You are here:
Pests/Questions Answered by Expert Jack DeAngelis
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Spider Identifcation | 1/30/2012 |
| Q: Can you identify these spiders found in an apartment near Ft. Collins, CO. The largest cocoon is ... A: Bob, I can't see the spiders clearly enough to id (in fact spiders are very difficult to id from ... | |
| Beetle | 1/22/2012 |
| Q: I have an infestation of black shiny small beetles approx 3m x 2mm on my ornamental cherry tree the ... A: Jane, There are so many beetles that would fit this description that it is impossible for me to ... | |
| tiny white bugs | 1/17/2012 |
| Q: i have recently found some very small(about the size of a grain of sugar)white insects in my ... A: Michelle, These are probably mold mites, also called grain mites (there may be other common names ... | |
| Unseen bugs | 1/12/2012 |
| Q: My mother and I live in a very old house with rotting floors and joist(?). Lately, we have been ... A: Mel, My experience is that when no actual culprit is found the cause of these "bites" is usually ... | |
| Help! I cannot identify this bug. | 12/27/2011 |
| Q: while trying to prevent and get rid of these gnats I noticed some black spots on my plants. when I ... A: Aphids will almost always return at some point, and some plants are more susceptible than others. ... | |
| wasps and yellow jackets in my houses | 12/27/2011 |
| Q: I have a fear of wasps and yellow jackets. My first house had wasps coming in though a broken ... A: It is not unusual for yellowjackets to enter houses, nests can be constructed in walls and chimneys ... | |
| wasps and yellow jackets in my houses | 12/26/2011 |
| Q: I have a fear of wasps and yellow jackets. My first house had wasps coming in though a broken ... A: Babs, Bees and wasps are not attracted to individuals. What may be happening is that your innate ... | |
| Help! I cannot identify this bug. | 12/21/2011 |
| Q: while trying to prevent and get rid of these gnats I noticed some black spots on my plants. when I ... A: Nicole, The gnat you describe is probably a dark winged fungus gnat (see ... | |
| caterpillar in house | 11/16/2011 |
| Q: i saw a caterpillar in the house when i was sweeping behind the couch this is not a millipede it was ... A: Danny, Clothes moth larvae are small, whitish caterpillars and they generally occur in out-of-way ... | |
| Wierd Bugs!! | 11/14/2011 |
| Q: i live in england and am visiting a friend on the Isle of wight. Last night after letting the dogs ... A: Lucy, This looks like a large aphid, possibly the large willow aphid (see ... | |
| Midge fly infestation | 11/9/2011 |
| Q: We live near Washington DC in a cottage, in a tightly packed neighborhood, on a ridge overlooking ... A: Tam, I think your analysis is correct. Midges (Chironomidae) develop in standing water and waste ... | |
| Cockroach? | 11/7/2011 |
| Q: I was hoping you'd be able to identify this. I'm strongly hoping for the outcome to be beetle or ... A: Leia, This is a cockroach (see http://www.livingwithbugs.com/cockroaches.html for more info) but I ... | |
| insect pest | 11/3/2011 |
| Q: We are troubled by an insect which has only been seen here (in the UK) in recent years. It is like a ... A: Ken, Could you attach a picture? This sounds like a stink bug (Pentatomidae) but I'd need to see a ... | |
| Black widow infestation | 10/24/2011 |
| Q: there currently is a black widow infestation outside of my work place Where we are required to take ... A: Crystal, Normally when you see higher than normal numbers of spiders like this outdoors it is ... | |
| house mites? | 10/18/2011 |
| Q: I recently noticed these tiny whites insects on my wooden bed frame and wooden drawers and dressers. ... A: Carol, This sounds like grain mites, also called mold mites (see ... | |
| New Blanket of webs | 10/10/2011 |
| Q: Good Day, Over the weekend we were at my father's farm in Southern Alberta and there was an amazing ... A: Kim, Certain cobweb spiders make huge communial webs usually near a body of water that supports ... | |
| Cennipeds | 10/6/2011 |
| Q: I live in a 4 plex and I have cennipeds coming in my apartment at nite and I want to know if they ... A: Carol, Centipedes enter homes when the soils outside are too wet. If it has rained a lot lately ... | |
| Something is biting me at night and driving me nuts...can you help? | 9/26/2011 |
| Q: We live in central oregon, and I have had three episodes of something biting me at night, leaving a ... A: I know that mosquitoes can be a problem in parts of central Oregon, especially Harney Co. Some of ... | |
| Something is biting me at night and driving me nuts...can you help? | 9/24/2011 |
| Q: We live in central oregon, and I have had three episodes of something biting me at night, leaving a ... A: Myrtle, There are only a small number of insects or mites that actually bite people. Here's a list ... | |
| Pests in Windows | 9/20/2011 |
| Q: Jack, I am staying with my grandmother in the Green Bay area and today I noticed a white nest in ... A: Jacqueline, There should be a button on the question page where you can upload a single image (are ... | |
| Ants | 9/8/2011 |
| Q: Me and my mom were in the living room watching TV. I had a plate of nachos, and I put them down. And ... A: Nathan, The best way to control large ant nests is with baits. Baits are food that ants are ... | |
| snails | 9/7/2011 |
| Q: We have so many snails , on the house , on the carport, on the outside furniture, they seem to be ... A: Pamela, Snails (and slugs, their shell-less cousins) are often attracted to water so my first ... | |
| snails | 8/29/2011 |
| Q: I live in Houston, Texas and have had a severe snail infestation since the spring. Plants that have ... A: You'll probably need to treat several times a year, follow package instructions carefully. Both ... | |
| snails | 8/29/2011 |
| Q: I live in Houston, Texas and have had a severe snail infestation since the spring. Plants that have ... A: H, The best way to manage both slugs and snails is with poison baits. The safest baits use iron ... | |
| leaves being eaten on my winter hrdy hibiscus | 7/23/2011 |
| Q: Some insect is eating the leaves on my winter hardy.I have had this plant for approx 15 yrs and this ... A: Paul, There are a number of insects that will do this kind of damage, called "skeletonizing". You ... | |
| microscopic bugs on my deck and wood, | 7/22/2011 |
| Q: i live in new hampshire and have recently found these tiny micro bugs all over my decks and any wood ... A: Jason, Most likely these are barklice (psocids). They are not related to true lice and do not bite. ... | |
| mites? hiding an old photo album | 7/21/2011 |
| Q: I was looking though a family "photo" album from about 1918-22, which had photographs plus clipped ... A: Diane, The only thing I can think of that fits this description are grain mites, also called mold ... | |
| tiny black bugs in my house | 7/18/2011 |
| Q: I have these little black bugs in my house there aren't a lot of them, but i find them in every ... A: Kate, I can't see the critter clearly enough to be certain but I think you are describing one of ... | |
| Burrowing Insect | 7/16/2011 |
| Q: I think I have a burrowing insect on my property. I'm inquiring to find out it is an insect, and if ... A: Dave, This sounds like a cicada killer wasp (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_cicada_killer ... | |
| Millipedes | 7/14/2011 |
| Q: we are having a problem with what we believe are garden millipedes. We live near Frackville, Pa, and ... A: The picture is fine, thanks for adding it. These are indeed millipedes. I thought at first that they ... | |
| strange bug found in house | 7/13/2011 |
| Q: i live in Norwich in England .Today i found a grey/silver bug in my house whilst i was changing my ... A: Jade, I'd need a picture to be certain but I think you are describing a silverfish (called a ... | |
| INSECTS!!!!! | 7/12/2011 |
| Q: today we saw little black insects on the ceiling, about a group of 12 of them. very small, wondering ... A: Sophia, I doubt that the two insects are related. If you post a picture of them I may be able to ... | |
| bugs in kitchen | 7/9/2011 |
| Q: I'm hoping you can help me to identify some tiny little creatures I found in my kitchen cupboard. ... A: Jacqueline, I can't see much detail in the image but from your description my guess is these are ... | |
| flea like bugs | 7/2/2011 |
| Q: I found one or two little black bugs that could jump like a flea I killed them and dismissed ... A: Courtney, These sound like springtails (see http://www.livingwithbugs.com/springtails.html for a ... | |
| sudden gnat-like fly infestation! | 7/1/2011 |
| Q: Last night we were enjoying a nice breeze in our living room (screen closed door open) suddenly we ... A: Christie, Small gnat-like flies (midges) can originate from indoor sources as well as from outside. ... | |
| Springtails | 6/30/2011 |
| Q: I seem to be having similar problem in my house in Old Bridge NJ. Springtails started appearing in ... A: Andrea, Sounds like NJ is having wet weather this spring. As I told Joe the springtails only move ... | |
| springtails | 6/29/2011 |
| Q: Jack I am going nuts here in Southern NJ.It all started ( that I know of ) about 5/6 weeks ago we ... A: I think you may be right that the ultimate source of the springtails was the organic fertilizer, ... | |
| springtails | 6/29/2011 |
| Q: Jack I am going nuts here in Southern NJ.It all started ( that I know of ) about 5/6 weeks ago we ... A: It is unusual for springtails to be so widely distributed around a property. Usually they ... | |
| springtails | 6/29/2011 |
| Q: Jack I am going nuts here in Southern NJ.It all started ( that I know of ) about 5/6 weeks ago we ... A: Joe, Your description does not sound like springtails (see ... | |
| flying termites | 6/28/2011 |
| Q: I just looked out my window and noticed hundreds of flying insects, so I went out and caught one, ... A: Nick, As you probably know termite colonies release large numbers of winged termites (so called ... | |
| Bed bugs? | 6/26/2011 |
| Q: I don't know whether this is a bed bug, or something that has managed to make its way into my home, ... A: Brianna, I can't see much detail but the shape is wrong for a bed bug. I'd guess some kind of ... | |
| Crepe Myrtle trees | 6/21/2011 |
| Q: Do this trees attract carpenter ants and various types of wasps? If so, how can this be controlled? A: Tom, I'm not aware of anything about crepe myrtle that would make it attractive to either wasps or ... | |
| Webs taking over oak tree - not webworms | 6/15/2011 |
| Q: Two days ago, I noticed the leaves on our oak tree were wilting and discolored. I attributed this ... A: Stacy, Sounds like it could be spider mites. See http://www.livingwithbugs.com/spider_mites.html ... | |
| Spider Identification | 6/12/2011 |
| Q: June 11, 2011 (Saturday) Dear Jack, I've recently killed two of what seem to be the same kind of ... A: Brace, I can't tell for sure from this image if this is a brown recluse because it is a bit too ... | |
| Worm like cluster on ceiling | 6/10/2011 |
| Q: I noticed a orange spot on my ceiling 2 days ago. Today when I was cleaning up we noticed the orange ... A: Christina, The orange spot was an egg mass from a moth or butterfly and the black worms were newly ... | |
| Black Widow | 6/9/2011 |
| Q: I found a black widow on my outside door handle today and was wondering if there could be a nest of ... A: Morgan, Black widow spiders don't live in nests per se, at least not in the sense of a colony of ... | |
