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Pest Control/Questions Answered by Expert Jack DeAngelis
| Subject | Date Asked |
| bug cocoon | 2/9/2012 |
| Q: I recently found several cocoons approximately 1/8" long, brown in color, hard to the touch with a ... A: Shannon, I'd need a picture to be certain but from your description I think you have either a small ... | |
| sawyer pine beetle | 1/30/2012 |
| Q: I do have a infested pine tree close to my 40 yr old pine log cabin . This past fall the sawyer ... A: Chris, The pine sawyer won't infest the logs in your log cabin because they need live or recently ... | |
| Bug Problem? | 1/26/2012 |
| Q: DeAngelis, I am assuming by apartment has a bug problem, but I'm not sure what bug is causing it. ... A: Wondering, Since the bites/irritation have stopped and you've not detected any bed bugs in your ... | |
| oriental cockroaches and cat food? | 1/12/2012 |
| Q: I live on the top floor of a 2 family home. My neighbors live on the ground floor + furnished ... A: Cockroach baits are generally safe around pets. Don't put them near the pet's feeding dish and put ... | |
| oriental cockroaches and cat food? | 1/12/2012 |
| Q: I live on the top floor of a 2 family home. My neighbors live on the ground floor + furnished ... A: Amanda, ANY sources of food (wet or dry) and water will be attractive to cockroaches. Dry versus ... | |
| Florida White Fly infestation | 1/9/2012 |
| Q: Happy New Year! I live in FL. The White Fly is swarming all over all trees here, all their leaves ... A: Rick, Severe whitefly infestations can cause defoliation and can stunt or even kill plants. Also, ... | |
| cockroach problems | 1/4/2012 |
| Q: Jack, Thank you for your time. I have lived in my house for 10 years and never had much problem ... A: Tanya, It is much better to use baits for cockroaches rather than sprays. Sprays can be very toxic, ... | |
| Tiny bugs found crawling on wall | 1/2/2012 |
| Q: I have recently found many tiny brownish bugs crawling on my bedroom's wall. They are of sizes ... A: Valerie, From your description I'd guess either grain mites (also called mold mites) or psocids ... | |
| small white bugs in the bedroom carpet | 12/14/2011 |
| Q: We have found small white bugs under our bed in the carpet, they do not seem to be crawling up walls ... A: Charlie, These are probably grain mites, also called mold mites (see ... | |
| Insects/bugs due to deconstruction next door? | 12/7/2011 |
| Q: I've lived in my apartment for 3 years, and it was only recently that I come across this problem I'm ... A: Sounds like you've found the source of the psocids. To be certain you'd need to capture a few and ... | |
| Insects/bugs due to deconstruction next door? | 12/7/2011 |
| Q: I've lived in my apartment for 3 years, and it was only recently that I come across this problem I'm ... A: Rai, Your description sounds like a psocid or booklouse (if you post a picture I could confirm). ... | |
| Something eating our clothes! | 11/26/2011 |
| Q: We live in Melbourne, Australia, and I’ve struck a problem I’ve never had before. We moved into a ... A: Lyn, This does not look like typical insect damage plus insects only rarely damage cotton cloth. ... | |
| Cockroaches in Dishwasher | 11/24/2011 |
| Q: I just got a used portable, counter-top dishwasher. I brought it home & ran an empty load w/ bleach ... A: Ann, Baits are the best way to control cockroaches so your efforts so far are correct. See ... | |
| Bed bugs via shipping packages | 11/16/2011 |
| Q: I (as I'm sure most other people) have been hearing a lot about bed bugs lately. I'm beginning to do ... A: Amy, Not very likely. Bed bugs occur in areas where people sleep. Since they can't fly, or move ... | |
| RID-X Bugs | 11/12/2011 |
| Q: Today I found my laundry room infested with Drugstore Beetles. I went on line after I found the ... A: Tim, Drugstore beetles develop on a wide variety of organic material (see ... | |
| Black round bugs coming from roof of camper | 11/6/2011 |
| Q: I live in Yukon (nice cold temperatures in winter) but I bought a camper from rainy Vancouver last ... A: Sheila, I'm sorry but I can't tell what the "lady bug" or the "tiny black slivers" are without a ... | |
| Bug larvae? What are they? | 11/2/2011 |
| Q: In my spare bedroom we found these nasty little larvae crawling around in the sheets that haven't ... A: As suspected this is a dermestid beetle larva, also sometimes called carpet beetles. See ... | |
| pests | 10/25/2011 |
| Q: We live in Phoenix and leave for the summer. This year when we returned home after being away for 5 ... A: The only thing I can't think of that might make this material is drywood termites. See ... | |
| pests | 10/25/2011 |
| Q: We live in Phoenix and leave for the summer. This year when we returned home after being away for 5 ... A: Lazora, When you remove this material can you see a small hole in the ceiling where it was hanging? ... | |
| Box Elder Bugs | 10/22/2011 |
| Q: Since the fall season began (I live in Wisconsin) I've been finding many dead Box Elder bugs by the ... A: Sarah, It is unusual for the bugs to die like this, normally they congregate on the exterior, sunny ... | |
| Dropping or eggs? | 10/20/2011 |
| Q: I couldn't figure out how to respond to your answer I know this isn't the right way but I just ... A: Ashley, Ok, I'm pretty sure this is not insect frass of any kind because frass would not be sticky. ... | |
| Droppings or Eggs around Electronics? | 10/18/2011 |
| Q: I have been going crazy with Mosquitos and then fleas (we have inside dogs) in our house. We live in ... A: Ashley, I think you are correct about the allergy. Most of the "mysterious bites" and itchiness ... | |
| small bugs | 10/13/2011 |
| Q: Recently our backyard has been taken over by these small, brown bugs. They are crawling our ... A: These are not related to termites (see http://www.livingwithbugs.com/termite.html for a drawing of ... | |
| small bugs | 10/12/2011 |
| Q: Recently our backyard has been taken over by these small, brown bugs. They are crawling our ... A: Denise, I can't tell from the image what these are (too small). However, there are many small ... | |
| small yellowish/white worms 1/4" long | 10/9/2011 |
| Q: These worms have infested my black sunflower seeds kept in a metal garbage can. They make the seeds ... A: Susan, Don't use the moldy seeds as they can make the birds sick. The worms are probably larvae of ... | |
| wasps | 10/8/2011 |
| Q: we seem to have tons of wasps in our yard. We've tried eliminating places that they build their ... A: Lauren, The best method to get rid of wasps depends on which wasp you have in the yard. Have you ... | |
| household worm | 10/1/2011 |
| Q: I am looking for info and possible response to this little worm that seems to work his way through ... A: Jim, This is a millipede (google "millipede" for more pictures). They are harmless scavengers that ... | |
| Followup | 9/28/2011 |
| Q: I actually found a picture- and it looks like this ... A: Kim, This is a house centipede, see http://www.livingwithbugs.com/centipede.html for another ... | |
| Firebrat but with more legs problem | 9/27/2011 |
| Q: Wondering how to best get rid of a firebrat (or something like it- looks greyish brown and has lots ... A: Kim, I think you are describing a house centipede (see http://www.livingwithbugs.com/centipede.html ... | |
| a roach problem? | 9/26/2011 |
| Q: I have lived in the same apartment for 10 years and never had any real bug problem. Some spiders ... A: Tom, Cockroaches can be a problem in apartments, especially older buildings. See ... | |
| flesh flies in my bathroom | 9/21/2011 |
| Q: Last month we were dealing with rats in the attic. We hired an exterminator who came and sealed all ... A: Tracy, I think you have analysed this pretty well. A dead animal in the walls or ceiling/crawlspace ... | |
| maggots | 9/19/2011 |
| Q: Flies have laid eggs on my wolf fur pelt. How do I get rid of these before they grow without ruining ... A: Freezing for several days will kill any insects or eggs so this would be a good step if you have a ... | |
| tiny bug w/ red legs | 9/16/2011 |
| Q: tiny bug looks greyish, with tiny red legs... round, flat, moves pretty fast for an itty bitty lil ... A: Quita, I'm sorry but I can't tell much without a picture. You said it was on you, did it bite? If ... | |
| feces found in garage | 9/7/2011 |
| Q: I'm based in the UK and have found some feces in our garage and was wondering if you can help ... A: Ray, I'm not sure what I'm looking at. If these are mouse droppings I may not be the right person ... | |
| Do carpet beetles feed on bed bugs? | 9/5/2011 |
| Q: Recently I have been getting a lot of bites, usually at night, on my elbows, hands, or arms. ... A: Ramona, Carpet beetles do not feed on bed bugs. Carpet beetles are very common in homes so if you ... | |
| I can't find anymore? | 9/1/2011 |
| Q: I rent the basement at a family members home. Recently I woke up with bite marks in one area so ... A: Jessica, The "bite marks" you describe don't sound like bed bug bites which tend to look like bad ... | |
| wasp | 8/28/2011 |
| Q: Wasps are getting into the attic under the eves. How to get rid of them? A: Bud, If there's a nest in the attic you don't want to seal off the entrance/exit through the eves ... | |
| Millipede infestation | 7/23/2011 |
| Q: I live in the ground floor-extension of a house which backs onto a creek, in a neighbourhood visited ... A: Isabelle, I can't see any detail in the image (too small, too dark). However, from your description ... | |
| very small brown/tan bug | 7/20/2011 |
| Q: i have found a few very small brown/tan bugs in my living room. I found them on a painted surface ... A: Anne, Your description sounds like sprintails (see http://www.livingwithbugs.com/springtails.html ... | |
| small brown House Ants | 7/18/2011 |
| Q: Jack, I live in Connecticut and recently have small brown house ants coming in thru the kitchen ... A: Bill, Spray insecticides don't work for these little ants (several different species). In fact ... | |
| Wood destroying organism | 7/4/2011 |
| Q: I am a Sri Lankan and I have a problem with a wood destroying organism. All my doors and windows ... A: Isuru, The image did not get attached. However, from your description I think this is almost ... | |
| Termite Control | 7/1/2011 |
| Q: I currently have an advanced termite system. The people before me had this product installed. I ... A: Sorry, no. These are only for termites. Ant baits are fairly inexpensive however. Outdoors you can ... | |
| Termite Control | 6/30/2011 |
| Q: I currently have an advanced termite system. The people before me had this product installed. I ... A: Andrew, You are far enough north that termites are not a severe problem and most people probably ... | |
| wall infestations at window sills | 6/29/2011 |
| Q: I have a powdery substance around my window sills and wall puffiness underneath looks like a water ... A: Rella, I think you are right in that the problem is water rather than insects. You'll need to ... | |
| Dropping question | 6/26/2011 |
| Q: We have been finding these "droppings" in our house that are black - most of the time we think ... A: You might put out some sticky traps and try to catch one for id. See ... | |
| Dropping question | 6/26/2011 |
| Q: We have been finding these "droppings" in our house that are black - most of the time we think ... A: Given your location and where you find the material I think we can rule out drywood termites. You ... | |
| Dropping question | 6/26/2011 |
| Q: We have been finding these "droppings" in our house that are black - most of the time we think ... A: Jessica, Where in the house are you finding these pellets? Are they in one room or scattered? My ... | |
| what is this bug | 6/13/2011 |
| Q: I have seen these bugs in my house and they can be anywhere. They are black and about 1/4 inch ... A: Charlotte, Without a picture I'm only guessing but it sounds like a click beetle (family ... | |
| cockroaches | 6/11/2011 |
| Q: I live in NY and i have a moderate to severe cockroach problem. A friend suggested I use boric ... A: G, Boric acid does not cause behavioural changes in insects. It is mainly a stomach poison, which ... | |
| bird /rat mite | 6/10/2011 |
| Q: I have had an ongoing mite issue in two residences. At the first place, landlords tried drugs to no ... A: This is a mite (my PhD is in fact in Acarology) but not one of the bird/nest/rodent mites. I can't ... | |
| bird /rat mite | 6/10/2011 |
| Q: I have had an ongoing mite issue in two residences. At the first place, landlords tried drugs to no ... A: Tom, Before ditching the furniture and moving at least consider that these symptoms are not mite ... | |
| bugs in bathroom | 6/9/2011 |
| Q: About once a day I find a small grey or silver bug in my bathroom that sort of glides away when I go ... A: Melissa, From your description I too would have said silverfish (see ... | |
| Tiny Black Insects | 6/7/2011 |
| Q: I live in Queens, NY and I moved into my new place this year. It is on the 4th floor. When the ... A: Lyman, I can't see the insect in the image clearly enough to id but from your description I'd guess ... | |
| bites at night. found the bug. can't find anymore evidence of other bugs. | 6/5/2011 |
| Q: I was bitten last night about 7 times in random places on my upper body. I woke up around 4am very ... A: Tisha, Without a specimen to examine, or a picture, it is impossible to say for certain what, if ... | |
| paper wasp nest in 2 chimneys | 6/4/2011 |
| Q: We have a house with two chimneys and a cupola with a weather vane. We also have a water fountain. ... A: Margaret, I think smoking them out will work so long as you can build a smoky, hot fire. They ... | |
| Black Spider/Tarantulas | 6/2/2011 |
| Q: I lived in Detroit, MI, in a single family house. My husband saw a black hairy 8 legs, ... A: The best option is to trap any that wander into the house on the sticky traps (see page cited in ... | |
| bugs in my cupboard | 6/1/2011 |
| Q: I have a red oval shape smoothsurface no visable legs or antennas but crawls bug in my food ... A: Rita, Can you post a picture? Your description does not match any of the insects that are usually ... | |
| Black Spider/Tarantulas | 5/31/2011 |
| Q: I lived in Detroit, MI, in a single family house. My husband saw a black hairy 8 legs, ... A: Serita, I'm pretty sure there are no tarantulas in Michigan. What you probably saw was one of the ... | |
| Bugs under skin | 5/24/2011 |
| Q: MY husband has bug bites all over arms look like flea and mesquito bites and 5 big bits on inside of ... A: Heather, These should be collected in some alcohol so they can be examined under a microscope. ... | |
| Roach our a water bug | 5/23/2011 |
| Q: Is this a water bug or a roach? What can I do to get rid of them? A: Rae, I'm not sure what you mean by "water bug" but this is definitely a cockroach. Outdoors ... | |
| Bugs in the house | 5/22/2011 |
| Q: Please help. I find lots of very very small catterpillars dark brown in my house. Some of them are a ... A: Gina, I'd need a picture to be sure but these sound like dermestid beetle (also called carpet ... | |
| clover mites | 5/16/2011 |
| Q: We are in South Jersey and I believe we have tiny red clover mites taking over our front walkway. ... A: Barbara, Clover mites generally don't move across open areas like this so I think the first step ... | |
| Hiring a pest control professional | 5/15/2011 |
| Q: Good morning Jack, Background: About 12 days ago, I heard a noise as though there was water running. ... A: Martha, I can't be very specific without knowing more details however I'll make some general ... | |
| Indian Meal Moths in the ceiling | 5/9/2011 |
| Q: We have had ongoing outbreaks of Indian Meal Moths for the last several summers. Each year we clean ... A: Lindsey, Meal moths feed on a wide variety of course, relatively dry foods. They would not infest ... | |
| Wasps in roof void making strange noises | 5/7/2011 |
| Q: Over the last 3 weeks, we've been hearing some strange rasping noises coming from the roof above our ... A: Mike, Don't worry about the number of questions, I'm here to help as much as I can. AllExperts has ... | |
| Wasps in roof void making strange noises | 5/4/2011 |
| Q: Over the last 3 weeks, we've been hearing some strange rasping noises coming from the roof above our ... A: If these are wasps (one of the social Vespidae species) they are likely one of the perennial nesting ... | |
| Wasps in roof void making strange noises | 5/4/2011 |
| Q: Over the last 3 weeks, we've been hearing some strange rasping noises coming from the roof above our ... A: Mike, In my experience loud noises like this are generally mice/rodents rather than wasps or ... | |
| Ants | 5/2/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could advise me on ways to keep ant populations in my yard under control. ... A: Chris, Thanks for re-submitting the question. The best option for ants control in the landscape is ... | |
| Spiders | 4/29/2011 |
| Q: I am hoping you can help me! We moved into a new house last October and seem to have TONS of ... A: I can't tell for sure whether or not this is a yellow-sac spider. Sac spiders are pretty ... | |
| Carpet Beetle | 4/28/2011 |
| Q: We have had a problem with Carpet Beetles and their larvae. We found the larvae behind the chairs in ... A: The eggs would be very small, probably not visible to an unaided eye. Also, they would be laid in a ... | |
| Spiders | 4/28/2011 |
| Q: I am hoping you can help me! We moved into a new house last October and seem to have TONS of ... A: Jamie, The small grass spiders are common this time of the year, and harmless. They will disappear ... | |
| Mites in my bed? | 4/26/2011 |
| Q: For about the past two weeks, I've been itching while in my bed. I've also gotten bumps that look ... A: I'm glad you have already been in contact with Extension. I would definitely take them a sample for ... | |
| Mites in my bed? | 4/25/2011 |
| Q: For about the past two weeks, I've been itching while in my bed. I've also gotten bumps that look ... A: Melissa, The terms bird mites, poultry mites, rodent mites and nest mites all refer to a group of ... | |
| Carpet Beetle | 4/24/2011 |
| Q: We have had a problem with Carpet Beetles and their larvae. We found the larvae behind the chairs in ... A: Karen, Carpet beetles (Dermestidae) are very common and finding a few is no reason for concern (see ... | |
