is outside my area of expertise, about all that I can tell you is that crickets are ... | |
| tiny black worms in toilet | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: I moved to a new home 2 months ago in portland, oregon and have recently found tiny black worms ... A: Psychodidae; aka drain fly) larvae; see http://tinyurl.com/muuznu, http://tinyurl.com/yjee5fx, and ... | |
| maggots? | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: i have been running a fitness business in my basement for the past 3 years with nothing ever. it is ... A: but I still really would like to see a photo. if you do not have a digital camera, do you know ... | |
| Grub/larvae identification | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: 1. I found this grub/larvae(see picture)when I was splitting a log. It had bored into the middle of ... A: Cerambycidae); once removed from its tunnel, it may not survive. If you still have the section of ... | |
| Spider Identification | 10/26/2009 |
| Q: I live in southwest Florida. My brother's roommate either was bit by something or has staph ... A: it is not a spider at all, it is an arachnid in the order Opiliones known as a harvestman or daddy ... | |
| bugs, and hoping not small cockroach | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: We live in Northern California, in Sonoma. I have noticed small (1/4") bugs with long, straight ... A: //tinyurl.com/ygb8sr9 for an image. However, it would be very unusual to see them out in the open ... | |
| beetles | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: every fall and through to the middle of April/May we have these orange and black beetles that seem ... A: as I suspect that they may not be beetles. Please try to take a clear, close-up photo of at least ... | |
| Mystery Maggot | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: My mom's boyfriend and I noticed a bug on our stove right after we finished eating french toast this ... A: your image is too unclear for me to attempt an identification; I can't even tell which is the head ... | |
| maggots? | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: i have been running a fitness business in my basement for the past 3 years with nothing ever. it is ... A: but I cannot be of any help to you unless you either attach a photo of one or more of these 'mystery ... | |
| earwigs | 10/23/2009 |
| Q: how often would you say an earwig goes into peoples ears? I have heard many stories and well it ... A: that's an 'old wives' tale' that has no scientific validity. Almost any crawling insect has the ... | |
| worm | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: What kind of worm has 8 legs 8 orange horns on its head body is turqouis numerous small black horns ... A: such as the hickory horned devil (Citheronia regalis) - see http://tinyurl.com/ygnxb4y for an image ... | |
| Bug ID | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: I live in Orlando fl there are these small sluggish/worm like crawling bugs that come from outside ... A: and although I cannot see its legs, the overall shape of it is consistent with it being a millipede. ... | |
| Bug ID | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: I live in Orlando fl there are these small sluggish/worm like crawling bugs that come from outside ... A: but I suspect that your 'house guests' are millipedes. For the most part, these are harmless ... | |
| white creatures | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a problem with little creatures in my UK house. I have had them for a while now but thought ... A: Also, if you cut down on the occurrence of mould, you would have a less attractive environment for ... | |
| glowing arthropod | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: I was surprised to discover three glowing spots in the grass this evening at my central Missouri ... A: it most likely was a larva (or larviform female) of a firefly (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). See ... | |
| Water worms in the pan below my houseplant | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a large fiddleleaf ficus in my bedroom and I have noticed on several occasions, slender ... A: neither of which would be harmful to you or your dog: (1) a very slender annelid worm (related to ... | |
| earwig bite | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: My husband was bitten by an earwig (he thinks) under his chin. At first I could see a red dot ... A: but I highly doubt that a bite from an earwig would cause such symptoms. Earwigs have no venom or ... | |
| Indianmeal Moth | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: The little critters were merely pesky until it occured to me they might be the progenitors of the ... A: such as corners or where walls and ceilings intersect. Perhaps it reflects negative geotropism ... | |
| white creatures | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a problem with little creatures in my UK house. I have had them for a while now but thought ... A: but I would be very hesitant to attempt a specific identification. As you did not mention ... | |
| Indianmeal Moth | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: The little critters were merely pesky until it occured to me they might be the progenitors of the ... A: the larvae of Indianmeal moths (Plodia interpunctella) often wander quite some distance from their ... | |
| Mysterious bites and scrapes | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: I'm trying to figure out what kind of bug is "biting" me. I believe I only get bit at night while ... A: it is extremely difficult, to say the least, to identify the cause of most 'mystery bites' without ... | |
| bug in dryer vent | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: I found this insect while emptying the lint from my dryer. It is gold, shiny 6 legs, with visible ... A: possibly that of a wood cockroach - see http://tinyurl.com/kvdfou and look for the small, pale ... | |
| brown worms on clothing | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: Would you be able to help identify our "worm"? We occasionally find small brown worms on clothing ... A: as your description really does not match up well with anything likely to be a pest in your ... | |
| crickets | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: Are crickets accustomed to a high moisture level? What is the effect of different moisture levels on ... A: high humidity usually leads to increased disease rates. They get much of their moisture needs from ... | |
| possible black | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: Could you please tell me what kind of fly this? It has a fuzzy body and black/white wings. Thank ... A: This is a bee fly (Diptera: Bombyliidae); likely Anthrax georgicus- see http://tinyurl.com/ylk6p3s ... | |
| Bug ID follow-up | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: What insect have a head and thorax that resembles a spider and an abdomen that looks like a dried ... A: I only saw the katydid. Your insect is Arilus cristatus, an assassin bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: ... | |
| Bed bugs | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: I am a California resident. It is confirmed that there are bed bugs in at least one room of my ... A: I'm going to refer you to one of the best compendiums of information on bed bugs that I have found - ... | |
| Bug ID | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: What insect have a head and thorax that resembles a spider and an abdomen that looks like a dried ... A: this is a type of katydid, a member of the long-horned grasshopper family (Orthoptera: ... | |
| bug ID please - thank you so much | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: I live in Gilbert, Arizona and found this little guy outside my house this morning. What on earth is ... A: appearing to be a striped earwig, Labidura riparia - see http://tinyurl.com/yfrbhp8 for an image. ... | |
| long crawling insect with a lot of legs | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: has invade my house and i need help. just yesterday i found at least 10. i do not know what they are ... A: If that is not feasible for you, please add more details, such as their approximate size (length, ... | |
| insect id | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: I am researcher from Indai. I recently posted one question yet I had other too. During my field ... A: I would suspect that this might be a shore fly (family Ephydridae), but these typically are 5mm long ... | |
| Zoology | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: I am a researcher and working on estuarine mudflats. I found an insect ( fly like ) on the beach. I ... A: Carabidae; subfamily Cicindelinae), likely in the genus Cicindela. Formerly placed in a family of ... | |
| maggots | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: someone posted this in facebook today and I'm really freaking out here... can you explain this ... A: it is difficult to be certain what is being shown. At first glance, it appears to be a primary ... | |
| tiny catapiller like bugs in my bed | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: today while i was changing my bedding i noticed a small black bug on my mattress. (looked much like ... A: J. - As you may have guessed, your image is too fuzzy to see enough detail for me to attempt an ... | |
| worm identification | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: live in camden arkansas and found some worms ranging from 3 to 6 inches long they were under a ... A: likely in the genus Bipalium. They are predatory on earthworms. See http://tinyurl.com/yd42yyq and ... | |
| Springtails | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: I have these bugs that I have self-identified as Springtails. They jump high and tend to migrate ... A: they do no real harm there. The key to their control is moisture management, as they are very ... | |
| Another picture of sesame seed tick | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: I'm a sending you another picture of the tick like bug that resembles a sesame seed since I was only ... A: but the image in your previous photo cannot be anything other than an engorged tick. Because of its ... | |
| unknown bug | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: I have noticed for the last week to 10 days a bug I have never seen before altho I have lived in ... A: as your description could fit any number of beetle (order Coleoptera) or true bug (order Hemiptera) ... | |
| unknown insect eggs found in Florida | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: I live in central Florida, USA. After inspection of some outdoor Hibiscus plants, I noticed these ... A: and they definitely do not look like the eggs of any common pest of hibiscus. Also, insect eggs of ... | |
| Is this some type of tick? | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: I live in Honduras, Central America and have 2 Cocker Spaniel dogs who have recently been infested ... A: The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus is unusual in that all three stages will feed on the ... | |
| Looking for ID on water bugs | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: Hope you had an excellent summer. I was out Saturday, 10/03/2009 in Williston Vermont with my ... A: Gyrinidae); all either are predaceous on other small arthropods or scavengers on whatever falls into ... | |
| strange bug | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: Since last winter I've been having a problem with bug entering my room ONLlY when it starts getting ... A: and about all that oe can do is make sure that all gaps around windows and doors as well as any ... | |
| Can two completely different insects mate? | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: I found a bug with markings of some kind of paper wasp and the head and rear of the abdomen. The ... A: You're quite welcome, Jeremy - The vast majority of beetles that are wasp mimics are in the family ... | |
| Can two completely different insects mate? | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: I found a bug with markings of some kind of paper wasp and the head and rear of the abdomen. The ... A: just to see the general outline of the insect. Again, please tell me the approximate size of the ... | |
| Can two completely different insects mate? | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: I found a bug with markings of some kind of paper wasp and the head and rear of the abdomen. The ... A: I need a bit more information/clarification before venturing an opinion/guess at what it might be. ... | |
| Red Head Black Body | 10/3/2009 |
| Q: I keep getting this black bodied red headed bug on my pillow in my bed. The head of the bed is right ... A: Someone there should be able either to assist in identification, or could forward the specimen(s) to ... | |
| Red Head Black Body | 10/3/2009 |
| Q: I keep getting this black bodied red headed bug on my pillow in my bed. The head of the bed is right ... A: Could you please take a photo of one and attach the image to a follow-up question? If this is not ... | |
| Fly foot-rubbing | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: I've been noticing that whenever I see a fly when it's not flying, the fly rubs its forelegs ... A: heh, heh..." as it rubs its legs together, this is indeed a part of its normal grooming behavior. ... | |
| Identify Insect | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: I would be indebted to you if you would identify the insect showwn in the attached jpg file, and ... A: it is not an insect at all. nor a pantry pest of any kind; it is a small predator known as a crab ... | |
| Blue Insects In Algonquin Park | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: We recently returned from camping in Algonquin Park (the Kiosk site). The day we arrived our ... A: ' they most likely were woolly aphids (Hemiptera/Sternorrhyncha: Eriosomatidae) - see ... | |
| Sesame shaped eggs | 10/1/2009 |
| Q: Last week I found the same sesame-shaped insect eggs lined up along the ridge under the hood of the ... A: I am not aware of any household or animal pest species that would lay its eggs in such an array (and ... | |
| Mystery mouse parasite. | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: I had an experience similar to another question on this site but there was no identification. The ... A: This is a mature larva of a rodent bot fly (Cuterebra fontinella; Diptera: Cuterebridae). They ... | |
| Whats biting me? | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: H Ed. I have been getting random bites on my body at night for the past 6 months. My husband and ... A: as it is nearly impossible to determine the cause without actually catching something in the act of ... | |
| bug | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: ok, I didn't get a picture because I was too involved with helping it get off the deck and back to ... A: try placing it in a container of some kind until you can take a photo of it. Without an image, I can ... | |
| Araneus.....? | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: I live in Northern Minnesota, USA. This spider fascinated me all summer. Any help on its identity ... A: After viewing it, I now believe that your spider more likely is Araneus gemmoides, sometimes known ... | |
| Araneus.....? | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: I live in Northern Minnesota, USA. This spider fascinated me all summer. Any help on its identity ... A: I believe that it is most likely Araneus saevus - see http://tinyurl.com/yclzuex for an image. ... | |
| mystery insect | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: Mornin', I'm attempting to identify and possibly the hazards involved with an insect I found at my ... A: It is in the order Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, etc.), family Tettigoniidae, probably one of ... | |
| Are these bed bugs? | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: I am seeing these all over my bedroom, Killed about 20 yesterday..Very gross. Am in NY, and the coin ... A: they are tiny beetles, not bed bugs. The images are not clear enough for a positive i.d., but they ... | |
| Have been noticing strange insect. | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: I live in southern NJ and I have been noticing some really strange insects. I'm sorry that I don't ... A: as I have no idea what your first insect might have been - your description rings no bells at all ... | |
| Very Large Wasp in WNY | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: I've seen many very very large looking wasp this summer in Western New York. It's the first time ... A: although these primarily are diurnal in nature. They are not very aggressive, and females, at least, ... | |
| How to pin or mount a milipede/centipede | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: What is the correct way to mount a centipede or millipede in a collection? The insect seems to big ... A: Traditionally, they are preserved in a 75% solution of ethyl alcohol (isopropyl alcohol may be ... | |
| What are these? | 9/26/2009 |
| Q: I am assuming these are egg sacs but have no idea from what. They are all over my container-grown ... A: Coccoidea) in the family Margarodidae, likely the cottony cushion scale (Icerya purchasi). See ... | |
| what kind of insect | 9/26/2009 |
| Q: found this bug in our bed live in sonoma county,california can you tell us what it is please ,we ... A: This appears to be a larva of an insect in the order Neuroptera, family Raphidiidae, known as a ... | |
| what kind of insect | 9/26/2009 |
| Q: found this bug in our bed live in sonoma county,california can you tell us what it is please ,we ... A: can you describe the tail end that cannot be seen here, and give the approximate size? This image is ... | |
| tiny white/tan worms each end tips are black | 9/26/2009 |
| Q: How can I get rid of these tiny white worms/larvae near bathroom sink? Should I be concerned if ... A: Psychodidae). They feed on decomposing organic matter, including the 'slime' that can occur in ... | |
| Giant bug with clear wings | 9/26/2009 |
| Q: I was in my yard and almost stepped on this giant bug. I have never seen anything like it, and was ... A: Cicadidae). Like their more well-known cousins, the 17- and 13-year periodical cicadas, these ... | |
| Identification | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you would be able to identify a bug that appears in my basement, specifically on ... A: Liposcelidae). They basically are nuisance pests, as they feed primarily on mould spores and the ... | |
| flying household bug | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: Hope you can help me. For a few weeks we have found small flying insects in the house, in small ... A: Psychodidae). Also known as drain flies, filter flies, or sewer flies, their larvae are scavengers ... | |
| What is this bug that has invaded my culture and is it dangerous to my black soldier fly larva? | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: I have found and killed 30-40 of these bugs in my black soldier fly larva culture. They appear to be ... A: Staphylinidae); they are general predators on other small arthropods. It might help if t=you could ... | |
| ID of larvae/worm found around hot tap? | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: Please could you check if you can identify these little critters? They are approximately 2mm in ... A: it would be extremely unlikely, to say the least, to find them in the situation you describe. ... | |
| Flying Beetle | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: Sorry I have no pic. About one inch long, black, 4-6 legs, on abdomen a sparkly cross shaped ... A: but I really need to see an image, as I have never collected insects in California, and am not all ... | |
| Gryllus assimilis | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: Can you please give me any advice as to how to keep and breed the adult cricket Gryllus assimilis. I ... A: About all that I can tell you is that a rearing temp. of 80-90 degrees F reportedly yields the most ... | |