| ant | 6/2/2011 |
| Q: We live in Central WI. Over the last two years it seems as if we have been accumulating ants in our ... A: A, It is very unlikely that these are fire ants as this species is not known to occur as far north ... | |
| insect droppings? | 5/31/2011 |
| Q: I rent a hous in Forest Hills , Ny and I have recently noted large amounts of what I believe to be ... A: Alicia, Can you tell what this material is made of? Is it wood or fibers from the couch? If you ... | |
| Unknown Pest | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: I have this little bugger in my yard. I have noticed holes appearing in my Angel Trumpet over the ... A: Michelle, The image is a bit dark but I'm pretty sure this is a crane fly larva, possibly the ... | |
| mystery bugs | 5/27/2011 |
| Q: We live in Miami FL. on a lake and the lake bed is receding due to a lack of rain. We are seeing ... A: Dee, Your description sounds like grain mites, also called mold mites (see ... | |
| follow-up to possible insect infestation | 5/23/2011 |
| Q: Great idea to try dissolving the "crystals" in both water and alcohol. I did that and got no ... A: I agree, very strange. Definitely collect some of this material in a vial so that it can be looked ... | |
| do I have an insect infestation? | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: I have been finding what looks like large grains of clear/white granular sugar on my wood desk for ... A: Susan, This does not sound like anything from an insect. Have you tried dropping some of this ... | |
| Invaded by unknown bugs! | 5/12/2011 |
| Q: These bugs are everywhere in my house. Crawling on walls, on ceiling and also a lot of them have ... A: Raul, I think this is a termite, probably what's called a "reproductive" that has lost its wings. ... | |
| Annoying Bugs on my trampoline! | 5/10/2011 |
| Q: for the past couple of weeks ever since it has started to get lighter in the evening and so on, ... A: James, These sound like mayflies (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayfly for a picture). Mayflies ... | |
| A kind of worm | 5/4/2011 |
| Q: I was hoping that you could help me to identify a kind of worm that I have found burrowing in tree. ... A: The larvae (young) of some beetles look like "worms" (see ... | |
| A kind of worm | 5/2/2011 |
| Q: I was hoping that you could help me to identify a kind of worm that I have found burrowing in tree. ... A: NS, Most wood boring beetles infest recently dead or weakened trees. Healthy trees are able to ... | |
| Black bug with wings but crawls in bathroom | 4/30/2011 |
| Q: It all started a few weeks ago when we found some regular looking ants in the bathroom, which we ... A: Donna, Your description on the image is perfect. This is a winged ant. Ant colonies occasionally ... | |
| miniscule insects inside pepper and tomato blooms | 4/29/2011 |
| Q: I have a small garden in Houston TX and my pepper plants are failing to set blooms. The blooms that ... A: Judy, Both tomatoes and peppers can fail to produce fruit for a variety of reasons, the most common ... | |
| Unknown bugs | 4/28/2011 |
| Q: I have seen little brown bugs on my French Lavender..They are about the size of an aphid and are ... A: Jordan, The best treatment for any soft-bodied plant pest (aphids, spider mites, scale insects) is ... | |
| Springtails | 4/19/2011 |
| Q: this is my 3rd year in my brand new house. The first year we moved in in Aug and I never saw any of ... A: It is not unusual for a few springtails to enter houses, small numbers can be carried in on clothing ... | |
| Springtails | 4/19/2011 |
| Q: this is my 3rd year in my brand new house. The first year we moved in in Aug and I never saw any of ... A: Kristin, If you post a picture I could confirm that these are indeed springtails (see ... | |
| What are these tiny swarming insects in the grass | 4/14/2011 |
| Q: I live in central Oklahoma and we have a tiny bug that is swarming the yard, deck, and gravel ... A: Misti, These are true bugs in the order Hemiptera. I can't see the image clearly enough to be ... | |
| Insect on pool patio | 4/1/2011 |
| Q: My husband and I recently purchased a house in Henderson, NV. We have seen a few different critters ... A: Julie, This is the larva of a ladybird beetle (ladybug) (see ... | |
| bug in house | 3/27/2011 |
| Q: I have this bug in my house and I can't figure out what kind it is, where its coming from, and how ... A: Melissa, This is called a varied carpet beetle (see ... | |
| Codling moth management model | 3/23/2011 |
| Q: I have been implementing IPM in my farm and now I would like to introduce for the first time the ... A: Ari, I'm not an expert in this particular model. However the BIOFIX model is generally used to more ... | |
| oak loopers (moth caterpillars) | 3/7/2011 |
| Q: Is there anything at all we can do to get rid of these little green pest's? They have the backyard ... A: Jacquelyn, Unfortunately treating large trees is so difficult and expensive that most people opt to ... | |
| worms | 3/7/2011 |
| Q: we have been finding these tan worms in our kitchen. usually around our sink and in our strainer. ... A: Amanda, Could you post a picture? If they are too small to photograph the best thing is to collect ... | |
| tiny little flying annoying things | 2/14/2011 |
| Q: I live in both the US and Sri Lanka, and I have encountered these guys in both places (in the US ... A: Bennett, The smallest biting flies are the biting midges (Ceratopogonidae; see ... | |
| White flatworm | 2/6/2011 |
| Q: Dr. DeAngelis, I live in Hawaii and I was lifting my potted plants to check for slugs that may have ... A: Sean, This is pretty far outside my area of expertise but I think what you've found is a ... | |
| Bugs (in the kitchen mainly) | 1/20/2011 |
| Q: There are very small black and narrow insects in my kitchen. I would like to know what they are. ... A: Gerald, Could you post a picture? There are lots of different insects that fit this description ... | |
| caterpillars | 1/11/2011 |
| Q: I KEPT FOUR OF THE BLACK AND RED CATERPILLARS IN AN AQUARIUM SINCE OCTOBER. THEY WENT INTO A COCOON ... A: Tim, You can try providing them with sugar water on a cotton ball. Tell the kids that adult ... | |
| Huge "Flea" | 1/8/2011 |
| Q: Found two of these on the carpet. Both dead. They look like huge fleas, kind of sand/orange color, ... A: John, Do you live near the ocean? This appears to be a marine crustacean of some kind. Small marine ... | |
| Pill bugs in the garden | 1/5/2011 |
| Q: Mr. DeAngelis, I'm a novice gardener and was wondering if pill bugs pose a threat to vegetables, ... A: Sean, Pillbugs (see http://www.livingwithbugs.com/sow_bug.html for picture) are generally not ... | |
| Ants communication | 12/25/2010 |
| Q: I have been watching ants in my garden and am absolutely fascinated by the way they have a little ... A: Bill, Ants form extremely complex social colonies that depend on chemical communication between ... | |
| why Spider phobia? | 12/6/2010 |
| Q: What is it about spiders that makes many people scared or uneasy? A: Ben, I can't give you a short answer but one of my favorite books that talks about why humans fear ... | |
| jerusalem cricket | 11/16/2010 |
| Q: We heard scratching in what we assumed was a rodent in our attic crawl space on Saturday night. ... A: Joyce, Jerusalem crickets (see http://www.livingwithbugs.com/jer_cric.html and click on the picture ... | |
| Bow Bugs/Clothes Moths | 11/7/2010 |
| Q: For some time I have been seeing moths in my cupboard under the stairs which is used as a storage ... A: Lisa, Sounds like you may have more than one insect. The moths are almost certainly some type of ... | |
| long-horned beetles? | 11/5/2010 |
| Q: Mr. DeAngelis, Can you provide me with any info on the long-horned beetle pictured below? Chad ... A: Chad, Excellent picture. I'm guessing that you already known that this is a long-horn beetle in the ... | |
| nest / pod in pygmy-pal | 10/28/2010 |
| Q: Can you identify these? I am nervous about what will come out of them. I live in central FL if that ... A: This looks more like a gall of some kind. Galls can be made by the plant itself or they can be ... | |
| nest / pod in pygmy-pal | 10/28/2010 |
| Q: Can you identify these? I am nervous about what will come out of them. I live in central FL if that ... A: Krista, I can't tell from this image what these are. If you could post a clearer picture of an ... | |
| beneficial nematodes vs milky spore | 10/28/2010 |
| Q: We live in Texas with lots of Japenese Beatle grubs as well as fire ants. We were considering ... A: Rod, Nematodes won't hurt earthworms (see http://www.livingwithbugs.com/ent_nems.html for info). ... | |
| Bugs found in bathroom | 10/24/2010 |
| Q: Almost every day I find one or two of these tiny (3-6 mm) insects in our bathroom, usually around ... A: Sarah, This looks like a dermestid beetle larva, sometimes called a carpet beetle (see ... | |
| large flea like bug | 10/21/2010 |
| Q: It has been raining at our house for 5 days, and just today I noticed several (at least 30) dead ... A: The image is a bit too dark to be certain but this looks like a large springtail (see ... | |
| bug in my apt in NYC | 10/17/2010 |
| Q: I have been finding these little 6 legged bugs around, crawling on the wall, crawling across our ... A: Cockroaches are very difficult to control in multi-family building because they will come into your ... | |
| bug in my apt in NYC | 10/17/2010 |
| Q: I have been finding these little 6 legged bugs around, crawling on the wall, crawling across our ... A: Renee, This appears to be an immature cockroach (see ... | |
| pests around wall in bathtub | 10/7/2010 |
| Q: "Recently there's a growing evidence of black specks that look like debris left by some insect. ... A: Candice, I can't find the Q&A you refer to but what was the answer? Since the question was the same ... | |
| Pest Infestation on my Hibiscus | 10/4/2010 |
| Q: About two weeks ago, my hibiscus plant had a few white dot-like clusters on several of its leaves. ... A: Allison, For aphids, whiteflies and even some scale insects insecticidal soap works better than ... | |
| ants attacking crabapple tree | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: What can I do to stop ants from attacking my crabapple tree. Will they eventually kill the tree A: Joseph, Ants won't damage a tree. If they are small ants they may be feeding on aphid honeydew on ... | |
| Caterpillars on petunias | 9/8/2010 |
| Q: Jack. I live in Epping, New Hampshire, and you recently helped me with a problem concerning ... A: Fran, The caterpillars are large enough that if you don't have a big area I'd just pick them off by ... | |
| moths in container garden | 9/6/2010 |
| Q: There are tiny moths in my container garden and I've been trying to figure out what they are and how ... A: Renee, There are lots of different moths that fit this description. If you post a clear picture I ... | |
| Pests in diffenbachia | 8/31/2010 |
| Q: I replanted my diffenbachia about 2 months ago. Shortly afterwards I started noticing these flying ... A: Linda, Hard to say for sure but it sounds like dark-winged fungus gnats (see ... | |
| Microscopic worm-like bugs | 8/25/2010 |
| Q: We found tiny little worm-like bugs in our inter-office mailboxes the other day and have no idea ... A: Chris, I think these were probably newly hatched moth larvae. Moths lay eggs in large masses, ... | |
| wasps | 8/21/2010 |
| Q: I have discovered a wasps nest inside an air brick in the house.I have tried firing foam through the ... A: Sorry but I don't have any contacts in central England (I should have looked at your location tag). ... | |
