Pest Identification Photos

6498.  Hello – please let me know what this insect is. I’ve never seen one before. Thanks! Cassandra. Mississauga On.
Canada

Number 6498.  This is a common true katydid, Pterophylla camellifolia (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae); Click here for detailed information.

6496.  These photos were taken at Buck Lake Alberta. Edmonton, AB. Canada

Number 6496.  This appears to be Chalcosyrphus curvaria, a hover/flower fly (Diptera: Syrphidae); Click here for an image. Their larvae reportedly feed in rotting wood; perhaps on the fungi therein.

6494.  The insects were beside our washing machine on the floor. There were hundreds of them crawling out of the bathroom where the washer is located. They appeared to have come out at the base of the wall. We used RAID on them. This happened on Friday, July 19, 2019. The odd one is still showing up inside the house. Victoria, BC. Canada

Number 6494.  These are male flying ants. Given their location, they might be carpenter ants (Camponotus sp.). If so, you should also be seeing some females, which would be similar in appearance, but much bigger. Click here for an image of a male and female side-by-side.

6492.  Small black bugs have been found on our entrance carpet near front door, in the bathroom near our patio, on the wall in our living room, and on the carpet in the hallway upstairs. The weather is very warm today and we haven’t seen these bugs before, although have lived here for 1.5 years. Any idea what these are? Surrey, BC. Canada

Number 6492.  This is a broad-nosed/short-snouted weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; subfamily Entiminae). These often come indoors in search of shelter, but do no harm there.

6490.  Picture of tiny insects found in basement windowsill (taken in Toronto, Ontario Canada) mid- July. Toronto Ontario. Canada

Number 6490.  This appears to be a springtail, a primitive arthropod in the order Collembola, closely related to true insects. Ones like your specimen basically are harmless scavengers on bits of organic matter, but sometimes can be nuisance pests when they occur in numbers indoors. Moisture/humidity management is the best control.

6488.  Calgary, AB. Canada

Number 6488.  This is a giant ichneumon wasp (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae; Megarhyssa sp.), likely the western giant ichneumon wasp, Megarhyssa nortoni. Click here for more detailed information.

6486.  Gardening on July 19 found at least fifty of these in the overgrown, grassy section of the garden. They were most prolific between a rose bush and a hosta. There is some damage to the hosta, none on the rose bush. I cannot find this identical insect anywhere. It is fairly small, about the size of a ladybug. Omemee, Ontario. Canada

Number 6486.  This is a nymph of an ambush bug, Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Reduviidae; subfamily Phymatinae. These are ambush predators on other small arthropods, mainly other insects. They usually are found on vegetation where they tend to blend in and often escape casual notice, Click here for more detailed information.

6484.  I just found this dead on our step its huge for a grasshopper had a lobster like body. Summerside, PE. Canada

Number 6484.  This is a camel/cave cricket (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae); they most often are found in dark, moist, undisturbed places such as caves, basements, under logs or rocks, etc. They appear to be mainly scavengers.

6482.  This is the second one I find in my house. What are they and how do I get rid of them? Thank you!!!!! London, On. Canada

Number 6482.  This is an assassin bug known as a masked hunter (Reduvius personatus; Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Reduviidae). This is a cosmopolitan species often found indoors and reputed to have a very painful ‘bite’- Click here for more detailed information. The only way to completely get rid of them would be to find and get rid of the other insects that they are feeding on. 

6480.  Winnipeg, Manitoba. Canada

Number 6480.  This is an assassin bug known as a masked hunter (Reduvius personatus; Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Reduviidae). This is a cosmopolitan species often found indoors and reputed to have a very painful ‘bite’- Click here for more detailed information.

6478.  A group of these bugs gathered together next to each other and have spent two days together on the siding of my house. I thought the pattern of their markings was beautiful but I do not remember ever seeing these bugs before. Winnipeg, Manitoba. Canada

Number 6478.  This is a nymph of a stink bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in the genus Apoecilus, Click here for an image. These are predatory, feeding mainly on caterpillars.

6476.  Hello, I would like to know how can I get rid of these small black bugs that are flying around my living area in the basement. I am finding them in the bathtub, bathroom, bedroom and my office. they are very annoying and they seem to be attracted to light as they do go near a lamp or my phone in the dark. I don’t know if these are drain flies. I haven’t seen them come up from the drain. I have put Apple Cider Vinegar with Palmolive dish soap in 2 little bowls and I have caught approx. 10 in each bowl. But they are a lot more as I have killed 100 of these little annoying buggers. I have submitted a picture of them on here but no reply yet as what they are and how I can get rid of them for once and for all. Please help. thank you. London, ON.