| Small white insects | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: I have noticed some very small white insects in my kitchen behind my stove while cleaning. They are ... A: but your description is too general for me to do anything other than make wild guesses. If you tell ... | |
| mystery caterpillar | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: i came across this `unicorn` caterpillar while cutting the grass in my vineyard. it`s about 6cm long ... A: also known as hawk moths or hummingbird moths). It bears some resemblance to species in the genus ... | |
| Small black bugs | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: My boyfriend went on a mud run in Roanoke VA, and afterwards left his clothes in a plastic bag for ... A: There are many species of small beetles and true bugs that may be found in situations such as you ... | |
| Chigger infestation? | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I went camping in North Andover, MA (Harold Parker State Forest) a few weeks ago. ... A: but IMHO, anyone who claims to have exterminated chiggers in a house is blowing smoke, to say the ... | |
| What is this? | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: I got up this morning to let my dogs out and this was on the wall of my house. We've been in ... A: known as the two-striped walkingstick among many other common names. You (or your dogs) do not want ... | |
| worm identification | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: I found some kind of worms swimming in my kitchen sink. I was on vacation and didn't notice the ... A: drain flies, filter flies or sewer flies - see http://tinyurl.com/lp9g79 for an example. They feed ... | |
| Chigger infestation? | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I went camping in North Andover, MA (Harold Parker State Forest) a few weeks ago. ... A: do not, (repeat, do not!!!) apply any more chemicals to yourselves, your clothing, or anything else ... | |
| worm/caterpillar? | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: I know you want a picture, but I was at a garage sale and unable to take one so I understand if you ... A: ; Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). See http://tinyurl.com/lvg3wg for an image of one to see if it ... | |
| Spider Identification? | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: I found a spider on the side of my house, and was wondering if you could identify it for me. I live ... A: but this most likely is in the genus Araneus, such as Araneus diadematus - see ... | |
| Tiny bugs on my new puppy. | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: We recently adopted a new puppy. As soon as we brought him home I scrubbed him with flea/tick ... A: There is a possibility that they could be immature (larvae or nymphs) of the brown dog tick. I ... | |
| large flying insect | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: I live in Eastern Washington State. I saw a large flying insect, about 2-3 inches long, two inward ... A: I can only guess that it might have been a giant water bug (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Belostomatidae) ... | |
| Springtails in Home | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: I am located in Beaverton, Oregon and I am hoping that you will be able to help me with my problem. ... A: they are no health threat to humans. There is a lot of inaccurate/misleading information about them ... | |
| interesting beetle in mu house | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: please see http://homepage.ntlworld.com/catriona.lugton/ for some pics. Paul A: Coreidae); it appears to be Leptoglossus occidentalis, a North American species that recently has ... | |
| catepillar identification | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: the attached picture was taken in a Greene county, Ohio wetlands. any ideas on what it might be? ... A: Acronicta oblinita (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). This species comes in a wide variety of color morphs. ... | |
| Large and local? | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: The environment looks like the SE United States. I grew up here and have seen the thick straw ... A: a golden orb-web spider (family Nephilidae); they formerly were placed in the family Tetragnathidae. ... | |
| Question about a bug that lives along water | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: I am sorry, I do not have a photo to send. When I was a child, I would play along an intercoastal ... A: I can only guess that these may have been fishing spiders (family Pisauridae) in the genus ... | |
| bugs I have seen in Algonquin park Canada | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: I recently went camping in Algonquin Park Canada and came across this weird flying insect. This ... A: Cerambycidae) in the genus Monochamus. It appears to be Monochamus notatus, known as the ... | |
| What is this cocoon and what comes out of it? | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: We found these spiny looking cocoons and put them in a "bug house" to hatch. They emerged tonight ... A: but the portable 'house' of a case-bearing caterpillar known as a bagworm. The female is wingless, ... | |
| bugs crawling on me can't see them | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: I feel bugs crawling all over me, more so at night. I cannot see any evidence of them, no rash, ... A: as it it is quite possible that insects are not involved at all. It is quite common to feel ... | |
| Chiggers Indoors? | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: Howdy, Ed - thanks for taking the time to answer my questions: 1. Is it possible for chiggers to ... A: so you can remove these from your list of suspects. If mites are involved, they most likely would be ... | |
| please help identify strange bug | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: This strange bug was outside my door this am... It was about 3 1/2" long and 1 1/2" wide. It had ... A: Belostomatidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/mytb26. Also known as toe-biters or electric light bugs, ... | |
| Saw Tooth Grain Beetles | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could give me advice on a problem I'm having with Saw Tooth Grain Beetles. I ... A: these beetles can live quite a long time with very little or no food. And then, are you absolutely ... | |
| mystery bug identification | 9/2/2009 |
| Q: These crawling insects are 3-4 mm long, and have 2 antenae (one has broken off). I have found ... A: Anobiidae; subfamily Ptininae - they used to be placed in a family of their own, the Ptinidae). ... | |
| Bug Image | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: Saugstad, A friend was stung by the bug in the attached image. It was in the Berkshires in Mass., at ... A: subfamily Ophioninae; possibly an Enicospilus species - see http://tinyurl.com/kutk8g for an ... | |
| gray bug | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: My boyfriend cuts trees for a living. We live in Washington, Il (central IL). He grabbed a branch in ... A: but they might have been wooly aphids (Hemiptera/Sternorrhyncha: Eriosomatidae) - see ... | |
| Is this a Walking Stick family member? | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: I saw a "twig" hanging off the house about eye height a few days a go. I tried to touch it and flick ... A: These caterpillars frequently are called 'loopers,' 'inchworms' ot 'measuring worms' because of ... | |
| egg/larvae identification | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: This clump of eggs (?) are in my neighbors yard and were discovered yesterday (8/31/2009). We live ... A: these could indeed be either eggs or very young larvae (there are what could be eye spots in some of ... | |
| mystery fly | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: this little beauty landed on my computer last night. i live in south east slovenia, 350m above sea ... A: Myrmeleontidae). They are not associated with water, but the larvae of many species make cone-shaped ... | |
| Borate solution formulas (home made) | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: I have read references to making a borate solution to deal with various wood molds and wood ... A: Dera Bob - This one is really out of my comfort zone, as I have had no personal experience here. The ... | |
| Bug infestation in apartment | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: I have been living in my rented apt for a year. This is Florida so my apt opens into the outside. ... A: If there was an actual pile of them (see http://tinyurl.com/lccs99), drywood termites would be a ... | |
| hard shell worm with legs! | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: Abby --cat--was tracking a huge, long worm -- about 6" long -- in the bedroom at 3:00 AM. I got up ... A: //tinyurl.com/mvc8vj for a specimen in the genus Narceus from Maryland. These cannot bite, but can ... | |
| Bug infestation in apartment | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: I have been living in my rented apt for a year. This is Florida so my apt opens into the outside. ... A: I can only guess that they might be either fungi of some sort, or the dried feces of spiders = we ... | |
| Bugs on my trash can | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: I am sorry that I do not have a picture, they were too small and would not show up. My stainless ... A: but an image is needed to be certain. If it is not feasible for you to take a close-up photo that ... | |
| Help identifying a spider | 8/29/2009 |
| Q: We live in central Illinois. We found a spider about the size of a nickel on our deck and were ... A: family Araneidae). This spider can be extremely variable in appearance - see ... | |
| Fast Little White Bugs in Bedroom | 8/29/2009 |
| Q: I woke up one week ago with almost 50 bug bites on my legs. My dermatologist suspected bed bugs. ... A: - If what have are booklice, the first line in defense is moisture/humidity control. They are quite ... | |
| bugs in my hair | 8/28/2009 |
| Q: You already answered a question about this, but i did not find the answer enlightening and so I am ... A: //tinyurl.com/nufxat for an image - or body lice - see http://tinyurl.com/kjuebf for an image. If ... | |
| False Bombardier Beetle | 8/27/2009 |
| Q: We live in Smithfield NC. Just bought our 1965 bi level home in April. We noticed these beetles as ... A: Coleoptera: Carabidae), I must admit to be puzzled by your concern, as these are beneficial ... | |
| bugs in my hair | 8/27/2009 |
| Q: You already answered a question about this, but i did not find the answer enlightening and so I am ... A: but I really need to see an image in order to provide an answer, as your description does not match ... | |
| Fast Little White Bugs in Bedroom | 8/27/2009 |
| Q: I woke up one week ago with almost 50 bug bites on my legs. My dermatologist suspected bed bugs. ... A: - The behavior you describe does not really fit either of these choices. Another possibility to ... | |
| bug | 8/27/2009 |
| Q: shiny,about - in size, they jump but when you go to kill it it doesn't die.you can smoush it all you ... A: I can only say that it sounds more like a flea than anything else. This would be a prime suspect if ... | |
| little black bugs | 8/27/2009 |
| Q: hi i keep getting these little black bugs they dont fly i first found them where i keeped my bird ... A: as your description could fit any number of species of small beetles. Most of these would be ... | |
| Iridescent Flying Insect | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: I wanted to post a response to a previous question in regards to a iridescent flying insect that ... A: This is a cuckoo wasp (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae), so called because most of them take over the nests ... | |
| What is this insect? | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: I am from Riverside Ohio, I have caught a fling insect that looks like a cotton ball many times I've ... A: it is a woolly aphid (Eriosoma sp.; family Eriosomatidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/ohjfwp for an ... | |
| Unknown huge insect. | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: I live in a 2nd floor apartment. I encountered an unknown insect in my bedroom . Unfortunately my ... A: but the long legs and antennae as well as its scuttling movement can give the illusion of much ... | |
| Tobacco Hornworm Moth | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: I live in the city of Thousand Oaks, California. A few days ago I captured an insect I have never ... A: //tinyurl.com/lxg9n6 to be sure of what you might have, as the primary distinction between the adult ... | |
| Unknown huge insect. | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: I live in a 2nd floor apartment. I encountered an unknown insect in my bedroom . Unfortunately my ... A: about the only arthropod that comes close to a match is a house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata). ... | |
| mystery bug | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: The bug I am asking about is small (2-3 cm), black, and moves very slowly. It appeared recently in ... A: Curculionidae; subfamily Entiminae) - see http://tinyurl.com/mbq9ql for some examples. These weevils ... | |
| black pinhead size dots on vinylsiding | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: Do you know if these dots are from some insect? They are hard as a rock and have to be removed by ... A: known as artillery or shotgun fungus. They thrive in chipped wood mulch, and the only 'cure' is to ... | |
| Wasps in pools | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: We have a pool that seems to draw wasps and we have lots of trees in our yard and the acres around ... A: the short answer is 'probably not.' There are a couple of other ploys you could try, but with no ... | |
| Swarm of tiny bugs on wet driveway- looks like spilled paint | 8/23/2009 |
| Q: We came home this afternoon to see a huge swarm of tiny bugs on our wet driveway. There are so many ... A: primitive arthropods in the order Collembola; there are several species of these that can occur in ... | |
| tiny black bugs on my deck | 8/23/2009 |
| Q: For the past month we have had thousands of these tiny black (to the naked eye they look black) bugs ... A: a primitive arthropod in the order Collembola. The vast majority of these are harmless (but ... | |
| Mystery Caterpillar? | 8/23/2009 |
| Q: I live in Miami, Florida and something appears to be eating my mulberry. I finally discovered this ... A: but I believe that this caterpillar is far more likely to turn into a moth (such those in the family ... | |
| Please help identify this bug | 8/23/2009 |
| Q: We went on holidays for a week this summer and when we came back there were a whole bunch of these ... A: //tinyurl.com/lhbawo for an example. As a child, I often heard ones of this type referred to as ... | |
| Bites but no sign of bugs | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: I live in Los Angeles, CA. I am getting bites on my body. Some hurt and come to a point with pus ... A: diagnosing 'mystery bites' in the absence of actually capturing a culprit in the act of biting can ... | |
| bug | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: Worm that when touched turns into a circle- Hello, There are tons of these things on my foundation ... A: family Paradoxosomatidae these millipedes are somewhat flattened in cross-section rather than round ... | |
| Very tiny white/brown bugs in the carpet. | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: I am really concerned abot very very very tiny bugs i found in my room on the carpet. It seems ... A: very small beetles or mites of some sort, but I really need to see an image of them if at all ... | |
| silver wormy thing in my bathroom? | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: I live in Chicago, and have recently noticed random little silver bugs/worms in my bathroom, usually ... A: I really need to see an image in order to provide an accurate identification. If you cannot take a ... | |
| California Wood Wasp | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: while at work today this bug flew into our room. At first, we thought it was a wasp until closer ... A: //tinyurl.com/og5xpt. However, it does appear to be in the same family (Siricidae). The image is not ... | |
| bug shells on floor | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: yesterday i thought i saw some dirt on the floor and once i looked closer it was bug exoskeletons. ... A: //tinyurl.com/bzw6q5 for contact information. Someone there should be able either to assist in ... | |
| Do cock roaches bite? | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: I seem to be a target for biting and stinging insects. Some I have clearly identified and for others ... A: I'll add that to my database. I used to use a paste of baking soda and water to relieve the pain ... | |
| Do cock roaches bite? | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: I seem to be a target for biting and stinging insects. Some I have clearly identified and for others ... A: ' and that includes cockroaches. Although I have never been nibbled by a cockroach, I have been ... | |
| Small black flying bugs | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: I believe this to be the same bug someone posted previously but they did not have a clear photo. ... A: as well as any other accumulation of damp/wet organic material such a pile of lawn clippings or an ... | |
| Small black flying bugs | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: I believe this to be the same bug someone posted previously but they did not have a clear photo. ... A: as I likely would have made an incorrect guess based on the first one. This fly appears to be in the ... | |
| Small black flying bugs | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: I believe this to be the same bug someone posted previously but they did not have a clear photo. ... A: could you attach it to a follow-up question? I can appreciate the difficulty in so doing, but a view ... | |
| Black centipede-like not House Centipede | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: I've seen this small (about 1/2") in length, black creature with many legs, but not as many as a ... A: really help here, as I am having a hard time coming up with anything that both matches your ... | |
| yellow garden spider | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: We caught a Yellow Garden Spider in Windom, MN. We found that they are found in the US ONLY in ... A: as this species (Argiope aurantia) has a very wide distribution in North America; they occur from ... | |
| red beetle | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could identify this beetle, There seems to be millions of them on my property ... A: but a nymph of an eastern boxelder bug, Boisea trivittata (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Rhopalidae). They ... | |
| Tiny stinging creatures | 8/13/2009 |
| Q: I am in New York city. I recently captured a few of these things which have been stinging me ... A: and about all I can say is that they are beetle larvae (or their shed 'skins')that resemble those of ... | |
| Ziploc bag filled with water and pennies detering flies | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: Does a ziploc bag filled with water and pennies deter flies? If so, how does it work? A: If it does have any effect, it may be because that the light is refracted in a way that magnifies ... | |
| Burned by a bug | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: I'm from Georgia, and I was waiting at a bus stop when I felt a bug on my arm. I waved it off, but ... A: Meloidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/ogh9k7 for some examples. However, the behavior you described of ... | |
| Biting or Pinching Insect | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: My 3-year-old grandson got bit (pinched?) by a bug this weekend in SW Michigan, sitting on the floor ... A: One other possibility occurred to me; the larva of a lacewing (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). I often ... | |
