AboutEd Saugstad Expertise Will accept most questions in general entomology, including those related to medical entomology, taxonomy, ecology, arthropod surveillance, and pest management.
If you are requesting a 'mystery bug' identification, PLEASE either attach an image to your question, or post an image on a web page (such as Flickr) so that I can look at it, as verbal descriptions frequently are insufficient for a definitive identification.
Experience 21 years in the U.S. Army as a medical entomologist; duties varied from surveillance of pest populations (including mosquitoes, cockroaches, ticks, and stored products pests) to conducting research on mosquito-virus ecological relationships and mosquito faunal studies. Ten years as a civilian analyst for the Department of Defense, primarily on distribution of vector-borne diseases worldwide. Limited experience on surveillance of agricultural insects in North Dakota and Indiana.
Organizations Entomological Society of America, West Virginia Entomological Society, Society for Vector Ecology, National Speleological Society, West Virginia Association for Cave Studies.
Publications American Journal of Public Health, Contributions of the American Entomological Institute, Japanese Journal of Sanitary Zoology, Journal of Economic Entomology, Mosquito News, and Mosquito Systematics.
Education/Credentials B.S. in entomology from North Dakota State University in 1963, M.S. in entomology from Purdue University in 1967.
Question Hi. Can you help me to identify a bug that I found on the carpet
under my bed? I'll email you a picture, if that's possible.
The bug is about half an inch long and it's light tan. It also has
dark brown horizontal streaks. It's oval shaped, and its tail area is
more narrow than its head. It doesn't have wings. It seems to have
8 legs, front antennas, a thin tail that is about half the length of its
body, and also two more antennas near the tail. It moves very
quickly. Any help that you can offer will be very much appreciated!
Thanks.
Answer Dear Emily - It sounds like you might have silverfish or firebrats, wingless primative insects in the order Thysanura that sometimes can be household pests. See http://home.messiah.edu/~weiand/bugs/pics/Silverfish.jpg for a photo of a silverfish and http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2108.html for a fact sheet that includes representative images as well as control recommendations. If after reviewing this material you believe that you have something different, please get back to me with a more detailed description.
Hope this helps,
Saugy
