Thousands of pest photos submitted for identification.

Wasp Infestation

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For the past two summers, we have noticed wasps going in and out of small holes in the mortar between the bricks at the front of our house. Last year, we sprayed several wasp control products into the holes. This past winter, we tried blocking the entry point with steel wool but this week, we have noticed wasps again going into the mortar in different spots. We want to get rid of them. Will the nest die off if we block entry and exit points with steel wool now or will that cause them to come through an interior wall? Is it a good idea to get pest control in to spray into the tiny holes or will they die off naturally over the winter.? Any advice is appreciated. Milton

Wasp Infestation: I would really like to see images of these wasps before going into any detail. The only situation I would find worrisome would be if they were yellow jackets, as then there would be the possibility of them gaining entry to voids behind the brick facing and constructing a large nest there. In the meantime, you could use a hand-held dust applicator to squirt an insecticide into the holes, Click Here for some examples.

Pesticide Importation

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Hello, I’m trying to locate an definitive statement of what rodenticides and in what quantity I’m permitted to purchase in the USA and carry into Canada across the border. The products are commonly available at hardware stores such as Home Depot or online from Amazon.com. Most of the products that are available at hardware stores in Canada or Amazon.ca are useless. I would be purchasing the products from Amazon.com and having them delivered to a PO box in Blaine, WA. If you can help me with this, I would appreciate it. Thank you. Best regards, Daryl Morse. Coquitlam, BC

Pesticide Importation: You may be out of luck here –

a. Residents of Canada may purchase and import, from the United States and only for their own use, products registered with a NAFTA label. You may transport the product on your own, work together with a group of growers with a designated driver, or hire a customs broker or carrier – Click here

b. All pesticides imported into Canada must meet Canadian standards, i.e., be registered or scheduled under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA), and bear the Canadian label – Click here

c. Starting April 18, 2018, you can no longer bring unregistered pesticides into Canada if they are not equivalent to those already registered in Canada for personal use in or around your home (i.e., Domestic Class products) – Click here . An equivalent pesticide is one that has the same active ingredient in the same concentration.

d. In addition, you will no longer be allowed to purchase unregistered pesticides online and have them shipped to Canada. The purchaser of the product must bring it into Canada in person – Click here

Nymph of a hairy chinch bug

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7060.          These insects have infested our house, especially around windows area. We went on vacation the last week of July and when got back we noticed some in our house and have not been able contain. Quispamsis, NB. Canada

Number 7060. This appears to be a nymph of a hairy chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus hirtus (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Blissidae), a lawn/turf pest – Click here for details including control recommendations.

Nymph of a hairy chinch bug

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7059.           They come out by the hundreds, only on hot sunny days, along the foundation and my deck. Glen Haven, Halifax. Canada

Number 7059. This looks like a nymph of a hairy chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus hirtus (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Blissidae), a lawn/turf pest – Click here for details including control recommendations.

Hooded grasshopper

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7058.         Want to know how is it different from grasshopper. What is the special thing near the neck part. Odisha, Dhenkanal. India

Number 7058. This is a so-called ‘hooded grasshopper’ (Orthoptera: Acrididae; Teratodes sp.). They get that name from the shape of their pronotum, which is expanded into a high crest – Click here

Mouse entry

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Hello!! I’m curious, we had a dead mouse in our laundry sink in the basement. I have never seen mouse droppings in our house other than behind the stove when we first moved in, 2 years ago, which has not made a re-appearance. I always keep an eye out for droppings since I am totally petrified of mice. We purchased a UV light to check for urine, and did not see any. Mind you, this was a 7$ UV flash light from home depot. Probably not the best, but still nothing. Our laundry sink drains into our sum-pump with the drain about half a foot from the ground or where the top of the water sits. maybe a little less. we have a basement window above the laundry sink and to the side which is basically completely sealed. I say basically, because it’s an old window and it wouldn’t surprise me if there was a tiny crack hardly visible. We keep a fitted piece of wood over the window well. any idea how this mouse came in? i’m assuming it was a baby since it was TINY. any suggestions or anything else i could look for? thank you. Brantford.

Mouse entry: Mice can get in through cracks as little as ¼” (about 5 mm). Also, do you have any cats? We live in the country, and occasionally, one our cats will bring a ‘present’ into the house.

Leaf cutter bee infestation

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I have leaf cutter bees that nested in the styrofoam around my house. We covered up the nests and built a deck but the bees are persistent and want back in their nests. I was wondering what I can do to get rid of them so they start making nests in my new deck! Bracken.

Leaf cutter bee infestation: Leaf cutter bees are not known to cause serious damage to sound wood; if ready-made cavities are not available, they prefer to make tunnels in soft materials such as the pith of plant stems or rotten, punky wood. And in your case, Styrofoam. Styrofoam blocks sometimes are used in making commercial nests for leaf-cutter bees. Just be certain that it is indeed leaf-cutter and not carpenter bees that you have. If at all uncertain, submit photographs for identification. I have seen formulations containing bifenthrin (a synthetic pyrethroid) recommended as a repellent for leaf-cutting bees, but bifenthrin currently is not registered in Canada.