| Chesapeake Biting Fly | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: I live on the beach on the upper third of the Chesapeake Bay. Each summer, on a very hot (>90F) and ... A: Diptera: Muscidae). They are a very common and widespread (not to mention obnoxious) species with a ... | |
| Mystery insect from Tahiti | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: my name is Kim from Minnesota. I was recently in French Polynesia, and while exploring the forests ... A: about all I can tell you is that it appears to be a nymph of a stink bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: ... | |
| Bug identification - Need help (reply) | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: Saugstad, I could not take a picture of the bug I found in my house but please do not disregard ... A: If you are seeing large numbers of these, you may have an infestation of some other insect/arthropod ... | |
| mantis dance | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: When I was at Six Flags Magic Mountain for my vacation a few weeks ago, my sister and I discovered a ... A: (1) The swaying is supposed to make the mantid look like a leaf or twig moved by a breeze, and thus ... | |
| Please identify cocoon or ??? | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: I found this in my driveway. It may have fallen off a tree, I'm not sure. I don't know if it is ... A: //tinyurl.com/non878 for several examples. If the cocoon is as light as you say, either the moth has ... | |
| bugs in the hair | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: My granddaughter has been pulling bugs out of her hair for the past two days. They are about 3/8" ... A: I know of no arthropods large enough to be seen readily that would normally 'infest' a scalp in any ... | |
| beetle identification | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: Yesterday I found this HUGE beetle next to my washing machine. I normally don't mind bugs much but ... A: It likely is a species known as the hermit flower beetle, Osmoderma eremicola - see ... | |
| Bug identification - Need help | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: Saugstad, I could not take a picture of the bug I found in my house but please do not disregard ... A: Reduviidae) called a masked hunter (Reduvius personatus) at http://tinyurl.com/n8zfl8 and ... | |
| Biting or Pinching Insect | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: My 3-year-old grandson got bit (pinched?) by a bug this weekend in SW Michigan, sitting on the floor ... A: but I cannot provide a definitive identification from your description. My best guess is that it ... | |
| large black flying insect ?/ | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: Its black about 3 1/2 inches long, 1/2"+ wide. has a mantis like head. it was probing a flower on a ... A: Sphingidae). Some species are known as 'hummingbird moths' because of their habit of hovering at ... | |
| Re: Identifying large wasp/hornet | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: There were two rather large wasps/hornets on the windshield of my car, mating. I left them be, but ... A: Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/kw2srx for images and detailed information. These ... | |
| Bright Blue Flying Insect | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: An insect appeared on my deck I have never seen before, and was curious to know what it may have ... A: Pompilidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/nwduwr for an example. They seek out, sting and paralyze ... | |
| bug shells on floor | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: yesterday i thought i saw some dirt on the floor and once i looked closer it was bug exoskeletons. ... A: Dermestidae)- see http://tinyurl.com/lt5b6l and http://tinyurl.com/ozdyrd (image at upper left). If ... | |
| flying insect identification | 8/8/2009 |
| Q: My granddaughter found this on the floor in my garage. We are in Willis, Texas, north of Houston. ... A: Asilidae). They are ambush predators on other small arthropods, usually darting out from a perch to ... | |
| Worm Like with Legs in Bath Tub | 8/8/2009 |
| Q: I'm in Taiwan. Recently in the hotel bath tub, two mornings in a row, I've seen a light brownish?, ... A: it most likely would be a centipede (see http://tinyurl.com/flgff for an example) or possibly a ... | |
| Bug I.D. | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: can you please identify this bug for me? ... A: Lymantriidae); the females of many species are wingless, and lay their eggs on or very near to the ... | |
| tiny bugs on wood deck | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: We have tiny little bugs covering our wood porch. When we go out and stand on the deck, they begin ... A: I suggest that you take some specimens to your county/regional office of the University of ... | |
| Mystery Bug | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: could you help with this bug identification. Its very small (2mm) and they have appeared in a work ... A: Liposcelidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/ou2lck for an image. For the most part, these are harmless ... | |
| I.D. Request: Bug (Larva?) Found in Loaf of Bread | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: I work in store management for a local grocery store. A couple days ago a woman returned a loaf of ... A: the transitional stage between larva (caterpillar) and adult. The crumpled 'skin' of the caterpillar ... | |
| insect bites in the Amazon of Brazil | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: My daughter and her family are missionaries in the city of Maraba, the state of Para in NE Brazil. ... A: a positive i.d. usually depends on actually catching the culprit in the act of biting. All that ... | |
| Unidentified Bug! | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: These little creatures are infesting my window sills, and slowly spreading around the rooms. I have ... A: which includes some wood-boring pests that may infest unpainted/unstained wood in buildings. ... | |
| Tiny Gray Dust Bug. | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: We have found a couple tiny gray bugs in our house over the last few days and my son has woken up ... A: It is quite difficult to identify the cause of such bites unless you actually catch something in the ... | |
| others are a curse | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: I have problems with this question "Some insects are beneficial to mankind; others are a curse. ... A: To be a bit briefer, examples of beneficial include honey bees (see http://tinyurl.com/lz8wuw) and ... | |
| Giant Black Ant | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: I was cleaning out my pool today when I looked down and saw this slow moving solid black waspish ... A: the creature in the image you provided definitely is an ant, likely a carpenter ant in the genus ... | |
| Mystery dark gray bugs with large antenas | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: A couple of months ago I started to find these bugs in the bed in the dry, clean, basement bedroom I ... A: and therefore harmless to you or any other person. Could you try for a photo more in focus, and also ... | |
| tiny bugs on wood deck | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: We have tiny little bugs covering our wood porch. When we go out and stand on the deck, they begin ... A: they may be another mite species. If you had noticed them 'jumping' short distances rather than ... | |
| tiny bugs on wood deck | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: We have tiny little bugs covering our wood porch. When we go out and stand on the deck, they begin ... A: a photo might help as there is more than one possibility. In the meantime, have a look at images of ... | |
| identify small black bug plant infestation | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: I have tens of these bugs on my broccoli leaves. These are 3-5mm in length. I would like to know ... A: Chrysomelidae); some species absolutely love dining on members of the mustard family (such as ... | |
| mystery bug in bed | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: please help me identify bug...possible baby deer tick ? I have attached an image...Thank you ...Joe A: as I can see no details; could you try sending another photo that clearly shows the size of the ... | |
| Strange Eggs | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question. I live in Southwestern Germany and recently ... A: but the pupae of a muscoid fly (the common house fly belongs to this group - see ... | |
| ref caterpillar | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: Can you tell me what this is as I found it on my garden wall A: Lymantriidae). The image is not clear enough to be certain, but it might be a larva of a vapourer ... | |
| Giant flying insect. | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: I live in British Columbia, Canada, specifically a suburb of Vancouver called Maple Ridge. Twice in ... A: //tinyurl.com/mupo62), so no climate change scenario need be invoked to explain you seeing it in ... | |
| unidentified bug | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: I keep finding small dark brown/black striped bugs in only one bedroom of the house. I usually see ... A: they don't all look alike, and they don't always feed on fabric - see http://tinyurl.com/22zcmp. ... | |
| flying insect identification | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: Found this bug in my garage.(Please see attachment) It flew at me and hit my face. That made me ... A: This is a large wasp in the family Sphecidae, known as the cicada killer (Sphecius speciosus). They ... | |
| gold bug | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: We found a sparkly gold ladybug in our garden. It seems to be the only one there. We were wondering ... A: as there are other small black beetles with gold/yellow spots besides lady beetles. If it is indeed ... | |
| can you help me? | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: my friends and i are getting bit by a clear and sometimes greyish bug that has a black curvy line ... A: but it might help if you could photograph one or more of these (perhaps placing them on a plain ... | |
| Please help me Identify this Bug | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: This insect is about the size of a fruit fly. They are very small (max 2-3 mm in length...probably ... A: They appear to be fungus gnats (Diptera: Sciaridae); their larvae usually are found in very damp to ... | |
| unidentified insect | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: I found an insect floating in our salt water pool (western NC). I fished him out with the net (still ... A: it is commonly known as the blind elater or small-eyed click beetle. See http://tinyurl.com/m3ht3a ... | |
| Multiple worms traveling in a group | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: I found these wporms traveling in my garden. They seem to have a black dot on their front end which ... A: Sciaridae); they primarily are scavengers on decomposing organic matter in the soil, but some also ... | |
| Unidentified insect. | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: I have been clearing my back garden and have came across 3 or 4 small insects, I don't know if they ... A: This is an excellent example of the principal that one picture is worth a thousand words. This is a ... | |
| Flying Bugs | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: We live in Charlotte NC and every summer around July we begin to see numerous flying hornet like ... A: as these are not structural pests in any way. They sound very much like solitary wasps that are ... | |
| Unidentified insect. | 8/1/2009 |
| Q: I have been clearing my back garden and have came across 3 or 4 small insects, I don't know if they ... A: I responded within 4 1/2 hours of your posting the question and felt that my reply, although I could ... | |
| Little beetles from Cochrane again | 8/1/2009 |
| Q: It is Agnes from Cochrane, Ab, Canada again. I've looked at the link you sent for Canadian Pests ... A: your 'guests' appear to be short-snouted/broad-nosed weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; subfamily ... | |
| flying insect | 8/1/2009 |
| Q: We were in Los Angeles today and a large flying insect attacked my daughter. It was a beautiful ... A: which could fit a wide variety of insects, including wasps, grasshoppers/katydids, and beetles. ... | |
| Mystery Bug | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: I live in Maine and woke up to a tiny, brown bug in my windows. They jump, but I have not seen them ... A: but I can tell that they definitely are not fleas and that they do not look like anything likely to ... | |
| Big flying bugs in Virginia? | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: I live in Chesapeake, VA...and for the past 2 years I've noticed a rapid population burst of these ... A: but given the circumstances you describe, this might be very difficult for you to accomplish. ... | |
| little beetles in our basement | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: I'm from Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. There have been a number of these little beetles in our ... A: My apologies, Agnes - I failed to note that you are in Canada, not the United States, so I would not ... | |
| little beetles in our basement | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: There have been a number of these little beetles in our basement latley. I've never seen them ... A: but I cannot identify these from your image; it simply is not clear enough. Although their general ... | |
| Careers in entomology | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: I am interested in a career in entomology. I am having trouble finding information on line about ... A: including academics, agriculture, and industry, just to name a few, and one can be field or research ... | |
| Worm nest in tree | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: Howdy, Living in the Pacific Northwest (SW Washington) we have these in the trees around our ... A: Hyphantria cunea (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/lmbo9u for images and more ... | |
| little white flying/jumping bugs | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: My boyfriend and I just recently moved into this new apartment. We are out on the patio quite a bit ... A: Superficially, they sound like woolly aphids (Eriosoma sp.; see http://tinyurl.com/ptf94z), but the ... | |
| Small dark brown oval bugs? | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: I live in Northern Vermont and have a problem with these small/tiny dark brown, oval bugs that seem ... A: but would it be possible for you to take a close-up photo of one or more of these and attach it to a ... | |
| Fairy bug! | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: They were light blue almost white collection of little fairy type bugs that hovered around james ... A: but the only insect that I know of with the characteristics you describe are woolly aphids ... | |
| flying insect without wings | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: Im from Pa USA. it was early morning after light rain.had 45 sec observation of bug i never seen and ... A: as I can assure you that no wingless insect can fly. I can think of two possible explanations: (1) a ... | |
| a peculiar bug | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: I found this bug in my house, well actually I found two, and I have no clue what it is. It is long ... A: as the only thing that comes readily to mind is an earwig (order Dermaptera). However, these are so ... | |
| Bug ID | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: I live In North Carolina. These little black worm bugs are roughly an inch long and 1/4 in thick. ... A: Stratiomyidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/nhtpwn. They are harmless scavengers on decomposing organic ... | |
| strange beetle? | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: Have a beetle or some insect (6 legs) that looks like a prehistoric dinasour with a v-shaped back ... A: d. - is there anyway that you could take a photo and attach the image to a follow-up question? ... | |
| Need help identifying insect | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: We have found a few of these insects in our home. 2-3 in our shower and then 2 more on the carpet. ... A: About all I can say at this point is that the general outline is consistent with it being a wasp ... | |
| 1 small bug in toilet | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: Ed. I know this is gross but I am sort of freaking out.. I "made a package" early this morning. As ... A: almost anything is possible, but in my opinion, it is extremely unlikely to say the least that ... | |
| infestation of cacoons | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: I live in NY. About 100 white cocoons ave attached themselves all over our house and garage and they ... A: it still is possible that what you have are cocoons of moths in the superfamily that includes the ... | |
| bug identification? | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: I live in CT. Recently I have found these small bugs in my house. They resided near the window ... A: the image is too fuzzy to see any details at all. The majority of critters like this that are found ... | |
| HELP! The bugs are everywhere! | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: I'm almost sure this is a little out of your field, but the other experts were either on vacation or ... A: as the only ones that I am aware of that spend any time off their host are body lice, and even then, ... | |
| Mysterious Insect | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: I was inside my room in New Hampshire when I saw this frightening insect outside my window. It is ... A: Corydalus cornutus (Megaloptera: Corydalidae); their larvae are aquatic and known as hellgrammites. ... | |
| White Bug in kitchen | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: I live in a San Francisco apartment and there are about 50 of these in my kitchen mainly on the ... A: but certainly appear to be pests. I suspect that these are mature larvae of the Indian meal moth ... | |
| cicada killer wasps | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: We live in south central Saskatchewan in Canada. In the past couple of weeks we started noticing ... A: The behaviour you describe is characteristic of ground-nesting wasps that are parasitic on larvae ... | |
| small black flies Long Island NY | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: Ok this is the second year we have these small fly like black two winged about 5-6 mm long insects ... A: if they are not biting, they likely are breeding in some accumulation of decomposing organic matter ... | |
| infestation of cacoons | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: I live in NY. About 100 white cocoons ave attached themselves all over our house and garage and they ... A: even in cases where I am pretty sure that I can guess the identity of an unknown. From your photo, I ... | |
| Cricket Lifestyles | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: I was sitting outside observing crickets. I was wondering, do crickets live in groups or families? ... A: no species of field cricket (Gryllus sp.) exhibits ant eusocial behavior (such as living in family ... | |
| large dirt cacoon | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: I live in Phoenix Arizona. I found a large dirt mound on the wall of my garage it almost looked like ... A: I can only guess that it most likely would be a 'nest' constructed by a mud dauber wasp ... | |
| Please identify this insect | 7/25/2009 |
| Q: I found the following insect (dead) in our skylight (tube that connects between the ceiling and ... A: Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/n2bqk7 for a living specimen. Although pretty to ... | |
| infestation of cacoons | 7/25/2009 |
