Archive for category: Send your photo for identification

6954.         We found this outside in our backyard on one of our kayaks and can’t figure out what it is. We have not went out in our kayaks at all lately so we couldn’t have picked it up somehow while out on the water so we have no clue how it got here and what it is. London, Ontario. Canada

Number 6954. This 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.

6952.      I have been seeing many insects like this since over 2 weeks in my home. This morning I seem to have rolled over one in my bed and it bite me under my tigh and the bite woke me up. I saw it escape quickly in my bed sheets before I killed it. It is about 10 mm long and between the antennas it has small claws like contraptions on the top of its head if you look carefully… What is this insect?? Alma, Quebec. Canada

Number 6952. This is a ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae). These are general predators on other small arthropods, mainly other insects. If this is what bit you, it was strictly reflexive on its part, and the bite is harmless. Click here for more detailed information.

6950.      I found one of these ants on my back walkway. Can you identify it? I found scraping on the pressure treated wood in the stairwell under my back deck. Can you tell me if that is related to the ant? There is a pile of wood scrapings underneath the damage. Thank you. Toronto, ON. Canada

Number 6950. This looks like a carpenter ant (Camponotus sp.), and the scraping in your second image does look like carpenter ant damage. Did the ‘shavings’ look like this Click here? Click here for more information including control recommendations.

6948.          Found it pretty much dead on my lawn in the town of Manila. Canada

Number 6948. This is a sphinx moth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) in the genus Manduca, likely M. quinquemaculata, whose caterpillar is known as the tomato hornworm. Either its wings never expanded after it emerged from its pupa, or something has torn them off. Click here for an image.

6946.             These insects were found late at night 11pm/12am. They were all around the window trying to get into the house. About 20 of them did find their way in the house crawling on the ground and flying around the lights. About 5-10mm long with 4 legs and possibly 2 more small ones under the front portion of the body. The day had been warm (July 6the about 20 degrees all day). A light rain in the evening for about an hour. Please let me know if you need anything else from me. Thank you. St.Albert, Alberta. Canada

Number 6946. This appears to be an aquatic insect known as a water boatman (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Corixidae). They are good fliers, and often are attracted to lights at night. They are completely harmless. Click here for more detailed information.

6944.             Please can you tell me what this is. I’m worried to walk barefoot in the grass. Thank you. Richmond, BC. Canada

Number 6944. This is a jumping spider (family Salticidae) in the genus Phidippus, likely Phidippus johnsoni; Click here for an image. They are harmless to humans.

6942.         Sumbitch got hit five times with a flyswatter before I killed it. Waynesboro, Tennessee. United States

Number 6942. This is a male velvet ant (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), likely in the genus Timulla. These are parasitic primarily on ground-nesting bees and wasps, and the wingless females (sometimes called ‘cow-killers’) have a wickedly painful sting. Males lack a sting, and are harmless.

6940.      Hello, Please let me know what this is. Toronto Canada, photo taken June 20 – 25. Thank you very much. Maria. Toronto, Ontario. Canada

Number 6940. This appears to be 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.

6938.      Found a few in canola field. Seem to eat the stems just under the flowers. Crazy j, Sk. Canada

Number 6938. This is a blister beetle (Coleoptera: Meloidae) in the genus Lytta; they look like Nuttall’s blister beetle, Lytta nuttalli  Click here for an image.

6936.         Found indoors, is about 3-5mm long. Never seen before. Any ideas? Holland Landing, Ontario. Canada

Number 6936. This is a larva of a carpet beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) in the genus Anthrenus (varied carpet beetle and allies). Click here for detailed information.

6934.      Found this bug on the bed sheet cover early one morning. Waipahu, HI. United States

Number 6934. This is a lady beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae); ones like this are general predators on small, soft-bodied arthropods such as aphids and scale insects. Click here for an image

6932.      Toronto, Ontario. Canada

Number 6932. This is a comb-footed/cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, possibly a triangulate cobweb spider, Steatoda triangulosa. They are harmless to humans, and may eat more dangerous spiders, Click here for more detailed information.

6930.      Do you know what this is? The closet I could find online was an Emerald Ash Boarer except it doesn’t have a green shell just translucent brown wings. Sunderland, Ontario. Canada

Number 6930. This is a cuckoo wasp (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae). These are parasitic on (primarily ground-dwelling) solitary bee and wasp species; Click here for additional information.

6928.       In Calgary, AB, It seems every year in June when the weather is warm and rainy, I keep finding this little black beetle crawling up walls or coming out from under baseboards in my bathroom, basement and kitchen/near the back door. The ones in the basement are like this little guy in the picture but I also find bigger light brown ones.
The black ones are slightly smaller than a ladybug. What is it, why do they keep coming back year after year and how do I eliminate them??? Calgary, AB. Canada

Number 6928. 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. You really cannot eliminate them short of hermetically sealing your house. Click here for an example.

6926.        There a been a number of these small less than 5 mm flying bugs around our 4th floor apartment that last few evenings. We find them on the couch or flying around the living room. Waterloo, Ontario. Canada

Number 6926. This is a rove beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), they are general predators on other small arthropods. Some species can secrete a noxious fluid that can cause eye/skin irritation. Click here for some examples.

6924.        Lanark, Ontario. Canada

Number 6924. Great find! This is a wasp-mimicking mantisfly, Climaciella brunnea (Neuroptera: Mantispidae); Click here for images and more information.