Robber fly

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7057.        Alabama, United States

Number 7057. This is a robber fly (Diptera: Asilidae); Click here for an example. These are ambush predators on other small arthropods, mainly other insects..

Nymph of a masked hunter

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7056.         I found this guy walking slowly on the wall at night. Haven’t seen anything like this. From what I can gather online, it resembles a bit like a masked hunter. I’m wondering if his mottled appearance is due to cat litter. The picture is magnified as the bug is trapped under a shotglass and I zoomed in 4x with my phone. His real size is around nearly a cm I found him August 15th, 2020. Cheers. Toronto, Ontario. Canada

Number 7056. This is indeed is a nymph of a masked hunter (Reduvius personatus; Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Reduviidae), a cosmopolitan species often found indoors and reputed to have a very painful ‘bite’- Click here for more detailed information.

Yellow bear caterpillar

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7055.         We have never seen this caterpillar around before and I have a garden so I’m outside all summer, weather permitting. It was first discovered on a sunny warm day on August 6th, 2020. I first saw one on my ornamental fig tree. I didn’t want to kill it so I put it in the grass. I saw what seemed to be a bigger one on the 9th in the vegetable garden near my finished cauliflower plants. I have no idea where it went from there. I showed the picture to my local nursery and they didn’t know what it was. I don’t want to hurt it but I also don’t want predators in my gardens. Surrey, BC. Canada

Number 7055. This appears to be a yellow bear caterpillar (Spilosoma virginica; Lepidoptera: Erebidae). This species is highly variable in appearance; Click here for some images.

Yellow bear caterpillar

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7054.         Rusty coloured caterpillar. Have also found more yellower ones with small patches of the rusty colour. This is a first with eggs. Ottawa, Ontario. Canada

Number 7054. This looks like a yellow bear caterpillar (Spilosoma virginica; Lepidoptera: Erebidae); the adult is known as the virgin tiger moth. The white objects are not eggs, but the cocoons of a parasitic wasp in the family Braconidae. When the larvae have finished feeding on the innards of the caterpillar, they chew through the caterpillar’s skin, spin a cocoon and undergo pupation.

Scuttle fly

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7053.         These keep crawling out from behind the overhead fan above my stove. At first I thought they were flies but then I realized it doesn’t look to have wings. Then I thought it might be a roach but it doesn’t seem to have antenna. It’s summer time and very hot in the apartment. It kind of looks like a scuttle fly but why doesn’t it have wings? Thanks for your help! Vancouver, BC. Canadaa

Number 7053. This does look like a scuttle fly (Diptera Phoridae); Click here for an image. In addition to some species having wings so transparent as to be nearly invisible, some other phorids are completely wingless.

Broad-nosed/short-snouted weevil

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7052.         Found inside our home during the spring summer months have never noticed them before until this year thanks for your assistance. Kamloops, British Columbia. Canada

Number 7052. This is a broad-nosed/short-snouted weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; subfamily Entiminae). These weevils often enter buildings in search of shelter, but do no harm there. Click here for an image

Nymph of a bed bug

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7051.         Enid, OK. United States

Number 7051. This appears to be a nymph of a bed bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Cimicidae). Click here for a very detailed fact sheet that includes some control recommendations.

Nymph of a stink bug

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7050.          Found indoors on belt from closet. Body is approx 6mm long and 5mm wide (not including antennae). Aug 2020. Calgary, AB. Canada

Number 7050. This is a nymph of a stink bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), but I cannot provide a specific identification. It may be a predatory species. Click here for an image & Click here for more information.

Scarab beetle

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7049.        Landed on my boyfriend’s back while he was watering the plants on our balcony. He came inside and I saw it. North York, ON. Canada

Number 7049. This is a scarab beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). From the appearance of its flattened elytra, it may be in the genus Osmoderma. Those are not pests; their larvae live in decomposing punky wood. Click here for more detailed information.

Elm seed bug

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7048.        Finding these all over our house and seem to be living in our front door frame. They are quite small but large in number! Any idea what these are and how to get rid of them? Kelowna, BC. Canada

Number 7048. This is an elm seed bug, Arocatus melanocephalus (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Lygaeidae), an introduced species that has become a nuisance pest in many areas. Click here for more detailed information.

Long-horned wood-boring beetle

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7047.         It was about 2-3 inches long. Kamloops, British Columbia. Canada

Number 7047. This is a long-horned wood-boring beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in the subfamily Prioninae; possibly Prionus californicus, one of the largest beetles in Canada. Commonly known as the California root borer, its larvae can cause serious damage to tree and vine roots. Click here for more detailed information.

Larva of a larder beetle

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7046.       Found in bathroom twice one July and one in August. Leduc, Alberta. Canada

Number 7046. This is a larva of a larder beetle, Dermestes lardarius (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) or a close relative. Click here for some control recommendations.

Nymph of an assassin bug

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7045.      I found this little guy while dusting. Thought it was lint until I saw it moving. I have no idea what it is, pure white. Smiths Falls, ON. Canada

Number 7045. This is a nymph of an assassin bug known as a masked hunter (Reduvius personatus; Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Reduviidae), a cosmopolitan species often found indoors and reputed to have a very painful ‘bite’- Click here for more detailed information.