| Tiny black biting bug - New Hampshire | 4/23/2011 |
| Q: Yesterday I stripped the linen off my bed and was able to find what I believe to be tiny little ... A: The best place to take a sample is the UNH Cooperative Extension office ... | |
| Tiny black biting bug - New Hampshire | 4/23/2011 |
| Q: Yesterday I stripped the linen off my bed and was able to find what I believe to be tiny little ... A: Lisa, I can't tell from this description what these are. Could you capture a few (use a damp Q-tip) ... | |
| Mosquito barrier spray pesticide question | 4/20/2011 |
| Q: Our mosquito problem is so bad that we have thought about using a barrier spray applied by a local ... A: Leslie, You didn't say where you live but I'm guessing the southeastern US since it is a bit early ... | |
| help id bug | 4/19/2011 |
| Q: Is this a cockroach? If it is, it's the first I have seen any bugs at this apartment and I have been ... A: James, No. This is a cricket. The enlarged hind legs are the key characteristic that identifies ... | |
| small brown bug w/ zigzag stripes | 4/17/2011 |
| Q: I have found a few of these small brown bugs in my bedroom, and am quite worried that they are bed ... A: Rose, This is definitely NOT a bed bug. It is a varied carpet beetle (see ... | |
| House Bug | 4/15/2011 |
| Q: Just the past couple of days I have run into these tiny black hard shell bugs located on top of my ... A: Anthony, This looks like a weevil, probably one of the grain weevils. Grain weevils infest whole ... | |
| holes in leather and fabric couches | 4/11/2011 |
| Q: Help, while vacuuming and dusting my couches, I noticed small holes (about 3-4) on the top of the ... A: Colleen, Did you find holes and sawdust in BOTH couches? Could you post a picture? How coarse is ... | |
| small insects on my ceiling | 4/9/2011 |
| Q: Just recently my hubby and I noticed these small brown dirt trails on our ceiling.We took a knife ... A: Renee, This sounds like subterranean termites (see http://www.livingwithbugs.com/termite.html for ... | |
| unknown | 4/8/2011 |
| Q: We have noticed this in one of our kitchen drawers on three occasions. It is very localized to that ... A: If you can inspect the underside of the counter top (by removing the drawer) you should be able to ... | |
| unknown "droppings"? in kitchen drawer | 4/7/2011 |
| Q: We have noticed this in one of our kitchen drawers on three occasions. It is very localized to that ... A: Angela, Take a look at the map on this page http://www.livingwithbugs.com/drywood_termite.html and ... | |
| worms in kitchen | 4/4/2011 |
| Q: Last summer I noticed tiny beige worms on the ceiling of my kitchen. It appears they are coming ... A: Amanda, This sounds like meal moth larvae, perhaps Indian meal moth (see ... | |
| Odorous house ants-followup | 3/31/2011 |
| Q: Jack, this is a continuation of my question about the odorous house ants (the system wouldn't allow ... A: Ok, I'm still wondering about the apparent association with ground water but if you are determined ... | |
| Odorous house ants | 3/30/2011 |
| Q: I live in Huntsville, AL, and I've been dealing with this problem for over 4 months now, since just ... A: I'd do the bucket test as soon as possible, just dig down about a foot and take a fist-size lump of ... | |
| Odorous house ants | 3/30/2011 |
| Q: I live in Huntsville, AL, and I've been dealing with this problem for over 4 months now, since just ... A: I'm still leaning toward foul-smelling water somehow getting under that room (sorry). I can't ... | |
| Odorous house ants | 3/29/2011 |
| Q: I live in Huntsville, AL, and I've been dealing with this problem for over 4 months now, since just ... A: Bruce, The odor from crushed odorous house ants is often described as rotten coconut. Does it smell ... | |
| Ants | 3/27/2011 |
| Q: I live in the Chicagoland, IL, suburbs in a residence on a slab foundation. For several years, I've ... A: It sounds like they are after the oils (fats) rather than protein or sugar. You could try mixing a ... | |
| ants putting debris on bait | 3/24/2011 |
| Q: I've been putting down bait stations for an ant problem, after reading several answers on this site. ... A: Kathy, I've not seen this behavior before. My guess is the baits are being treated as foreign ... | |
| Argentine ants | 3/24/2011 |
| Q: Hallo Jack, In my area (Subtropical Lowveld area in South Africa) have general problems with ... A: Stephan, Unfortunately I don't have any "magic bullets". Some people use a material called ... | |
| Ants/Worms/??? in yard | 3/23/2011 |
| Q: I live in a wooded area and struggle to keep my yard(2 acre) healthy(alive). Each year it seems like ... A: Ken, Without a picture of the mounds, and some idea where you are located, I'm just guessing but ... | |
| Tiny bugs everywhere in my flat! | 3/23/2011 |
| Q: ) I keep finding these tiny bugs everywhere! There are loads on the carpets and on window sills, ... A: Lydia, Thanks for including the picture. These are dermestid carpet beetles (see ... | |
| Unidentified Insect | 3/23/2011 |
| Q: I found an insect about 0.2cm in length in my office (in Singapore) when it was crawling on my ... A: Nora, If you post a clear picture of your insect I may be able to help, however I'm not a expert in ... | |
| Ants | 3/22/2011 |
| Q: I live in the Chicagoland, IL, suburbs in a residence on a slab foundation. For several years, I've ... A: I think at this point the best option is to try one of the newer baits (see ... | |
| Ants | 3/21/2011 |
| Q: I live in the Chicagoland, IL, suburbs in a residence on a slab foundation. For several years, I've ... A: Karen, There are several things that can cause baits to fail. The most common reason baits fail is ... | |
| Bird mites | 3/19/2011 |
| Q: We had a positive ID for bird mites and our PCO recommended thermal treatment for our three story ... A: Candace, Unfortunately, I think what you have discovered is that bird mites were never the real ... | |
| household worms | 3/18/2011 |
| Q: Jack, You responded to my question wanting to know more in info. I am unable to provide a pix. The ... A: Bob, There should be a "follow up" button so you don't have to post new questions each time. I ... | |
| Bug feces | 3/16/2011 |
| Q: I have been having a problem with some sort of insect I believe. Over the last few days I have ... A: Holly, If you are finding this material on the kitchen counter it is definitely not from bed bugs. ... | |
| Follow up regarding powderpost beetles | 3/15/2011 |
| Q: Jack, I was forced to ask a "new" question because of the number of follow ups. In answer to your ... A: Roger, As you say, who knows. At this point the best strategy is to keep an eye out for new ... | |
| What is this insect and should I be worried? | 3/15/2011 |
| Q: I'm a fellow AllExperts.com expert (screenwriting). I have a vacation home in Lake Arrowhead, CA. ... A: My guess would have been pine as well so let's go with that. Softwood that is that old is probably ... | |
| springtale | 3/15/2011 |
| Q: I have read information regarding springtale that they DO NOT bite humans nor spread disease. I had ... A: Al, Springtails (Collembola) do not bite nor do they spread disease, and they don't infest homes ... | |
| What is this insect and should I be worried? | 3/14/2011 |
| Q: I'm a fellow AllExperts.com expert (screenwriting). I have a vacation home in Lake Arrowhead, CA. ... A: Yep, neither will damage wood, or anything else. There's a species of stink bug that can be a ... | |
| What is this insect and should I be worried? | 3/14/2011 |
| Q: I'm a fellow AllExperts.com expert (screenwriting). I have a vacation home in Lake Arrowhead, CA. ... A: Roger, I can't see the details on the back well enough to be sure but it is either a stink bug ... | |
| safe control of bugs | 3/14/2011 |
| Q: I think it's most likely carpet beetles, as I did a Google search and the pictures seem to look like ... A: Sarah, Both carpet beetles and clothes moths can do the kind of damage you describe (see ... | |
| bird mites (dermanyssus gallinae) | 3/13/2011 |
| Q: I hope you can help me. I live in Melbourne Australia and about 3 weeks ago noticed some bites on ... A: Michele, Unfortunately, as you have found, there's a lot of misinformation on the Internet and this ... | |
| powderpost beetles | 3/9/2011 |
| Q: I am interested in purchasing a 10year old home. The library is entirely wood (paneling, crown ... A: I can't tell you whether or not to proceed based only on the limited information I have, I can only ... | |
| powderpost beetles | 3/9/2011 |
| Q: I am interested in purchasing a 10year old home. The library is entirely wood (paneling, crown ... A: Nancy, Can you tell me what kind of wood the infested molding is made of, or at least is it a ... | |
| Tick control | 3/8/2011 |
| Q: We live in an area with high tick problems. Three of our dogs and my husband have had very bad ... A: Diana, Sevin is an older, broad spectrum insecticide (see http://www.livingwithbugs.com/sevin.html ... | |
| carpet beetles? | 3/7/2011 |
| Q: I hope you can help me with my bug issue. First, you should know I am so squeamish about bugs that ... A: TH, There's two things going on here. The first is a fairly minor infestation of carpet beetles ... | |
| Bird mites? | 3/5/2011 |
| Q: 18 months ago found a dead bird on bedroom carpet next to computer. About 6 to 12 months ago had ... A: Laura, I don't think this is related to bird mites (see ... | |
| Bug Problem | 3/3/2011 |
| Q: My name is Jennifer & I live in Cleveland, Ohio. A few months ago, I noticed that every now & then ... A: This looks like a weevil, possibly one of the grain weevils. These develop in whole grains (not ... | |
| White worms | 3/2/2011 |
| Q: I am having an issue with white worms with a dark dot at either end. They slither out from under the ... A: Heather, These sound like a primitive fly larva, possibly a fungus gnat or drain fly. See ... | |
| little crawling/flying bug | 3/2/2011 |
| Q: i have found lots of little beatle looking bugs tiny like a pencil point they crawl and jump and it ... A: Kelly, Could you post a picture; this description fits a couple of different critters? Also, tell ... | |
| Bug Problem | 3/1/2011 |
| Q: My name is Jennifer & I live in Cleveland, Ohio. A few months ago, I noticed that every now & then ... A: Jennifer, Bug problems generally develop slowly over time so I suspect that these have been around ... | |
| bird mites/chicken mites | 2/24/2011 |
| Q: Good Morning, I am wanting to ask a question in relation to what could be bothering my skin. Approx ... A: Don't believe everything you find on the web about bird mites because a lot of it is wrong or ... | |
| bird mites/chicken mites | 2/24/2011 |
| Q: Good Morning, I am wanting to ask a question in relation to what could be bothering my skin. Approx ... A: Simone, Lots of different things can cause the sensations you are experiencing (tingling, crawling ... | |
| Tick control | 2/16/2011 |
| Q: We have had several bad problems with lyme disease here and need to spray for the ticks. I would ... A: Diana, The short answer is yes, many formulations of Sevin (carbaryl) are effective against ticks. ... | |
| Small white pods with 'tentacle' extending/retracting from either end | 2/14/2011 |
| Q: I have found some small white pod/cylinder with a leg or 'tentacle' that extends/retracts from ... A: Mark, This is a type of clothes moth larva. The larva, or caterpillar, lives inside the case which ... | |
| termites | 2/12/2011 |
| Q: I read that if soil is making contact with the bottom of a wall it can be easy access for termites ... A: Unfortunately there's not much you or anyone else can do to pre-treat for drywood termites once the ... | |
| termites | 2/12/2011 |
| Q: I read that if soil is making contact with the bottom of a wall it can be easy access for termites ... A: Outside conditions generally have no effect on drywood termites since they don't need contact with ... | |
| termites | 2/12/2011 |
| Q: I read that if soil is making contact with the bottom of a wall it can be easy access for termites ... A: Elsa, There are many different types of termites. Some require damp wood to survive and these can ... | |
| silverfish | 2/11/2011 |
| Q: I have had my home treated 3 times for silverfish. now that the snow is melting I have started ... A: Betty, The main problem is probably the shake roof. If the roof is covered with moss, or some other ... | |
| drain mites | 2/2/2011 |
| Q: I've had these pesky mites for a month now and nothing can get rid of them. I've had the pest ... A: That's what I suspected. See the link above for general information about these flies. Since the ... | |
| drain mites | 2/2/2011 |
| Q: I've had these pesky mites for a month now and nothing can get rid of them. I've had the pest ... A: Maria, Can you describe what you mean by "drain mite", this is not a common name I've heard before. ... | |
| mosquitos | 1/30/2011 |
| Q: i stay in thailand now and this time of the year there are too many mosquitos that get into where i ... A: Jii, This is essentially a small UV "black" light with an electrified grid. In the US we call these ... | |
| Small worm like bugs in apartment!!! Help! | 1/28/2011 |
| Q: I am hoping that you will be able to assist me with my little bug problem! I live in an apartment in ... A: The best place to take a sample is the Montgomery Co. Extension office at: Montgomery County ... | |
| Small worm like bugs in apartment!!! Help! | 1/28/2011 |
| Q: I am hoping that you will be able to assist me with my little bug problem! I live in an apartment in ... A: Tanya, Does not sound like a newly hatched silverfish since these insects look like the adult in ... | |
| Bed Bugs | 1/18/2011 |
| Q: DeAngelis, I live in New York City in an apartment with my parents. For a while, I guess I didn't ... A: David, I don't know the pest control companies in NYC so I can't make any specific recommendations. ... | |
| Termite in fence | 1/17/2011 |
| Q: I know a part of my wooden fence has evidence of termite. (it's a 2 foot tall wooden fence sitting ... A: Philip, Termites probably won't be dispersed by removing the fence. By removing the fence you will ... | |
| Yellowish spider on plant | 1/15/2011 |
| Q: I woke up and realized that there was an abundance of shedded skins around on my my plants, and then ... A: Ryan, Excellent picture. These are not spiders but rather small insects called aphids that feed on ... | |
| redback spiders | 1/13/2011 |
| Q: I'm living in Australia. I found a male and female redback spider living on my bike a few days ago. ... A: Jon, Redback spiders are related to our black widow spiders, and I'm more familiar with this ... | |
| Termite Infestation | 12/26/2010 |
| Q: I own a 26-unit apartment building in Los Angeles which has evidence of termites. The damage ranges ... A: Bob, These sound more like drywood termites rather than subterranean termites (see ... | |
| Larvae | 12/23/2010 |
| Q: I was drinking hot chocolate the other night and I felt something solid on my tongue. It was a ... A: Christina, The picture is a bit too dark but there are a number of different insects that infest ... | |
| termites in storage facility | 12/22/2010 |
| Q: I had my household goods stored in a self storage unit since 2004 in Southaven, MS. This past ... A: Kathy, Concrete and steel construction won't necessarily stop termites. Termites build a system of ... | |
| Springtail bites or possible bedbugs? | 12/19/2010 |
| Q: I am perplexed by the mixed info on whether springtails bite and concerned that we may have bedbugs ... A: Karen, Springtails (Collembola) do not bite nor do they infest homes. They do enter homes on ... | |
| insect in my home | 12/18/2010 |
| Q: I just moved into a house, found out a kind of insect on my kitchen & bathroom floor, close to my ... A: Jean, This appears to be a springtail (Collembola) not a flea (see ... | |
| Bed Bug Control/Moving | 12/15/2010 |
| Q: I live in NYC. Lo and behold, some months ago I had new neighbors come in and starting noticing more ... A: Mary, Unfortunately bed bugs cause a lot of over-reaction because of the attention they have gotten ... | |
| Fleas | 12/9/2010 |
| Q: I have been living in my condo for around 5 years without any pets and never a flea problem. ... A: Most insects will die at about 140 degrees F, but there's a lot a variables that affect this. As I ... | |
| Fleas | 12/9/2010 |
| Q: I have been living in my condo for around 5 years without any pets and never a flea problem. ... A: Mark, That particular steam cleaner does not appear to be made for carpets, it may be too powerful. ... | |
| Fleas | 12/8/2010 |
| Q: I have been living in my condo for around 5 years without any pets and never a flea problem. ... A: Mark, What you describe is completely consistent with the flea life cycle. What you are seeing are ... | |
| Bed bug bites? | 11/27/2010 |
| Q: Some time over the past 2 weeks I woke up feeling my elbows were a little itchy, and they were both ... A: Kahira, This does not sound like bed bugs (see http://www.livingwithbugs.com/bed_bug.html for ... | |
| biting midges, no-see-ums | 11/27/2010 |
| Q: How do I get rid of these "pests" (biting midges-no-see-ums) already all over inside my house, in my ... A: Linda, Have you captured any of the midges and had them identified? Biting midges don't normally ... | |
| Tiny bugs in finished basement | 11/23/2010 |
| Q: I've got these tiny bugs in my finished basement. They look like a spec of pepper and measure about ... A: Tim, This is called a psocid or booklouse. They are not related to true lice and do not bite. They ... | |
| tiny caterpillars/larvae? | 11/23/2010 |
| Q: I've been finding tiny critters that remind me of wolley bear caterpillars except that they are ... A: Elinor, I think you are describing carpet beetle larvae. See ... | |
| Help, our rented house is full of bugs!! | 11/18/2010 |
| Q: I will provide you with a short history first. We moved into a rented property just over two months ... A: Linda, These are larvae of carpet beetles (see http://www.livingwithbugs.com/carpet_beetle.html for ... | |
| insects | 11/17/2010 |
| Q: I bought some rabbit food and now the bag is fulled with bugs/insects. looks like little flying ... A: Cyndi, I can't tell from your description what this is. Could you post a picture? If not, collect a ... | |
| Bedbugs? | 11/11/2010 |