| Q: I live in NY. About 100 white cocoons ave attached themselves all over our house and garage and they ... A: //tinyurl.com/lhd4vf and http://tinyurl.com/nwwomw to see if they resemble what you are seeing (Note ... | |
| fungus gnat larvae | 7/25/2009 |
| Q: My driveway was loaded with masses of what I think are fungus gnat larvae traveling together this ... A: However, if these food sources are not readily available, they may feed directly on plants, ... | |
| Small Flies | 7/24/2009 |
| Q: I live in the Pittsburgh, PA area and have been having a hard time with frequent visits from some ... A: you might have a hard time locating the source of your infestation unless you literally can sniff it ... | |
| toilet pest | 7/24/2009 |
| Q: Im freaking out - just found creature in toilet bowl, it is alive and seems to be living submersed ... A: //tinyurl.com/nwjjmz for an image of a pupa. The adult fly is a bee mimic in the family Syrphidae ... | |
| bug ID | 7/24/2009 |
| Q: Identify bug, please: About 1/8 inch long. emerald green with cream dot on both shoulders antennae ... A: Would it be at all possible for you to take a photo that you could attach to a follow-up question? ... | |
| Just to make sure ... | 7/24/2009 |
| Q: Are they Forficula auricularia known as Earwigs?? I have found a few of them in my bathroom. They ... A: but a a relative of grasshoppers known as a camel or cave cricket (Orthoptera:Rhaphidophoridae) - ... | |
| Small Flies | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: I live in the Pittsburgh, PA area and have been having a hard time with frequent visits from some ... A: about all I can say is that they appear to be muscoid flies of some sort. As a general rule, these ... | |
| bed bugs | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: I found a swallow bug in my office, on my mail that I brought from my home. It looked like a adult, ... A: then follow the recommendations in the article referenced in my previous reply. Also, it would not ... | |
| bed bugs | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: I found a swallow bug in my office, on my mail that I brought from my home. It looked like a adult, ... A: d. on this critter before taking any action. If you still have it, please take a photo and attach it ... | |
| toilet pest | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: Im freaking out - just found creature in toilet bowl, it is alive and seems to be living submersed ... A: such as a rat-tailed maggot - see http://tinyurl.com/nbzz4r for an example. If yours differs ... | |
| worms in toilet please | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: I am from greece and when i came back home from a long vacation I found little black worms in my ... A: About the commonest insects found in this situation are moth flies (Diptera: Psychodidae). Also ... | |
| something odd | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: i have already asked another expert this and he gave me an answer i was not pleased with. not his ... A: If it is not one of the clear-winged sphinx moths in the genus Hemaris. I really have no firm idea ... | |
| bed bugs | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: I found a swallow bug in my office, on my mail that I brought from my home. It looked like a adult, ... A: These bugs (as with bat bugs) usually will not bother people as long as their normal hosts are ... | |
| Tiny flying bugs | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: I have some tiny flying bugs in my house. They seem to like to hang around the lamps. They are very ... A: //countyext2.okstate.edu/ for contact information). Someone there should be able either to assist in ... | |
| Tiny flying bugs | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: I have some tiny flying bugs in my house. They seem to like to hang around the lamps. They are very ... A: I realize that they may be too small to photograph clearly, but an image of any kind might at least ... | |
| Bug on Okra | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: Dr. Saugstad, I found two of these insects on okra leaves in my garden in central Virginia/USA. ... A: Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae; subfamily Pseudophyllinae - see http://tinyurl.com/ktjbrf for an image. ... | |
| fascinating bug ! | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: I found a small,black segmented bug (approx 3/4") which emerged from a cone shaped shell which it ... A: It sounds like a case-bearing caterpillar or other larva of some sort; in the case of evergreens, ... | |
| The "Mexican Swine Flu" | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: I watched with some interest this spring as a new virus burned through the population of Mexico City ... A: there never has been any evidence of mosquito involvement in the epidemiology of any influenza ... | |
| Catapiller Sting | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: we live in Braxton County, WV. My Husband walked out on the porch bare foot a little over a week ... A: Nevertheless, you might want to see your doctor to (1) see if any urticating hairs from the ... | |
| bugs ID | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: i love taking pictures of insects in the garden. I recently found some weird/beautiful types. I live ... A: I can give only general guidance here: ... | |
| Aedes mosquito eggs | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: I'm writing from central Oregon, just east of the high Cascade crest. Can you disclose any ... A: Dave - A decrease in dissolved oxygen in the water over the eggs (regardless of CO2 content) has ... | |
| large flying insect | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: I live in WA, USA large 2-2 1/2" black and gray striped wings, 3/4-1" orange curly feelers, I had a ... A: I believe that a 10-lined June beetle (Polyphylla decemlineata; Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) comes as ... | |
| stinging unidentified bug | 7/15/2009 |
| Q: A bug that looks rather like a bee (except that the upper body is red, and the thorax is black, and ... A: I can only guess that it might have been a wingless wasp in the family Mutillidae. Commonly known as ... | |
| Bug Bite | 7/15/2009 |
| Q: I was bit by a bug of some kind I need help identifying what it is. It is a small bug and it is red ... A: but I really need to see an image of it in order to make an identification. Otherwise, I would be ... | |
| Tiger Bee Fly | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: I spotted an unusual insect in our yard recently. I identified it as the Tiger Bee Fly. It fits ... A: //tinyurl.com/nflk9h). They definitely do not construct hives of any sort, nor do their prey, ... | |
| Unknown Worm - Sarasota, FL | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: After a week or so of rain, these tiny worms are congregating in corners in my pool cage/lanai. They ... A: the image is too fuzzy for me to tell what they really are; I cannot even see whether or not they ... | |
| beetle parasites? | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: Amherst, VA is my residence, Lynchburg, VA is my office. I saw a beetle in our office bathroom that ... A: ' The adult forms of these parasites can be several times as long as their victim; they are ... | |
| small biting bugs | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: hey Ed I live in Worcester County, Maryland. a couple of days ago I took my four year old to a ... A: d. based on verbal descriptions alone, as the same words can convey quite different meanings to ... | |
| Mystery Insect | 7/13/2009 |
| Q: I hope that you will be able to help me because in my house we have a mystery insect. It is black in ... A: ) - I may have mislead myself by focusing on the 'elephants nose' part of the description, which I ... | |
| Can you identify this bug? | 7/13/2009 |
| Q: We are finding 6- 10 of these little guys around the house every day. They were concentrated around ... A: it is virtually impossible to keep 'visitors' such as these from dropping in uninvited. About the ... | |
| Can you identify this bug? | 7/13/2009 |
| Q: We are finding 6- 10 of these little guys around the house every day. They were concentrated around ... A: Curculionidae; subfamily Entiminae). They often come indoors, apparently in a search for shelter. ... | |
| Flying bugs in shower | 7/13/2009 |
| Q: little bugs, only in master bathroom, mostly around shower but do fly to other walls, black, winged, ... A: commonly known as moth flies, drain flies, or filter flies. They do no damage, and basically are ... | |
| Hornet nest removal | 7/13/2009 |
| Q: We Must not have waited long enough into the night to spray the nest because now there are 5 or 6 ... A: as it seems that wasps that construct papery nests will rebuild on the site where a previous nest ... | |
| Bed/carpet bugs | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: ok, the thing is, I use to live in my old apartment and my bed boxspring was sitting on the floor ... A: Dermestidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/n8hcmf for images and additional information. The adult ... | |
| red ants | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: i live in dhaka , bangladesh. there are half inch long red ants in my house which have bitten more ... A: ), which do occur in Bangladesh. However, they are quite a bit smaller than the ones you describe, ... | |
| Flour Mites | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: I have very tiny white mites all around my kitchen sink area and window. Move very slowly and crawl ... A: you will not find a 'nest' per se. I suggest bagging up and discarding any food item(s) found to be ... | |
| question of worm in wood | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: I went camping at Lake Tahoe, CA. We bought some firewood and while we were chopping it a couple of ... A: larva of a beetle in the family Buprestidae, which often are called metallic wood-boring beetles - ... | |
| mystery egg casings | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: We live in Salt lake city, Utah. Our house has a bartile roof and therefore is a sparrow ... A: //tinyurl.com/nlu5ms for an example) than egg cases of any kind. I suspect that flies were attracted ... | |
| Bug in apartment | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: I think this question is similar to one asked earlier. It's worm-like but with legs, less than an ... A: likely in the genus Anthrenus (see http://tinyurl.com/ox6k2d for an image). Known as carpet beetles, ... | |
| Stag beetle | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: i would like to know if stag beetles are indigenous to Anderson,Indiana. A: Lucanidae) are very widespread in North America, including Indiana. Although I cannot cite specific ... | |
| invading worm like creatures in my basement | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: Ed: I have hundreds of tiny, one inch worms?? with legs on my basement floor..this is finished ... A: see http://tinyurl.com/n9xpua for an image. For the most part, they are nuisance pests, harmless ... | |
| indoor environment | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: where wall meets ceiling, all around perimeter, there is a brownish/grayish line of material, along ... A: About the only thing as small as you describe and that appears roughly circular would be a mite of ... | |
| Tiny Bugs on my Deck | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: Beginning yesterday (7/6/09) when I went onto my deck to sit and read a book, I felt some itching on ... A: Although I doubt very much that they are anything to be concerned about (just about any small ... | |
| bird mite§ | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: We took a nest down 2 to 3 weeks ago. We had a PCO spray inside and outside where the nest was. The ... A: Please take into consideration the source of the information; if it comes from a URL that includes ... | |
| tiny clear to white insect | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: size of a small, small flea or mite. Found it between tile and wood particle subfloor in motorhome. ... A: They are not true lice at all, but simply bear a superficial resemblance. They feed primarily on ... | |
| Hundreds of Flying Insects! | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: I live in the Northern part of Alabama. This summer I just spotted these green tinted flying bugs, ... A: Ofttimes, a verbal description can be misinterpreted, but a photo usually can be diagnostic. That ... | |
| Please help me- attacked by bugs | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: I live in Columbia, South Carolina. I just moved here two years ago from New Orleans, Lousiana. ... A: If you have already eliminated potential suspects such as fleas, another possibility is mites of ... | |
| Hundreds of Flying Insects! | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: I live in the Northern part of Alabama. This summer I just spotted these green tinted flying bugs, ... A: These flies are attracted to carrion, and are very unlikely to be what you saw, as they are nowhere ... | |
| water bug sting | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: I was at the Guadalupe River this past weekend. I have a biology / zoology degree from Texas A&M and ... A: there are at least two other families of aquatic bugs that could be found in the situation you ... | |
| question about fly maggots | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: He plans to study medicine once He graduates from High School and College. He is doing a project on ... A: not parasites in any respect - see http://tinyurl.com/8tj6b for detailed information. Like all ... | |
| Bug Identification | 6/20/2009 |
| Q: These small bugs are visible in the bathroom. They are in the window sill in the bathtub on the ... A: not mites. Their general shape and appearance is consistent with them being in the family ... | |
| Bug Id | 6/20/2009 |
| Q: This is a photo 200x from my sons eye clops. They look as small as , if not smaller than a grain of ... A: Liposcelidae). They are not true lice at all, and for the most part are harmless nuisance pests, ... | |
| Dark red color insect, shelled and winged | 6/20/2009 |
| Q: I live in Alhambra, Ca for a long time, but recently I've seen this annoying insect appear more ... A: I cannot provide a definitive identification from the information you provided. About all that I can ... | |
| Tiny White bugs | 6/20/2009 |
| Q: OK, I've been surfing the net for almost two hours, trying to find a helpful, and informational ... A: trying to identify something like this without being able to see them is at best guesswork. About ... | |
| Unknown bug | 6/19/2009 |
| Q: I live in hot and humid Malaysia. It's rather far from the US, but I thought I'd try asking anyway. ... A: a large group that includes clothes moths among other things. A very similar species occurs in the ... | |
| small black flying bugs | 6/19/2009 |
| Q: I've been living in Chattanooga Tn for 5 years now and we've never had this problem until just a few ... A: There simply is no way that anyone could have given you a specific identification from the verbal ... | |
| tiny black bugs | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: I live in Iowa. I was out on my deck last night(third floor condo) where I have several planters ... A: I do not believe that what you described are harmful in any way; they most likely were tiny beetles ... | |
| Mystery Bug | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: i have recently noticed small bugs which look like centipedes im my home, they do however seem to ... A: being arthropods, shed their 'skin' just like insects. About the only thing to be concerned about is ... | |
| millipedes in pool | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: Every morning when I go out to my pool (inground softliner) there are between 10-20 millipedes. I ... A: probably not. You might try creating a wide band of coarse sand/pea gravel around the pool - if this ... | |
| canine Erhlicosis-Brown Dog Tick- North Dakota | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: To your knowledge, has there been a Canine Erhlicosis diagnosis in North Dakota? Are there "Brown ... A: no cases of canine ehrlichiosis have been reported from North Dakota. As you likely already realize, ... | |
| Little itty bitty black bugs | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: We live in Mesa Az. I have noticed these bugs out on the pillars of our AZ room (outside) and inside ... A: many more details are necessary. If they are too small to photograph clearly so that you could ... | |
| Small worm/caterpillar | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: I live in suburban Chicago, IL. I found this little thing, maybe a worm or caterpillar, in a box of ... A: including raisins. The most likely suspect in your case is the Indian meal moth, Plodia ... | |
| Unknown Bugs In Window | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: We have discovered these small brown bugs they mostly crawl but will fly if bothered. Most are ... A: the images in the photo are too small to see much detail; about all I can tell you is that they are ... | |
| Black worms in the walls | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: A few nights ago I noticed a black slimy worm-like bug (with two antenna on one end) on the wall ... A: Is it possible for you to take a photo of one or more of these and attach it to a follow-up ... | |
| Wierd Bug | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: Saw this flying around in my backyard a couple of days a go....I have no idea what it is or if it ... A: it is a large ichneumon wasp in the genus Megarhyssa. They use their long 'tail' to insert their ... | |
| Stag beetle diet | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: My daughter brought home a stag beetle yesterday and wants to keep it for the next 3 days until ... A: some seem to believe that they may not feed at all. Regardless, I would try offering it a source of ... | |
| Black flying garden insect | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: We have a backyard with flower & vegetable gardens. This year our backyard is filled with a small ... A: but if that is the case, their bites/nibbles, however annoying, are harmless. But again, without a ... | |
| Black flying garden insect | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: We have a backyard with flower & vegetable gardens. This year our backyard is filled with a small ... A: the insect cannot be seen clearly enough for a positive identification. Nevertheless, given your ... | |
| Very thin red worm on wet bathroom floor | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: today I discovered 2 very thin (almost like a thread) worms that were red in colour on my bathroom ... A: close-up photo of one or more of these and attach the image to a follow-up question? Without seeing ... | |
| Black flying garden insect | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: We have a backyard with flower & vegetable gardens. This year our backyard is filled with a small ... A: as there are any number of possibilities. If taking a photo would be impractical for you, please ... | |
| Help Identifying Insect | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you would be able to help identify the insect in the 2 attached pictures. We ... A: If your carpeting contains any wool, you should check the margins for the presence of larvae that ... | |
| Tiny Dark Insects, little water balloons | 6/12/2009 |
| Q: I have been seeing tiny black insects in my apartment for the past month, only one at a time, once ... A: Anobiidae; subfamily Ptininae); possibly in the genus Gibbium - see http://tinyurl.com/poqu63 for an ... | |
| mites that infest the human body and hair. | 6/11/2009 |
| Q: I have been being tortured for the last year, on and off again, then off with some type of killer ... A: as mites do not have eyes. The only mite species that actually infest human hair (actually hair ... | |
| What is this? | 6/11/2009 |
| Q: I have these beetles that keep coming back around this time every year. They are here for 2-4 ... A: //tinyurl.com/ma8fml for contact information). Someone there should be able to determine whether ... | |
