Bug Identifier

You're on the beach. It's a beautiful day. Suddenly, you realize that you've been scratching your ankles a lot, and you look down to see some tiny black dots on your skin. Are they sand fleas? What are sand fleas? ...

Did you find a brown recluse or a wolf spider? While similar, they have key differences. This brown recluse vs wolf spider comparison is a good way to find out what you need to do next. We compare what you ...

Despite the similarities of their names, chiggers and jiggers are very different. They don't even belong to the same class of animals in the animal kingdom! Before you get them confused, let's learn more about chiggers vs jiggers. One is ...

Banana Spider Guide Known for their striking yellow color, banana spiders are found throughout the jungles of Central and South America as well as some regions of Asia, Australia, and the US. While most of them are harmless, there are ...

The brown recluse spider is commonly found in the southern United States. It goes by a few nicknames and has a potentially fatal bite to humans. Learn more about these spiders and their venom, along with what happens when they ...

No one likes tiny black bugs in their home, but before you grab a broom or a bottle of bug spray, it pays to know what you're fighting. Different species have different eradication methods. Let's talk about small, black pests ...

Most people know that spiders have 8 legs. And if an animal has six legs, it's an insect, not an arachnid. But do other animals also have eight legs? Do all spiders have 8 legs? It is a myth that ...

If you thought bugs and insects were the same things, you’re not alone. A lot of people use the two words interchangeably, but they don’t have the same meaning. You may even hear a scientist using the word bug as ...

Ants can be a real headache for homeowners, especially when they're sugar ants. To get rid of sugar ants, you'll need to know what they are, how they scavenge, and which extermination methods are most effective against their species. Here's ...

You may be surprised to learn that most bugs and other arthropods living in your yard do not feed on nor harm plants. Most insects pass by on a pilgrimage or simply have innocuous behaviors. Other insects will even eat ...

Syrphid flies are beneficial garden insects. Their larvae eat both insects and fungi, depending on the species. And adult hover flies are proficient pollinators around the earth. You will commonly see this tiny fly collecting nectar on flowers in your ...

The tachinid fly is one of many beneficial insect predators in your garden. But they are also harmful to monarchs. But if you are raising monarch caterpillars, the tachinid fly is an enemy. Tachinid flies lay their eggs on monarch ...

Ladybugs are beetle members of the Coccinellidae family. There are thousands of species, and it's easy to confuse the native ladybug with other beetle species. Like the Asian lady beetles and the Japanese beetle. Here's how to tell them apart: ...

What are those bugs in your milkweed garden? Are milkweed bugs 'good' or 'bad' bugs? Why are they only on milkweed? If you found long red and black bugs, then you probably found one of two types of milkweed bugs ...

How long does the metamorphosis from monarch egg to adult butterfly take? In this guide, you'll learn about the four stages and the five instars of the monarch life cycle. The images and descriptions will help determining the instar of ...

Ladybug larva has often been confused as a harmful pest, especially when spotted on a milkweed plant. Sometimes the furry ladybug caterpillar gets squished, thinking that it is dangerous to garden plants. Monarch eggs are distinctive from ladybug eggs. Monarch ...

Wasps are incredible architects that rid our yard of harmful pests and help pollinate our plants. But it is concerning to find a wasp nest. Here are 6 types of wasp nests and which species make them. Photos to help ...

When you see a bug flying around near you, you might worry about it stinging you. Wasps, bees, and hornets are similar, it's often hard to figure out which ones are around your home. An easy way to tell the ...

Cicada killers or ground hornets are wasps that make their homes in the ground. These wasps have the scientific name Sphecius speciosus. Their primary benefit is that they maintain control over the cicada population. Because of this, they live near ...

When you see a spider nest around your home, you might freak out and start looking for exterminators. Most of these spiders are not dangerous and have some benefits. When you know what type of spiders you have on your ...

Your home is your castle, your domain--the place where you can keep everything just as you want it. That’s precisely why it’s so frustrating to get any pest--especially when they’re the little monsters known as palmetto bugs. All three types ...

So you found what looks like cockroach eggs? In this post, you'll learn what roach eggs look like, including size, color, location, and volume. And how to get rid of them. Everything homeowners need to remain roach free. Cockroach eggs ...

Did you just see a baby roach? They have a distinct appearance to mature cockroaches. In this post, you'll learn the six key features of baby cockroaches. These include lack of wings, beetle-like appearance, small cerci, different coloring, and smaller ...

Cockroaches are almost universally despised, and poop is one of the grossest substances you can discover in your house. If you found something that looks like roach poop, this guide will help. I'll guide you through everything you need to ...

The last thing you want to see when your turn on a light is scurrying bugs. Was that a cockroach or some other bug that isn't invasive? Or maybe another pest that you need to get rid of right away? ...

Learn about all the types of cockroaches. This complete guide covers every order and family of this very large group of cockroaches, which also includes termites and mantids. Full list by order and family. Plus list of the most common ...

How many legs do insects have? Do all insects have 6 legs? Knowing how many legs is an important step to identifying the animal you've discovered. In this post, you'll learn about 6 legged insects, with examples and photos. Insects ...

Curious about camel crickets? These silent, harmless crickets are found around the world and in most moist habitats. They get their names from their appearance and traits: They have a camel-like hump (camel crickets) and spider-like legs (spider cricket) and ...

Fleas are one of the worst pests for pet owners. Do fleas have wings? Let's see how these tiny parasites get around. Plus some flying bugs that look like fleas. Let's start with: Do fleas fly? Fleas do not have ...

Is it a spider? Is it a beetle? This is the question posed by people who see the spider beetle creeping around their kitchen, and to be sure, it's a funny little critter. Let's talk about spider beetles and how ...

Silverfish are pesky home invaders that have hairy legs and long bodies in soft silver color. Though you might find them living in different parts of your home. Before you look at how to get rid of these bugs, make ...