| wasps | 8/20/2010 |
| Q: I have discovered a wasps nest inside an air brick in the house.I have tried firing foam through the ... A: Gary, I'm having trouble imagining what's going on here. Does the air brick open into a space ... | |
| Red Ants | 8/12/2010 |
| Q: We have a problem with red ants, they seem to be making nests all over our property, how can we get ... A: Carrie, There are many species of ants but most can be managed with granular baits placed around ... | |
| mites? around bathtub | 8/11/2010 |
| Q: Recently there's a growing evidence of black specks that look like debris left by some insect. ... A: Sounds more and more like mold growing behind that wall, and spreading. However, take a look at this ... | |
| mites? around bathtub | 8/11/2010 |
| Q: Recently there's a growing evidence of black specks that look like debris left by some insect. ... A: Norma, If you brush the specks away how long does it take to re-appear? At this point I think the ... | |
| Something growing on my crab apple tree | 8/9/2010 |
| Q: I recently noticed something growing on the under side of the leaves on my crab apple tree and I ... A: Colleen, The photo is a bit too dark to see clearly but I don't think this is an insect or mite. It ... | |
| ants | 7/25/2010 |
| Q: I have a perennial problem with ants causing little hills and bare patches in the lawn,it always ... A: Gary, Baits are always the best way to manage ants. In this case you'll probably want to use a ... | |
| Sweet potato vine with (pests) | 7/19/2010 |
| Q: I have started a sweet potato vine inside of my home and most of the leaves are covered with tiny ... A: Jeanne, I think this may in fact be salt, which will leave black spots on leaves. Plants will ... | |
| possibly mites or parasite??? | 7/15/2010 |
| Q: I moved into an older house a couple of months ago, and after about 3 weeks of moving in, my ... A: Janie, Was that the Blackland Research & Extension Center in Temple, TX? If the entomologist at the ... | |
| leaf galls | 7/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a maple infected with leaf galls, I want to replace it with a Japanese maple will it too ... A: Jo, There are lots of different things that cause leaf galls on maple. This first step is to get ... | |
| pine sawyer beetle | 7/4/2010 |
| Q: My wife and I were watching TV when this giant beetle comes strolling across our living room carpet. ... A: Mike, These beetles frequently emerge from firewood so the first suggestion is to leave the ... | |
| garder snakes | 6/30/2010 |
| Q: Don't if you have any expertise on garder snakes but I am trying to find ways to eliminate or ... A: Ron, I'm probably not the right person for this question. My only impulse is to try and convince ... | |
| insects that follow the light into your house | 6/28/2010 |
| Q: I live in SouthTexas. What is the name of the insect I try to describe here:it is about the size of ... A: Charlotte, Could you post a picture? This description fits a lot of insects and I'm not getting a ... | |
| HIBISCUS PEST THAT BITE | 6/27/2010 |
| Q: THIS IS THE 2ND YEAR THAT I HAVE PURCHASED HIBISCUS FLOWERS FROM SAMS CLUB AND ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR, ... A: Carl, These could be a tiny plant-feeding insect called thrips. See ... | |
| Catawba worm | 6/27/2010 |
| Q: Recently a Catawba worm landed on my neck. I immediately swiped it off but it left a very irritating ... A: Melissa, Many moths have what are called "urticating" hairs on the larvae, or caterpillars. These ... | |
| Insect problem - Kent, U.K. | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: I hope you can help with what is becoming an increasingly annoying problem! We have recently had ... A: Jacki, This is a primitive fly related to mosquitoes, midges, gnats and so forth. However, there ... | |
| English Holly Disease | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: My two English Holly Bushes have developed small white powdery spores on the underside of the ... A: John, The only insect or mite (my specialties) that might appear as white powdery spores are scale ... | |
| red larvae( ?) in grass | 6/21/2010 |
| Q: While transplanting some flowers into a new garden, i dug up a huge mass (thousands) of tiny (1/2 ... A: Valerie, I don't think these are related to insects. Except for an ant colony there are no insects ... | |
| bathroom bug - can you identify | 6/20/2010 |
| Q: I am writing from Santa Barbara, CA. I moved my current apartment a few months ago. Today I noticed ... A: Miles, These is a clover mite. Clover mites feed on plants and sometimes enter homes in large ... | |
| houseplant pests | 6/19/2010 |
| Q: i think my ivy may have multiple pests. one i think may be silverfish.. they are shiny and barely ... A: Emily, Silverfish don't feed on plants and are much larger than what you describe (see ... | |
| pests | 6/18/2010 |
| Q: My small garden is infested with an insipid pest. I took some leaves from a couple of plants to a ... A: Evan, These sound like spider mites, possibly the two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae. ... | |
| garden worm | 6/18/2010 |
| Q: I found a one inch long worm, hammer-headed, light brown with a black stripe running the lenght of ... A: Judy, Insect larvae are very difficult to identify by description alone. Even with a picture it can ... | |
| Butterfly Bush Insects | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: My Butterfly bush has the leaves all lacey. New this year. What can I use that will not harm the ... A: Jean, There are a number of things that could cause this from insect or slug feeding to hail ... | |
| tiny brown insects (mites) on deck | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: Our upper deck (20 ft above ground) is infested with tiny brown mite-like insects. I leaned on the ... A: Kathy, These may be psocids (barklice) or clover mites. With a magnifying glass look carefully at ... | |
| pests | 6/9/2010 |
| Q: I have a home garden with several plants including tomatoes, corn, beans and melons. I have a black ... A: I doubt that soap would work very well in this case. Insecticidal soap works better for soft-bodied ... | |
| pests | 6/9/2010 |
| Q: I have a home garden with several plants including tomatoes, corn, beans and melons. I have a black ... A: Sevin dust and any of the other insecticides will only be effective when applied when insects are ... | |
| pests | 6/8/2010 |
| Q: I have a home garden with several plants including tomatoes, corn, beans and melons. I have a black ... A: Frank, I think this is an immature coreid or leaf-footed bug. They feed on plants and can do some ... | |
| White flies on plants | 6/8/2010 |
| Q: I have white flies infesting the plants on my balcony recently and want to get rid of them, but I ... A: Todd, Whiteflies are related to aphids and scale insects (Homoptera) and feed on plant sap. The ... | |
| Humming Boxwood | 6/8/2010 |
| Q: Tonight when I came home, I noticed that there was a humming sound on the side of the house. I ... A: Tina, Sounds like a feral honey bee hive might be in the tree. If you contact a local beekeeper ... | |
| beautiful beetle on sweet potato vine. | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: .. I have 2 questions. 1. The other day I bought a sweet potato vine plant to put in a bare spot in ... A: Liz, There are a variety of leaf-feeding beetles in the family Chrysomelidae that are distinctly ... | |
| dirt dobbers | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: for years I have always been around dirt dobbers....I walk through them all the time as they fly ... A: Mary, You both are correct. Mud daubers (also called dirt daubers or dirt dobbers) are wasps and ... | |
| Rosemary and Lavender Plants | 5/30/2010 |
| Q: I have white sticky globules on my rosemary and lavender plants. There is a bug inside the globule. ... A: The best thing to do is to wash off the spittle mass with water and treat with insecticidal soap to ... | |
| Rosemary and Lavender Plants | 5/30/2010 |
| Q: I have white sticky globules on my rosemary and lavender plants. There is a bug inside the globule. ... A: Kay, There's a couple different insects that you may be describing. If the globule looks like ... | |
| possums & vermin | 5/27/2010 |
| Q: Since the last person decided not to answer, I'm trying again... "In Kingsport TN the condo complex ... A: Molly, Sorry for the difficulty you've had getting your question answered. Unfortunately I'm also ... | |
| Lilac Pests... | 5/26/2010 |
| Q: We have beautiful lilac bushes around our back door and in our back yard here in South Eastern ... A: Sarah, A couple of possibilities - there are small predatory bugs (true bugs, Hemiptera) that ... | |
| tent catipillars?? | 5/24/2010 |
| Q: Look like tent caterpillars, but no tents hundreds on one tree. 1-1/8" long. Any home remedies? Have ... A: Hard to say what this is without a picture because there are many different caterpillars that feed ... | |
| scale bugs | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: I had a palm not sure of the name but it was a very hard spiney palm that was outdoor last summer ... A: Linda, Both scale insects and spider mites can be treated with insecticidal soap (see ... | |
| Leaves | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: What are the bugs that eat leaves? A: Johnston, Many different insects feed on leaves. Some insects like aphids tap into the leaf's ... | |
| tiny biting insect | 5/18/2010 |
| Q: For as long as I can remember, I have been bitten by a tiny insect while outside. They are so tiny ... A: Susan, These are probably thrips (see http://www.livingwithbugs.com/thrips.html for a picture). ... | |
| identifying insect or insect egg? | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: I live in the foothills of NC and have noticed an unusual white thing under many of the leaves near ... A: The cottony sac is made by a scale insect that lives beneath the cotton. Scale insects are related ... | |
| Need help identifying tiny bug. | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: I have a few very tiny red bug bites spread around my upper body in little clusters and recently ... A: Heather, This is a mite. The image is too small to be certain but it could be in the group of mites ... | |
| Squash bore fly | 5/10/2010 |
| Q: I have problems with the squash bore and the squash bug I am going to try various organic options ... A: Besides the cultural methods mentioned in the bulletin you could also use neem oil insecticide which ... | |
| Centipedes/Millipedes | 5/8/2010 |
| Q: I recently relocated to southeastern South Dakota and purchased a home in a surburban area that does ... A: Karen, Unfortunately there probably is no way to completely seal off the home from centipedes, ... | |
| Squash bore fly | 5/8/2010 |
| Q: I have problems with the squash bore and the squash bug I am going to try various organic options ... A: Don, The University of Kentucky has an excellent bulletin on these two insects at ... | |
| identifying insect or insect egg? | 5/8/2010 |
| Q: I live in the foothills of NC and have noticed an unusual white thing under many of the leaves near ... A: Cari, You may be describing a cottony scale. Take a look at this page ... | |
| unknown pest | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: Oh, dear; I was afraid you'd say that! How do I determine a reputable pest company? Do you think ... A: Sorry about the bad news (it is possible I'm wrong). I'd contact local companies in your area first ... | |