| Q: I'm hoping you can help me with a question I have about suspected bedbugs? I've not been bitten, (to ... A: Jasmine, I'll answer these questions in reverse order. You'd need freezing temperatures, similar to ... | |
| Wood Infestation | 11/11/2010 |
| Q: Sorry I have not replied sooner but I have only just seen your reply on your website as I was ... A: The pest control company will probably want to drill into the wall and/or floor to inject ... | |
| Biting bugs in November | 11/10/2010 |
| Q: "Surry/North Carolina/US We had a rather cold end of week last week and weekend with highs in the ... A: Jessica, Mosquitoes can still be present even after frost and colder weather sets in, just not as ... | |
| roaches/nymphs/palmetto bugs | 11/8/2010 |
| Q: I replaced my pest control company because I kept finding theses small, triangular bugs in my ... A: Maria, If you post a picture of the "triangular bugs" I may be able to confirm the id. Palmetto ... | |
| Unknown Insect | 11/4/2010 |
| Q: I rented a house 6 months ago and from time to time i found this insect (pictures attached) crawling ... A: Moustafa, There are many different insects that fit this description and the picture is not clear ... | |
| Wood and Brick Infestation | 11/4/2010 |
| Q: I live in Marbella , southern Spain and I have an apartment in my basement of my villa which the ... A: Paul, The branching structure in the photo looks like a "shelter tube" made by subterranean ... | |
| Wasp in chimney/siding | 11/2/2010 |
| Q: I have a new house, purchased last November. I had wasps in the chimney last year. Bunch dropped ... A: The reason to not screen the flue opening is because this will restrict the flow of smoke. Smoke in ... | |
| Yellow Jacket Wasps in Fireplace | 11/1/2010 |
| Q: I have had an issue with wasps coming into my home through my one fireplace. I have had ... A: Jenny, At this time of the year fertilized wasp "queens" are abandoning their nests and looking for ... | |
| Wasp in chimney/siding | 11/1/2010 |
| Q: I have a new house, purchased last November. I had wasps in the chimney last year. Bunch dropped ... A: Stacy, They could in fact be paper wasps. They are probably looking for a place to spend the ... | |
| dust mites | 10/31/2010 |
| Q: It looks like a small white dust mite under the glass on the screen of my game boy, could this be ... A: Maureen, This is probably not a dust mite. Dust mites are very small and difficult to see without ... | |
| Is this a roach? | 10/28/2010 |
| Q: I live in a large apartment complex and I suspect my neighbors have roaches. This scared me to death ... A: Jenn, I can't be certain because the image is too blurry but the shape is not right for a roach. ... | |
| Tiny White Bugs | 10/27/2010 |
| Q: I have these tiny white bugs, they seem to be crawling on everything Plastic in general, i have even ... A: Ackleema, These sound like mold mites, also called grain mites. They feed on mold so are common ... | |
| wasps | 10/26/2010 |
| Q: I live in north Texas. Every year, I have wasps flying around my chimney and in the chimney. I can ... A: Linda, The wasps are probably nesting between the outside of your metal chimney pipe and the ... | |
| Fleas in Drain | 10/25/2010 |
| Q: I work at an apartment complex and we have a downstairs apartment that has fleas (confirmed by a ... A: Sherry, While the apartment may have fleas I don't think the source is the drains. Fleas don't come ... | |
| Worms | 10/21/2010 |
| Q: I have worms in my house which look a bit like woodworms they are yellowish with little black heads, ... A: Veronika, These are not woodworms since woodworms never leave the wood that they live in until they ... | |
| Drain Flies | 10/19/2010 |
| Q: Good morning. I live in a one year old basement apartment and for the past 2 months we have a ... A: You might want to take a sample to your county extension office (http://ocean.njaes.rutgers.edu/) ... | |
| Drain Flies | 10/19/2010 |
| Q: Good morning. I live in a one year old basement apartment and for the past 2 months we have a ... A: Esther, Have you captured any of the flies and had them identified? Are you certain they are drain ... | |
| house flies | 10/16/2010 |
| Q: Is it possible for house flies to deposite their eggs away from a food/water source? If yes, what ... A: Loren, House flies lay eggs in rotting animal and vegetable matter as well as manure (see ... | |
| Bed Bugs Were Confirmed & Treated, Still Getting Bite Marks. | 10/15/2010 |
| Q: We live in Philadelphia, and after a trip my husband took, we had confirmed bed bugs in late June ... A: Kim, Bed bug infestations are generally pretty easy to detect except in the very earliest stages. ... | |
| bug droppings | 10/15/2010 |
| Q: just wondering I live in Duchess county,NY I keep finding tiny black dots on our cars the car wash ... A: Andrea, If you park under trees these could be from aphids but it really sounds more like some kind ... | |
| Australian Cockroaches | 10/12/2010 |
| Q: Sorry about the length, I'm leaving it, but here's a briefer version first: SW Florida w/Australian ... A: Jose, I don't think fogging will be very effective for cockroaches. Baiting is definitely the best ... | |
| Re-Occurring Fly Problem | 10/12/2010 |
| Q: We moved into a new office building 3 years ago (it is a new build and we are its first occupiers) ... A: The image is a bit too blurry to be certain but I think these are probably cluster flies (see ... | |
| unidentified tiny cream bugs | 10/11/2010 |
| Q: I moved into a new house in the summer. over the past month it has become apparent that we have ... A: Jo, This is an excellent description of mold mites, also called grain mites (see ... | |
| Re-Occurring Fly Problem | 10/11/2010 |
| Q: We moved into a new office building 3 years ago (it is a new build and we are its first occupiers) ... A: Liz, Have you had the flies identified? Once we know what kind of flies you have I'll be able to ... | |
| Fleas | 10/8/2010 |
| Q: I have the same problem as the lady in the pet-free house finding fleas in her bathroom. I am very ... A: Stephanie, The best place to take a sample is the Harris Co. Cooperative Extension office ... | |
| fleas in car | 10/7/2010 |
| Q: How do I eradicate fleas from my car without poisoning my family? Thanking you in advance... A: Kathy, Are you sure these are fleas? Unless an animal is kept in the car I think it is unlikely ... | |
| kitchen mystery cocoon | 10/5/2010 |
| Q: I was washing out my sink today and when I reached for the sink plug, I found there was a cocoon ... A: Constantina, I can't tell from the description what this was. However, it does not sound like any ... | |
| bed bugs and family pets | 10/5/2010 |
| Q: Will my dog and cat's Frontline Plus protect them from bed bugs? A: Kathy, Dogs and cats are not natural hosts of bed bugs (we are) so I don't think they will be ... | |
| Bit twice over two weeks. Apt. Very sharp pain | 10/1/2010 |
| Q: I was bitten twice in my new apartment in NYC over the last two weeks. The second time, I managed ... A: Mike, I can't see it clearly enough for an id but the wings look like some kind of moth. Since ... | |
| small larvae in my black sunflower seeds outside | 10/1/2010 |
| Q: i found yesterday that my bag of black sunflower seeds is infested in very very tiny little larvae. ... A: Julie, I think what you are describing is springtails (Collembola) rather than insect larvae (do ... | |
| I thought I had bed bugs... | 9/29/2010 |
| Q: I thought i had bed bugs, due to the 30 or so bites that I have.(which all got there in one night) ... A: Melissa, I can't tell for sure without a picture but your description sounds like a larva of a ... | |
| paper wasps/honets nests | 9/29/2010 |
| Q: we have two rather large hornets nests in one of the trees in our yard(paper like nests). at least ... A: Sharon, What state do you live in? Do you get freezing temps in winter? Unless you are in a warm ... | |
| stink bugs | 9/28/2010 |
| Q: the name for these bugs that I have on my porch, stink bugs. They have a nest on my porch and I have ... A: Soapy water will kill the ones that are directly sprayed but new ones will arrive daily to take ... | |
| stink bugs | 9/27/2010 |
| Q: the name for these bugs that I have on my porch, stink bugs. They have a nest on my porch and I have ... A: CJ, I'm not sure what you mean by "nest" in this case. Stink bugs don't make nests in the usual ... | |
| multi legged bugs | 9/26/2010 |
| Q: I just found a half dozen little beetle looking bugs in my bathroom. With the naked eye, they are ... A: Sue, What you've described is the larva of a dermestid beetle. See ... | |
| mystery bites | 9/26/2010 |
| Q: my father and I have both been plagued by mystery bugs. I have scoured the internet and can't find ... A: Bed bugs are very easy to identify and you would have found evidence of them by now. From your added ... | |
| insects in table | 9/25/2010 |
| Q: I have bought this antique dinning table about 4 years ago. I'm using it as a desk. Last few weeks, ... A: These beetles are very common so a few is no reason for concern. They are not associated with ... | |
| insects in table | 9/25/2010 |
| Q: I have bought this antique dinning table about 4 years ago. I'm using it as a desk. Last few weeks, ... A: Jiyoung, The insects are too small for me to be certain but I think the beetle is either a ... | |
| bedbugs and termites | 9/22/2010 |
| Q: I will be traveling soon to Hawaii. My biggest fear is to sleep on a bed that has bed bugs or even ... A: Elsa, Could you post the termite question into a separate question (just cut and paste)? It will ... | |
| Noseems | 9/20/2010 |
| Q: This is truly, truly, truly a CRY for HELP! I lived in Florida for a few years and one day had the ... A: Mark, If you have caught something take it to your local Cooperative Extension office and they can ... | |
| crawling (worklike) in Kitchen | 9/20/2010 |
| Q: Jack, I have these crawling (wormlike) pests in my Kitchen that appeared about a month ago after I ... A: Joe, These sound like meal moth larvae. The dark-colored flying insect is the adult moth. See ... | |
| Noseems | 9/20/2010 |
| Q: This is truly, truly, truly a CRY for HELP! I lived in Florida for a few years and one day had the ... A: Mark, I'm sorry for your troubles but if you've read my other answers I think you know that what ... | |
| 2 headed insect | 9/17/2010 |
| Q: I found a 1/4" oval, gray (either small rock color or light gray wood color) scooting bug that seems ... A: Karen, I'd need a picture to be sure but I think you are describing a plaster bagworm (do you live ... | |
| round little holes in mulch area | 9/16/2010 |
| Q: we have all these round little holes in the flowerbed about an inch deep by inch and half diameter ... A: Vickie, These are made by an insect called an antlion (Neuroptera). The insect sits in the bottom ... | |
| Termites or Ants?? | 9/15/2010 |
| Q: I noticed evidence of either ants or termites in the wall behind one of my kitchen cabinets. There ... A: Margaret, This appears to be termite galleries. I suspect they were feeding on the paperboard box ... | |
| Black and Red bugs destroying trees at base and under ground | 9/14/2010 |
| Q: We have just botten a home that is about 30 years old. As you may guess some of the landscaping is ... A: Angie, These sound like boxelder bugs. See http://www.livingwithbugs.com/boxelder.html for a ... | |
| Carpenter ants are biting my ash! | 9/13/2010 |
| Q: I live in New Hampshire and felled a large healthy ash last year to make room for an addition. The ... A: Russ, Once the tree is felled and cut up carpenter ants are no longer an issue because they need an ... | |
| Scorpions | 9/12/2010 |
| Q: I'm writing from Whitney, Tx. We've recently noticed some scorpions in our house. We see one every 2 ... A: Michelle, I'm not an expert in this group of arthropods but I don't think scorpions make a social ... | |
| Springtails, is it common? | 9/12/2010 |
| Q: I moved into my house 1 year ago. It's a brand new house. Last year I never saw any of these bugs ... A: It is more common for springtails to enter homes because the soil outside is too wet. However, they ... | |
| Springtails, is it common? | 9/12/2010 |
| Q: I moved into my house 1 year ago. It's a brand new house. Last year I never saw any of these bugs ... A: Kristin, Springtails (Collembola) are primitive insects that live in the soil feeding on organic ... | |
| fruit flys | 9/11/2010 |
| Q: I get fruit flys in my house in september wether I have fruit or not I live in maryland and I see ... A: These flies don't have anything to do with the septic system. The eggs are laid in the fruit's peel ... | |
| cockroach eggs | 9/11/2010 |
| Q: I live on the first floor of an old building in Tokyo. I saw an American roach last week but used a ... A: Concerned, Unfortunately, old apartment buildings often have cockroaches and you probably can't ... | |
| fruit flys | 9/11/2010 |
| Q: I get fruit flys in my house in september wether I have fruit or not I live in maryland and I see ... A: If you have vinegar flies indoors this usually means that either the fruit you've brought in has ... | |
| fruit flys | 9/10/2010 |
| Q: I get fruit flys in my house in september wether I have fruit or not I live in maryland and I see ... A: Linda, The behaviors you describe don't really sound like fruit flies (also called vinegar flies), ... | |
| large drugstore beetle infestation | 9/9/2010 |
| Q: I have had a large drugstore beetle infestation since May. I just learned online that these pests ... A: Sharon, Drugstore beetles can feed on a wide variety of natural household items including natural ... | |
| Fleas | 9/9/2010 |
| Q: Jack. I am a landlord and I have been doing a great deal of internet research about fleas and have ... A: Fleas are pretty easy to identify if you've seen them before so any exterminator should be able to ... | |
| Fleas | 9/9/2010 |
| Q: Jack. I am a landlord and I have been doing a great deal of internet research about fleas and have ... A: Denise, Since cat and dog fleas won't develop on human blood alone the fleas in apartments without ... | |
| moving to new house, how to avoid bringing in bed bugs, cockroaches | 9/7/2010 |
| Q: We bought a new house and will move in soon. But the current apartment we are living in has bed ... A: Kathy, Here's an article about cleaning personal items that have been exposed to a bed bug ... | |
| spiders brown recluse | 9/6/2010 |
| Q: IV'E HAD SOME SPIDERS IN MY HOUSE WERE THEY ARE COMING FROM I'M NOT SURE IV'E BEEN BITTEN THREE ... A: Greg, Unfortunately none of the ultrasonic pest repellers work against spiders or any other pests. ... | |
| bugs in wood furniture | 9/3/2010 |
| Q: My daughter has a sofa in her apartment that has bugs she discovered in the wood. The sofa had been ... A: Patricia, I think your daughter's best bet might be to contact her local Cooperative Extension ... | |
| Bug question | 9/2/2010 |
| Q: Did you ever find out what type of bug that was? the thin flat worm bug? I found the exact same ... A: Marissa, This is a plaster bagworm (household casebearer). It eventually turns into a small moth. ... | |
| housefly invasion | 9/2/2010 |
| Q: Jack. I have lived in the same house in Mesa, AZ for several years now. Over the past week or so it ... A: Are these flies small (1/4") and grayish in color or are they larger, dark and appear to be covered ... | |
| housefly invasion | 9/2/2010 |
| Q: Jack. I have lived in the same house in Mesa, AZ for several years now. Over the past week or so it ... A: Pamela, Surprisingly, house flies usually don't enter houses. Whenever we find what appears to be ... | |
| uidentified larvae destroying herbs? | 8/31/2010 |
| Q: I'm not sure if this falls within your area of expertise, but I am having a hard time identifying a ... A: Amanda, This is the larva of a moth, possibly a cutworm. These can be very damaging garden pests. ... | |
| carrion beetles | 8/30/2010 |
| Q: Flying insects have been entering our living room for a week. A licensed exterminator identified ... A: Amanda, Are you sure these are carrion beetles? I would not expect carrion beetles to emerge over ... | |
| mystery bites | 8/29/2010 |
| Q: my father and I have both been plagued by mystery bugs. I have scoured the internet and can't find ... A: Amy, I'm sorry you are having this problem. I get lots of very similar questions about "bites" that ... | |
| Pesticides | 8/26/2010 |
| Q: I recently had a Pest Control Officer come through my place and take care of a cockroach problem i ... A: Lee, I would ask the pest control company what they used. If it is boric acid powder it is ... | |
| bug in bed but not a bed bug | 8/25/2010 |
| Q: while i was making up the bed today i saw a bug (which i thought was dirt at first) it was small, ... A: Afnan, I'd need a photo to make an identification but it does not sound like a bed bug. Bed bugs ... | |
| Buying a house | 8/24/2010 |
| Q: My husband and I are currently in the process of buying a home. The house we are purchasing had ... A: Valerie, The devices you found are actually termite bait stations not traps (see ... | |
| Fleas | 8/19/2010 |
| Q: I am having a problem with fleas in our home. 2 weeks and 3 days ago we saw the first fleas in our ... A: Melissa, Fleas won't survive in a house that has no pets so the problem should resolve fairly ... | |
| Millions of very tiny bugs | 8/19/2010 |
| Q: We have property and chickens. I have these very very tiny bugs everywhere (but in the house). I ... A: Sandee, These are probably springtails (Collembola). Springtails can be very abundant in damp ... | |
| Cockroaches | 8/17/2010 |
| Q: We have a Septic System. This past month our house has been invaded by Roaches. The house is new 2 ... A: Collette, It sounds like the roaches you are finding outside are attracted to the broken drain ... | |
| Something has eaten my bookshelf... | 8/16/2010 |
| Q: We have a bookshelf that lives outside (gardening supplies etc) and it is made out of thick, solid ... A: Megan, The hole is far too big to have been made my an insect (my speciality). Is the hole smooth ... | |
| Cockroaches | 8/16/2010 |
| Q: We have a Septic System. This past month our house has been invaded by Roaches. The house is new 2 ... A: Collette, I doubt that the cockroaches are coming from the septic tank or lines (I've never heard ... | |
| pest | 8/13/2010 |
| Q: Today , i was in my attic, very hot, 100+, looking for something, i came across several boxes, i ... A: MGB, These sound like mold mites (also called grain mites). These mites are normally associated ... | |