| bug | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: what is this bug? @@@@@IMAGE:26094:Entomology-Study-Bugs-665/2009/06/red-bug-white.jpg##### ANSWER: ... A: Fulgoridae) in the genus Epiptera - see http://tinyurl.com/lfaaus for an image of a very similar ... | |
| bug | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: what is this bug? A: I cannot place a name on it right now. If it (or another example) is still available for you to ... | |
| insects | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: How are insects like ants able to walk on a wall or the ceilings? A: Many insects, including most ants, have small curved claws at the ends of their legs. These enable ... | |
| Apartment bugs - definitely sow bugs | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: I believe my apartment in Manitoba (Canada) has sow bugs. They definitely look like the pics I've ... A: That aside, it is possible for an allergic reaction to occur in response to exposure to just about ... | |
| Follow up to: There are lice all over my home??! | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: These are all the pictures I could gather: http://tinypic.com/r/1zy7vk7/5 ... A: I currently am offline at home, and am just using a friend's computer for a few minutes. Back Later, ... | |
| small white worms with black tips on both ends | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: i am in PA. i read a question asking you if you knew what thread like white worms with black tips ... A: as I currently am without internet connectivity at home (I'm using a friend's computer at the ... | |
| teensy weensy bugs | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: London calling!!! I have just gone upstairs to use the loo and in the pan, swimming about, were ... A: I'm currenly offline at home. Regards, Saugy Hello, Moira - back online again. Is it possible for ... | |
| There are lice all over my home??! | 6/3/2009 |
| Q: I live in North Carolina and about six months ago moved into a new apartment. Construction had just ... A: without using a magnifying glass (I currently am away from home, using a library computer as our ISP ... | |
| Bed Bugs - How Easily are they transferred | 6/3/2009 |
| Q: A friend is having an issue with bed bugs but doesn't have money and has not yet contacted a ... A: bedding, etc., they are not transmitted person to person. Not bringing backpacks and similar items ... | |
| There are lice all over my home??! | 6/3/2009 |
| Q: I live in North Carolina and about six months ago moved into a new apartment. Construction had just ... A: and I doubt that he would be able to help in this instance. As to your extension office, they should ... | |
| I need help identifying a bug. | 6/3/2009 |
| Q: While I was walking around in my basement, I saw an unusual bug. this bug was about three inches ... A: As it is I can only tell you that it most likely was not an insect of any kind, but possibly an ... | |
| Tiny Bugs! | 6/3/2009 |
| Q: My name is Alissa and I just moved into an apartment near Silverdale, WA. In the past couple of ... A: ' The first two possibilities that come to mind are (1) small lady beetles (there are some species ... | |
| Small Black Bugs in tall grass | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: A friend of mine and I were walking in some tall grass with the 2 pieces of grass at the top and we ... A: Unless you you can take a photo of one or more of them and attach the image to a follow-up question, ... | |
| There are lice all over my home??! | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: I live in North Carolina and about six months ago moved into a new apartment. Construction had just ... A: but based on your description(s), I do not believe that you have anything that is a threat to your ... | |
| mysterious bites | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: I live in the French West Indies. My 16 month old son has been waking up for the last 4 weeks or so ... A: //tinyurl.com/chmlkq that shows the differences between ants and termites. About the only ants that ... | |
| bites | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: For over two months now I have been getting red pimple like bites on my back upper thighs, my arms ... A: Most 'bug bites' look pretty much alike, and there are several other causes of skin irritation such ... | |
| Central Florida Bug no longer seen | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: Growing up in Central Florida I used to play with 2-inch "armored" looking bug with pinchers in the ... A: Phrynus marginemaculata at http://tinyurl.com/mrj7ej to see if it resembles what you recall. These ... | |
| Tarantula question? | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: Is it safe to feed my Tarantula's wild caught insects? In this case, specifically June bugs, but are ... A: The only ones I would avoid are the obviously venomous ones such as bees, wasps, etc. that might ... | |
| Is this a harmless beetle or a "blister beetle"? | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: During an evening visit (around 10pm, 5/30/09) to visit our horse at a local (Glendale, CA) stable, ... A: but a darkling beetle (family Tenebrionidae), appearing to be in the genus Tenebrio. Larvae of ... | |
| White larva | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: I live in CT and I was digging in my garden and I came across a LARGE (about as big as a mans thumb) ... A: Given its size, it may be in the genus Cotinus (green June beetles; fig eaters) - see ... | |
| mystery | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: I need some help identifying an insect. I live in Maine, and at first I thought a bee was flying ... A: belonging to a group collectively known as flower beetles. Because of their flight pattern, they ... | |
| Spider infestation....help! | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: I live in WA and I rent a daylight basement in a two story house, so my entrance is around in the ... A: I just take a broom and sweep the areas that I can reach on a periodic basis, and use a shop vac to ... | |
| Humpback? | 5/31/2009 |
| Q: Here they are again. Today I just spotted them. Only young ones, judging by size, not bigger than a ... A: Membracidae). Look at the image of one at http://tinyurl.com/mjujz8 to see if it resembles your ... | |
| Most beautiful insect I have ever seen... | 5/31/2009 |
| Q: Please can you help me identify the strangest insect I've ever seen? Unfortunately it flew away too ... A: You're quite welcome, Lulu; I forgot to add that thanks to my English (Weymouth, Dorset) wife as ... | |
| Larvae?? | 5/30/2009 |
| Q: Living in central NC, 2 houses from a pond. Many ducks in neighborhood, just in case a duck-borne ... A: Such mass movement has been noted before, but no one that I know of has come up with a good ... | |
| Little brown bugs in bathroom | 5/30/2009 |
| Q: I live in Boston Massachusetts. We have tiny brown bugs in our bathroom that appeared after a week ... A: I doubt very much that they are a serious pest of any kind. Have a look at images of booklice ... | |
| brain and bugs | 5/30/2009 |
| Q: I am wondering if there are any bugs that can effect the health of the human brain. I have a close ... A: the short answer is 'Extremely unlikely." (The only reason I do not say absolutely 'no' is that ... | |
| bug in laundry | 5/30/2009 |
| Q: I've been finding these little bugs in my laundry, and around any damp clothes, lately and have no ... A: or submit it to pestcontrolcanada at http://tinyurl.com/9cg3hn. In the meantime, look at the image ... | |
| What is it? | 5/30/2009 |
| Q: I recently noticed several tiny holes in a concrete wall in my basement where it looks like some ... A: there are no insects that actually will bore into concrete. I strongly suspect that some other ... | |
| Mystery bug Id | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: We live in Oregon. I am sorry I don't have a picture available of these. What are those fast ... A: Liposcelidae); see http://tinyurl.com/8xjknq for an image. They basically are harmless nuisances, ... | |
| mysterious bites | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: I live in the French West Indies. My 16 month old son has been waking up for the last 4 weeks or so ... A: as not only do most 'bug bites' look pretty much alike, but there are several causes of skin ... | |
| Small Round Black Bugs with Wings. | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: I've have been seeing these little black bugs around for the past couple days. They are about 3mm ... A: the image is too blurry to see any detail. The only thing that I would be concerned about is that ... | |
| Insect Eggs? | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: I live in Massachusetts with woods behind my house. A few months ago, I found a pile of, what looked ... A: These do not sound like insect eggs of any kind, nor does your description match the 'frass' ejected ... | |
| earthworms travelling? | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: In early spring here in Canada, (mid-May) on the east side of the Bruce Peninsula in central ... A: ' One theory that I have come across is that the worms are taking advantage of favourable (for them) ... | |
| glow-in-the-dark caterpillar? | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: I live in the midwest and was coming home in the dark when I spotted what looked like a ... A: They are known as glow-worms, railroad-worms or glow-worm beetles, and are predaceous on millipedes ... | |
| worm id | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: Attached is a photo of worms that were in our driveway this morning. Looked like a branch at first, ... A: Although this behavior is well-documented, no one really knows what triggers mass movements of this ... | |
| Fleas in our bathtub | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: Read your 2006 answer to someone on fleas in the bathtub. We live in a fairly new retirement ... A: or they are not coming out of the drain. The only way that fleas would be in a bathtub would be by ... | |
| White and black beetle? | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: I live in upstate NY and today my daughter noticed a rather large bug crawling on our sunporch. I ... A: //tinyurl.com/m3ht3a to see if either example shown resembles your find. If not, please get back to ... | |
| Are these Carpet Beetles? | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: But I read that they live in dark places like behind the furniture, closets, drawers, etc. But I ... A: which includes the black carpet beetle and its relatives. I don't think that use of bleach would be ... | |
| buffalo gnats | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: could you tell me where buffalo gnats came from? I live in central Illinois and have heard many ... A: biting flies in the family Simuliidae. There are at least 1,800 described species in this family, ... | |
| Insect nest or egg mass - identify | 5/26/2009 |
| Q: Awoke this morning and discovered this egg mass/insect nest(?) at the base of our holly bush which ... A: but more likely is a slime mold - a sometimes scary-looking but complete;y harmless organism that ... | |
| beetle | 5/26/2009 |
| Q: I live in Colorado at 9500 feet, started finding a few gray beetle like bugs with 6 legs, red ... A: Could you photograph one or more of them and attach the image to a follow-up question? If they are ... | |
| Shiny black bugs | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: Found a group of shiny black bugs, about 1 cm in length, about 100 of them on the outside of my ... A: //ucanr.org/ce.cfm for links to contact information). Someone there should be able either to assist ... | |
| Small insects by baseboards and bed | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: I just came across an alarming number of very small bugs along the baseboard of my walls in my ... A: Anobiidae; subfamily Ptininae) - see http://tinyurl.com/qeop74 for an image. If these do not look ... | |
| Shiny black bugs | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: Found a group of shiny black bugs, about 1 cm in length, about 100 of them on the outside of my ... A: but I cannot give you a definitive i.d. based on such a general description. Is there any way that ... | |
| Glowing Slug | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: I live in Ridgeway Ontario and when coming in the house at 10:00 at night last night (24th May 2009) ... A: although some marine (sea) slugs do so. You may have encountered a larva of a firefly (Coleoptera: ... | |
| small brown worms in house | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: I am finding very thin worms, with many legs in my home. They are about 1 inch long. What are ... A: look for "Attach an Image" underneath the box where you type in your question. I really hope that ... | |
| Carpet beetles | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: I live in Louisville KY and travel almost every weekend to St. Louis MO, I have a huge infestation, ... A: as to the best of my knowledge, cars manufacturers nowadays use synthetic fabrics in their products ... | |
| FLORESCENT BLUE WING BUG | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: Ed Hi, Im trying to figure out what a swarm of flying insects are. They are the size of a carpenter ... A: apparent wing coloration under the circumstances you describe is not a good diagnostic character. If ... | |
| moth eggs | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: I apologize in advance that this question isn't more scientific, but I recently found a bunch of ... A: as those would be soft, white, and smooth - see http://tinyurl.com/pfcwjt for an image. ... | |
| Small flying black spotted bugs | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: We live in New Jersey and have noticed these small (size of pencil points)black spotted flying bugs. ... A: //tinyurl.com/dm9k2q for an example), but these usually are 2mm long or a bit more, which seems ... | |
| tiny black bug that bites my daughter | 5/23/2009 |
| Q: i would like to ask this about this really small black bug as tiny as the coma sign(,)with wings but ... A: (see http://tinyurl.com/oyxudw for an example). These do not cause any harm other than the ... | |
| black and white hardshelled beetle I think | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: we live in georgetown tx and i like to garden and grow...we moved here from arizona a couple of ... A: Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) at http://tinyurl.com/qkylpr to see if it resembles your find. If it does ... | |
| small black flies | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: In the past two days there have been small black flies with clear wings swarming different areas of ... A: Where exactly in the USA is this community? Are the flies biting anyone, or are they simply ... | |
| id of flying bug | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: I have been trying to research this on my own but can't seem to find an answer. I have been finding ... A: Coleoptera: Dermestidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/oudw3z for a greatly enlarged image) (2) they ... | |
| worm | 5/21/2009 |
| Q: I live in central Florida,after heavy rains small 1 inch worms with half round heads a little bit ... A: //tinyurl.com/pwv6ga for an example. Ones like these are predaceous on earthworms. If your specimens ... | |
| Possible Bug Bite | 5/21/2009 |
| Q: I recently returned from Sidney, Montana on Sunday. That evening, I noticed 10 red welts below my ... A: as not only do most such bites look pretty much alike, their are other causes of minor skin lesions ... | |
| white worms with black tips | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: she has seen them on more than one occasion and she is scared to take a bath or shower till she ... A: filter flies, or or moth flies - these insects are scavengers on organic material that can build up ... | |
| small clear/white bug | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: I just checked into a hotel in Scottsdale, AZ and saw this tiny bug on the bathroom floor. I've ... A: Is there any way, even using a camera phone, that you could take a photo and attach it to a ... | |
| black widow? | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: I'm wondering if you can tell me whether the attached image is a black widow spider? I found it ... A: but it belongs to the same family (Theridiidae). It is in the genus Steatoda, possibly Steatoda ... | |
| BUGS | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: WHAT KIND OF BUG , BUILDS HOLLOW LOOKING TREES ? WE WATCHED THEM IN OUR HOUSE AND TOOK PICTURES A: Could you please attach one or more photos to a follow-up question? Also, if you are in the Unites ... | |
| carpet beetles/bed bugs ???????? | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: A friend of ours recently had their apartment infested with bedbugs.As a result I decided to check ... A: if all the insects truly are dead, there should be no risk posed by using the mattress. It wouldn't ... | |
| Bug Contact vs Bite | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: Working on subroofing under Pin Oak Trees. Put my hand down on the new plywood to steady myself and ... A: //tinyurl.com/pgmjwm and scroll down through the list. None of these are black, per se, but a ... | |
| Coffee Ground-looking pile of... ? | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: I had noted a nickel-sized pile of what looked like pinpoint sized coffee grounds on the window sill ... A: you should find instructions on attaching images to questions; I frequently receive questions with ... | |
| Bug house? | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: I have been finding these mud like blobs in my home garden for the past 4 days. At first I thought ... A: In the meantime, are these objects directly on the ground? Attached to plants or objects such as ... | |
| Weird Bugs | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: I saw the question a woman asked about the bugs on the corner of her ceiling and I have the same ... A: but it resembles a cockroach nymph more than anything else. However, it is very unusual to see them ... | |
| river-bug in North Carolina | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: .. we were out on a walk in the rain along a river next to Chimney Rock and we saw this pre-historic ... A: Corydalidae). Known as hellgrammites, they usually are found under rocks and the like in streams, ... | |
| tiny, thin, tan, bug; ant-like | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: Do you know what it is? We noticed them crawling along our floor in front of the french doors inside ... A: but even so, a photo might helps. Until then, my best guess is that that could be either springtails ... | |
| spider | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: every year we have these spiders that live in the swimming pool when the cover is on it. my question ... A: Could you attach a photo or two to a follow-up question? I'm sure that they are nothing dangerous, ... | |
| Creepy bites | 5/16/2009 |
| Q: it's Felicia again I looked up beetles and ticks and the bug I am seeing is more like a beetle. I ... A: I will have to see images of your 'house guests' before making an identification. BTW, there are ... | |
| Black Winged Biting Bugs | 5/16/2009 |
| Q: I have a question about these bugs i keep finding in my apt. I live in Washington DC across the ... A: It is possible for you to attach photos to questions on the AllExperts page; I often receive ... | |
| bugs attracted to lights | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: I have been finding these oval shaped tan and black bugs that seem to be falling from the ceiling or ... A: Could you please take a close-up photo or two that you could attach to a follow-up question? If this ... | |
| Small Brown Bugs On My Bedroom Ceiling | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: I am new house owner and I was noticing some small brown bugs in the corner of my ceiling. They are ... A: //tinyurl.com/5nbs4y for contact information). Someone there should be able either to assist in ... | |