| Unknown pest | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: This is the 2nd spring that I've seen a dark brown residue on my kitchen wall. It looks kind of ... A: Unfortunately I think this is almost certainly a subterranean termite shelter tube/tunnel. See ... | |
| Icky Bug | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: DeAngelis, Could you help identify this icky bug I found in my house. Thank you! Warren A: Warren, This is a spider but species level spider identification can be very tricky. If you need an ... | |
| Unknown pest | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: This is the 2nd spring that I've seen a dark brown residue on my kitchen wall. It looks kind of ... A: Kathy, A couple more questions, and yes post another picture if you have one (I've saved the first ... | |
| Unknown pest | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: This is the 2nd spring that I've seen a dark brown residue on my kitchen wall. It looks kind of ... A: Kathy, If you post a picture I may be able to identify this material with more confidence. But, ... | |
| perfect pile of tiny eggs? | 5/1/2010 |
| Q: I read a post where I person had taken a photo of a pile of white eggs on a wood table. Like this ... A: Elizabeth, This sounds like some kind of insect frass or wood borings rather than eggs. In fact ... | |
| spiders | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: umm I have a second question, this about spiders. along with carpenter ants that have been ... A: Desirai, It is almost impossible to identify spiders based on descriptions or even photos. It ... | |
| carpenter ants? | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: I live in Atlanta, GA. The past few weeks I've been seeing this big black ants around the house. ... A: Desirai, In the US any ant larger than about 3/8" is probably a carpenter ant (see ... | |
| soil mealy bugs | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: We have a small plant nursery and have discovered soil mealy bug in many of our pot plants, and that ... A: Lori, Sounds like a plan. If it turns out to be a pest species you may need to treat with ... | |
| Tiny Brown Bugs | 4/27/2010 |
| Q: My wife noticed a large number (hundreds, maybe thousands) of very tiny (head of a pin tiny) ... A: Mike, There are a couple of possibilities but the most likely one is clover mites. Look carefully ... | |
| soil mealy bugs | 4/27/2010 |
| Q: We have a small plant nursery and have discovered soil mealy bug in many of our pot plants, and that ... A: Lori, Mealy bugs are related to aphids and scale insects (see ... | |
| Repel/kill spiders | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: I have severe arachnophobia. I've just moved to a retirement apartment that is tiny but includes a ... A: Marie, I completely understand your phobia toward spiders but the best solution to your dilemma is ... | |
| Mystery Bug | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: This bug was crawling on my wall this morning in my apartment in NYC... see attached file... can you ... A: Warren, This is called a spider beetle and they are minor stored product pests. See ... | |
| tent caterpillars on apple tree | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: The tree bloomed very well. At the late stage of blooming, the blomming area turned brown. I ... A: Homer, Healthy trees usually are not harmed by moderate tent caterpillar defoliation. The problem ... | |
| Glycyphagus Domesticus | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: me and my fiance have had trouble in getting rid of the mites in our home for about a year now. we ... A: Samantha, All of the mites in this group feed on mold and fungi, and produce allergies in people ... | |
| big bumblebee | 4/6/2010 |
| Q: ok we just moved in to a new home that was built just 2 years ago.we moved in December and now that ... A: Shelly, I agree this sounds like a carpenter bee (black, shiny "butt", quarter-size, yellow & black ... | |
| big bumblebee | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: ok we just moved in to a new home that was built just 2 years ago.we moved in December and now that ... A: Shelly, Can you describe this bee a little more? How big is it compared to a honey bee? What color ... | |
| found a bug in the bed | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: found a bug in the bed. Doesn't look like a bed bug, but would like to know what it is. Description: ... A: Damian, If you post a picture I could confirm the id but your description sounds like a casemaking ... | |
| potato bug infestaton in house | 3/30/2010 |
| Q: I have had many potato bugs in my upstairs bathroom for years. They seem to be coming from up in the ... A: Norm, There are several different insects that are called "potato bugs". Could you post a picture ... | |
| carpet beetles | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: I recently wrote to you about having carpet beetles. I hired a pest control company and hopefully ... A: The source, either natural fabrics or some type of dry food, must be nearby. Keep searching you'll ... | |
| carpet beetles | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: I recently wrote to you about having carpet beetles. I hired a pest control company and hopefully ... A: Elsa, Keep in mind that carpet beetles only infest carpets that are made of wool. Most carpets ... | |
| Fungus gnats | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: Is there an insect or worm I could place in my indoor potted plants that would eat or kill fungus ... A: Dave, As a matter of fact there is a tiny worm (beneficial nematode) that infects fungus gnat ... | |
| how to terminate pine sawyer beetles | 3/16/2010 |
| Q: I was recently given a sculpture as a gift made of wood. It is about 3-4' tall and was very ... A: That's closer to the size for an emergence hole from these beetles. The hole appears filled in but ... | |
| Crickets in cottage | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: We rent a cottage every year right on Lake Erie and there is always crickets inside the cottage, a ... A: Sue, Long-term the best solution is to try and seal the cottage so that the crickets can't get in. ... | |
| how to terminate pine sawyer beetles | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: I was recently given a sculpture as a gift made of wood. It is about 3-4' tall and was very ... A: The beetle you found may have been a pine sawyer (I'm sure Purdue got the id right) but it did not ... | |
| how to terminate pine sawyer beetles | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: I was recently given a sculpture as a gift made of wood. It is about 3-4' tall and was very ... A: Jay, I think the sculpture is infested with powderpost beetles rather than pine sawyer beetles. ... | |
| carpet beetle larvae | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: I wanted to ask you another question regarding a small problem I have in the house with carpet ... A: Yes, you should see fewer and fewer if the initial infestation is gone. But, there will probably ... | |
| carpet beetle larvae | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: I wanted to ask you another question regarding a small problem I have in the house with carpet ... A: Libby, Carpet beetles (dermestid beetles) are very common in homes everywhere. In fact, most homes ... | |
| white aphids?? | 3/2/2010 |
| Q: I had a plant in water for about 2 years,always did fairly well,,anyways I put it on top of my ... A: Ok, that makes sense but I don't think these are insects or mites. Can you tell if they are moving? ... | |
| white aphids?? | 3/1/2010 |
| Q: I had a plant in water for about 2 years,always did fairly well,,anyways I put it on top of my ... A: I suppose it could be some kind of fungus but there are no insects or mites this small on aquatic ... | |
| white aphids?? | 3/1/2010 |
| Q: I had a plant in water for about 2 years,always did fairly well,,anyways I put it on top of my ... A: Libby, Aphids are generally not found on aquatic plants. These are more likely springtails (also ... | |
| something is eating my plants | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: I live in Arizona. I have 3 Yellow Bells and a couple of Hibiscus plants that are being eaten by a ... A: There are only a few things that will consume that much leaf material. Slugs, earwigs and ... | |
| something is eating my plants | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: I live in Arizona. I have 3 Yellow Bells and a couple of Hibiscus plants that are being eaten by a ... A: Jonathan, When you say "half eaten" do you mean that half the leaf is gone or that it has dried up? ... | |
| grubs in trees | 2/12/2010 |
| Q: I live in Thailand and have just sawn a large branch from one of my trees as it was dying. There was ... A: Neville, Based on your description this is probably the larva of a beetle, possibly a cerambycid ... | |
| white grub under apple tree bark | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: Under 2" oval sections of bark on the limbs of the Macoun apple tree, I found a half-inch white grub ... A: Sue, This is some kind of wood borer, possibly a beetle. Most borers are not fatal for the tree and ... | |
| blister beetles | 2/4/2010 |
| Q: Last year we had a blister beetle infestation in our tomato garden. I am wondering if it is likely ... A: Roberta, There's no good way to predict what might happen next year but unless last season's ... | |
| little black flying bugs | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: bugs are comming out of all my potted plants, indoors of course, I live in Dayton OH., and am ... A: Kelly, These are called dark-winged fungus gnats. The larvae live in potting soil where they feed ... | |
| Bug in elder mom's room | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: She said it is making kittenlike noises only at night.Saw it last night on night stand. Black bug ... A: George, I can't think of any insects that make a mewing (?) type sound but there are lots of ... | |
| fruit fly infestation in peaches | 1/30/2010 |
| Q: I am the expert on tropical plants here, but I need your help in a subject that no one seems to be ... A: Nick, There are numerous species of fruit flies, especially in a subtropical climate like south ... | |
| Strange bites | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: We stayed in a hotel recently and when we woke up we had strange insect bite marks on us (mine and ... A: Alison, What you describe is entirely consistent with bed bug bites (bite appearance, bite ... | |
| follow up to drain fly problem | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: Since I last spoke to you, we had the plumber ream out part of our pipe due to an overflow.In ... A: Sounds like your are on the right track. A leaky pipe or toilet by itself won't produce drain flies ... | |
| Pests Attacking my Hibiscus | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: I live in Bellefontaine, OH USA. I have a pest attacking my hibiscus and can't figure out what it ... A: I can't tell from the picture what these are which is why I asked the questions. If they are moving ... | |
| Pests Attacking my Hibiscus | 1/16/2010 |
| Q: I live in Bellefontaine, OH USA. I have a pest attacking my hibiscus and can't figure out what it ... A: Rebekah, How's the plant doing otherwise? Is it healthy, are the leaves green or yellowing? When ... | |