| Mystery bites | 8/12/2010 |
| Q: DeAngelis, Thanks for taking on this question. I am having some problems with possible bug bites, ... A: Mark, I agree with the first doctor, from what you've told me I think this is very unlikely to be ... | |
| Termidor | 8/9/2010 |
| Q: I have done research on Fipronil. Are the inert ingredients in Termidor safe? Are they toxic? I ... A: The MSDS is the only data that the manufacturer is required to provide. If the information you want ... | |
| small jumping bugs | 8/9/2010 |
| Q: My brother have number o small dark jumping bugs coming out of my wooden floor, see image. They have ... A: Fero, This is a booklouse (psocid). They are not related to true lice but rather feed on mold and ... | |
| Landscaping | 8/7/2010 |
| Q: I'm going to be completing the landscaping at my home in Maricopa Arizona and want to use trees and ... A: Joe, In the desert anything that requires a lot of water will attract wildlife of all kinds. ... | |
| Brown Recluse Infestation | 8/6/2010 |
| Q: Jack, Moved into a 2 story home three years ago this month. Previous owners said upon leaving that ... A: The good thing about spiders is that populations tend to grow slowly because they breed only once a ... | |
| Brown Recluse Infestation | 8/6/2010 |
| Q: Jack, Moved into a 2 story home three years ago this month. Previous owners said upon leaving that ... A: Jerry, You didn't say where you live but I'll assume that the spider has been correctly identified ... | |
| Termite Bond Co Damaged Walls | 8/4/2010 |
| Q: We live in East Central Florida. Our 5 year termite bond renewal was scheduled for yesterday. They ... A: Beth, I'm not a building contractor so my expertise in this is limited. However, I do know that ... | |
| house bugs | 8/4/2010 |
| Q: For about six months especially in the summer there are tiny black bugs that are in my house. They ... A: Renee, Thanks for posting a picture. This is a root weevil. The "pinchers" are really antennae. ... | |
| Springtails | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: I have recently discovered springtails in my kitchen, bathroom and by my front door. I understand ... A: I don't think power washing the exterior would cause this, more likely heavy rains and saturated ... | |
| Holes in Maple Doors | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: Our new home was completed in June 2008. We have maple doors stained and coated with polyurethane. ... A: Saverio, Most of the time beetles that infest hardwood won't infest softwoods, plus those that ... | |
| Holes in Maple Doors | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: Our new home was completed in June 2008. We have maple doors stained and coated with polyurethane. ... A: Saverio, These are very likely lyctid powderpost beetles (see ... | |
| house bugs | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: For about six months especially in the summer there are tiny black bugs that are in my house. They ... A: Renee, This sounds like pseudoscorpions because of the size and pincers. See ... | |
| Springtails | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: I have recently discovered springtails in my kitchen, bathroom and by my front door. I understand ... A: Gina, I think you are correct on all counts. If the old rotting wood resembles soil, especially if ... | |
| questions on fleas | 7/24/2010 |
| Q: I was hoping you could answer a few questions on fleas. We live in Los Angeles, and we have ... A: Tom, Ectoparasites like fleas usually are fairly host specific, with a narrow range of host animals ... | |
| questions on fleas | 7/23/2010 |
| Q: I was hoping you could answer a few questions on fleas. We live in Los Angeles, and we have ... A: Tom, I don't normally recommend borate powder for fleas because there are better alternatives that ... | |
| Ground-dwelling wasps/yellow jackets | 7/21/2010 |
| Q: i went into my backyard (in Woodstock, GA) the other day to find a number of odd spots - it looked ... A: Su, These are cicada killer wasps and despite their appearance and size they are relatively ... | |
| tiny black ants | 7/19/2010 |
| Q: we bought a camp along black river lake in central louisiana, we have a boat dock that is covered ... A: Marty, Trying to control ants outdoors in Louisiana -- a tall order indeed! One problem will be ... | |
| thing black bugs in shower, closet and bedrooms | 7/19/2010 |
| Q: I'm hoping you can help me out. I have these very narrow, flying black bugs all over the upstairs ... A: Wendy, Without a picture or more of a description I'm really only guessing but you may be ... | |
| identify and treat insect pest | 7/19/2010 |
| Q: I have two bathrooms, one on top of the other, the walls with the sink share the wall with the ... A: The UMass Extension center is at UMass Extension Worcester Center 237 Chandler Street Worcester, MA ... | |
| identify and treat insect pest | 7/18/2010 |
| Q: I have two bathrooms, one on top of the other, the walls with the sink share the wall with the ... A: I think at this point it would be a good idea to collect a few and have them identified. Use a Q-tip ... | |
| identify and treat insect pest | 7/18/2010 |
| Q: I have two bathrooms, one on top of the other, the walls with the sink share the wall with the ... A: L, "Small, dark colored insects that jump" - sounds like springtails or collembola. These enter ... | |
| flying insects | 7/17/2010 |
| Q: I live in northern Georgia. Every night at exactly the same time (sun down) a swarm of insects ... A: Eileen, I can't tell you exactly what these are without a picture but they sound like a primitive ... | |
| roaches, wasps, spiders | 7/16/2010 |
| Q: I am having problems with wasps entering my house. We can't find the nests and believe that they ... A: Sharon, I don't think foggers will work in this situation and could be hazardous. The best thing to ... | |
| American Cockroach | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: please help me! I live in an old converted warehouse building in Brooklyn, NY. First, about 4 weeks ... A: Dori, Cockroaches are very common pests in older buildings, especially multi-family complexes. ... | |
| Worm-like 'bug' | 7/10/2010 |
| Q: I believe that I am requesting identification of the same 'bug' as Mj from late 2009. Your last ... A: Chloe, This is related to a clothes moths. Some consider it a type of clothes moth. This one occurs ... | |
| Bed Bugs ? | 7/10/2010 |
| Q: I have so questions regarding bed bugs!! Let me start by saying I am 8 months pregnant and I got a ... A: Danielle, I've been answering questions like your's for almost 20 years. I taught at a university ... | |
| Identify Bug | 7/8/2010 |
| Q: Jack, I've been seeing a few of these bugs around my place lately and I wanted to know what they ... A: Angel, This is a wasp, probably in the family Sphecidae. Most of the sphecid wasps nest in the ... | |
| Tropical rat mites | 7/6/2010 |
| Q: Family of four, I'm the only one reacting to these bites. I've only seen a handful, but have had ... A: Greg, The nest/bird/rodent mites are all fairly large and not difficult to see and photograph. The ... | |
| Tropical rat mites | 7/5/2010 |
| Q: Family of four, I'm the only one reacting to these bites. I've only seen a handful, but have had ... A: Greg, I don't think this is a mite but I'm not sure exactly what it is. I don't see any characters ... | |
| Carpenter ants | 7/5/2010 |
| Q: I found Terro Carpenter ant killer. Where can I find it and is it better than the Advance Carpenter ... A: Lizann, The Terro product is a general purpose spray insecticide rather than a bait. The Advance ... | |
| Termidor | 7/4/2010 |
| Q: I have done research on Fipronil. Are the inert ingredients in Termidor safe? Are they toxic? I ... A: Carrie, Everyone's definitions of "safe" and "toxic" are different and since Termidor is a ... | |
| tiny whitish bug with pinchers | 7/4/2010 |
| Q: I live in Ontario Canada & for the first time ever have had these tiny whitish coloured bugs appear ... A: Chris, Unfortunately this description does not match any of the usual culprits that bite or sting. ... | |
| tiny worms in shower | 6/30/2010 |
| Q: I have a two piece shower and bath tub. The walls meet the tub and no caulking is needed its suppose ... A: Tina, Let's try to figure out what these worms are so we have a better idea how to proceed. Can you ... | |
| Daddy LongLegs | 6/29/2010 |
| Q: Daddy Long Legs are 'gathering' by a huge number on my brick wall. I live in Arkansas if that ... A: Carole, What most people call "daddy longlegs", or "harvestmen", belong to a group of arthropods ... | |
| drilling sound in ceiling | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: Mr. DeAngelis, I have been hearing a drilling sound in my ceiling near my front door entrance for a ... A: Robet, Termites don't make any sound except perhaps during nuptial flights and carpenter bees are ... | |
| Roaches | 6/23/2010 |
| Q: and thank you for volunteering for this service. I am seeing evidence of cockroaches, and some ... A: Mike, It is not unusual to find roaches outdoors around homes in the southeastern US. There's a ... | |
| Roaches | 6/23/2010 |
| Q: and thank you for volunteering for this service. I am seeing evidence of cockroaches, and some ... A: Mike, Where do you live? We generally only see roaches outdoors in warm climates like the ... | |
| Straw Itch Mite problem stemming from previous flea probem | 6/21/2010 |
| Q: I was hoping to never have to ask you another question, but unfortunately, we seem to have an ... A: Lynn, The term "itch mite" generally refers to mites in the genus Pymotes, a group that is ... | |
| ant spray smell in wall | 6/17/2010 |
| Q: On April 6, 2010 we had to have our sliding glass door taken out and put back in (we were having ... A: This is exactly the response I expected from the pest control company. The bottom line is too much ... | |
| Bees | 6/17/2010 |
| Q: For a week now I have been trying to get rid of some bees that have been hanging in a storage area ... A: Karen, These bees may only be resting between migratory flights and will move on in a few days. If ... | |
| Pantry Moths | 6/17/2010 |
| Q: ! HELP!!! Damn pantry moths. No source in food at all....recently moved into this house...very ... A: Jenna, I think the mice may be the problem. Mice often store seeds and grains inside walls which ... | |
| ant spray smell in wall | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: On April 6, 2010 we had to have our sliding glass door taken out and put back in (we were having ... A: First, get a complete written statement of what was applied (insecticide and concentration, in other ... | |
| ant spray smell in wall | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: On April 6, 2010 we had to have our sliding glass door taken out and put back in (we were having ... A: The odor should last only as long as the spray remains wet. My guess is that they applied too much ... | |
| ant spray smell in wall | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: On April 6, 2010 we had to have our sliding glass door taken out and put back in (we were having ... A: Lisa, You should not be able to smell the insecticide this long after application because once the ... | |
| Spider Deterrants | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: We have a vacation home on a lake in SC and there is a proliferation of spiders of many kinds. When ... A: The brown recluse spider's distribution is limited to the northwestern tip of South Carolina ... | |
| holes in dirt | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: I live in Yuma AZ and I keep finding holes in dirt that appear to be inward cone shaped. I have had ... A: Connie, These may be the pit traps made by antlions (Neuroptera). See ... | |
| Abundance of Spiders | 6/13/2010 |
| Q: My mom and I have noticed a lot of these big (to us) black spiders around our house. We live in ... A: As you know most spiders are not aggressive and will avoid contact with humans if they can since ... | |
| Abundance of Spiders | 6/13/2010 |
| Q: My mom and I have noticed a lot of these big (to us) black spiders around our house. We live in ... A: Amber, Unfortunately spiders are notoriously difficult to identify by photo alone. Except for a few ... | |
| mites | 6/12/2010 |
| Q: Recently, what I thought was a rash on my knees & elbows was diagnosed by my doctor as mites. Very ... A: Christine, I'm not sure what kind of mite your doctor was referring do. Did you get a more specific ... | |
| bed bugs inside a mattress? | 6/12/2010 |
| Q: is it possible for bed bugs to be inside a mattress and not just on the outside around the ... A: Peter, I think it is unlikely that a bed bug could get inside a mattress cover that was undamaged. ... | |
| Spider Deterrants | 6/11/2010 |
| Q: We have a vacation home on a lake in SC and there is a proliferation of spiders of many kinds. When ... A: John, Mothballs are made from some pretty toxic material (see ... | |
| Wood roach or german roach | 6/10/2010 |
| Q: A few years ago we started finding roaches in our house. Not very many but one was enough for my ... A: This is a wood roach that probably came in from outside because they don't normally cause ... | |
| Black ant mounds on lawn | 6/8/2010 |
| Q: How can I deal with black ant mounds on my lawn? This has been an ongoing problem for the last few ... A: Michael, I think ant bait would work better than boiling water. Ant bait is sprinkled over ... | |
| termite tenting | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: I am leasing a house built in the 40's that is about to be tented for termite fumigation due to ... A: Teresa, Tenting and fumigating for structural insect pests is a fairly complicated and dangerous ... | |
| Wood roach or german roach | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: A few years ago we started finding roaches in our house. Not very many but one was enough for my ... A: Billy, Without seeing the roaches I can't really be sure but my guess is the exterminator is ... | |
| unknown bug bites/ itchy rash | 6/5/2010 |
| Q: 2 months ago i woke up with fever and extremely itchy swollen back of neck, the flue like symptoms ... A: If the dots dissolve, turning the alcohol red, then you know it is blood. If they don't dissolve ... | |
| unknown bug bites/ itchy rash | 6/5/2010 |
| Q: 2 months ago i woke up with fever and extremely itchy swollen back of neck, the flue like symptoms ... A: I doubt it is bed bugs. Bed bugs are fairly easy to find except in the very earliest stages of an ... | |
| unknown bug bites/ itchy rash | 6/4/2010 |
| Q: 2 months ago i woke up with fever and extremely itchy swollen back of neck, the flue like symptoms ... A: Sara, Neither silverfish nor grain beetles bite. In fact very few insects or mites actually bite ... | |
| moths | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: We have recently moved and packed my clothes in a suitcase and have just unpacked it and one of my ... A: Tania, From your description I think it is unlikely that clothes moths caused the damage. Clothes ... | |
| Pillbugs/woodlice in the home | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: Jack, I am having a problem with woodlice (or pillbugs as they are also known) getting into my ... A: Robert, Most of the time when these enter homes it is because the outside soil is too wet or too ... | |
| "stored product beetles". | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: You answered my e-mail and thought it was a "stored product beetles". We don't have any thing in the ... A: Still looks like a stored product beetle, possibly mealworm or black fungus beetle. The grain could ... | |
| small insect with wings | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: I find this type of small insect with wings in my lower level of an embankment ranch every spring in ... A: Kathy, This is a beetle, probably one of what are called "stored product beetles". I can't see ... | |
| catepillars in my house | 5/30/2010 |
| Q: The have long antennas and have many legs. mostly they are in my bathtub or around that area. now i ... A: I think it is unlikely that they are coming from the jets unless there's a leak in the pipes. If the ... | |
| catepillars in my house | 5/30/2010 |
| Q: The have long antennas and have many legs. mostly they are in my bathtub or around that area. now i ... A: Julie, How large are these critters? You might look at the pictures of carpet beetles on this page ... | |
| tropical rat mites | 5/27/2010 |
| Q: I really need an expert on mites. I had a pest guy come out and inspect my house... my boyfriend ... A: Catyanna, I don't think there's much else I can tell you. These mites should be relatively easy to ... | |
| tropical rat mites | 5/27/2010 |
| Q: I really need an expert on mites. I had a pest guy come out and inspect my house... my boyfriend ... A: If you continue to find mites indoors there must be a nest nearby. Rodent nests are typically under ... | |
| tropical rat mites | 5/27/2010 |
| Q: I really need an expert on mites. I had a pest guy come out and inspect my house... my boyfriend ... A: Catyanna, Tropical rat mites belong to a group of mites that infest the nests of rodents and birds. ... | |
| what is this? | 5/27/2010 |
| Q: 9-2-09 you had a question from "Sue" regarding a 3 segmented, curly q antennae, strong hind legged, ... A: Diane, I can't find the 9-2-09 Q&A (copy and paste if you post a follow up) but what you describe ... | |
| Persistent fleas in a non-pet home | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: I need a flea investigator. We 've lived in our new home since Januaru 2010, and by early February, ... A: Lynn, You happen to have one of the best medical entomologists in the country in Jackson. His name ... | |
| jumping bugs | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: On 9/2/09, you were asked a question about ant-like jumping insects. Do you know if an answer was ... A: If I recall the original questioner described "jumping hind legs". Can you see jumping ... | |
| jumping bugs | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: On 9/2/09, you were asked a question about ant-like jumping insects. Do you know if an answer was ... A: Jennifer, The original questioner was never able to post a picture (can you?). This is almost ... | |
| carpet beetles | 5/22/2010 |