| Small Brown Bugs On My Bedroom Ceiling | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: I am new house owner and I was noticing some small brown bugs in the corner of my ceiling. They are ... A: There is some resemblance to bugs in the family Cimicidae (bed bugs, bat bugs, swallow bugs, etc.), ... | |
| Potato Bug with Pinchers? Is it Poisonous? | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: My dog just tried to eat what looks like a potato bug, but it has pinchers on the front. It was ... A: Is there any way you could take a photo of it and attach it to a follow-up question? I presume that ... | |
| Giant Flying Insect in my house | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: This giant (about 5 or 6 inches long) has been in my house at least since Monday evening. I live ... A: this is a crane fly, albeit a very large one. Aptly enough it is known as the giant crane fly, the ... | |
| worms | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: good afternoon. Recently I've encountered various worms in my bathroom, on different occasions. ... A: but I cannot offer a definitive identification based on such a general description. Is here any way ... | |
| Bathroom and bed bugs. | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: So about everyday for the past few days I have noticed that there are these brownish blackish tiny ... A: //tinyurl.com/pue76u for contact information). Someone there should be able either to assist in ... | |
| Do I have a bug problem? | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: I recently have noticed little holes in the front of my tee shirts. I also have been battling an ... A: No insects/arthropods that would feed on humans in any way would also attack clothing. Also, if your ... | |
| Dead flies/insects | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: I work in the new addition of a school and we have always noticed a large amount of dead house flies ... A: What is more likely is that these are insects that entered the building last autumn in search of ... | |
| Bathroom and bed bugs. | 5/10/2009 |
| Q: So about everyday for the past few days I have noticed that there are these brownish blackish tiny ... A: but it still might help if you could take a close-up photo or to that you could attach to a ... | |
| egg sack | 5/9/2009 |
| Q: I found this egg-sack looking thing in the branches of one of the trees in my neighborhood. It's ... A: http://tinyurl.com/o46dvz? If so, it likely is a group of tent caterpillars (Malacosoma spp.) - ... | |
| Found bug, need to identify | 5/9/2009 |
| Q: I have found this bug (black with white stripe across back) in my home. I've looked up pictures of ... A: Coleoptera: Dermestidae - see http://tinyurl.com/qfelyj)? If it did not, could you take a close-up ... | |
| Grit eating/moving insects | 5/9/2009 |
| Q: We have a small villa in South of France. We have mysteriously found little piles of grit on the ... A: but is there any way you could take a close-up photo or two and attach it/them to a follow-up ... | |
| Little lobster looking critter | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: I live 2 miles from the James River in Lynchburg, VA. I went out on my porch last night and found ... A: crawdaddy, or mud bug), a freshwater relative of lobsters and the like. Other than being able to ... | |
| Spiders | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: I was clearing some loose paving block away from my house when i saw a redish brown spider with a ... A: family Dysderidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/pkpw4m for a couple of images. They have ... | |
| roaches | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: IF you look at animals such as shrimp, lobsters, crayfish, crabs, scorpions, cockroaches, etc they ... A: an irrational/exaggerated fear of insects - see http://tinyurl.com/7a5ov3. The causes of ... | |
| Insect identification | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: I found your name from another website and had a question about the identification of an insect in ... A: They often have their hind femora greatly enlarged, such as seen in many grasshoppers and crickets - ... | |
| Tiny, tiny red bugs . | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: Today while interviewing an 86 year old patient I saw one small (2-3mm)round dark brown bug crawl ... A: //tinyurl.com/5l5y95), but the behavior you describe is so atypical for them that I doubt that they ... | |
| diamond shaped bug | 5/6/2009 |
| Q: I am overseas in Kuwait. Recently a small clear diamond shaped bug has been crawling on me. I have ... A: but I would have to see an image of this beastie before I could even guess at its' identity; your ... | |
| bugs that eat through dry wall | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: what kind of bug will eat through drywall. I am in the pest control business and this is new to ... A: Also, some other insects, such as carpenter ants, may on occasion bore into drywall (not to eat ... | |
| small bugs biting dogs | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: I have lots of dogs and they all run and play outside. This spring we have lots, and lots of these ... A: Could you take a close-up photo of one or more of these and attach it to a follow-up question? If ... | |
| Carpet Beetles | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: I have question about carpet beetles living in body. My mother has recently had a infestation of ... A: carpet beetles (or their larvae) have never been reported to invade human tissue of any kind. The ... | |
| a bug came out of a bug | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: one night, sitting at my computer, a bug land on my leg. i was in shorts so i was able to see a ... A: but there is no way that I can provide a definitive identification from your description; an image ... | |
| small bugs/mites in bathroom and wind. sills | 5/3/2009 |
| Q: I have noticed small bugs that are hard to see even with a mag. glass. The appear to be no more ... A: they fall into the category of 'nuisance pests' in that although they do little real harm, you don't ... | |
| small bugs/mites in bathroom and wind. sills | 5/3/2009 |
| Q: I have noticed small bugs that are hard to see even with a mag. glass. The appear to be no more ... A: I should have answered this one first. (1) You can easily attach photos to questions on AllExperts - ... | |
| small bugs/mites in bathroom and wind. sills | 5/3/2009 |
| Q: I have noticed small bugs that are hard to see even with a mag. glass. The appear to be no more ... A: Also, please let me know your state of residence in case I need to refer you to a local source for ... | |
| Marquis or Football-shaped Insect | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to identify the same bug as the people were asking about in these threads: ... A: Lepidoptera: Tineidae) or a close relative. These are cousins to clothes moths, but seem to prefer ... | |
| Pincher Bug "Infestation" Under My Car | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: Saugstad, I have to park my car on blacktop,inches away from a dirt & weed field.I haven't been able ... A: I can only make wild guesses based on your description. Nevertheless, I do not believe that they ... | |
| kindly identify this insect. | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: I have two pug puppies. Off late i have been coming across these weird insects around them. they ... A: possibly Hippobosca longipennis, variously known as the dog fly, louse fly, or blind fly (see ... | |
| Bug in basement | 4/30/2009 |
| Q: What kind of insect is this? We took the picture on April 29, 2008 in Toronto, Canada. It was very ... A: Reduviidae); likely that of an introduced species (Reduvius personatus) known as the masked hunter. ... | |
| YUCK--what is it??? | 4/29/2009 |
| Q: To whom it may concern...I have a bug larva question...I live very much in the country the nearest ... A: but there is no way that I can provide an accurate identification without seeing an image. What you ... | |
| Ticks | 4/29/2009 |
| Q: Do ticks serve a purpose in nature? A: as 'purpose' IMHO is a loaded term. Basically, the 'purpose' of all life is to perpetuate itself; ... | |
| Another View of bug | 4/28/2009 |
| Q: Here is the other view of the bug. I didn't think it was an ant because of the antenna not being ... A: you can see that the antenna has a very long first segment (scape), followed by several shorter ... | |
| Ants Chicago | 4/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a entomology degree from Texas A&M but im unfamiliar with ants species population Chicago(and ... A: There are nearly 130 species of ant reported from Illinois, and I for one would hesitate to attempt ... | |
| California Prionus? | 4/27/2009 |
| Q: I put pieces of an oak stump in the back of my truck yesterday. Today I found a 3" long larvae ... A: This definitely appears to be a larva of a cerambycid beetle in the genus Prionus. Although the ... | |
| Flying Spiders Jackson, Wy. | 4/27/2009 |
| Q: Last fall, we had our normal, "flying spiders" everywhere. It's now late April, and they're ... A: but I wanted to be sure. I remember that once when I was quite young, I thought that I had found a ... | |
| night flying insects | 4/27/2009 |
| Q: Night flying insects, do they include: cucumber beetles, June beetles, stinkbugs and leafhoppers? A: cucumber beetles do not. Some leafhoppers may fly at night, as many species exhibit a crepuscular ... | |
| Arizona Desert Bug | 4/26/2009 |
| Q: I was 45 miles northeast of Phoenix in a desert area near Canyon Lake. On the ground I spotted a ... A: Mutillidae), a family of wasps in which the females are wingless, but nevertheless very well ... | |
| winged reddish-brown millipede-like things. | 4/26/2009 |
| Q: I live in South Florida. Two days ago, I noticed several small reddish-brown creatures crawling ... A: and you cannot get a response from your county extension office, see http://tinyurl.com/d2bgyx for ... | |
| Alien worm | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: To: Worm Expert Recently, I encountered a worm attack in the house. Although there is only one ... A: your 'worm' is nothing to be overly concerned about. It most likely is a 'cousin' to clothes moths ... | |
| red/orange stinging bug | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: I live in the northwest in a rural area and i was bitten or stung by an insect i can't seem to ... A: I can only guess that it might have been a a wasp, such as one of those in the family Sphecidae ... | |
| Bug question - need help identifying it | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: i have found a couple of these black bugs in my home...this one was climbing on my kitchen wall and ... A: //tinyurl.com/d7agrr to find the extension office nearest you. These offices usually are the best ... | |
| Bug question - need help identifying it | 4/24/2009 |
| Q: i have found a couple of these black bugs in my home...this one was climbing on my kitchen wall and ... A: but it may not necessarily mean that you have an infestation. It really does not closely resemble ... | |
| insect locally known as | 4/24/2009 |
| Q: I've lived in the country before and never heard the sound I'll be describing before. 1 1/2 yrs ago ... A: as I can assure you that cicadas are the loudest insects known, period. The only other insects in ... | |
| plz help!!!=( | 4/23/2009 |
| Q: ?! A: I suggest that you read the article on chicken mites and their control at ... | |
| insect locally known as "jarfly" | 4/23/2009 |
| Q: I've lived in the country before and never heard the sound I'll be describing before. 1 1/2 yrs ago ... A: what you experienced was a 'serenade' by some of nature's loudest creatures, namely cicadas. There ... | |
| Lady Bugs | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: I was at Chrissy Field today and walking along the bay edge water. There were hundreds of ladybugs ... A: the convergent lady beetle (Hippodamia convergens - see http://tinyurl.com/crj5me for an image) ... | |
| small yellow bugs | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: During one of my cleaning bouts I came across some some yellow insects crawling about on the marble ... A: they could be just about anything. Could you try taking a photo or two that you could attach to a ... | |
| Hoping you can help | 4/15/2009 |
| Q: Good afternoon, I've just moved into a new house and I've noticed around the sink and bath tiny ... A: but it might help if you could try taking a close-up photo of them and attach it to a follow-up ... | |
| Centipedes | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: Every year I get a lot of these in my house. What is the "best" type of pest contol? ANSWER: Dear ... A: and in the opinion of most pest management professionals, chemical control should be a very last ... | |
| Centipedes | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: Every year I get a lot of these in my house. What is the "best" type of pest contol? A: the 'best' control is to eliminate/reduce populations of their prey (insects and other arthropods) ... | |
| Beetles in our veggie's!! | 4/10/2009 |
| Q: There is a little beetle that is devouring our corn, beans and peppers, and we are trying to find ... A: and it caused me to accidentally reject your question as a duplicate. Any way, your beetle appears ... | |
| At first it looked like mold | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: I need help identifying a group of wormlike black or brown bugs that were hanging from a particular ... A: see http://tinyurl.com/d4f6fs for an example. These would not be anything that you need to worry ... | |
| Carpet Beetle Larvae and Other Unknown bugs | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: I need some advice on a carpet beetle situation I have in my bedroom. About 6 months ago, I found a ... A: For example, you could take specimens there for assistance in identification. If no one there could ... | |
| Carpet Beetle Larvae and Other Unknown bugs | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: I need some advice on a carpet beetle situation I have in my bedroom. About 6 months ago, I found a ... A: the risk to your mattress should be minimal, unless you know for certain that it contains either ... | |
| red ticks | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: I write only because you responded to an earlier question from "phil" that you were unaware of a ... A: William - Could you take a photo of it (or any of the same you might encounter in the future) and ... | |
| strange grub or worm on my porch | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: I found this thing on my porch and was worried it might be a problem for my dog, I looked up ... A: it appears to be a larva of a moth, but the image is too blurry for me to attempt a definitive ... | |
| bugs | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: Is there any place in Las Vegas Nevada, Clark Co. I can take the bugs I HAVE AND HAVE THEM ANALYZED ... A: //tinyurl.com/dxd2cp for contact information. Someone there should be able either to assist in ... | |
| Carpet Beetle Larvae and Other Unknown bugs | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: I need some advice on a carpet beetle situation I have in my bedroom. About 6 months ago, I found a ... A: almond shaped' beetles) and attach it to a follow-up question? As for the mattress, do you have any ... | |
| spider-like thing that flies? | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: I was going out to my car around 845pm. I saw this thing hovering around some loose trash. It was ... A: about the only flying insects large enough to give the illusion of being that large are the giant ... | |
| Mystery bug in apartment | 3/30/2009 |
| Q: I've lived in my NYC apartment for almost 9 months now, and until a month or so ago I saw no bugs or ... A: but at least I can assure you that from your general description, they are nothing dangerous. Two ... | |
| Drosophila egg maturation | 3/28/2009 |
| Q: Do Drosophila eclose from the pupal stage with mature eggs already developed? I can't find anything ... A: they do not; egg maturation takes place some time after eclosion. But you are correct in believing ... | |
| red bugs all over yard | 3/28/2009 |
| Q: i have red colored bugs in yard and no body seems to know what they are or if they are harmful to ... A: Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Rhopalidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/c5dwgx for an image. They basically are ... | |
| Description of unknown insect | 3/27/2009 |
| Q: Ed, I was recently in New Orleans when I saw an insect I've never seen before. (I'm from Ohio) It ... A: These include the National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Insects and Spiders & Related Species ... | |
| Worm like bugs in bathroom | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: The last 6 months or so we are getting this worm like bugs approximately 1/2 inch long of various ... A: have more than six legs and are not centipedes, they just about have to be small millipedes. These ... | |
| Adult Indian Meal Moth problem | 3/25/2009 |
| Q: I have an office in a New York office building that has occasional sightings of adult Indian Meal ... A: About the only additional suggestions I can make concern snack food and decorative items. Are you ... | |
| What in the world is this worm. Can it be from humans? | 3/25/2009 |
| Q: We just got back from Arizona and we found these in our toilet. Do you have any idea what this is. ... A: but these could be larvae of flies in the family Psychodidae - see http://tinyurl.com/c7b63f for an ... | |
| tiny white/grey oval-shaped insects | 3/23/2009 |
| Q: Please help! I have been seeing them occasionally for several months but now that I've been leaving ... A: I realize that that ere very small, but a photo, if you can take one and attach it to a follow-up ... | |
| Effects of insects in decomposition process | 3/23/2009 |
| Q: Brace yourself, because judging from your existing questions and answers this is going to be a bit ... A: There has been a bit of research along these lines, see http://tinyurl.com/dy4cau - you probably can ... | |
| Effects of insects in decomposition process | 3/22/2009 |
| Q: Brace yourself, because judging from your existing questions and answers this is going to be a bit ... A: That aside, insects such as blow lies (Calliphoridae and flesh flies (Sarcophagidae) are among the ... | |
| bug | 3/22/2009 |
| Q: I found a small black bug, round like a beetle, smaller than the size of a peppercorn and it was ... A: it really might help if you could take a close-up photo and attach it to a follow-up question. In ... | |
| unknown parasite | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: would you have information on the following? this critter is 10mm long, 2.5-3mm wide and tall, dark ... A: The only thing that I can think of that comes even close to your description would be an engorged ... | |
| Insect: damp/dark areas - crawling on walls | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: Keep finding this kind of bug in my apartment. Crawling on walls in both kitchen and bathroom. It ... A: the most likely suspect is a house centipede, Scutigera coleoptrata - see http://tinyurl.com/5q9f8b ... | |
| Found an odd bug on dog | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: First, thank you very much for taking the time to read my question, I hope I provide enough of a ... A: First off, Karen, my apologies for the delay in responding to your question, I somehow overlooked it ... | |
| Tiny black/brown bugs 1/8 of an inch long- follow up | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: black bugs on the walls of my apartment. I found a larger one of these insects (this one was still ... A: Allison - Unfortunately, it is just not quite clear enough for me to make out the details necessary ... | |