| ants | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: What is the best way to get rid of ants. I have nests around the outside of my house and they are ... A: Duncan, There are lots of different ants that may require different approaches. The first step is ... | |
| Fruit Fly | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: We just moved into a basement apartment, and we have had many problems so far, mice, spiders etc.. ... A: Cortney, I'm sorry but I can't id these from your description. The other possibility would be drain ... | |
| Fruit Fly | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: We just moved into a basement apartment, and we have had many problems so far, mice, spiders etc.. ... A: Coutney, I think you may be describing fungus gnats. These small flies are common in homes and ... | |
| Fruit Fly "like" bugs | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: We just moved into a basement apartment, and we have had many problems so far, mice, spiders etc.. ... A: Courtney, I'm a little confused. You say this critter looks like a fruit fly but what you describe ... | |
| drain flies or gnats | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: This is not a question but a comment. I will try your suggestions on both covering the drains and ... A: Ok, thanks. I'll wait for the results of the "experiment". Another way to tell drain flies from ... | |
| drain fly problem | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: We have had a 4 mth old problem with drain flies, which began in Sept. We have cleaned all drain ... A: Fungus gnats also have a black body but your description of where you find the flies does sound like ... | |
| drain fly problem | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: We have had a 4 mth old problem with drain flies, which began in Sept. We have cleaned all drain ... A: Maunie, Fortunately drain flies do not carry any diseases, there's a related fly that does but this ... | |
| whiteflies | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: I always seem to have a lot of whiteflies in my vegetable garden. How can I prevent them. At this ... A: Rita, There's not much do to for whiteflies at this time of the year. The best strategy is to keep ... | |
| Brown Recluse? | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: Jack. This is my third attempt to ask you this question, because it appears the site has been ... A: Jennie, Sorry you had problems with the site, I got only this one question from you. It is unlikely ... | |
| Leaf Miners on Tomato Plants | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: So my sister decided she wanted to grow some tomato plants. She had been doing really well with them ... A: Bre, The infestation must have originated outside, perhaps from a nearby agricultural field or ... | |
| Leaf Miners on Tomato Plants | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: So my sister decided she wanted to grow some tomato plants. She had been doing really well with them ... A: Brittany, You're right this is a serpentine leafminer. The mines are caused by the larva of a fly ... | |
| Leaf Miners on Tomato Plants | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: So my sister decided she wanted to grow some tomato plants. She had been doing really well with them ... A: Brittany, Where are you growing these plants, in a greenhouse, indoors? Could you post a picture of ... | |
| Gnats eating myrtle/periwinkle/vinca minor | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: Last spring and summer (2009) in Ridgefield, CT, from about May to July, insects badly chewed many ... A: Jay, Any of the salts used for ice removal can be very hard on plants. The salts can accumulate in ... | |
| Identification of plant eating pest | 12/23/2009 |
| Q: At the moment I have what is called a Money Tree. I'm not sure if that's its actual name but it is a ... A: Sean, I can't be absolutely sure without a photo but I don't think what you are describing is a ... | |
| Leaf footed beetles | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: Help! My garden was plagued with leaf-footed beetles this year. The okra and squash were always ... A: Jeff, I think you mean leaf-footed bug rather than beetle. At any rate, neem oil insecticide would ... | |
| Should I just forget about this | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: WOULD YOU WORRY IF THIS HAPPENED TO YOU OR WOULD YOU FORGET ABOUT THIS MOTH I have not seen any ... A: Mothballs are made from two very toxic chemicals. Take a look at this article (I may have sent it to ... | |
| Should I just forget about this | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: WOULD YOU WORRY IF THIS HAPPENED TO YOU OR WOULD YOU FORGET ABOUT THIS MOTH I have not seen any ... A: Debbie, Thanks for the additional information. I don't think you have anything to worry about in ... | |
| I did not see any | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: WOULD YOU WORRY IF THIS HAPPENED TO YOU OR WOULD YOU FORGET ABOUT THIS MOTH I have not seen any ... A: Debbie, I would not worry about this at all. It was probably a single moth from outside and was ... | |
| Do I have to worry | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: About a month ago I was in the shower and there was one moth in the shower which I killed. I have a ... A: Does sound like a drain fly. Drain flies are very small, sort of like gnats with a "fur coat". If ... | |
| Do I have to worry | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: About a month ago I was in the shower and there was one moth in the shower which I killed. I have a ... A: I guessed you were concerned about clothes moths because you mentioned clothes and mothballs. Drain ... | |
| Do I have to worry - clothes moths | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: About a month ago I was in the shower and there was one moth in the shower which I killed. I have a ... A: Debbie, I assume you are concerned about clothes moths. I doubt that you saw a clothes moth but I'd ... | |
| Insect eggs? | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: I live in a high-floor condo in Hawaii where I usually leave the windows open. Since I moved in a ... A: These do indeed look like eggs, in fact they look like fly eggs. However, it does not make sense ... | |
| Insect eggs? | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: I live in a high-floor condo in Hawaii where I usually leave the windows open. Since I moved in a ... A: Jamie, Look closely at the "eggs", are they moving? You may need to use a magnifying glass. I think ... | |
| bug found in sofa | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: I am in Chicago, Il. I bought a used sofa from a home with a cat. When I inspected it, I found a bug ... A: Lee, This is a spider beetle and they are minor stored product pests, they'll infest things like ... | |
| back of the orange plant leaves | 11/30/2009 |
| Q: You are right the problem might cause by the wet root. I had that problem since I watered it. Now I ... A: Lena, Yes, scale insects are insects but as adults they don't move around. Once they find a ... | |
| back of the orange plant leaves | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: You are right the problem might cause by the wet root. I had that problem since I watered it. Now I ... A: Lena, Excellent picture. These are called scale insects and they are related to aphids. Like aphids ... | |
| Brown Recluse 'Problem' | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: First off; thank you for taking the time to read and consider my question(s). I hope you don’t mind ... A: Steven, The best way to reduce the number of brown recluse spiders is to use sticky traps. Because ... | |
| Bugs in potted plant | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: I'm hoping you will be able to help me. Today, I inherited a potted plant from a neighbor whose ... A: Mari, I'm not sure exactly what you found but I doubt they were pests at all. I suspect these were ... | |
| re: problem orchids | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: Jack, I attached another close picture of the sticky things at the bottom stem of the flowers and ... A: Lena, This exudate is not from aphids, at least I can't see any. Here's an article about aphids ... | |
| re: orchid | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: I bought an orchid one week ago. It bloomed ok but the top buds kept dropping one after another. I ... A: Lena, There's no evidence of aphids in either of the pictures. I'm not an orchid expert but usually ... | |
| My atrium | 11/27/2009 |
| Q: I have a homemade atrium, but I am having problems with something eating my plants. I have a 20 gal. ... A: John, It's hard so say for sure what is damaging your plants. It could be a small insect or mite ... | |
| MILLIPEDES | 11/24/2009 |
| Q: WILL A FROST KILL AND STOP THE MOVEMENT OF THE MILLIPEDES? WHAT IS THE LOWEST TEMP THAT THEY CAN ... A: Marsha, It depends on the species and the time of year. Most insects and related arthropods can ... | |
| Pepper plants and catipillars | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: I have brought my pepper plants inside again this year but on some of the leaves there are black ... A: Guy, Post a picture if you can because there are many things that fit this general description. The ... | |
| tiny holes in yard | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: I have tiny holes all over my yard. It looks like someone came an aerated my yard while I was ... A: Kim, Do the holes have small mounds of dirt next to them or are they just holes? About how big are ... | |
| Tiny brown house bugs - vancouver | 11/1/2009 |
| Q: Please tell me what this bug is! Live in Vancouver, Canada and have found many tiny brown ... A: Steven, This is a good description of a dermestid carpet beetle larva. Dermestid beetles feed on a ... | |
| Biting Insects | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: Both my wife and I, and now our kids seem to be getting these little bites along our waist lines. ... A: Alan, Whenever bites occur where clothing is constricted (waist, socks, undergarments) the first ... | |
| Millipedes | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: I have some questions regarding the millipedes i am seeing in my living room, foyer and basement ... A: Shilpa, Millipedes live in the leaf litter layer (dead plant material that accumulates on top of ... | |
| Scale on my Fig Tree | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: I don't know if you can help, but I'd appreciate any feedback. I've got an indoor garden with a ... A: Katie, As you know scale insects can be very difficult to control. Infestations develop slowly so ... | |
| oak worms | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: In mid October we had thousands of tiny green worms coming down on webs or strands out of our giant ... A: Jo, These are probably caterpillars of one of the oak looper moths. Oak loopers can do considerable ... | |
| identification of insects in residential apartment | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: Jack, I live in Lagos (Nigeria) and have a growing insect problem. I see small black insects ... A: Another possibility would be drain flies or fungus gnats. Both insects are tiny, dark flies. Fungus ... | |
| identification of insects in residential apartment | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: Jack, I live in Lagos (Nigeria) and have a growing insect problem. I see small black insects ... A: Haresh, I have to apologize, I completely missed the part of your question about how these critters ... | |