| Q: Please help! As a person who is close to terrified of any insect, even ones most people like such ... A: Megan, From your description of the "split shell" these are a type of beetle. There are about a ... | |
| ants | 5/19/2010 |
| Q: I have what I believe are sugar ants. They are super small, and sort of elongated and reddish, but ... A: Lys, There is a species of carpenter ants in Australia that are called "sugar ants" however most of ... | |
| Persistent fleas in a non-pet home | 5/19/2010 |
| Q: I need a flea investigator. We 've lived in our new home since Januaru 2010, and by early February, ... A: Lynn, If these are fleas my only guess is you have an animal living under the house and the nest is ... | |
| Persistent fleas in a non-pet home | 5/19/2010 |
| Q: I need a flea investigator. We 've lived in our new home since Januaru 2010, and by early February, ... A: Lynn, This does not really sound like a flea problem. Tell me why you believe fleas caused the ... | |
| ants | 5/18/2010 |
| Q: I have what I believe are sugar ants. They are super small, and sort of elongated and reddish, but ... A: Lys, The term "sugar ants" is a general term for small ants that invade homes, it usually does not ... | |
| House centipedes and large brown spiders | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: We just bought our house and moved in about 8 months ago. When we first moved in, we frequently saw ... A: Unfortunately there's no good answer to this because it depends on a lot of factors. The rule of ... | |
| bed bugs - dont plastic wrap mattress? | 5/16/2010 |
| Q: someone said not to encase the mattress with plastic and packaging tape because the seal just wont ... A: Peter, I don't think encasing the mattress will hurt anything but it might not help either. If bed ... | |
| Roaches Spiders | 5/16/2010 |
| Q: I’m getting some roaches/spiders in living room, bedroom, kitchen. House about 1700 sf, single story ... A: You're right they will keep coming but once you get the inside population under control you'll see ... | |
| House centipedes and large brown spiders | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: We just bought our house and moved in about 8 months ago. When we first moved in, we frequently saw ... A: Yes, house centipedes don't go outside so the perimeter spray won't have any effect on them. ... | |
| Roaches Spiders | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: I’m getting some roaches/spiders in living room, bedroom, kitchen. House about 1700 sf, single story ... A: Don, Lots of good questions here and I'm glad you asked about the "electronic/ultrasonic ... | |
| House centipedes and large brown spiders | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: We just bought our house and moved in about 8 months ago. When we first moved in, we frequently saw ... A: Dee, The best way to get rid of spiders indoors is with sticky traps, not insecticides. Sticky ... | |
| Bed bugs! | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: So, it appears that we have bedbugs. For the past 2 weeks, I've been getting bitten up in the night, ... A: Christine, I don't think you can assume that you have bed bugs given these conditions. The best ... | |
| house ants | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: Our property is home to many different kinds of ants. Our 1/2 acre is 1/2 woods ~ our home is old ... A: Nancy, Infestations of ants can occur in any room in the house, sometimes they are looking for food ... | |
| Possible fly pupae | 5/7/2010 |
| Q: We just bought a used car. I noticed yesterday 2 flies stuck in there when I went for lunch. I let ... A: Valerie, Can you describe the flies a bit more. Do they look like house flies? I think it is ... | |
| caterpillars in my air conditioner | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: I have white with a black stripe on their back caterpillars coming out of my air conditioner. How ... A: Your best bet may be to simply sweep up any you see and toss them outside. There should be a limited ... | |
| caterpillars in my air conditioner | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: I have white with a black stripe on their back caterpillars coming out of my air conditioner. How ... A: Ferlene, Can you post a picture? Caterpillars don't live in air conditioners (is this a window-type ... | |
| kill insects | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: I work in a fresh-cut lettuce factory. What is the ways for killing insects, specially worms in ... A: Marjan, No washing process is 100% effective, and a few insects may survive. Sounds like you are ... | |
| kill insects | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: I work in a fresh-cut lettuce factory. What is the ways for killing insects, specially worms in ... A: Marjan, Insect pests of vegetable crops are usually controlled in the fields where the vegetables ... | |
| old house borers | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: ..I bought a log home in aug. last year. A pest control co. was hired to do a "wood destroying ... A: Carl, The best way to tell old and inactive from new and active is the presence of boring dust. ... | |
| Termites | 4/25/2010 |
| Q: Greetings from Sydney Australia! Anyhow.. I have a termite problem over here that is really busting ... A: Rob, Sounds like you're having fun. I'll assume you are asking about subterranean termites ("subs") ... | |
| Flies in the chimney | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: Over the last two years we have had flies hatching out in our chimney. In the last couple of days ... A: Tomas, Have you had these flies identified? If we know what kind of flies they are this may tell us ... | |
| termite tenting | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: we live in a townhouse that has connecting walls with 3 other units. these residents have had their ... A: Becky, Clark Pest Control appears to be local company, which in my mind is good. Fumigation ... | |
| termite tenting | 4/8/2010 |
| Q: we live in a townhouse that has connecting walls with 3 other units. these residents have had their ... A: Tenting & fumigating a structure is sometimes necessary for drywood termites because their nest does ... | |
| powder post beetles | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: In October we bought a new fore closed home and saw a couple of places in the hardwood floors that ... A: Kathy, Powderpost beetle infestations in hardwood floors are fairly common and if they are not too ... | |
| termite tenting | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: we live in a townhouse that has connecting walls with 3 other units. these residents have had their ... A: Becky, I don't have any contacts in that area so I would start with the Entomology Department at UC ... | |
| termites | 4/6/2010 |
| Q: I live in San Diego about 3/4 miles from the ocean. My house is stucco and 13 years old. It is my ... A: Rich, There are two main kinds of termites that damage homes in your area. Drywood termites (see ... | |
| Wasps | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: My daughter and self have a phobia of wasps,and any kind of bee. I have a problem with wasps ... A: Sherri, Many different wasps build nests on the outside of buildings. Most are harmless paper wasps ... | |
| drywood termites | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: Jack I got fumigation treatment from dry-wood termites in June 2009 and today (March 2010) I found ... A: Tatsiana, So, either these are pellets from the old infestation that have shaken loose or they are ... | |
| drywood termites | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: Jack I got fumigation treatment from dry-wood termites in June 2009 and today (March 2010) I found ... A: Tatsiana, I need a little more information. Was the house covered in a tent and fumigated last year ... | |
| Miner bees | 3/30/2010 |
| Q: I live in Tennessee. I have been told that i have miner bees. My entire front yard is a mass of ... A: Jeff, Let's make sure we are talking about the same insect. Miner bees look like bumble bees but ... | |
| fruit flies | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: i read the last question regarding fruit flies. i believe they r. we only see them in kitchen and ... A: Brian, Fruit flies, or vinegar flies (Drosophila spp), are small brown flies often with red colored ... | |
| Need some pest control! | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: I have recently (beginning this spring) noticed about one wasp a day inside the home. I am ... A: Linda, The wasps are probably emerging from winter dormancy in the walls and attic. There are no ... | |
| tiny black bug | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: just recently I have found 2 tiny bugs in my bed. They are black with a little bit of brown. They ... A: Stephanie, There are only a few insects that hop or jump when disturbed. Fleas are the most common ... | |
| Bugs? | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: We are finding foam "shavings" inside our florida room. The room is basically metal framework with a ... A: A, These foam shavings are probably from carpenter ants building a nest in the foam insulation. ... | |
| carpet beetle? | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: I was cleaning my daughter's room the other day and I noticed these small black insects with yellow ... A: Elsa, The beetles can't get into sealed containers but if they are already in the stored food when ... | |
| carpet beetle? | 3/20/2010 |
| Q: I was cleaning my daughter's room the other day and I noticed these small black insects with yellow ... A: Elsa, This is a varied carpet beetle (see http://www.livingwithbugs.com/carpet_beetle.html for ... | |
| What is a Chigger | 3/20/2010 |
| Q: hat is a Chigger and what kind of animals can get them. Are they an issue to humans? If untreated ... A: Nathan, Chiggers are tiny, red larval mites that bite and cause itchy, red lesions. They occur in ... | |
| Mites infestation | 3/19/2010 |
| Q: We have mites infestation. How do you get rid of them?. they are all over the house and on the ... A: Ken, No-see-ums are tiny gnat-like midges, also called biting midges. They only occur outdoors in ... | |
| Worm-like larvae | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: We had a yellow jacket nest exterminated (6/09) that was built towards the top and on the outside of ... A: Photo came through fine. These do look like millipedes which re-enforces my previous guess. I think ... | |
| Worm-like larvae | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: We had a yellow jacket nest exterminated (6/09) that was built towards the top and on the outside of ... A: Ann, Could you post a picture of the larvae? There's lots of insects that fit this description. I ... | |
| Mites infestation | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: We have mites infestation. How do you get rid of them?. they are all over the house and on the ... A: Ken, Are you sure these mites? There are many things that mimic insect or mite bites and when you ... | |
| Tiny ants in kitchen | 3/14/2010 |
| Q: We have trouble getting rid of tiny black ants in kithen counter tops since the weather has warmed ... A: Lee, If the ants are accepting (feeding on) the Terro I'd keep using it. There's nothing that you ... | |
| Ants in the House | 3/11/2010 |
| Q: The last couple weeks I have been seeing some what I beleive are carpenter ants in the house. They ... A: Scott, Any ant that is larger than about 3/8" is probably one of the carpenter ants, at least in ... | |
| Heat Remediation to kill Bed Bugs? | 3/10/2010 |
| Q: How effective is Heat Remediation to kill bed bugs? A: Kent, Tell me what you mean by heat remediation, what would you actually do? The application of ... | |
| wasps | 3/4/2010 |
| Q: In April, 2009, we moved into a log home we built. Some of the wood laid outside from July, 2008, ... A: Kathy, It is not unusual to find insects in newly built homes. When houses are enclosed during the ... | |
| termites in backyard | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: I have found termite evidence in the redwood fence separating my backyard neighbor's house and mine. ... A: Antonio, This type of termite builds its colony in the soil on some type of wood and then expands ... | |
| worm like bug | 2/12/2010 |
| Q: I found the same bug that MJ was asking about (ref: ... A: gh, The image that MJ posted is a casemaking clothes moth. There are different species, some look ... | |
| DIY Terminte Control | 2/9/2010 |
| Q: We have an occupied rental house (brick with wood trim)located in north GA, built in 1955. We just ... A: Leamon, Termite control can be a do-it-yourself project but it requires considerable time and ... | |
| Caterpillar invasion in basement | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: In the last month (Feb in Boston, MA) we've had several of the caterpillars as seen in the attached ... A: Dan, I can't see enough detail to id it. However, mid-winter in Boston is an unusual time to find ... | |
| bathroom bugs | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: I live on the 4th floor of a condo in downtown toronto and I keep finding these little bugs in my ... A: Ryan, This is a firebrat. It is a primitive, wingless insect (see ... | |
| unknown pest | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: We have had these unknown pests in our toilets/bathrooms in Manila (Philippines) for several months, ... A: Daniel, What you are describing is a casemaking clothes moth larva (see ... | |
| flesh flies | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: I have not seen any other flies around my home,then I saw these larger flies and slower moving. I ... A: Sylvia, Flesh flies, or sarcophagids, are large, dark colored flies covered with stiff bristles. ... | |
| Carpenter Ant Contract | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: When we purchased our house five years ago the owner transferred a carp.ant contract to us. We have ... A: Lou, I'm very skeptical of these contracts and in fact never suggest that folks sign long-term ... | |
| powder post beetle | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: We recently bought a home in Miami, where humidity is constant. This house was newly built and the ... A: Aimee, While whole house fumigation is generally safe if done correctly it is not a procedure I ... | |
| wasps | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: my wife found a wasp in the bathroom, since it's Jan 2010 and the temp is 21, up here in maine, she ... A: Paul, Two possibilities - either this is a lone overwintering yellowjacket queen that found its way ... | |
| Carpenter ants | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: Dr. DeAngelis, Any advice on how to locate the nest? We've just recently started seeing carpenter ... A: Paul, Normally with carpenter ants it is not necessary to locate the nest. In fact, there's really ... | |
| mites | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: I have been plagued by mites for about 6 months. I've gotten rid of most of my possessions, house, ... A: Beth, I'm a bit puzzled by this because there are no mites that I'm aware of that do what you are ... | |
| chemical control against ants | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: to protect a farm of cedar trees from ants do i apply the insecticide on the trees or around ... A: Pedro, Tell me why the ants need to be controlled because ants are not normally plant pests. Are ... | |
| Termidor and children | 12/27/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I are looking to excavate an old home/property that has termites. We are being told ... A: Donna, Termidor is one of the new generation insecticides that is widely used for termites and ... | |
| Micro Intruders | 12/18/2009 |
| Q: In one bedroom of my house, I notice small bugs making their way along the crease where the wall ... A: Chuck, These sound like grain mite, also called mold mites. The mites are clear to amber in color ... | |
| hopping biting bugs | 12/18/2009 |
| Q: I live in Houston Texas and we have no carpeting. But on the 2nd floor of our home we have ... A: Keath, Could you post a photo of the "long black bugs"? There are no insects or mites of that ... | |
| American cockroach control | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: We live in north Georgia . We have had an unusually wet spring, summer, and fall, in our area. Now ... A: Ernest, In semi-topical climates like yours it is sometimes necessary to control cockroaches ... | |
| Warehouse Beetle | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: I have been finding these little bugs I looked at a bug chart and it look like a warehouse beetle ... A: Maricela, There are a variety of beetles (including warehouse beetles) that as a group are called ... | |
| Identify Bug | 12/11/2009 |
| Q: Jack, I've been seeing a few of these bugs around my condo, the one in the photo is about 4mm long. ... A: Angel, This is a larva of a dermestid beetle, sometimes called carpet beetles. Dermestid beetles ... | |
| Cocoons + caterpillars + spiders | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: DeAngelis, I see a little caterpillar-like insect crawling on my wall as I write this message. It ... A: Julie, I think there's a couple of different things going on which may or may not be related to ... | |
| in response to.... | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: sacramento,ca.***not myself,actually...terminex man said"theres termites in your fence,but they can ... A: Petar, The photo never made it. The statement about termites traveling 150' sounds like marketing ... | |
| termites/stucco below grade/planter boxes against wall | 12/1/2009 |
| Q: possible subterranean termite infestation)(house built in late 1950's)( have below grade ... A: Petar, Post a follow up and tell where you are (city/state). Have you found live termites or ... | |
| Wool Blanket Larvae on bed | 11/24/2009 |
| Q: My girlfriend and I discovered tiny larvae-like creatures on the top of the quilt on our bed but ... A: David, Your description does not really sound like any kind of dermestid or carpet beetle larvae. ... | |
| Very tiny caterpillar type bug on my walls | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: I have been finding extremely small caterpillar type bugs on my walls. They are black and brown and ... A: If you are seeing them on the walls there's an infestation nearby. Could be something as simple as ... | |