Number 6476.  These most likely are dark-winged fungus gnats (Diptera: Sciaridae). Their larvae usually are found in very wet/saturated soil having a high organic material content, such as in over-watered potted plants. If you have potted plants in our around your premises, allow the soil to dry out as much as practical between waterings. If you have no such plants and they are coming in from outside, you’re options are rather limited.  Click here for some suggestions.

6474.  I found what looks like an assassin bug on my apartment floor because of its classic tubular mouth piece and mantis like front legs. I am wondering if this bug carries the deadly Chagas disease or is it just an assassin bug with a painful bite.I never expected these bugs to be so far north from their usual habitat. Montreal, Quebec. Canada

Number 6474.  This is an assassin bug known as a masked hunter (Reduvius personatus; Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Reduviidae). This is a cosmopolitan species often found indoors. They are not disease vectors, but are reported to have a very painful bite.- Click here for more detailed information.

6471. 28. Montreal, Quebec. Canada

Number 6471.  This is a spider beetle (Coleoptera: Anobiidae; subfamily Ptininae) in the genus Mezium. These beetles can infest dry stored food products, so you check all areas where dry food products are stored for signs of infestation. Click here for more detailed information.

6469. How do I get this out of my flower garden. Valley, Nova Scotia. Canada

Number 6469.  This is a lily leaf beetle, Lilioceris lilii (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), an introduced species that has become quite a pest. I collected the first specimens reported from West Virginia last year. Click here for detailed information including control recommendations.

6467. This insect attached to my leg with a certainly noticeable, but not overly painful, bite – and at first appearances seemed to be a small worm. It is very small and measures about 5mm in length. Photo was taken by Lexi Johnson on a paper towel. South Surrey, British Columbia. Canada

Number 6467.  This is a larva of a lacewing (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). These are general predators on other small, soft-bodied arthropods such as aphids and caterpillars. Occasionally, they will ‘sample’ human skin, but their bite is harmless. Excellent photograph, by the way.

6465. What kind of bug is this? This is my second time seeing them in my bathroom. Dingwall, Toronto ON. Canada

Number 6465.  This is an assassin bug known as a masked hunter (Reduvius personatus; Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Reduviidae). This is a cosmopolitan species often found indoors and reputed to have a very painful ‘bite’- Click here for more detailed information.

6463. Have found about 4 of these at different times the last few days inside the house. 2-3cm? One on shower curtain, two others around windows at night. This one flew short distance. We recently had some construction done in a basement bathroom. July 2019. Toronto, ON. Canada

Number 6463.  This is an assassin bug known as a masked hunter (Reduvius personatus; Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Reduviidae). This is a cosmopolitan species often found indoors and reputed to have a very painful ‘bite’- Click here for more detailed information. The fact that you’ve found several indicates that there must be a fair population of other insects in your house for them to feed on.

6461. These ‘beetles’ are twice the size of a ladybug, but the same shape. I took these photos today (July 12th, 2019) in the yard near the lake. They are/have devoured whatever plant that is that is like a vine, gets purple flowers on it and then they turn into red ‘berries’ that the birds like! Please advise what they are and how can I get rid of them/keep them off my expensive shrubs and plants!!! thanks. Vernon, B.C. Canada.

Number 6461.  These are Colorado potato beetles. Leptinotarsa decimlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). They feed only on plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), including potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, etc.

6457. Found 2 in my sons bed. I checked his head and it doesn’t appear to be lice. Please help. Red Deer, Canada

Number 6457.  This is a tiny, harmless beetle of some kind; possibly a minute scavenger beetle (Coleoptera: Latridiidae), Click here for an example.

6455. Is this a carpet beetle larvae? Scarborough, Ontario. Canada

Number 6455.  It does look like a larva of a carpet beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) in the genus Anthrenus.

6453. Dwight Ave. Oshawa, Ontario. Canada

Number 6453.  This looks suspiciously like a bed bug;  Click here for detailed information.

6451. I have never had these insects in the house before, but this is the third one that I’ve killed this week. It is a flying insect that I’ve seen in the evening or early nighttime, flies slowly, relatively easy to kill. Any thoughts? Glenelg St W. Lindsay, Ontario. Canada

Number 6451. This is an assassin bug known as a masked hunter (Reduvius personatus; Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Reduviidae). This is a cosmopolitan species often found indoors and reputed to have a very painful ‘bite’- Click here for more detailed information.

6449. Found this bug in the house near my exterior door. Chelford rd. Toronto, Ontario. Canada

Number 6449. This is an assassin bug known as a masked hunter (Reduvius personatus; Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Reduviidae). This is a cosmopolitan species often found indoors and reputed to have a very painful ‘bite’- Click here for more detailed information.