| Pine Beetles (I think) | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: Jack, I have reclaimed pine (short leaf) in my home for flooring (not the best, but that is another ... A: Wood begins to season as soon as the tree is cut. The wood fibers lose water and the starch content ... | |
| Prolific insects - boxelder bugs | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a large number of a gray insect, 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch long in my garden. they have red sides ... A: Frank, These are called boxelder bugs (sometimes maple bugs). They won't damage your garden but can ... | |
| Pine Beetles (I think) | 10/10/2009 |
| Q: Jack, I have reclaimed pine (short leaf) in my home for flooring (not the best, but that is another ... A: Mark, If you are finding fine boring dust around the exit holes it is probably a powderpost beetle ... | |
| identification of insects in residential apartment | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: Jack, I live in Lagos (Nigeria) and have a growing insect problem. I see small black insects ... A: Haresh, Your description fits many different insects but one that commonly occurs in homes is the ... | |
| Hickory Horned Devil Catapillar | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: Once the caterpillar starts to burrow in the dirt to pupate, how long does it take for him to get ... A: Angie, I'm not sure what you mean by "complete state of pupation". Pupation is more of a process ... | |
| bugs in the bed...are they.... | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: "I am seeing these all over my bedroom, Killed about 20 yesterday..Very gross. Am in NY, and the ... A: Your "thank you" is enough, thanks. These beetles are not being "attracted" to the bed but rather ... | |
| bugs in the bed...are they.... | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: "I am seeing these all over my bedroom, Killed about 20 yesterday..Very gross. Am in NY, and the ... A: Martha, These are not bed bugs. These are some kind of weevil (beetle) and my guess would be a ... | |
| Strange tiny bugs. | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: Recently I was sitting in my room when I found these very tiny brown bugs. They don't fly and when ... A: Kenny, There are lots of insects that fit this description. If you post a picture I may be able to ... | |
| inhouse bed bugs | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: I'm having bugs that look like small cockroaches. They bite you on the legs and arms. Are they ... A: Ray, These could be bed bugs but bed bugs are generally confined on or near the bed. If you are ... | |
| House Flies or Cluster Flies | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: We recently bought a new construction house. Last night we noticed about 20 house flies "piled" ... A: Rachael, These are probably cluster flies rather than house flies. Cluster flies look a lot like ... | |
| getting rid of scales | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: how do i get rid of scales? they appered on my sheffleras and monstera. A: Mohammad, Scale insects occur in two different stages - the crawler and adult. The small crawlers ... | |
| HORNWORMS? | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: I THINK I MAY HAVE DISCOVERED A FAMILY OF HORNWORMS (GUESSING) IN MY TOMATO PLANTS. WORM IS HUGE ... A: Kelly, Tomato hornworms are not dangerous unless you are a tomato plant. They can be plucked off ... | |
| broccoli pest | 9/3/2009 |
| Q: I have grown broccoli for many years, and the only pest I've ever dealth with is the cabbage looper ... A: Insecticidal soap is a good choice. A good way to use it is first wash off as much debris as ... | |
| Tiny brown bugs in bed | 9/3/2009 |
| Q: I was recently changing my sheets when i found about 3 tiny brown bugs, i'm not sure if they're bed ... A: Lailan, These were not bed bugs but rather dermestid beetles, probably carpet beetles. I'd need to ... | |
| broccoli pest | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: I have grown broccoli for many years, and the only pest I've ever dealth with is the cabbage looper ... A: Jane, I have two guesses. If they are soft-bodied and easy to squish they are probably aphids. ... | |
| Wasp/hornets | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: We have a bazillion wasps or hornets flying around the our ground-level deck and they appear to be ... A: David, The nest is obviously under the canoe and possibly inside the bag. The best way to treat ... | |
| granular residue | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: Six months ago I found a small fine grey granular pile behind my washer and dryer along the ... A: The only thing I can suggest is to clean up the piles (save some of the material) and see how long ... | |
| granular residue | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: Six months ago I found a small fine grey granular pile behind my washer and dryer along the ... A: There's only one termite that makes these kinds of debris piles (drywood termites) and it does not ... | |
| Worms | 8/29/2009 |
| Q: We are in SC and this year we are finding little worms in the house. If you step on them they ... A: Send a picture if you can but I think you are describing millipedes. Millipedes feed on organic ... | |
| Worms | 8/29/2009 |
| Q: We are in SC and this year we are finding little worms in the house. If you step on them they ... A: Robert, Are the worms you find inside the same as the ones you find outside? Are the "worms" like ... | |
| whiteflies | 8/27/2009 |
| Q: I have a MAJOR whitefly infestation on my perennials this year. I have sprayed with a soap ... A: Doreen, Insecticidal soap works well but you need to get good coverage of the underside of leaves. ... | |
| almost afraid to ask.... | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: I reside right at the border of Carefree,AZ in North Scottsdale, in an area that has quite a few ... A: Suzette, I'm not sure what these are but I don't think they are insect related unless they are ... | |
| fleas? | 8/21/2009 |
| Q: Ok around july 17th my gf brought home a kitten that a friend gave her. Two days later we realized ... A: Jen, I don't think the cat or fleas have anything to do with what you are experiencing now and the ... | |
| Biting Insects | 8/20/2009 |
| Q: I live in S. new Hampshire. The problem i have in my garden is dealing with swarms of what i think ... A: Phil, Unfortunately insect repellents are only moderately effective against biting midges and black ... | |
| Flea Infestation | 8/20/2009 |
| Q: I have been having a huge problem with fleas in my home. We have bombed the house twice in the past ... A: Are you sure these are fleas? Cat fleas (the species that infests dogs and cats) can't survive on ... | |
| Flea Infestation | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: I have been having a huge problem with fleas in my home. We have bombed the house twice in the past ... A: Susan, I'm afraid you've been given some bad advice. Flea bombs or foggers are not effective ... | |
| Biting Insects | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: I live in S. new Hampshire. The problem i have in my garden is dealing with swarms of what i think ... A: Phil, Let's first try to figure out what's biting you. Black flies occur around flowing water, ... | |
| yellow jackets | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: I wondered if you could help me with a yellow jacket problem. Apparently, I have them living ... A: Jessica, The nest could be under the shed or in an exterior wall void. Is the inside finished with ... | |
| tiny insects | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: I recently found a very small insect in my home that resembled a baby head lice, however i have ... A: Sarah, It would be very unusual to find a head louse (immature or adult) except on a head. They ... | |
| spider mites on hibiscus | 8/15/2009 |
| Q: my hibiscus appears to be dying. I noticed little spiders on the underside of leaf, leaves are ... A: Gwendolyn, I agree it sounds like spider mites are feeding on your plant. These tiny mites can ... | |
| noisy bugs in my room | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: i live in the UK and i often hear a kind of scratching/scraping noise when im in my room. I ... A: Ryan, Scratching or scraping sounds can indicate either mice or carpenter ants. A large carpenter ... | |
| wasps/hornets/scale | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: I sure hope you can help me out with an answer to the the stinging insects that are swarming my ... A: Debbie, Just to review, the wasps are swarming because of the sweet honeydew that is being secreted ... | |
| previous question | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: I asked a question before about the worms in the 3rd floor Chicago condo and you asked me to post a ... A: Michelle, I'm afraid I can't give you a very complete answer without a picture. I need to know what ... | |
| lawn spiders | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: i have a three year old who seems to be getting a lot of spider bites on her legs. I've sprayed my ... A: Rodney, Bites around the legs and ankles usually indicates fleas rather than spiders. Do you have a ... | |
| Bald Faced Wasps | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: We have bald faced wasps. I have identified them from pictures & websites. They seem beneficial so I ... A: Jo, The picture did not make it through. However, these particular wasps usually make an above ... | |
| spiders | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: There are spider webs all over many of my pots of annuals. how do i get rid of them? i sweep them ... A: Chris, Can you tell if these are spiders or spider mites? Can you see what is actually building the ... | |
| insect droppings | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: I just moved into a new house in N. Texas and have insect droppings in many of the corners of the ... A: Leanne, Are these things hollow like a tube or solid? Are they in more than one spot and what ... | |
| Bees Swarming My Pond | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: after returning from a 2 week vacation, i find bees swarming my outdoor pond. it is filtered with a ... A: Ellen, My guess is your yard has become home to a honeybee swarm and they are using your pond for ... | |
| Flying insects attacking my siding | 7/25/2009 |
| Q: I live in Central Wisconsin.I have noticed greenish colored fly on my siding. After watching I ... A: Jean, These are probably solitary bees rather than flies. There are many small bees that nest in ... | |
| Brown Recluse Spider | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: my mom and I just moved to the upper Michigan from lower Wisconsin. Last night I woke up and found ... A: Mayu, I think it is very unlikely that this is a brown recluse spider. There are lots of small, ... | |
| Bugs on Crape Myrtle Miami & Dynamite | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: Hey, Jack. I read your response to the other reader. I have two types of crape myrtle: pink Miami ... A: Cathy, The black powdery substance is mold that is growing on the aphid honeydew. Aphids excrete ... | |
| hanging petunia basket | 7/19/2009 |
| Q: petunia basket has stopped producing flowers and any flowers that remain are riddled with holes in ... A: Paul, There are many reasons why a plant stops producing flowers, some are insect related but some ... | |