| Tiny black/brown bugs 1/8 of an inch long- follow up | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: black bugs on the walls of my apartment. I found a larger one of these insects (this one was still ... A: it does allow me to eliminate both cockroaches and bed bugs as suspects. This image appears to be of ... | |
| Bug help! | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: I am wondering if you could help me ... I'm looking to identify this bug/insect. I've found about ... A: Dermestidae) in the genus Anthrenus, such as Anthrenus verbasci - see http://tinyurl.com/c7xokr for ... | |
| Pin head size black bugs | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: I live in Kansas and have small pin head sized black bugs in my kitchen windows. It looks like ... A: I might have guessed that you were experiencing the joys of artillery fungus, something we are all ... | |
| What is this caterpiller | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: I live in Indonesia on the west side of the island of Java, so its a tropical climate. Here is a ... A: but these caterpillars have all the earmarks of the family Lymantriidae (tussock moths) see ... | |
| weird bug | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: We found this bug/worm like thing in the yard. It has stripes on it and has two glowing spots toward ... A: and there are several families of beetle whose larvae can fluoresce in some manner. Although they do ... | |
| NYC apartment bug | 3/16/2009 |
| Q: I have lived in NYC for 33 years and my apartment burnt down. They re-did my apartment but ... A: as your general description could fit any number of suspects. The good news is that they most likely ... | |
| Larve found in rental | 3/16/2009 |
| Q: My tenant phoned this am stating that she had larve in her room and in bathroom area that re-appear ... A: a photo was attached, however, it is indeed extremely fuzzy - could you see if you could borrow a ... | |
| Larve found in rental | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: My tenant phoned this am stating that she had larve in her room and in bathroom area that re-appear ... A: as even an unclear image should enable me to narrow the range of choices. Your description as it ... | |
| bugs in our home | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: we live in Ohio and everytime the weather starts to get warm, like in March/April we get these brown ... A: could you please take a photo or two that you could attach to a follow-up question? If this is not ... | |
| Identify a bug | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: Could you send me an email to where I can send a picture of these bugs I keep finding near a window ... A: If this fails, there are several other sites where you can submit images for i.d. purposes. These ... | |
| Tiny black/brown bugs 1/8 of an inch long | 3/13/2009 |
| Q: I recently moved into an apartment building in New York City. The building is less than 10 years ... A: d. - superficially, it resembles a very small cockroach nymph (see http://tinyurl.com/br7bbf for an ... | |
| very very small black bug | 3/13/2009 |
| Q: im from brooklyn, NewYork. I hope you can help me with this but I have been noticing these black ... A: it is clear enough for identification. This is a beetle in the family Anobiidae, likely either a ... | |
| Worm/Millipede house infestation | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: I live in South West France. For the last 3 months, every night we have some sort of worm/milipede ... A: and I suspect that is what you have from your description. One of the commoner ones in the US is ... | |
| very very small black bug | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: im from brooklyn, NewYork. I hope you can help me with this but I have been noticing these black ... A: as these do not sound like any common household pest that I am familiar with. Failing that, I ... | |
| wooly bear catipler | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: We have found some wooly bear catiplers and would like to keep some in the house to watch grow. But ... A: the larval stage of the Isabella tiger moth, Pyrrharctia isabella, will feed on a number of plants, ... | |
| identify a pest | 3/10/2009 |
| Q: I have many of these worm like things in my soil, in the vegetable garden, flower beds and potted ... A: a close relative of centipedes (millipedes have two pair of legs on each body segment; centipedes ... | |
| pantry mites | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: I have just read a previous q and a on this subject..am sure we have the same thing, tiny dark ... A: As for ingesting them, there should be no real cause for concern unless the food items in question ... | |
| Bug/worm identification | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: I was sweeping my bedroom (I clean my home regularly and do not eat in this room) when I discovered ... A: possibly in the genus Attagenus. They will feed on a wide variety of organic materials, including ... | |
| Little Brown Worms | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: I just noticed on your web site that someone stated that they found some little brown worms in some ... A: as I simply cannot offer a good i.d. based on such a general description. It could be anything from ... | |
| carpenter beetles | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: My little flying black bugs have been identified as carpenter beetles by the exterminator.They ... A: to the best of my knowledge, there are no such things as 'carpenter beetles.' Please try to take a ... | |
| pantry mites | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: I have just read a previous q and a on this subject..am sure we have the same thing, tiny dark ... A: //www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th7g.htm Regardless of their specific identity, the remedy would be pretty ... | |
| Bugs in my dorm room! | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: Every couple of weeks, I'll find a bug on my desk in my dorm room. It's a kind I've never seen ... A: antenna-like filaments at their hind end. If they did, they almost certainly would be bristletails, ... | |
| White bug in skin. | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I thought he had a blackhead on his arm. This said blackhead got bigger. When we went ... A: as it does not match the description of any human parasite that I am familiar with. Just a general ... | |
| egg case | 3/7/2009 |
| Q: Sorry about the missing picture. Here's my question again: Is this an egg case? Found on a dead elm ... A: you might try submitting your photo to either bugguide (http://tinyurl.com/m743h) or whatsthatbug ... | |
| Large Black Grasshopper-like bug | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: I live in South Miami, FL. I was recently out in my yard, when I heard a rather loud buzzing sound. ... A: Coreidae). Specifically, it is a male Acanthocephala femorata; the female of this species lacks the ... | |
| egg case | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: Sorry about the missing picture. Here's my question again: Is this an egg case? Found on a dead elm ... A: but it still leaves me puzzled, as I have never seen anything exactly like it. Too bad you didn't ... | |
| Help ID'ing Household Pest | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: I live in Washington DC, and just recently moved into an apartment where I am constantly finding ... A: K. - What you have here are not fleas or ticks, but small beetles known as spider beetles ... | |
| a lot of moths and "larvae" in edmonton alberta | 3/4/2009 |
| Q: We have several birds, both cockatiel and lovebirds. We noticed a month ago, very annoying, tiny ... A: Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The larvae (caterpillars) typically move quite some distance from their ... | |
| infestation in home of brown worm type like bug that bites and leaves a red itchy bump | 3/1/2009 |
| Q: we live in Denver Co. we are having problems with a brown centipede looking worm that has infested ... A: About the only 'centipede looking' arthropod in your geographic area capable of biting a human that ... | |
| Silver worm like leeches. | 2/27/2009 |
| Q: I have seen them a couple of times and when I do see them they are in my bathroom. They are silver ... A: primitive insects in the order Thysanura - see http://tinyurl.com/caro4f for detailed information, ... | |
| Odd Worm? | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: I moved to a new apt and 3 times I have found a worm like thing in the bathroom (2 at night and 1 in ... A: I can only guess. First off, If they have appendages (legs, antennae, etc.), they would not be true ... | |
| Teeny speckled bug on wall | 2/25/2009 |
| Q: I recently moved into a brand new home, but have been finding very tiny (pencil point size) ... A: but I can tell you that boric acid might help control them (I doubt that DE would be very ... | |
| something ate my oatmeal bath! | 2/24/2009 |
| Q: I've had a rash for over a month now, I thought at first that it was simply poison ivy, then i ... A: but cats aren't purrfect; you'll get the odd one that appear to regard mice as mere curiosities ... | |
| Cardboard Infestation | 2/24/2009 |
| Q: For many years I have stored empty cardboard boxes, mostly from electronics, on a concrete platform ... A: it would be extremely unlikely, to say the least, that they would be booklice. On the other hand, I ... | |
| what are these bugs? | 2/23/2009 |
| Q: I have these bugs that are black or brown the y look like beetles. Most the time they be on their ... A: but your description is not sufficient for me to do anything but take wild (and likely fruitless) ... | |
| Yikes! Loads of bugs! | 2/22/2009 |
| Q: I've got a 7 year old house in San Jose California. It's actually a modular home with a steel ... A: John - This is a winged ant, possibly Tapinoma sessile, a species that goes by several common names, ... | |
| Tiny black beetles with tiny white spots | 2/21/2009 |
| Q: It is super tiny, no more than 1/8" long, black with a few teeny white spots, and possibly some ... A: (1) carpet beetles (family Dermestidae) in the genus Anthrenus or (2) lady beetles (family ... | |
| brown marmorated stink bugs | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: After looking at pictures at www.pestcontrolcanada.com and Penn State's website, I have come to ... A: it is quite possible that the bugs found in your unit are brown marmorated stink bugs (Halyomorpha ... | |
| something ate my oatmeal bath! | 2/17/2009 |
| Q: I've had a rash for over a month now, I thought at first that it was simply poison ivy, then i ... A: (2) Based on what I have seen in our house, mice can make relatively neat holes! (3) I don't know of ... | |
| Lepidoptera Antennae | 2/17/2009 |
| Q: I am having trouble finding any information/studies regarding Lepidoptera antennae length. I am ... A: Antenna length definitely does not correlate with body size, and those species with the most highly ... | |
| Small insect found in home | 2/17/2009 |
| Q: I found this small creature in my home in early February. I keep a supply of firewood in the ... A: Dave - What you have here is a harmless arachnid (relative to spiders and the like) called a ... | |
| some kind of parasitic mite? | 2/16/2009 |
| Q: I can't identify this. i am pretty sure it is a mite but i do not know what kind. It is extremely ... A: and submit them to your nearest office of Cornell University's Cooperative Extension service (see ... | |
| Bugs in soil | 2/14/2009 |
| Q: I have read that there are more living things in a handful of healthy soil than there are people on ... A: you really need to pose these questions to a microbiologist. That aside, I can assure you that only ... | |
| Ants Gender | 2/14/2009 |
| Q: my question is regarding the gender of the worker ants. As we all know; they are female, however was ... A: Although worker honey bees were known to be sterile females by the 17th century, the earliest ... | |
| Bugs in soil | 2/14/2009 |
| Q: I have read that there are more living things in a handful of healthy soil than there are people on ... A: this would appear to be a 'factoid' - a short description of some amazing 'Did you know that...' ... | |
| tiny bugs on windowsill | 2/13/2009 |
| Q: I live in massachusetts, and foud dozens of tiny black wingless bugs on my bay windowsill. They do ... A: I can only guess at what they might be. The first thing that comes to mind are springtails (see ... | |
| some kind of parasitic mite? | 2/13/2009 |
| Q: I can't identify this. i am pretty sure it is a mite but i do not know what kind. It is extremely ... A: but exactly what kind, I cannot say. There are many species of bird and rodent mites that may be ... | |
| Mystery Bug | 2/12/2009 |
| Q: I got one more insect that I can't figure out. Your help will be greatly appreciated (again!)The ... A: This is a planthopper in the family Fulgoridae (Hemiptera/Auchenorrhyncha); see ... | |
| Bugs - General | 2/10/2009 |
| Q: My son has recently become OBSESSED with bugs! Problem is, it's still winter. I was wondering if ... A: if you know where to look. For example, if there are woods nearby that you can access, try peeling ... | |
| larvae | 2/8/2009 |
| Q: We live in a suburb of Atlanta, ga--lots of pine trees in our yard. Today I found a 3.5 inch larvae ... A: Although your original description really didn't sound like anything I was familiar with, I've been ... | |
| re: traveling and known insects | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a silly question because I am terrified of all insects, I am traveling to Meridian, MS this ... A: I can't say much from personal experience. Although you likely will see many more and different ... | |
| larvae | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: We live in a suburb of Atlanta, ga--lots of pine trees in our yard. Today I found a 3.5 inch larvae ... A: as I suspect that it may be an unusual color morph of an otherwise common species. That aside, if it ... | |
| bugs in carpet | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: I recently moved into a house and have found these bugs on two different occassions. I was reading ... A: ' it may have been a small millipede, which for the most part are harmless scavengers. At any rate, ... | |
| bugs in carpet | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: I recently moved into a house and have found these bugs on two different occassions. I was reading ... A: it helps immensely if questioners can provide a photo or two of their 'mystery bug.' That aside, one ... | |
| Bugs on carpet | 2/5/2009 |
| Q: We just got new carpet and moved into our new house. They removed the old carpet and put in new red ... A: I cannot be certain, but these are most likely mites, and not carpet/fabric pests of any sort. Among ... | |
| daddy long legs | 2/4/2009 |
| Q: My 7 year old son is wondering...Are daddy long legs all "boy spiders?" A: ' In true spiders, males generally can be distinguished from their female counterparts by being ... | |
| Small bugs in bedroom - very fast! | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: We live in Singapore and recently have found small, very fast little bugs around our bedside tables ... A: d. from your description, they do not sound like anything dangerous. The worst case scenario is that ... | |
| images of bombus employing tibial brush... | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: I am an entomological sculptor here in Montreal, and I am working on a three foot long sculpture of ... A: and he had no images of the sort you are looking for; sorry. However, if you haven't already done ... | |
| wondering if i have roaches | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: My brother just came to stay with me after a short stay with my father in Chicago. They have roaches ... A: this would be rather unusual. Other household insects having long antennae are silverfish/firebrats, ... | |
| Ingestion of live maggots in chocolate while pregnant | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: I need your expert advise. Sometime when I was 3 months pregnant, I chanced to ingest two (2) live ... A: there should be no connection whatsoever between ingestion of the insects (they more likely were ... | |
| wondering if i have roaches | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: My brother just came to stay with me after a short stay with my father in Chicago. They have roaches ... A: I cannot reassure you either way from your description. Although what you describe is typical ... | |
| SMALL BLACK WORMS | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: I have small tiny black worms coming out the jects of my jacuzzi tub. How can I get rid of these? ... A: I can only guess that they might be larvae of small flies known as moth flies, drain flies, or ... | |
| Masses of microscopic black insects found on beach | 2/1/2009 |
| Q: I live on the west Coast of Scotland, Whilst walking my dog on a beach at Seamill, i noticed that in ... A: About the only jumping arthropods as small as you describe would be collembola ('springtails'), but ... | |
| Wierd bug! | 1/31/2009 |
| Q: I wonder if you can help! A while ago we had a leak under the shower, we had this fixed however a ... A: it also might help a bit if I knew your geographical location. In the meantime, have a look at ... | |
| Insect Collecting | 1/30/2009 |
| Q: .. I need mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) for my projects. I know I can get them from petshops but is ... A: use of light traps would be unlikely to be successful in collecting these insects, and I also doubt ... | |
| things that live in water | 1/28/2009 |
| Q: I live in Madison Alabama and i found these squirmy things that live in water. They are see through ... A: my best guess is that they are the larvae of a fly in the family Syrphidae (hover/flower/drone ... | |
| Small worm-like insect in my room | 1/27/2009 |
| Q: I live in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada and I am having a problem since I moved into a house ... A: but I really need an image to do other than make wild guesses. If you can take a photo or two, ... | |
| the future of interior planting.... bugs? | 1/27/2009 |
| Q: im currently studying garden design at falmouth university, cornwall, uk, and im writing an 8000word ... A: what is your target audience for this questionnaire? As you have it now, the questions appear a ... | |
| the future of interior planting.... bugs? | 1/27/2009 |
| Q: im currently studying garden design at falmouth university, cornwall, uk, and im writing an 8000word ... A: the basic answer is "It depends." In your case, depending on the particular plant species, their ... | |
| Dominican Insect identification | 1/26/2009 |
| Q: I was in the Dominican Republic last week (January) riding a dune buggy from a horse/cow type ranch, ... A: Although the insect fauna of the Dominican Republic is renowned for its variety of colorful and ... | |
| hair bugs? | 1/24/2009 |
| Q: My sister stayed with me after a trip to guatemala several months ago. She contracted lice there, ... A: so that eliminates them as a possibility. Also, lice are the only insects that actively infest human ... | |
| Spider came with potted plant, ID? | 1/22/2009 |
| Q: Years ago you were very helpful with a general taxonomy question of mine about corn snakes. (Ours ... A: //tinyurl.com/bnrmne for a list of spider species officially recorded from Pennsylvania. You will ... | |
| Spider came with potted plant, ID? | 1/21/2009 |
| Q: Years ago you were very helpful with a general taxonomy question of mine about corn snakes. (Ours ... A: next time, try to get a photo before gooshing it! My best guess at this time is that it might have ... | |
| Question about tiny bugs in my apartment | 1/21/2009 |
| Q: I was away from my NYC apartment for a month, and when I came back I found dozens of little bugs, ... A: If the stripe is side to side, it’s possible that these might be young nymphs of the brown-banded ... | |
| a different tiny bug in my house... | 1/19/2009 |
| Q: I keep reading questions about bugs that sound like mine but when I see the picture it doesn't look ... A: Melanie - The Tokeland Hotel is a rustic experience, almost like stepping back a century. A good ... | |