| Very tiny caterpillar type bug on my walls | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: I have been finding extremely small caterpillar type bugs on my walls. They are black and brown and ... A: Kristen, This sounds like dermestid larvae. Here's a picture ... | |
| What are they? | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: I have these bugs around dusty areas in my room (like under my monitor, behind the desk and other ... A: Make sure your old books and documents are properly stored because booklice can damage the glue in ... | |
| What are these long worm like things??? | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: We live in the DFW TX area and about a month ago I found a bunch of very thin, clear or ... A: Michelle, Don't be concerned about these, they are called horsehair worms and are harmless. The ... | |
| small flying bugs | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: I live in fort worth tx and have a small, black, flying bug that is all over the outside of my ... A: There are many species of planthoppers and many of them are ornate and colorful. Some of the more ... | |
| small flying bugs | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: I live in fort worth tx and have a small, black, flying bug that is all over the outside of my ... A: Shawn, The picture is a bit too small to see clearly but the shape is that of an insect called a ... | |
| maggots | 11/9/2009 |
| Q: We live in Florida and we turn off our A/AC and I notice a foul smell coming from my closet and my ... A: Justo, I can't tell for sure what is pictured in the photo because it is blurry. Could you post a ... | |
| wood borers | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: what kind of bug/worm? bores holes in wood the size of a pencil lead and piles the sawdust on top of ... A: Since this is softwood these are probably the type of powderpost beetle called an anobiid ... | |
| tiny ants by sink/dishwasher/on cupboard | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: I have purchased ant bait for sugar and protein ants. It keeps them away for two weeks and then they ... A: Diana, I think one of the problems may be the Demand Insecticide. Demand is a good material but in ... | |
| wood borers | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: what kind of bug/worm? bores holes in wood the size of a pencil lead and piles the sawdust on top of ... A: Stacey, This is a perfect description of a powderpost beetle. The holes and sawdust are made when ... | |
| small ants in basement | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: i have an old farm house with a field stone basement wall (that leaks like a siv). this morning i ... A: Shawn, There are hundreds of species of ants most of which are small and nest in the soil. Your ... | |
| fleas in house | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: How do I get rid of fleas on furniture that cannot be put in washing machines? Is vacuming everyday ... A: Amy, Normal vacuuming is sufficient to kill fleas. Be sure to dispose of the dust bag since it may ... | |
| bugs on roll of tape | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: we found this roll of tape in my office on the desk- can you help us identify these bugs? thanks! A: Carey, These are called aphids and they feed on plants. There are both winged aphids and wingless ... | |
| abandoned wasp nest in house wall | 11/1/2009 |
| Q: We came home mid august after being away for 6 weeks. I discovered wasps entering at junction of ... A: Richard, Yes. It is entirely possible that you are smelling the decomposing nest. Nests might ... | |
| Ants in our houseplants! | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: help! we have ants in our houseplants!!! they are small black ants, in the south we call them ... A: Kayla, Small ants like these often build their nests in the pots of house plants because as the ... | |
| termite bonds | 10/28/2009 |
| Q: I realized this year that we forgot to renew the bond that was on our house when we bought it 5 ... A: Sarah, I'll need to know where you live (state) because termite control varies greatly by region. ... | |
| Mite infestation | 10/28/2009 |
| Q: Recently I’ve been noticing small mites on the surface of my desk and more or less everywhere about ... A: As you known it can be very difficult to reduce moisture in winter. Central heating is the best way ... | |
| Cockroaches | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: Obviously I don't keep my microwave ovens clean enough because roaches keep taking up residence in ... A: Jo, Your follow up raises a couple of very interesting points. First, as I think you found out "bug ... | |
| Mite infestation | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: Recently I’ve been noticing small mites on the surface of my desk and more or less everywhere about ... A: Steven, From your description I think these are one of two critters and both are related to the ... | |
| Cockroaches | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: Obviously I don't keep my microwave ovens clean enough because roaches keep taking up residence in ... A: Jo, Is this a single family home or some type of commercial building like a restaurant? Cockroaches ... | |
| insect issue | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a ton of these little insects around the front of my house. They manage to get into the ... A: Randy, These are called boxelder bugs. They are very common nuisance pests in some areas. ... | |
| Bombing due to roaches | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: How long do I have to wait to vacuum my carpet once the pest control person has bombed the town ... A: Baits are some type food combined with an insecticide. There are baits available in retail stores, ... | |
| Bombing due to roaches | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: How long do I have to wait to vacuum my carpet once the pest control person has bombed the town ... A: Tosha, If by "bombing" you mean that a total release-type aerosol insecticide was used then you can ... | |
| Pantry Moths | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: We have what I have identified as pantry moths. I have literally tossed every bit of food in the ... A: Adrienne, I think what you may be seeing is the last of the adult moths that emerged from your ... | |
| wasps in fireplace/chimney | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: We have had a wasp infestation and problem coming from our fireplace since we moved in 8 years ago ... A: Here's what I think is going on. At the end of summer most social wasp nests die and only mated ... | |
| bed bugs please help | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: I think I have bed bugs. I recently got hand me down furniture and now I think we have bed bugs. I ... A: Christine, The first thing to do is to confirm that bed bugs are the problem. The only way to be ... | |
| wasps in fireplace/chimney | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: We have had a wasp infestation and problem coming from our fireplace since we moved in 8 years ago ... A: Angel, A couple of questions - do you get wasps coming out of all three fireplaces every year? Have ... | |
| Possible bed bugs | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: I hope you can help ease my mind. I am fearing that I may have bed bugs. I live in a single ... A: Maggie, Whatever is causing the blood on the bedding it probably is not from bed bug bites. Bed bug ... | |
| Paper wasps in my home | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: We have recently been seeing what I believe are paper wasps in the second story of our house. They ... A: Jamine, If you live in a part of the country that freezes in winter the problem will probably ... | |
| pesticide | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: You were so helpful with my swarming insect problem. Can you tell me what is the best pesticide to ... A: Kay, There are a lot of options for treating termites and most are beyond the capability of ... | |
| insects | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: Last night my grandson took a shower in our hall bathroom. When he came out, there were tiny ... A: Kay, Without a picture I'm only guessing but I think your son may be right. Ants and termites are ... | |
| insects | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: Last night my grandson took a shower in our hall bathroom. When he came out, there were tiny ... A: Kay, A couple more questions. Are you sure they have wings? If so, are the wings white or clear? ... | |
| black widow spiders | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: we have a black widow in garages and we need to know how to KILL them. have heard they have an ... A: Kim, Black widow spiders are susceptible to insecticides. However since this spider is very ... | |
| yellow jackets | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: Jack, I have yellow jackets entering into the walls of my Michigan home behind my front porch light. ... A: Sheri, Most yellowjacket nests are annual meaning that they start in spring and die off in late ... | |
| skin mites | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: I can relate to a previous question about skin or bird mites. I am experiencing the same symptoms. I ... A: Cindy, I'm not sure what you mean by "skin mites". There are only a few mites that bite people. ... | |
| Can you ID? | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: Can you please tell me what this mystery bug is that I caught crawling out of the heat vent? Thank ... A: Michelle, These are silverfish. They are primitive, wingless insects that are fairly common ... | |
| Small black worms in basement stairs | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: We live up north and have recently noticed small dark brown or black worms curled up in the basement ... A: Bob, I can't see much detail (try without a flash) but the overall shape is correct for a ... | |
| invinsible spiders | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: I've been living in this house for about 5 months now. Ever since I moved in here, I've been having ... A: Black widow spiders occur in every state but they are very secretive and are rarely seen except in ... | |
| Small black worms in basement stairs | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: We live up north and have recently noticed small dark brown or black worms curled up in the basement ... A: Bob, These sound like millipedes which feed on organic matter in the soil and are harmless. If you ... | |
| fleas in home we are buying | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: going through the process of buying a home & the home inspector noticed bite marks on the back of ... A: Deryl, I think the cleaning and carpet removal will be enough. I've not heard of the salt option ... | |
| invinsible spiders | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: I've been living in this house for about 5 months now. Ever since I moved in here, I've been having ... A: Elsa, Your question raises a couple of excellent points. First, most entomologists (people who ... | |
| Ants in Pet food | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: My EDD (engineering design and development) project consists of finding a problem that has to do ... A: Ok, I see. Ants could definitely be a problem for pet food left outside because of a behavior in ... | |
| Ants in Pet food | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: My EDD (engineering design and development) project consists of finding a problem that has to do ... A: Thomas, I think most people will opt for keeping ants out of the house altogether rather than just ... | |
| Cockroaches | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: im live in spain and moved to a diferent apartment in feb this year.. have ended up with an ... A: Carla, Cockroach infestations are very common in any multi-family building. Older buildings are ... | |
| Tiny black bugs that bite! | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: I just read the story by Mazis on 08/21/09, and her story sounded exactly like what I have been ... A: Nancy, No-see-ums are also called biting midges. These tiny flies bite and feed on blood much like ... | |
| stubborn ant problem | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: I live in Los Angeles. I have had problems with rodents, but never with ants, until now. Starting ... A: Roger, What you are describing is a textbook example of a nuisance ant problem. The ants (there are ... | |
| Very tiny black bugs | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: We just moved into our home a few months ago. We've noticed these very tiny black bugs. (about the ... A: From what you've told me I think the bugs on the back porch are not related to the "bites". These ... | |
| Larvae Formations | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: We live in central TN and found these larvae formations around our driveway after heavy rains. ... A: Shannon, Good picture. Did you get a close up? These are called fungus gnat larvae and they are ... | |
| Very tiny black bugs | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: We just moved into our home a few months ago. We've noticed these very tiny black bugs. (about the ... A: Allison, A couple of questions ... since they don't appear to fly does this mean that the ones that ... | |
| Re: large flea-like insects | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: I periodically find these large flea-like things in my downstairs bathroom where the cat box is ... A: This is not a flea. I'm pretty certain it is a brine shrimp, or some other kind of shrimp. Brine ... | |
| Re: large flea-like insects | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: I periodically find these large flea-like things in my downstairs bathroom where the cat box is ... A: Deborah, I think these are a type of brine shrimp. Do you live near an inland saltwater lake such ... | |
| fleas in home we are buying | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: going through the process of buying a home & the home inspector noticed bite marks on the back of ... A: Deryl, Fleas can remain in a home after all pets are removed and bite people. The good news is that ... | |
| dug up lawn | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: This morning I noticed an area about 6 x 12 that was dug up. I have the feeling that it is grubs. ... A: John, I assume you mean 6x12 inches. Two things are common in this situation. Birds will dig up ... | |
| Ground bees or wasps | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: The past two weeks, I noticed a hole in my lawn where yellow jackets were flying in and out.l The ... A: Mark, Yellowjacket (Vespidae) nests are often attacked and dug up by skunks and other animals. In ... | |
| What are they? | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: I have these bugs around dusty areas in my room (like under my monitor, behind the desk and other ... A: Angel, Good picture. These are called psocids, or barklice, or booklice. They are not related to ... | |
| lawn earth mounds | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: Ok here goes. I live near Ottawa, Canada. About 1 month ago, earth mounds, roughly 10" in ... A: I agree. Your second photo does look more like simple dirt piles. The particles appear too big to ... | |
| lawn earth mounds | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: Ok here goes. I live near Ottawa, Canada. About 1 month ago, earth mounds, roughly 10" in ... A: Leo, These are too big to be insect-related in any way. My guess is this is a fungus. There are a ... | |
| I want to relocate the bee hives outside my house | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a couple hives outside my house and I don't want to kill the bees. I would like to relocate ... A: Mike, If these are honey bees you can ask a local beekeeper to move the hives. Contact your local ... | |
| Do I have termites? | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: I found about a dozen termites flying around a lamp. I called a pest control company and they ... A: Tim, The first question I have is do you live in an area where drywood termites are found? Take a ... | |
| Ants | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: Jack, I need to reclaim my yard I think. Over the course of the past few weeks my children have ... A: Melanie, There are only two ants in the US that causes any sort of injury when they sting or bite ... | |
| Stink Bugs...Help! | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: I am seeing stink bugs around the outside of my house each day and the number seems to be ... A: A better approach for the surfaces in direct sunlight might be to spray the bugs themselves with a ... | |
| Stink Bugs...Help! | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: I am seeing stink bugs around the outside of my house each day and the number seems to be ... A: Microencapsulted is an older term that referred to a type of insecticide formulation that was sort ... | |
| Sealing up wasp nests | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: Simply, I've got a wasp nest that is concealed inside an exterior wall of my house and it's in a ... A: Joe, Once the weather turns cold the nest will die and be abandoned unless it is one of the ... | |
| Dry wood Termite | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: We recently bought a house in Katy, Texas. The previous owner didn't disclose any termite issue, and ... A: Flora, These are legal questions that you should ask your lawyer or legal adviser. However, I agree ... | |
| yellowjackets | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: Last summer I had a bee control guy spray a yellow jacket nest that was in the exterior wall of the ... A: Bill, I think there may be two different things going on. The yellowjacket wasp colony produces ... | |
| Dry wood Termite | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: We recently bought a house in Katy, Texas. The previous owner didn't disclose any termite issue, and ... A: Flora, I don't think it should matter what time of the year you do structure fumigation for drywood ... | |
| Indian Meal Moths | 9/6/2009 |