| ants | 7/19/2009 |
| Q: There are many large ant nests at the base of my ivory silk lilac tree. How can I get rid of these ... A: Deb, The ants are probably not damaging the tree. Carpenter ants take advantage of existing ... | |
| ground bees | 7/16/2009 |
| Q: Seemingly overnight, I have a 4-5" hole in the grass in my front yard that is the opening to a bee's ... A: John, This is a ground nest of a social wasp. In the US we call these wasps yellowjackets. The ... | |
| Grasshoppers Eating Our Plumeria Leaves | 7/12/2009 |
| Q: What can we use to stop the long-green grasshoppers from eating the leaves of our plumeria tree? ... A: April, You might try neem oil insecticide. Neem oil is a natural product and very safe and easy to ... | |
| June Beetle | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: I would like to know ASAP what a June Beetle eats. My brother just found one in the yard, and I need ... A: ec, You must be in western Canada. The 10-lined June beetle feeds on conifer foliage and I don't ... | |
| aphids and honeydew | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a linden tree that was infested with aphids for a couple of years now. This year June bugs ... A: Danny, Injecting trees with insecticide is usually only done for certain wood boring beetles and is ... | |
| Worms?? | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: We have found a few flatworm-like creatures (4 in total). We found two one day and two a couple of ... A: Erin, This is the larva of a type of casemaking clothes moth. There are several species. If you ... | |
| June Beetle | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: I would like to know ASAP what a June Beetle eats. My brother just found one in the yard, and I need ... A: ec, June beetles will eat fruit as well as probably any kind of sugar/honey water mixture. I don't ... | |
| june bugs and aphids | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: I have a linden tree that was infested with aphids for a couple of years now. This year June bugs ... A: Danny, I also considered the honeydew but I could not think of a mechanism that would link the two. ... | |
| Biting gnats? | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: We live in central Utah. It is usually dry, but have had a very wet spring. There are these tiny ... A: Kayla, You almost got the name right - these are called biting midges or no-see-ums or punkies. ... | |
| june bugs and aphids | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a linden tree that was infested with aphids for a couple of years now. This year June bugs ... A: Danny, There's no association between June bugs (June beetles) and aphids that I know of. Both ... | |
| camel spider | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: I found a wierd looking spider in my driveway, so I tried to identify it on line, and the closest ... A: Vicki, A picture would confirm the id but it does sound like a camel spider, also called sun ... | |
| spider and webs | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: We have a pomegranate tree that is covered with spiders and webs and now all the buds fell off tree. ... A: Liz, I'm afraid I don't know much about pomegranate but this may be a normal thing for the flowers ... | |
| greenhouse gardening | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: I live in seattle, have a greenhouse--Im a beginner--and I have powdery mildew on green bean plants. ... A: Nancy, I normally don't answer questions about plant diseases (check my profile) so you may want to ... | |
| Flying Ants Falling to the Ground | 7/4/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 large cottonwood trees in my back yard, a good 50-60+ feet tall. For the past two years I ... A: There are many species of carpenter ants. The color combinations run from all red to all black with ... | |
| Flying Ants Falling to the Ground | 7/4/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 large cottonwood trees in my back yard, a good 50-60+ feet tall. For the past two years I ... A: Taking the tree down should have no effect on whether or not a nest occurs in the house. Take a look ... | |
| Flying Ants Falling to the Ground | 7/4/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 large cottonwood trees in my back yard, a good 50-60+ feet tall. For the past two years I ... A: Cory, Sounds like you have a large carpenter ant nest in the tree. Unlike most ants, carpenter ants ... | |
| spider and webs | 7/2/2009 |
| Q: We have a pomegranate tree that is covered with spiders and webs and now all the buds fell off tree. ... A: Liz, Are these spiders or spider mites? Spiders are predators and should not hurt a tree in any ... | |
| Some strange bug!! | 7/2/2009 |
| Q: I have noticed these strange looking bug in my home. They are like a very tiny creamy beige beetle ... A: Elena, These sound like grain mites, also called mold mites. These tiny mites feed on fungi (mold) ... | |
| spiders on plants | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: I live in South western Montana close to the Bridger Mountains. I have been getting these small ... A: Brenna, If these really are spiders they are not the cause of the plant problems because all ... | |
| Flies have taken over!! | 6/25/2009 |
| Q: First, I apologize for reaching out to you; I’m desperate and did not know who to turn to because I ... A: Tony, There are lots of small flies so it is hard to say what they were. There's no reason to be ... | |
| Flies have taken over!! | 6/25/2009 |
| Q: First, I apologize for reaching out to you; I’m desperate and did not know who to turn to because I ... A: Tony, No apology necessary that's why we are here. First, the small gnat-like flies are unrelated ... | |
| Foam rubber bug | 6/25/2009 |
| Q: Someone else had asked about this bug in 2007 of Mr. Yanega and he asked for a picture. I have a ... A: Dawn, These do look like some kind of woolly aphid. But woolly aphids don't move much and are not ... | |
| Spiders on my pier | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: Hey, I live on a lake in North Carolina, and at night these spiders build relatively large webs (2, ... A: Clay, You might try changing the lighting scheme. All spiders are predators and the ones that ... | |
| hornworms | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: My husband says that the hornworms on our topsey turvey tomatoe plant(even tho the one I found was ... A: Barbara, Apologies to your husband but neither insect comes from the soil. Hornworms are the larvae ... | |
| spider web in tree | 6/21/2009 |
| Q: i have a huge web on several branches that look like a womans pantyhose pulled over the branches ... A: Wolfgang, This may not be a spider web. Certain caterpillars, called tent caterpillars, spin a ... | |
| Rodent Mite (?) Nightmare | 6/20/2009 |
| Q: I'm so glad to have found this site, I hope you can provide some information. I was living in a ... A: Michael, I'm not sure what these are but I don't think they are rodent/bird nest mites. These mites ... | |
| rosebugs | 6/20/2009 |
| Q: I have grape vines that are being overrun by rosebugs. is there a safe effective way to get rid of ... A: Dave, I'm not sure what you mean by rosebugs but "bag a bug" refers to Japanese beetles which are ... | |
| worm | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: I found a tiny worm in my bed and another one crawling on my shirt. The worm is tiny, tan with a ... A: Jacob, Your description sounds like a dermestid beetle larva. Dermestid beetle larvae feed on a ... | |
| itching ... bite marks? | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: I am in Charlotte North Carolina in a heavily wooded area with ivy for ground cover which has run ... A: Daniel, Your description does not sound like a flea problem because fleas are pretty easy to see on ... | |
| Tiny Brown Bugs EVERYWHERE!! | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: I hope you can help! A couple of weeks ago my husband and I noticed very tiny(can't even take a ... A: Katie, These sound like clover mites. Clover mites feed on plants and grasses. They are harmless ... | |
| Evil ants moved in on my young oak tree | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: I planted a young oak tree about 6 months ago (it's about 5 ft. tall and an inch wide now with new ... A: Ernie, The ants won't hurt your tree. In fact, some ants actually protect trees from insects that ... | |
| potatoe bug infestation | 6/8/2009 |
| Q: We live in eastern Kentucky and have a huge number of potatoe beetles.We have sprayed and /or dusted ... A: Lee, By potato bug I'm guessing you mean Colorado potato beetle. This insect is a very serious ... | |
| Flowers covered with a web and then they die | 6/7/2009 |
| Q: What insect atacks marigolds, wild flowers and creat a web covering the plant. It chokes the plant ... A: Jenn, This sounds like spider mites. These small, plant-feeding mites spin a silken webbing that ... | |
| want caterpillars to live! | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: How do I get rid of worms that are eating all the host plants I have(dill, parsley) fo butterflies ... A: Barbara, I'm still not sure what these are. Your best bet might be to contact your county ... | |
| Swarming Yellow Jackets | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: Through no man actions, there was a crash sound in the woods adjacent to our driveway. I noticed the ... A: Carl, These sound more like honey bees than yellowjacket wasps. Honey bee swarms can be much larger ... | |
| drain flies | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: How do I get rid of drain flies? A: Jennifer, Drain flies (see this page http://www.livingwithbugs.com/drain_fly.html for some ... | |
| pests on tree | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: I have what looks like large brown wooly aphid type things, sitting in a white fluffy mould.I cant ... A: Ann, The picture is a bit fuzzy but I'm pretty sure these are cottony scale insects. They produce ... | |
| ants | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: i have an infestation of very small black ant in my kitchen near the kitchen sink and in the near ... A: Tony, There are several species of small ants that invade homes and become a nuisance. They build ... | |
| medfly problems | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: I am in Florida, and have a beautiful 3 year old Peach tree, which gave me a moderate crop last year ... A: Nick, Med fly was declared eradicated from Florida in 1998. I can't find any information about ... | |
| green worms on oak trees massachusetts | 5/23/2009 |
| Q: I have in infestation of small green worms that seem to be eating all the leaves on my oak trees. ... A: Jack, This sounds like one of the oak loopers (moth caterpillars) that can defoliate oaks and other ... | |
| Small white worms inside new raspberry shoots | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: I have a problem this year with my raspberry plants. New shoots start to wilt without any visual ... A: Svetlana, There are a number of insects that bore into raspberry canes, both flies and beetles. ... | |
| looks like a granddaddy long leg | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: we have alot of these spiders in our home in grimesland nc they are exactly like a GD long leg ... A: Jessica, I'm not sure what your question is but there are only a few venomous (poisonous) spiders ... | |