| what is it? | 1/18/2009 |
| Q: i would like to email you a pic of an insect i found in our back yard,already dead and intact. we ... A: Pam - also, this helps illustrate why it is important to indicate your geographical location when ... | |
| What kind of bug is this? | 1/17/2009 |
| Q: We have been finding these bugs on our bedroom curtains one at a time for about two months now. At ... A: Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), a native of Asia that has become established in eastern North ... | |
| what is it? | 1/15/2009 |
| Q: i would like to email you a pic of an insect i found in our back yard,already dead and intact. we ... A: If you have difficulty with that there are several sites where you can post photos for an i.d. - two ... | |
| a different tiny bug in my house... | 1/14/2009 |
| Q: I keep reading questions about bugs that sound like mine but when I see the picture it doesn't look ... A: //ext.wsu.edu/locations/ for contact information. Someone there should be able either to assist in ... | |
| Inside small flying bugs | 1/13/2009 |
| Q: I live in Colorado and all winter we have been seeing small Gnat type flying insects. They land and ... A: Often (and incorrectly) called fruit flies, these are the ones typically associated with lab studies ... | |
| a different tiny bug in my house... | 1/12/2009 |
| Q: I keep reading questions about bugs that sound like mine but when I see the picture it doesn't look ... A: I can only guess. One possibility is the larva of one of the carpet/skin beetles (Coleoptera: ... | |
| Tiny furry cocoons adhered to apt wall in corners | 1/7/2009 |
| Q: I have an apt with tiny, brown, furry shells/cocoons that are all empty as if something hatched from ... A: have a look at an image of a shed 'skin' of a carpet beetle at http://tinyurl.com/7nnzqf (the 'skin' ... | |
| small red marks on kitchen ceiling | 1/6/2009 |
| Q: We live in Atlanta and have several randomly spaced dark red spots that look like blood stains on ... A: //tinyurl.com/5l5y95 for detailed information, and that you can rule out mosquitoes (unless you ... | |
| Very small red bug | 1/4/2009 |
| Q: I live in a basement level apartment in Colorado Springs, CO. I occasionally see a very small red ... A: They can occur in enormous numbers, but essentially are harmless, but definitely can be nuisances ... | |
| Moth infestation? | 1/2/2009 |
| Q: About once a week I have to remove 20-30 hanging objects from our guest room and library ceilings ... A: check out images of Indian meal moth larvae (Plodia interpunctella; Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) at ... | |
| Beetle Question | 1/2/2009 |
| Q: Ed, I live in Maryland, 20 minutes outside of Washington, DC. For the past 7 months, I have ... A: Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Rhopalidae) certainly would be prime suspects - see http://tinyurl.com/a8r9h9 ... | |
| In Nicaragua on Pacific coast. Small red droplet shaped bug. | 12/29/2008 |
| Q: This bug small droplet shaped tried to bite/suck blood from my daughters leg. She flicked it off ... A: However, neither appears likely in this instance, as a tick would not be easily 'flicked off,' and ... | |
| strange insect casings/dropings/????? | 12/22/2008 |
| Q: We continue to find what looks like insect eggs or possibly dried larvae or droppings or a spice in ... A: these could be frass (fecal pellets) of a wood-boring insect such as drywood termites (see ... | |
| please help | 12/19/2008 |
| Q: i live in northern virginia. i've found a few bugs in my basement. they're dark brown or black and ... A: I got interrupted yesterday, and just plain forgot to complete some tasks. That aside, I really ... | |
| Praying Mantis | 12/16/2008 |
| Q: Have I read correctly that a male praying mantis has a penis? That is amazing to me. If it's true, ... A: Although it is analogous to the mammalian penis, it is not homologous, and plays no role in waste ... | |
| worms on a bathroom sink - not a slug! | 12/15/2008 |
| Q: I found a strange worm on my bathroom sink. Can you please help with the identification? Attached is ... A: Known variously as drain flies, sewer flies, or moth flies, they feed on decomposing organic matter, ... | |
| bugs in my kitchen | 12/14/2008 |
| Q: When I walked by my refrigerator last night I noticed that the pictures on the fridge looked dusty. ... A: Liposcelidae). Under a magnifying glass, mites lack eyes and have eight legs, whereas booklice have ... | |
| wood boring bettles | 12/11/2008 |
| Q: I live in a four-storey concrete building, in a big city. About one month ago I purchased a small ... A: I do not believe that you have much to worry about, given the circumstances you describe. The only ... | |
| Spider or Tailless Whip Scorpion | 12/9/2008 |
| Q: You were very helpful with a previous inquiry. Can you help identify the species on the picture? ... A: (huntsmen/giant crab spiders), appearing to be a male Heteropoda venatoria, a very widespread ... | |
| Identifying potential bug issue | 12/8/2008 |
| Q: Back in June I purchased several hundred cases of candy bars with almonds for a fundraiser. Several ... A: and the pattern of damage is not at all unusual; I saw similar instances when inspecting pallets of ... | |
| bugs(?) in clothing from storage unit | 12/7/2008 |
| Q: Greetings Mr. Saugstad; I recently took my belongings out of storage, where they have been as long ... A: I doubt very much that insects or mites are responsible. I suggest that consult a physician, ... | |
| Need a bug identification! | 12/5/2008 |
| Q: Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I've been going back through some of my photos, and I found ... A: Cicadellidae). This is quite a large group, and it would take a specialist to give you a specific ... | |
| Cacoon | 12/4/2008 |
| Q: I found this in my loft. Do you know what bug made it? I live in the UK A: but this looks more like a very early stage in the building of a nest by wasps in the family ... | |
| Springtails | 12/4/2008 |
| Q: I saw your other answers, and I hope you can help me too. I live outside Phoenix, AZ. We seem to ... A: are you absolutely certain that your pests are indeed springtails? Although these creatures occur ... | |
| tiny worms around the kitchen and bathroom | 12/2/2008 |
| Q: I was wondering if you can help me. I have noticed only 2 (so far) small black/brown/red colored ... A: About the only thing that I can say at this point is that they do not sound like anything at all ... | |
| spider/cave cricket | 11/21/2008 |
| Q: I have a young child and don't want these things around him; besides the fact that they just creep ... A: no. These devices are completely worthless, and serve primarily to remove money from consumers’ ... | |
| spider/cave cricket | 11/21/2008 |
| Q: I have a young child and don't want these things around him; besides the fact that they just creep ... A: these creatures are completely harmless. About the worst that can happen is that someone carelessly ... | |
| spider | 11/20/2008 |
| Q: This spider was hanging on the siding of my house. I took a close up picture and then one with a ... A: possibly Araneus trifolium, a widespread and extremely variable species. See ... | |
| little light brown bugs in my kitchen cupboards and on my counter | 11/19/2008 |
| Q: I have been finding some sort of little brown beetle in my kitchen cupboards and they come out more ... A: but I suspect that they may in the family Anobiidae, such as the cigarette and drugstore beetles ... | |
| Strange insect | 11/17/2008 |
| Q: My friend found a strange creature the other day. It was about as long as a match box. it was a ... A: as verbal descriptions, however detailed, can lead one astray as often as they can be helpful. ... | |
| Bug in house | 11/16/2008 |
| Q: I had this bug on my hand the other day and noticed it because it gave me a little pinch. It was all ... A: I can only guess that it most likely was a larva of either a lady beetle (see ... | |
| Please help to identify these bugs | 11/14/2008 |
| Q: Ed, I live in northeast Pennsylvania. The temperature has been up and down for most of the fall ... A: so all I can do is guess. My initial impression is that they could be springtails, primitive ... | |
| insect in my body | 11/13/2008 |
| Q: After returning from a week in Boulder, CO, then Sarasota, FL, to MD, I had an ... A: The only arthropods in North America that habitually burrow in human skin are scabies mites, but ... | |
| Bug bite in Southern Arizona | 11/13/2008 |
| Q: Two days ago, I was about an hour south of Tucson, Arizona, sitting in an outdoor restaurant. ... A: no. The only blood-feeding insects in Arizona as large as a triatomid bug would be horse flies in ... | |
| Something living in my mattress? | 11/12/2008 |
| Q: A few months ago I moved into a new apartment bringing with me all brand new furniture (mattress, ... A: it is only the larvae that do the damage, so it is not surprising that you have not seen any adult ... | |
| Something living in my mattress? | 11/11/2008 |
| Q: A few months ago I moved into a new apartment bringing with me all brand new furniture (mattress, ... A: //www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef601.asp for a fact sheet that includes images of ... | |
| Bug bite in Southern Arizona | 11/11/2008 |
| Q: Two days ago, I was about an hour south of Tucson, Arizona, sitting in an outdoor restaurant. ... A: (1) The triatomid vectors of Chagas' disease are nocturnal feeders. (2) Their bite is painless. (3) ... | |
| Bug identification | 11/10/2008 |
| Q: Found this critter in my sink. Looked through several web sites but haven't been able to identify ... A: This appears to be a larva of a snakefly (Neuroptera: Raphidiidae) - see ... | |
| little black bugs | 11/5/2008 |
| Q: I'm a Canadian, living in Central Ontario. I live in an apartment with a cat. For a while now I've ... A: larvae of a dermestid beetle in the genus Attagenus (such as the black carpet beetle) would be a ... | |
| Green caterpillar | 11/5/2008 |
| Q: I am attaching a pic of a green caterpillar that seems to be fairly common in this area although I ... A: Sphingidae); there are several species with this general color pattern, see ... | |
| Tiny white bugs | 11/5/2008 |
| Q: I saw the same tiny white bugs in a corner of my kitchen. I noticed them yesterday, but I thought ... A: Just for the record, your county office of the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension service ... | |
| A NEW BUG | 11/5/2008 |
| Q: I live in Jericho, NY for the past 24 years. This year I have found a bug I have never seen before. ... A: I can only guess that it might be a cave/camel cricket (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) or a close ... | |
| Tiny white bugs | 11/5/2008 |
| Q: I saw the same tiny white bugs in a corner of my kitchen. I noticed them yesterday, but I thought ... A: Liposcelidae) or flour mites. See ... | |
| silverfish | 11/4/2008 |
| Q: Last night i saw two silverfish in my bedroom. One was on a tissue box on the window sill & the ... A: silverfish and their close relatives, firebrats, are very widely distributed and commonly are found ... | |
| No See Ums | 11/3/2008 |
| Q: I travel to the Bahamas (Abaco) several times a year for a few weeks each time, and like many ... A: as I react more strongly to the bites of these lovely little critters than to any other biting fly. ... | |
| baby mantids | 11/3/2008 |
| Q: We have a couple of oothecas.Plans are to keep them outside til spring & they hatch.When they hatch ... A: //mantodea.myspecies.info/rearing-praying-mantids). Finding other small insects in sufficient ... | |
| Mystery bug | 11/2/2008 |
| Q: I live in Australia, and a friend of mine recently found an odd bug that I haven't been able to ... A: my best guess is that it might be a larva of a lacewing (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). These are ... | |
| Ladybugs | 11/2/2008 |
| Q: When Ladybugs are "out in force" why is it that they seem to fly straight at and land on me if I ... A: I have never experienced this behavior, even in areas where these beetles were quite abundant. The ... | |
| Spider-like insect | 10/31/2008 |
| Q: I live in Illinois and I have never seen an insect like the one I saw today. It resembles a spider ... A: the most likely suspect is an assassin bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Reduviidae) known as a wheel bug ... | |
| What is this bug? | 10/31/2008 |
| Q: We've recently moved into our new house and have found this type of insect in our basement. They ... A: these insects are not dangerous, just nuisance pests. They are relatives of crickets and ... | |
| White Thread like worms with black tips on both ends found in sink | 10/30/2008 |
| Q: I recently found a tiny ball of worms that are white in clour with black tips on both ends. They ... A: (1) Although mosquitoes are among the first insect to take advantage of any stray bit of standing ... | |
| White Thread like worms with black tips on both ends found in sink | 10/29/2008 |
| Q: I recently found a tiny ball of worms that are white in clour with black tips on both ends. They ... A: If they were not insect larvae, about the only other possibility would be nematodes of some kind, ... | |
| long dark brown worm | 10/29/2008 |
| Q: I found a Long dark brown worm in my spare room today. It's a little over an inch long and has very ... A: please tell me your state of residence, and I should be able to refer you to a more local source for ... | |
| White Thread like worms with black tips on both ends found in sink | 10/29/2008 |
| Q: I recently found a tiny ball of worms that are white in clour with black tips on both ends. They ... A: but without being able to see an image of them, I can scarcely guess at what they might be. If you ... | |
| Bugs that come at the end of summer | 10/29/2008 |
| Q: This is the second year I've had to fight with these bugs. They stand on six legs (black) their ... A: I can only guess that they might be something in the order Orthoptera, such as camel/cave crickets ... | |
| Bugs found in hair | 10/28/2008 |
| Q: My daughter has been complaining of an itchy scalp. I noticed two of my sons scratching their heads ... A: and may not even be insects. Rather than subjecting them to further treatment, I suggest that you ... | |
| id if insude insect | 10/28/2008 |
| Q: I lived in Mississippi for a year, while there I had a worker come in to do some work and he brought ... A: but I cannot identify them from such a general description; they could be just about anything, ... | |
| bug that sounds like a bullfrog | 10/28/2008 |
| Q: I am from western New York and I heard a noise that sounded like a bullfrog, rivet, rivet and ... A: It would be very helpful if you could somehow take a photo of it that could be attached to a ... | |
| Something small biting me | 10/27/2008 |
| Q: My friend's girlfriend fell asleep on my sofa about 2 months ago. Since then, something small has ... A: they cannot persist in the absence of their usual hosts, so if your home is kept rodent-free, any ... | |
| Bug in my Bathroom | 10/27/2008 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could help me I'm from the UK and last night I found 3 strange bugs on my ... A: most likely a soldier fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) - see ... | |
| Something small biting me | 10/27/2008 |
| Q: My friend's girlfriend fell asleep on my sofa about 2 months ago. Since then, something small has ... A: and sometimes never is resolved to the satisfaction of all involved. That aside, a couple of ... | |
| Weird Spider | 10/27/2008 |
| Q: Today I was searching for wood at my Indiana home. I picked up this stick and there was an orange ... A: I cannot give a positive i.d. from your description. Would it be possible for you to take a photo of ... | |
| BUGS | 10/27/2008 |
| Q: We have found a small reddish bug with a hard shell that crawled very quickly, with legs, no wings, ... A: I can only guess. If they were roundish in shape, they might be spider beetles (Coleoptera: ... | |
| possible fly larvae | 10/26/2008 |
| Q: I live in the city of Boston, MA and earlier this week I woke up and found about 7 worm-like "tiny ... A: Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a common pantry pest. Mature larvae often move quite some distance from ... | |
| can bugs get sick? | 10/26/2008 |
| Q: my boyfriend and i got into this long dramatic conversation about mosquitos carrying or not ... A: insects and other arthropods do indeed have immune systems and are susceptible to various bacterial, ... | |
| bug identification | 10/26/2008 |
| Q: I live in southern Maine. I found a cocoon that is about 1 cm long. The cocoon is brown. After ... A: but if it is slender in appearance, it might be a wasp in the family Ichneumonidae - see ... | |
| red/brown bug | 10/26/2008 |
| Q: maybe you can help me to identify a bug that i found in the bedroom, it's a red/brown bug w/wings ... A: 5mm = 1/50th of an inch). If it had wings, it would just about have to be a parasitic wasp that ... | |
| Larvae in my pet skunks feces | 10/25/2008 |
| Q: Not sure if it was excreted in her feces or if it is from some insect after the fact. Found them 5 ... A: //www.flycontrol.novartis.com/images/es/figure_24.gif for an image). Some of these are known as ... | |
| wierd bug i found on my carpet | 10/24/2008 |
| Q: i found this black bug on my carpet, i have no idea what it is. when i went to put it in a cup to ... A: I can only guess that it most likely is a beetle of some sort that accidentally wandered indoors, ... | |
| Black fuzzy spider w/white spots | 10/24/2008 |
| Q: I live in southern California (in Orange County). Was at the park the other day and this black ... A: I can only guess that it may have been a jumping spider (family Salticidae) such as Phiddipus audax ... | |
| What is this fly? | 10/24/2008 |
| Q: We find this fly, about 3 to 5 mm in length, in various locations throughout our house. It is ... A: it's good mental exercise! What you have there is a moth fly (Diptera: Psychodidae). Also known as ... | |
| Weird insect - Never seen before | 10/23/2008 |
| Q: Maybe you'd be kind enough to assist me in identifying this insect. My daughter recently came to me ... A: All members of this family are parasitic on other arthropods (primarily insects). See ... | |
| CREEPED OUT!!! | 10/23/2008 |
| Q: I live in Florida and it just started to get chilly and breezy, so it is really unusual to find bugs ... A: the photo is indeed too blurry for me to even guess at what it might be. If it is as hard to crush ... | |
| weevils??? | 10/23/2008 |
| Q: We have an extremely clean house and discovered very small, ligth brown/tan bugs in our kitchen ... A: //ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2080.html for a fact sheet on booklice that includes control ... | |
| weevils??? | 10/23/2008 |
| Q: We have an extremely clean house and discovered very small, ligth brown/tan bugs in our kitchen ... A: I can only guess, but there are at least two possibilities: (1) There are tiny beetles often found ... | |
| spiders | 10/22/2008 |
| Q: This morning when i pulled back the covers on my sons bed i found a spider under the covers beside ... A: the genus to which the yellow sac spiders belong, to see if you find one matching your specimen(s). ... | |
| bugs in refrigerator | 10/22/2008 |
| Q: My last tenant got into financial trouble and his electricity was turned off. He had lots of food ... A: but I simply cannot provide a positive i.d. from such a general description - they could be just ... | |
| cocoon | 10/22/2008 |
| Q: I live in northwest Arkansas. Can you identify what this is hanging on my house? Thank you. A: possibly a monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) getting close to the time for emergence. Was it more ... | |
| Venezuelan bug... | 10/22/2008 |
| Q: We used to live on the Venezuelan peninsula (Cardon / Punto Fijo) while on a job assignment and ... A: known variously as solfugids, solpugids, sunspiders, windscorpions, or camelspiders. See ... | |
| little white flying bugs | |