| Q: What happens if a person, dog or bird accidently eats Indian Meal Moths, their larvae or their ... A: Sally, There's no danger whatsoever in eating meal moth larvae. Insect larvae of all types are ... | |
| tiny bug strong bite | 9/5/2009 |
| Q: I'm trying to identify a bug that gave me a very painful bite tonight. I was in Connecticut, ... A: Nancy, I think you probably encountered a thrips. Thrips (the name thrips is always plural) are ... | |
| Tiny Tiny insects | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: DeAngelis, My name is Susan and I live in Chicago, IL. It's been almost one month these insects ... A: Susan, I can't see much detail in the photo but your description sounds like a springtail, also ... | |
| getting rid of sandwasps at campsite | 9/2/2009 |
| Q: i have a campsite in Maine the whole area is covered in sandwasp nests how do i get rid of them A: Bill, I'm not sure there's anything you can do in the short-term (this season). Long-term anything ... | |
| jumping ant-like insect | 9/2/2009 |
| Q: We came home to find a sudden infestation on the vertical blinds at our sliding doors. The insects ... A: Sue, This one has me stymied. I'd like to see a picture but your best bet may be to take a few to ... | |
| tiny black bug | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: We have tiny black bugs that are smaller than what we call 'piss' ants, but they are black and a ... A: These sure sound like ants. Ants are the only insects I know of that would behave this way toward a ... | |
| Wasp removal from attic | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: I have a large wasp nest in my attic. These are orange/red wasps. I was planning to spray it with ... A: Scott, If the attic is vented this should not be a concern. However, for future reference there are ... | |
| tiny black bug | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: We have tiny black bugs that are smaller than what we call 'piss' ants, but they are black and a ... A: I should have asked this the first time - how many of these are you seeing at one time or even ... | |
| tiny black bug | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: We have tiny black bugs that are smaller than what we call 'piss' ants, but they are black and a ... A: Lilly, I think these are in fact ants. There are some very small species of ants that occur ... | |
| Bugs at Porch Light | 8/28/2009 |
| Q: Is there any way to keep bugs away from a porch light without using a yellow bulb or a bug zapper? ... A: Ron, The short answer is the sonic "pest repellers" don't work, indoors or outside. Here's an ... | |
| tiny caterpillar | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: This is the second time this summer that we have found a tiny caterpillar crawling on our sheets. ... A: Chris, This is a beetle larva, rather than moth larva, possibly a dermestid beetle. Dermestid ... | |
| flea control | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: we recently moved and discovered fleas on our dogs. we have lived in the same complex for 6 years ... A: I'm glad you're not using Knoxout. Nylar (pyriproxyfen) is a good alternative to methoprene except ... | |
| flea control | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: we recently moved and discovered fleas on our dogs. we have lived in the same complex for 6 years ... A: Timothy, Let me make a couple points before answering your questions. First, Frontline Plus is very ... | |
| termite treatment issues | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: ... So.. here the long and short of it. A while back my home was treated for termites. My living ... A: Sam, I don't know if there's any liability here, it would depend on your state laws. I'd contact ... | |
| Fleas | 8/21/2009 |
| Q: I recently removed my dog from our home because of his flea problem after flea baths and collars. My ... A: Mazis, I'm not sure where to begin but I can tell you that there are no insects and mites that fit ... | |
| Mites? | 8/21/2009 |
| Q: How do I get rid of Mites? Is using store bought bug bombs every week going to poison me? I am going ... A: Lynn, I'm very sorry you are having these problems. First, and most importantly, applying more ... | |
| Preventative termite treatments | 8/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a policy for subterranean termites with a pest management company. The footprint of my home ... A: Kim, I'm not aware of any plan to cancel Termidor in Florida or anywhere else. I think this ... | |
| Bedbugs | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: I would like some advice with some findings in my home. They have appeared in my dining room, which ... A: Dannii, I'm still not sure what this is but it is definitely not bed bugs. In fact I don't think it ... | |
| Bedbugs | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: I would like some advice with some findings in my home. They have appeared in my dining room, which ... A: Dannii, It is hard to say what these are without a picture but they are probably not bed bugs. You ... | |
| Blue Black Wasp | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: Can you help us indentify and exterminate a blue black wasp approximately 2" in length which is ... A: Paul, This is a digger wasp (family Sphecidae) and here's a wikipedia page ... | |
| identification of wormlike bug | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: Would you try to identify this worm/bug for me please. I have found these one centimeter grey, thin ... A: Mj, Thanks for the photo. This is definitely NOT a springtail. It looks like a moth larva. You can ... | |
| identification of wormlike bug | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: Would you try to identify this worm/bug for me please. I have found these one centimeter grey, thin ... A: Mj, I'm not sure about this id so post a picture if you can. However, your description sounds like ... | |
| Fumigated Car | 8/14/2009 |
| Q: I recently got paranoid over a spider bite on my leg. I read George Manning's post on fumigating a ... A: Jasmine, I don't know who George is and I wouldn't recommend that foggers or "bombs" be used this ... | |
| Dust Mites | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: We have dust mites problems my mother wants to use a bug fogger or bug bomb will this work or is ... A: Thomas, Bug 'bombs" and foggers won't work for dust mites and they would definitely be a bad idea ... | |
| Ground bees | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: I am avoiding a hole where I see bees going in and out. The hole looks like it was dug by bees. ... A: Fred, What most people call "ground bees" are ground-nesting wasps in the family Vespidae ... | |
| bird mites | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: I think my dog is itching all the time because of mites. I have not found any fleas on her. I ... A: Mel, I really doubt that what you describe is a bird mite problem. Bird mites are only found in ... | |
| ants | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: i am being besieged with ants. admittedly, we live on ant hill [palos verdes, ca], and thus, ... A: J, If you have a large nest(s) in the walls and/or ceiling there's probably not much you can do ... | |
| ants | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: i am being besieged with ants. admittedly, we live on ant hill [palos verdes, ca], and thus, ... A: It is very unlikely that large numbers of ants are originating outdoors and finding their way to the ... | |
| ants | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: i am being besieged with ants. admittedly, we live on ant hill [palos verdes, ca], and thus, ... A: J, It sounds like you have a large nest inside the wall or ceiling. While most ants nest in the ... | |
| paper wasps | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: We live in the woods and have a large pond in our backyard that is visited constantly throughout the ... A: Kathy, I think what you are experiencing is actually a relatively new species of non-native paper ... | |
| book lice?? | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: , I have,what |I think and have been told,booklice in my home. I found them one day last week under ... A: Booklice are not especially attracted to wood unless it is damp and moldy. Are you sure these are ... | |
| Is this a roach? | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: I found this "bug" in my bedroom. It was crawling on the bottom side of my computer desk. I don't ... A: Kristy, I can't be sure because the specimen is distorted but this could be a cockroach, perhaps a ... | |
| little brown bug | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: we keep finding these little brown beetle, bug in our house. Mainly on the bed, carpet and other ... A: Krista, This is a beetle, possibly the anobiid cigarette beetle. These beetles feed on dry food ... | |
| book lice?? | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: , I have,what |I think and have been told,booklice in my home. I found them one day last week under ... A: Libby, Booklice or psocids (not related to true lice) are very common insects that feed on fungi ... | |
| bugs in kitchen and bathroom | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: I live in a very old home in north Texas (hour north of Dallas) and I have recently had a large ... A: Austin, These are not springtails (which are much smaller). The picture is too fuzzy to see much ... | |
| Termite Prevention | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: We purchased our home, newly built, 2 years ago. There is quite a bit of construction going on ... A: Vivian, Flying termites are very common at certain times of the year and would not be related to ... | |
| brown insect pest | 7/25/2009 |
| Q: For the past month I've been seeing this creature about my home (a third floor, 40-year old ... A: Gary, This is a cockroach, probably the German cockroach Blattella germanica. These are very common ... | |
| paper wasp nest | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: Its about the size of a football, i see black wasps (i think) flying in and out of it. I was ... A: Sam, There are two kinds of wasp nests. Paper wasps make nests that are "open", you can see ... | |
| confused, palmetto bug | 7/18/2009 |
| Q: ok so here is what happened. i am staying with my mom in florida and my worst fear came true, ... A: Brittany, First let me say that seeing 3 palmetto bugs, also called the American cockroach, in 5 ... | |
| tiny beetles | 7/15/2009 |
| Q: I just read a question asked by another person about cigarette beetles (I think that is what they ... A: Amy, There are a number of these beetles that all look a bit different. It is easier to consider ... | |
| spiders | 7/15/2009 |
| Q: In the last two days I have noticed baby spiders on my ceilings in my bedroom (yuck!) and my front ... A: Jill, I'm not clear about the size. Are they "dust-like" or can you see individuals and are able to ... | |
| tiny beetles | 7/15/2009 |
| Q: I just read a question asked by another person about cigarette beetles (I think that is what they ... A: Amy, Beetles that infest stored foods (there are a number of different species) can get into just ... | |
| Flea-like bugs in kitchen & bathroom | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: I have flea-like bugs in the kitchen and around the bathtub. They are black and do indeed 'jump'. ... A: Heather, I doubt that these are fleas. If they were fleas you'd be getting flea bites and you ... | |
| Bird Mites | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: I hope you can help me. My teenage daughter has a Love Bird in her bedroom which apparently has ... A: Connie, Flea foggers and other insecticides won't be very effective for bird mites. You need to ... | |
| insect feces | 7/11/2009 |
| Q: I've noticed some black material in only one corner of my bathroom on the floor. It looks like tiny ... A: Paul, I don't know, obviously this could be a lot of things. A couple of suggestions, however: ... | |
| Brown House Moth | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: For many months now, maybe since around Christmas, I have had a problem with what I think are brown ... A: Anna, Brown house moth is a very common household pest that feeds on a variety of natural materials ... | |
| Single Cockroach Question | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: It's 2:14am where I am and it just took me 30 minutes to kill a 2-inch long cockroach (not including ... A: Nick, No need to panic (I know that doesn't help). This is an American cockroach and they are very ... | |
| Dangers of pest control chemicals? | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: I currently have a pest control company come quarterly to the house and spray around the perimeter ... A: Michelle, The pest control companies don't like it when I say this but there's no good ... | |
| bird mites | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: Its been 2 to 3 weeks since we removed a birds nest on the deck. Since the nest was moved we have ... A: Jessica, The short answer is that nest mites should not survive this long in the absence of their ... | |
| Bug ID | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: Can you tell me what bug this is and what kills it? I have them all over my cement patio and on the ... A: Brian, These are called collembola, or springtails. They live in soil and feed on fungi and organic ... | |
| Bites | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: I live in Los Angeles, CA. I have some sort of bites on my torso and thighs that are small and ... A: Marina, What you describe sounds like some type of allergic reaction or perhaps a chemical ... | |
| getting rid of june bugs | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: We have a HUGE problem with June bugs. They are eating our trees, getting into our house and are ... A: Gretchen, There's probably not much you can do this year to reduce the number of beetles but if you ... | |
| moving father | 7/5/2009 |
| Q: My father lives in a roach infested trailer and he is moving to clean assisted/independent living ... A: Kevin, The bed, chair and canned food can be surface-cleaned and will probably be ok. Since the ... | |
| Termites unknowingly moved to another house | 7/4/2009 |
| Q: We are staying in an apartment presently where we have found the white slug like termites eating ... A: Tricia, I think the first step should be to get the termites identified as to species because this ... | |
| bed bug pesticide - effect on humans | 7/3/2009 |
| Q: Maybe 12 weeks ago we called in a pest control team. They sprayed all around the house, my pillow ... A: Charles, I really can't comment on medical issues. However, the statement from the pest control ... | |
| bed bug pesticide - effect on humans | 7/3/2009 |
| Q: Maybe 12 weeks ago we called in a pest control team. They sprayed all around the house, my pillow ... A: Charles, It is difficult to give advice in this situation because I don't know exactly what has ... | |
| Termites unknowingly moved to another house | 7/3/2009 |
| Q: We are staying in an apartment presently where we have found the white slug like termites eating ... A: Tricia, I need some additional information to answer this question. Do you know which termite ... | |
| Drain Flies in Crawl Space | 7/2/2009 |
| Q: We have drain flies, and the problem has become huge. We previously had some type of small flies ... A: Amy, This may be one of the few times I'd suggest using a fogger (total release aerosol ... | |
| Odd bug invading our camper | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: We have been attacked by these odd bugs in our camper recently. We live in Mississippi and it has ... A: Debra, I think what you have here is a black soldier fly maggot. They are harmless (won't bite or ... | |
| Unknown infestation | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: Very many small holes (the size of the head of a straight pin) have been appearing on my clothing ... A: Anita, Dust mites don't damage fabrics so these would not be the cause. Most insects that damage ... | |
| Tiny black bugs in kitchen | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: I have noticed many black bugs slowly crawling in my pristine kitchen..floor, sink, counters. I ... A: Jan, If they are hard and "crunchy" when squished they are probably not collembola which are pretty ... | |
| blue/black wasp | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: I live in southwest Louisiana in a double wide mobile home. Underneath my mobile homes skirting ... A: Carol, These are probably what's called pompilid wasps or spider wasps. These large wasps are able ... | |
| Ceiling bug? | 6/30/2009 |
| Q: I just noticed a circle about the size of a quarter on my ceiling of these tiny black bugs. I wiped ... A: Katy, These are newly hatched lepidopteran (moth and butterfly) larvae. They are too small to ... | |
| Unknown infestation | 6/30/2009 |
| Q: Very many small holes (the size of the head of a straight pin) have been appearing on my clothing ... A: Anita, What sort of fabric are the damaged clothes made from? Wool, silk, cotton, rayon, ... | |
| Bunches of small grey excretions in my couch | 6/29/2009 |
| Q: I've noticed on a couple of occasions these small grey excretions (or what looks to be) in the back ... A: Renee, I'm not sure what this is but check above this spot for any sign of a hole that might be ... | |
| Tiny black bugs in kitchen | 6/29/2009 |
| Q: I have noticed many black bugs slowly crawling in my pristine kitchen..floor, sink, counters. I ... A: Jan, I'd need a more complete description to be sure but these may be collembola, also called ... | |
| bird mites | 6/28/2009 |
| Q: My boyfriend recently had some birds make a hole in the ceiling of his garage which is also the ... A: Lynn, Your diagnosis of bird mites (also called nest mites) is correct. Also, as you say the best ... | |
| Can't identify fleas or gnats - help please | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: I have recently noticed a large number of insects on my dinging room floor. The floor is a wood ... A: Kandice, I can't enough detail in the image but from your description I think these are collembola, ... | |
| wood insects | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: My mother lives in rural New Mexico and relies on wood for heat. Wood is kept in an enclosed wood ... A: V., This is the type of powderpost beetle that infests softwoods (like pine and cedar) rather than ... | |