| tiger moth / catapiller | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: My daughter has found one of these black fuzzy caterpillars and has kept him in a jar. It went to ... A: Jon, It depends on the species. Some species spend the winter as larvae, some as pupae, others as ... | |
| Yellow Jackets | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: Jack My shed, propped up on bricks, has a clear- ance. A yellow jacket, hovering near the shed's ... A: Lee, There's no good way to be sure but it sounds like there's a nest either on the underside of ... | |
| SHEETROCK DAMAGE FROM A BUG | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: WHILE PAINTING I FOUND A SOFT SPOT IN THE WALL WHERE THE SHEETROCK WAS MISSING FROM BEHIND THE ... A: Dino, I don't know of any insect that specifically targets sheetrock. The only one that might ... | |
| Damaged leaves | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: Something is eating the leaves in my garden. The damage is like slug damage with long slashes in the ... A: Patty, I don't think it is armyworm because they prefer grasses. Could be some other caterpillar ... | |
| Damaged leaves | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: Something is eating the leaves in my garden. The damage is like slug damage with long slashes in the ... A: Patty, This does sound like slug damage. Is it possible that slugs are climbing into the foliage at ... | |
| Crape Myrtle | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: I am in Georgia and have a crape myrtle that is about 2 years old. We trimmed it back in Febuary. ... A: Sarah, Thanks for the picture. I'm pretty sure this is a wood boring beetle of some kind. I was ... | |
| Crape Myrtle | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: I am in Georgia and have a crape myrtle that is about 2 years old. We trimmed it back in Febuary. ... A: Sarah, I don't know what this is but I doubt it is insect related. This sounds more like a fungus ... | |
| flies in home | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: Almost a month ago, I have had a mouse die in the wall of my home. It smelled really bad and ... A: Crystal, I think there may be a couple of different things going on here. The large black flies are ... | |
| mites | 5/9/2009 |
| Q: I was told that the pest I have is a clover mite but I read that they do not bite. This pest does ... A: Lyn, I think you may be referring to a couple of different mites that look similar. Clover mites ... | |
| whats this bug | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: Sorry i dont have a picture, On a Potato plant, I noticed some Fire Ants hanging around with some ... A: Shelly, There are many insects that fit this description. The fire ants were probably there to ... | |
| Peach trees/june bugs | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: In 2008, I found June bugs feasting on my peach tree at night. This year I have a nice crop & would ... A: Virginia, Of course it depends on how fine the netting is but I think you might be better off ... | |
| carpet beetles | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: I live in Sydney Australia .I have discovered holes in various items of clothing stored in a room ... A: Christine, I don't think the books need to be treated for carpet beetles. I've never heard of ... | |
| mites or bugs | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: We have just visible white mites i think, living in our clothes.We think they came in from the ... A: Rebecca, The best thing to do is have them identified then you'll know where they came from, and ... | |
| roaches | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: IF you look at animals such as shrimp, lobsters, crayfish, crabs, scorpions, cockroaches, etc they ... A: Ana, These are learned behaviors. We react this way because as we grew up people around us behaved ... | |
| columbine pests | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: I live in mpls,mn. I have a perrenial garden approx 1000 sq feet. This has been a work in progress ... A: Tom, Older gardens tend to have more insect and disease problems than new gardens because pest ... | |
| Grubs? | 5/6/2009 |
| Q: I was told to ask my questions again. I have not received a response. thank you Hello! This is a ... A: Anita, (1) There are a number of insect larvae that live in the soil and feed on plant bulbs and ... | |
| bumblebees | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: how do bumblebees produce holes in wood? A: George, These are not bumble bees they are called carpenter bees. They look very similar but their ... | |
| "holes" kinda | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: I'm not sure exactly what I have. I just purchased this home 2 months ago...Along the front ... A: Rick, An image would help. The only insect I can think of is an antlion that makes a cone-shaped ... | |
| Spider web threads all over lawn and bushes | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: I was outside with our daughter today in the lawn and noticed the lawn almost covered with what ... A: Cindy, There are lots of different spiders that make webs like this. All are harmless and in fact ... | |
| plant pests | 4/27/2009 |
| Q: The systemic control insecticides work well but I refrain form using them on my flowering plants ... A: Chuck, The short answer is yes they can. In fact, one widely used systemic insecticide called ... | |
| Caterpillars | 4/27/2009 |
| Q: This year, for the first time ever, I am overrun with caterpillars on my patio. What do you think ... A: Jane, This sounds like eastern tent caterpillar. The larve feed on trees and shrubs usually in ... | |
| small red/brown insect | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: I am having a problem with some tiny red or brown colored insects in my house in central Ohio. I ... A: Jeneane, It is hard to be sure without a picture but based on your description I think you have ... | |
| What are the worms in the pots in my greenhouse? | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: I have had for many years maintained a home greenhouse in which I grow primarily epiphytic and ... A: Joanne, I think your are describing a small centipede. Centipedes this size are harmless (larger ... | |
| worms/carpet | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: I've been seeing a lot of these worms things in my house for the past 2 years. mostly in my bedroom ... A: Wanda, Could you post a picture of the worms? Your description does not fit anything I'm familiar ... | |
| Fuzzy Black Caterpillars | 4/19/2009 |
| Q: Please help! I have been invaded by a hundred large fuzzy black caterpillars! They are eating me ... A: Madeleine, Are you sure about this? Tent caterpillars are usually not described as fuzzy and black. ... | |
| Fuzzy Black Caterpillars | 4/18/2009 |
| Q: Please help! I have been invaded by a hundred large fuzzy black caterpillars! They are eating me ... A: Madeleine, I check around a little and found that the giant leopard moth -- Hypercompe scribonia, ... | |
| Fuzzy Black Caterpillars | 4/18/2009 |
| Q: Please help! I have been invaded by a hundred large fuzzy black caterpillars! They are eating me ... A: Madeleine, I'll need a little more information and a picture if possible of your caterpillar. Where ... | |
| ants | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: I have a strawberry pyramid and ants have moved in on one side killing any plant that attempts to ... A: Donna, Aphids and spider mites often do more damage on one side, often the sunny or hot side. Both ... | |
| ants | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: I have a strawberry pyramid and ants have moved in on one side killing any plant that attempts to ... A: Donna, I think there may be something else going on here. Ants don't normally harm plants. I think ... | |
| completely ridiculous amount of weird "worms" | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: I have been renting a house in Southern Utah for the last year. Out of the blue, last week I noticed ... A: Caryn, Could you post of picture of these worms? They sound like ordinary earthworms but I'd like ... | |
| biting bug shaped like splinter | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: Last night my daughter had bites all over her midsection after she went to bed. Today after school ... A: June, I think there are two different things going on here. The splinter-shaped object is probably ... | |
| ant attack | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: to jack i had brought somthing in from out side then found out that it had ants all in and now there ... A: Some insecticides are registered for use on plants but in this case none are needed. However,if you ... | |
| hibiscus bugs | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: Their is a bug or grasshopper that is cutting the buds off of my hibiscus right below the buds. I ... A: Louise, Two possible culprits do this sort of damage-cutworms and slugs. Cutworms are the larvae of ... | |
| ant attack | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: to jack i had brought somthing in from out side then found out that it had ants all in and now there ... A: Anthony, Everything you did was fine. I'm assuming that you took whatever it was that had the any ... | |
| Clusters of brown specks | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: What insect leaves behind a cluster of tiny brown specks? I kept finding them on my bathroom counter ... A: Jennifer, Look carefully at these brown specks with a magnifying glass if you have one handy. If ... | |
| Huge Spider | 4/9/2009 |
| Q: This morning I saw a spider, (the size of Texas I might add:), crawl across my dining room floor. It ... A: Lisa, I don't think I can be much help, except perhaps to point you in the right direction. There ... | |
| lice | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: Does lice come from trees. A: Kisha, No. Human lice (head lice, body lice and pubic lice) do not come from trees. Lice can only ... | |
| cicada killers | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: My cicada killers show up in my yard in Corpus Christi by the 1st of June and stay till Sept. 15th. ... A: Sherri, As you know, cicada killers are large wasps that make a nest in the ground. They capture ... | |
| biting midges | 3/29/2009 |
| Q: We like to go fossil and rock hunting and are moving to Southeastern Utah. We heard there are biting ... A: Loree, Biting midges can occur almost anywhere there is damp ground such as a spring. The good news ... | |
| bug Probelm | 3/29/2009 |
| Q: how to get rid off from bugs. recently I found some bugs on my bed during night time. i am afraid as ... A: Bhoira, Can you be more specific? What kind of bugs have you found? Can you post a picture? Most ... | |
Pests
Answers by Expert:
Jack DeAngelis
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer questions in any area of entomology (study of insects, spiders, mites, ticks, and other terrestrial arthropods). Contact me about home and garden insects such as aphids and spider mites, insects that bite and sting such as ticks and wasps, and insects that damage homes such as carpenter ants and termites.
Experience
20 years as university extension entomologist, now retired; currently publish a website about home and garden insects.
Organizations
see www.livingwithbugs.com/resume.html
Publications
see www.livingwithbugs.com/resume.html
Fine Gardening magazine
Education/Credentials
Ph.D. in Entomology (the study of insects)
Awards and Honors
see www.livingwithbugs.com/resume.html
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.