Hairy chinch bug

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7044.        Hello, I have noticed my backyard infested with tiny black bugs, I can see them on grass, walls, patio furniture etc. Can you please let me know what is this and if any product to treat them. Milton, Ontario. Canada.

 

Number 7044. This appears to be a hairy chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus hirtus (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Blissidae), a lawn/turf pest – Click here for details including control recommendations.

Stilt-legged fly

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7043.        I have found these recently in my kitchen. We have a new exotic plant but other than that we cannot figure out where they are coming from. Killed 6 yesterday and usually see one or two per day for the last week to 10 days.
Thank you. St. Albert, AB. Canada

Number 7043. This appears to be a stilt-legged fly Diptera: Micropezidae); possibly Taeniaptera trivittata. These are harmless scavengers; Click here for more detailed information.

Flat-backed millipede

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7042.        This crawler is skinny and about an inch long, and comes out in late July. They are near the pool and in the basement for about a month then disappear. Thanks for any light you can shed. Fenwick, Ontario. Canada

Number 7042. This is a flat-backed millipede, possibly a garden millipede, Oxidus gracilis (Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae). These primarily are scavengers on decomposing organic matter, but may become nuisance pests when they occur in large numbers. Click here for more detailed information..

Caddisfly

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7041.         Have been chasing these around for days. Cannot figure out where they are coming from and how to get rid of them. Thought they came from outside, but the house has been mosquito net proofed for days now. Raid Home did not really help. Montreal, Quebec. Canada

Number 7041. You must live near a body of water (stream/pond/lake) as this appears to be a caddisfly (order Trichoptera) that has lost most of its wing scales – Click here for an example of an intact specimen. Their larvae are aquatic, and most species construct tubular cases that they live in. These are completely harmless, and will do no damage.

Predaceous diving beetle

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7040.        Found at night, inside my house, in the bathroom. August 2020. 23 degrees Celsius outside. Oshawa, Ontario. Canada

Number 7040. This is a predaceous diving beetle (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae). They and their larvae (“water tigers”) are general predators on other small aquatic life forms. They also are very strong fliers, and may be found quite some distance from any water source.

Nymph of a hairy chinch bug

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7039.         There are hundreds of these small bug crawling all over the back of my house. Some have the white stripe some do not. I have no idea how to get rid of them or where they are coming from. Elmira, Ontario. Canada

Number 7039. This looks like a nymph of a hairy chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus hirtus (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Blissidae), a lawn/turf pest – Click here for details including control recommendations.

Larva of a larder beetle

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7038.       Been finding these on top of my dryer periodically. July, August. Usually 3 or 4 at a time. Will curl like a crescent moon if touched. About 1/4” in length. Didn’t realize they had furry multiple legs until I macro zoomed the photo. Ardmore, AB. Canada

Number 7038. This is a larva of a larder beetle, Dermestes lardarius (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) or a close relative. They only have six small legs near the head end (left, in your image); the ‘furry’ legs are just long setae (body hairs).  Click here for some control recommendations.

Bristletail

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7037.      I found it dead in my house, I am wondering what it is? Montréal, QC. Canada

Number 7037. This is a bristletail (order Zygentoma) in the family Lepismatidae that has lost its scales and some of its appendages. It might be either a firebrat (Thermobia domestica) or a silverfish (Lepisma saccharinum); both are cosmopolitan nuisance pests – Click here for more detailed information.

Broad-nosed/short-snouted weevil

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7036.        We find them outside and inside. We live in Newmarket, Ont. Canada

Number 7036. This is a broad-nosed/short-snouted weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; subfamily Entiminae). It might be a black vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus; Click here for an image.

Nymph of a hairy chinch bug

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7035.      Just out of the blue we found thousands of these bugs all over or front walkway, porch, planting areas and around the perimeter of our property. It’s been very hot with little rain until recently. I killed them the first time with a bug killer but found them again in full force tonight. I killed them with water and dish soap this time but I’m sure they’ll be back. Thanks so much for your help. Bolton, ON. Canada

Number 7035. This looks like a nymph of a hairy chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus hirtus (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Blissidae), a lawn/turf pest – Click here for details.

Cicada

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7034.        Found this thing in my kitchen. Very frightening. Kitchener, Ontario. Canada

Number 7034. This is nothing to worry about; it is the empty ‘shell’ (exoskeleton) of a cicada (Hemiptera/Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadidae), likely in the genus Neotibicen (annual/dog-day cicadas). Click here for a video of the molting process.

Assassin bug

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7033.         Outside my room on balcony was trying to fly too. Kandal, Phnom Penh. Cambodia

Number 7033. This appears to be an assassin bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Reduviidae). These are general predators on other terrestrial arthropods; Click here for another example.

Star-nosed mole

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7032.        Notth Bay, Ontario. Canada

Number 7032. This is a star-nosed mole, Condylura cristata, a most unusual creature with an incredibly sensitive olfactory system. Click here for more detailed information.