| Carpenter Ants AND Wasp Nest ID | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: I have a lake home in Northern MN and in an unattached garage, think I have Carpenter ants. I've ... A: Rosie, The continual presence of sawdust is a pretty good indication of an active carpenter ant ... | |
| Re:Could they be gnats? | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: Outside my son's bedroom windows is a huge oak tree. Last year we had the tree trimmed because the ... A: Sandy, The first step is a capture a few of these gnats so someone can examine them under a ... | |
| Bites | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: I just recently came back from a Deer Camp in the Hills of Vermont after spending a weekend there. I ... A: Carmen, I doubt that these are insect or mite bites. It is usually pretty easy to catch the culprit ... | |
| identified miniscule pellets found several time on my bedsheets | 6/21/2009 |
| Q: Sunday, 20 june, 2009 NYC: As the subject matters outlines, I have found these tiny, ... A: J, Your best bet is to take your samples to the nearest Cooperative Extension (Cornell) office ... | |
| Powder Post Beetle | 6/20/2009 |
| Q: I'm sorry I am asking for privacy, but as a furniture store owner, I just can't afford to post this ... A: Sharlene, When I've seen this done for drywood termites they used the torpedo-shaped propane ... | |
| Termites | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: I have been informed that I have termites. I reside in NC. MY worries are if they have done any ... A: Cindy, Termite shelter tubes ("tunnels") usually don't appear inside homes unless the infestation ... | |
| Termites - How long does it take to get rid of them? | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: I live in Northern Virigina. We found a major termite infestation in our basement this spring. We ... A: Cathy, Both insecticides that were used contain the active ingredient imidacloprid. This is a ... | |
| carpenter ants | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: I bought a mobile home a year ago in a mobile home park in Michigan their are 2 huge mounds that ... A: Lori, Carpenter ants don't make mounds like other ants but instead nest above ground in cavities ... | |
| Reddish Brown Cockroach about 2 inches long | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: This is question is similar to ones that I have read but different because I can't seem to find an ... A: Matthew, Using the A/C won't make any difference. Cockroaches tend to stay along the edges of rooms ... | |
| Reddish Brown Cockroach about 2 inches long | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: This is question is similar to ones that I have read but different because I can't seem to find an ... A: Matthew, I think you are correct in your identification based on size alone. The general ... | |
| Termidor | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: Recently I had my house treated for ants. The pest control company used termidor sc. They applied 2 ... A: Bill, I'm not aware of any particularly toxic aspect of Termidor. Consider that the active ... | |
| Extremely tine black flying insects everywhere | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: Dr. DeAngelis my home is on Colorado and on several of my window screens I have sometimes hundreds ... A: N, I can't tell from your description exactly what insect this might be. If you are near a body of ... | |
| Bugs | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: I was moving and found brown rice looking i think they are bugs I picked one up and squished it and ... A: Miendy, These sound like dermestid carpet beetles. Carpet beetles feed on all sorts of natural ... | |
| worm bite? | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: I live in Rantoul Il. Every time i come back inside from a walk with my dog, i sit on the couch. i ... A: Eleena, Thrips do look like a tan dash. The picture on the page I sent was highly magnified. Thrips ... | |
| worm bite? | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: I live in Rantoul Il. Every time i come back inside from a walk with my dog, i sit on the couch. i ... A: Eleena, I'm not sure what this is, however it is not a bed bug or dust mite. There are very few ... | |
| Centipede-like Bugs | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: I live in Atlanta, GA and have been seeing small centipede-like bugs in my third story bathroom for ... A: Amber, This is a centipede but not the house centipede. This species probably came from outside. ... | |
| Centipede-like Bugs | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: I live in Atlanta, GA and have been seeing small centipede-like bugs in my third story bathroom for ... A: Amber, Yes, a photo would help. You can attach it to a follow up question. There are centipedes ... | |
| insects in the attic? | 6/12/2009 |
| Q: I live in NE Louisiana, house is about 30yrs old, brick. In the corner of the living room where the ... A: Linda, Carpenter ants can be treated by disrupting the trails the ants use to forage for food. ... | |
| insects in the attic? | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: I live in NE Louisiana, house is about 30yrs old, brick. In the corner of the living room where the ... A: Linda, One of two different insects usually causes this type of sawdust in this situation. Look ... | |
| termites underground | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: my neighbor had a termite infestation one day. She is under contract w/ a termite control company. ... A: Nancy, Thanks for the additional information. First, the fact that termites were found at a ... | |
| flying ants or termites?? | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: I live in MD. Around this time every year, ants come in to the house. We are used to seeing them and ... A: Jonathan, If you have other questions it is best to post them under a separate subject otherwise ... | |
| Very tiny black ants (?) in kitchen | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: For the past few days, I have had very tiny black bugs that I think are ants. We called them "sugar ... A: Erin, All of these small house-infesting nuisance ants (there are many species) can usually be ... | |
| termites underground | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: my neighbor had a termite infestation one day. She is under contract w/ a termite control company. ... A: Nancy, I'm not entirely sure what your question is but I think you are asking if the fence could ... | |
| biting insect | 6/8/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could help me identify a biting insect. It was so tiny i hardly noticed it, ... A: Angie, There are a number of small insects that normally prey on other small insects, and even some ... | |
| Moths?? | 6/8/2009 |
| Q: Last summer, I found many flying insects that I had not previously seen, in my home. When I smashed ... A: Connie, What you are describing are called clothes moths and there are a number of different ... | |
| small flying bug with a painful bite | 6/8/2009 |
| Q: I live just outside of Boston and recently have noticed (indoors) tiny flying insects that give a ... A: Linda, Unfortunately your description does not match anything I'm familiar with. Your best bet may ... | |
| Is this bug bad? | 6/6/2009 |
| Q: Could you please tell me what type of bug this is? It is all over my lambs ears. I am concerned that ... A: Margaret, This is a four-lined plant bug (Poecilocapsus lineatus, Miridae). These true bugs feed on ... | |
| Termite Eradication | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: I love in Southern CA and have a drywood termite infestation that appears to have been "under ... A: Sara, In certain climates, such as Southern California, drywood termites can be very damaging. ... | |
| flying ants or termites?? | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: I live in MD. Around this time every year, ants come in to the house. We are used to seeing them and ... A: Jonathan, Let me answer your second question first. There are two types of pest inspectors - those ... | |
| Fungus? | 5/31/2009 |
| Q: I just found a slight mound of yellow jelly-like substance, part way into the ground in our garden ... A: Margie, Most fungi don't look like mushrooms, only one group does. I'm not familiar with the fungi ... | |
| insect nest? | 5/31/2009 |
| Q: I just found a slight mound of yellow jelly-like substance, part way into the ground in our garden ... A: Margie, I think this is probably some type fungus rather than an insect nest. There are a number of ... | |
| flies and septic tanks | 5/31/2009 |
| Q: Every spring, we can look at the back of our house, on the outside wall and see hundreds of little ... A: Lesa, Would it be possible to post a picture? There are many different flies that can aggregate ... | |
| roach in the house ohmy!! | 5/30/2009 |
| Q: Jack, Thanks for your time. I live in a wooded area in PA. I have seen large roaches outside on ... A: Chris, There are many species of cockroaches but only a few enter homes and become pests. The pest ... | |
| Small wormlike bug on bedroom wall | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: I found a bug I've never seen the like of before... The total length was about 1/3 inch, and the ... A: Su, I think this is probably a related species called the plaster bagworm. The biology is very ... | |
| spiders | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: First, thank you for taking the time to read my question. I live in north Alabama and my house is ... A: Steven, My garage is the same way. Unfortunately there's not a lot you can do. However, I've had ... | |
| Small wormlike bug on bedroom wall | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: I found a bug I've never seen the like of before... The total length was about 1/3 inch, and the ... A: Su, Excellent description and drawing of a casemaking clothes moth larva. Unfortunately there can ... | |
| Strange Flying Insect | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: I live in Southwestern Lower Michigan and we found this odd looking UFO in our office. We would ... A: Marcena, Sorry. It is a wasp. The long "stinger" is called an ovipositor and is used to place eggs ... | |
| Strange Fly Situation | 5/26/2009 |
| Q: Never seent his type of fly. It is larger than an ordinary house fly. It is striped like grey/black ... A: Adrienne, There are lots of different flies that look like house flies, some a little larger, some ... | |
| powder-post beetle fumigation | 5/26/2009 |
| Q: I have recently purchased a home and had a pest control inspection done in which the inspector ... A: Jose, This is a complicated question but I'll try to hit a few of the main points. Powderpost ... | |
| bed bugs? | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: I'm trying to figure out if I might have bed bugs in my house (an apartment in dayton, oh). I been ... A: Kelly, There are a small number of insects that can cause this kind of reaction, including bed ... | |
| grubs in lawn. | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: I have outside animals and cats and dogs. Is there something I can use on the yard to kill grubs ... A: Paul, Unfortunately many of these homemade remedies don't work very well and can actually damage ... | |
| please help !! | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: I just moved to a new house which was built in the 30's in new york ... the past few nights i keep ... A: Lenny, There are only a very small number of insects and mites that actually bite people. Often ... | |
| 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: Morgan, This is definitely not a bed bug. It is a beetle of some kind but I can't see it clearly ... | |
| wood powder on the window frame | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: I noticed that wood powder on the window frame in the kitchen on the first floor. I cleaned it ... A: Jitendra, This is an excellent description of carpenter ants trailing outside to collect food and ... | |
| wood powder on the window frame | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: I noticed that wood powder on the window frame in the kitchen on the first floor. I cleaned it ... A: Jitendra, This is not termites but either powderpost beetles or carpenter ants. You didn't say how ... | |
| black widow | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: ok, i know i'm going to sound paranoid, but when i went down to my basement today i swear to god i ... A: Sheila, Black widow spiders are very common in some regions but they are also very shy and almost ... | |
| insect | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: in bathroom small silver silky insect very fast when moving A: Elaine, The only insect I can think that fits your description is a silverfish. Silverfish prefer ... | |
| drain flies | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: We have had a problem with drain flies in our house for several years. We have tried the gels in ... A: Maureen, Drain flies, also called moth flies, develop in the organic "gunk" that forms in drains ... | |
| Box Elder Bugs | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: After they invade your house to STAY through the winter, is there no way of getting rid of them ... A: Shannon, Unfortunately there are no good ways to get rid of boxelder bugs once they get into the ... | |
| Fleas | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: Okay,, I have a very clean house, and I have NO Pets, yet I keep finding fleas in my bathroom ... A: Mike, Are you sure these are fleas? Take a look at this page ... | |
| Clover mites | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: Our home is almost 3 years old and each year we have noticed an increase in clover mites on our ... A: Steph, I don't know what this "bee spray" is? These mites can also develop on grass so I would cut ... | |
| Clover mites | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: Our home is almost 3 years old and each year we have noticed an increase in clover mites on our ... A: Steph, Clover mites develop and feed on plants. The mites that enter homes often develop on the ... | |
| OUTSIDE WORMS COMING INSIDE | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: I have one inch brown worms with lots tiny legs coming inside from outside. They only come inside ... A: Vicki, These are millipedes and they are harmless. They eat organic matter and have probably ... | |
| Microscopic biting bugs | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: I keep going out in my yard and getting bitten by these teenie tiny little microscopic creatures. I ... A: Monica, There are a number of small insects that will bite (not sting) if they fly into us. There ... | |
| caterpillars | 4/30/2009 |
| Q: I live in Corpus Christi, TX and recently i have been finding tiny brown worm like bug in the bed ... A: I need a bit more information. What's the difference between the "brown worm like bug" and the ... | |
| Larder Beetles | 4/29/2009 |
| Q: I have done my research and found out that I have Larder Beetles in my apartment. Black beetles ... A: Tracy, Larder beetles like all "stored product" pests (insects like carpet beetles, meal moths, ... | |
| Ants Chicago | 4/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a ento degree from Texas A&M but im unfamiliar with ants species population Chicago ... A: Kim Lee Sampson, Sounds like carpenter ants. Carpenter ants are the largest ants in that area. Take ... | |
| RE: Wasp in my home | 4/28/2009 |
| Q: After arriving home from work I went to pick something up, in my living room not knowing there was a ... A: Melissa, I doubt that 70 degrees is cold enough to immobilize a wasp, however darkness is. When you ... | |
| bed bugs | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: I recently moved into a half double that turns out to have bed bugs. I am a single mother on ... A: Jeszika, There may be a better way of managing the bed bugs (but heat is not a bad idea). Bed bugs ... | |
| Tent Worm Caterpillars | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: I asked a question a couple weeks ago about being over run by some weird worm, and you asked for a ... A: Caryn, The safest way to treat young, feeding caterpillars in general is with a microbial ... | |
| Bees | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a patio made from 12X12 red bricks with sand between the brinks. There are bees or something ... A: Mary, There are many different solitary ground-nesting bees. Usually they pose no threat and most ... | |
| termites | 4/19/2009 |
| Q: I am unsure if this is your background but here is our question, We just purchased a home in North ... A: Todd, The Formosan termite is a type of subterranean termite. It is a non-native species that is ... | |
| buuuuuuuuuuugs | 4/18/2009 |
| Q: We have a uouse in Belize C,A. we have mahogony ceilings on 2nd floor. Theres always fine like saw ... A: Salvatore, I don't know this common name (mahogony bug) but these sound like some type powderpost ... | |
| Bugs in house | 4/10/2009 |
| Q: I have found these weird small bugs in my house. They are brown/ black (i cant really tell) and they ... A: Abigail, This sounds a lot like dermestid carpet beetles. Take a look at this page ... | |
| Little black bugs | 4/9/2009 |
| Q: I live in Arizona. I have been infested with some type of tiny black bug throughout my backyard (in ... A: Louise, Yes, post a picture if you can. But from your description I'd guess these are collembola, ... | |
Pest Control
Answers by Expert:
Jack DeAngelis
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer questions about the control of pest insects, spiders, mites and related arthropods. These household pests include termites, carpenter ants, powderpost beetles, nuisance ants, bed bugs, cockroaches, fleas, wasps, and many others. I can also answer questions about using pesticides and other pest control tools such as baits and traps.
Experience
I am a retired university extension entomologist. I've taught and conducted research in urban and agricultural entomology. I've published over 70 extension publications, 20 research publications and several books about insects.
Education/Credentials
Ph.D. in Entomology
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