Archive for category: Pest Identification

6109  Measuring 3 cm in length, we found this bug (a beetle?) in our finished basement, in Toronto, ON, in August. It has been a rain-filled summer and the basement has definitely felt damp. Can someone help me identify what it is?  Thanks,  Laura

Like no. 6105, this is a scarab beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in the genus Osmoderma; see https://tinyurl.com/ycmskym6 for an example. It is strictly an accidental ‘visitor.’  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6107   Hi.  My name is Rob.  I live 40 km West of Toronto. Suddenly we have hundreds of these guys mainly on our door frames and window screens. They just started to crawl on interior walls and ceilings. They really tiny- like 3 millimeters in size.  It’s beginning of August and first I spotted them 3 weeks ago. My 50 acres place is located in wooded area with a lot of shrubs and garden plants.  Thanks. 

This is another short-snouted/broad-nosed weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; subfamily Entiminae) that I cannot identify to species. See no. 6104 for another example. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6105    Hi,  Found this big guy in the garage today. He has some spider webs on him, but I wasn’t about to take them off…he only PLAYS dead! Beside a loonie for sizing.  Thanks!   Sharon.   Winnipeg Manitoba

This is a This is a scarab beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in the genus Osmoderma; see https://tinyurl.com/ycmskym6 for an example. These are not pests; their larvae develop in rotting wood; often in hollow trees.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6103  Hi. i found tons of these on my garden flowersbtoday on lac largille val des bois quebec. Not sure if its a green wasp. we have a wasp nest under the eavestrough. its new this spring. we have tons of bees as well. please help me id it.    thanks Sonja 

This is a solitary ground-nesting bee, but I cannot see the details needed to confidently say to which family it belongs. It most likely is a halictid (‘sweat bee’), but some megachilids (leaf-cutter bees) can be similar in appearance. In either case, it is a valuable pollinator that should be allowed to carry out its duties.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6101   Hi. My name is Teresa. I have an infestation of these bugs on one type of bush at my camp site in Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park. (first noticed in mid to late June but still active as they move to new bushes) Do you know what they are?

This is a leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae); it looks like Blepharida rhois, known as the sumac flea beetle. See https://tinyurl.com/y7w539sb for some images. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6099   I found it in Moncton, NB (August)   There have been several of them flying around and landing on the deck. Mike. 

This is a long-horned wood-boring beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in the genus Monochamus, it looks like a northeastern pine sawyer, M. notatus – see https://tinyurl.com/y9huk6a3 for an image. This does not appear to be a serious pest, as its larvae bore in trees that already are dead or dying.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6097   Hello ,   Found this insect in the 5th floor apartment, Noticing since 2 months (may), Toronto.   This comes in night outside specially in bathroom , earlier was in kitchen dustbin cabinet too but now after lot of cleaning reduced in kitchen,  found today in bedroom under the bed hiding when we were moving the bed , always prefers dark they are getting too many now.  Please suggest have small kids in home , are they dangerous any remedy to get rid off.  One more thing, they live in small sliding gaps between wooden floor and adjoining wall junction.  Thanks ,  Gaurav

This is a nymph of a German cockroach, Blattella germanica (Blattodea: Ectobiidae), a cosmopolitan pest species that can be difficult to bring under complete control. See https://tinyurl.com/h3nd9z8 elsewhere on this site for some control recommendations.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6095  We just suddenly have thousands of these invading our back yard. We are in Penticton BC Canada in the south Okanagan Valley.

This is a nymph of a bug in the superfamily Lygaeoidea, possibly either a dirt-colored seed bug (family Rhyparochromidae) or a false chinch bug (family Lygaeidae). In either case, these are nuisance pests that do little actual harm. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6093  Hi.  Photo taken yesterday near Franklin Qc.    Arnold 

This is a caterpillar of a sphinx moth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae; it appears to be that of a bedstraw hawk moth, Hyles gallii -see https://tinyurl.com/y9r6smr8 for images and more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6091  I just found this insect on my clematis vine. It is 10:30pm, still very hot here in Kamloops.  The body is close to 4 cm.  I would appreciate identification. Thank you.  Lynne

This is a long-horned wood-boring beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), possibly Ergates spiculatus, known as the timberworm -see https://tinyurl.com/ybxpjl8b for images and more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6089    Hello.  We have been noticing more and more of these popping up in our home. I live in barrie ontario and these photos were taken in July 2017.    They are indoors in the kitchen. I find one or two everyday. Today was the last draw as I found one in my lunch bag. It’s pretty hot out lately. I see them during the day and at night.   Thanks for your help.  Andrew

This is a larva of a beetle in the family Dermestidae (carpet/skin/hide/larder beetles and allies). I cannot tell for certain whether it has two sharp curved ‘spines’ (urogomphi) at the end of its abdomen; if it does, it is in the genus Dermestes (larder beetles), if it does not, it likely would be in the genus Attagenus (black carpet beetle and relatives). Either of these can infest a wide variety of organic materials, including dry stored food products, so you should carefully check all your food storage areas for signs of infestation. See https://tinyurl.com/zl9w25c elsewhere on this site for some control recommendations.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6087  Hello, could you help me in identifying this bug found indoors in Montreal, Canada.  kindly yours, Danny

This is a darkling beetle (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), likely in the genus Tenebrio – see https://tinyurl.com/pf53k4 for an example. Their larvae are known as mealworms, and they occasionally can become pests of grains that have been improperly stored – see https://tinyurl.com/y8craz7d for details.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV. 

6081   Hello, My name is Danielle, I was in Penetanguishene, Ontario visiting some family when we came across this spider. It was sitting on the screen of the kitchen window with its legs all tucked together and facing out in front of its body. It was rather large, its body being roughly the size of a quarter and quite bulbous. After looking at a few references online, I believe it may possibly be a “cat face” orb weaver. Thanks for your help.  – Danielle 

This appears to be Araneus bicentenarius, known as the giant lichen orb weaver; see https://tinyurl.com/y8zhpmjz for images and more information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6084  Mike  here in Winters, California. These photos were taken on a Salvia Clevlandii leaf, date and time as noted on photos.  They were taken with an Aven eScope, so I don’t know the magnification, but these were not visible to the naked eye. Any help greatly appreciated as this has turned into an infestation of over a dozen previously healthy plants.  Thank you.  

These appear to be scale insects of some kind; try applications of an insecticidal soap for control. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6082  Hi, We found this crawling in our rooftop deck, middle of the day, mid-summer and have never seen one before. It’s about 1.5cm. We have a lot of container plants and something has been chomping on a few, but we can’t find the culprit. Could this be it? Is it a beetle / weevil? Anything to be worried about? Thanks! Carole A., Vancouver, BC.

This is not a beetle, but a stink bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), likely in the genus Chlorochroa  – see https://tinyurl.com/y8ugbelr for an example. It would not be responsible for any ‘chomping’ damage, as it has piercing-sucking rather than chewing mouthparts. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.

6079 What kind of pest is this.   Stripping tree about 40 of them on a yearling birch.

This is a Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), a very obnoxious pest in many parts of North America. Their larvae are turf pests, feeding on the roots of grasses, and the adult beetles feed voraciously on foliage and soft fruits. See https://tinyurl.com/hzjj3my for more detailed information.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.