White bug in my kitchen
January 4, 2010
I went to make spaghetti this afternoon and when i reached for my pot this little fellow was walking around inside. I’m all for exotic foods, but this was just a little much. I live in California, so my first thought was some kind of cockroach, but i couldn’t find one that looks like this. I’m just really curious what this little guy is – please help out!
Sorry for the picture, My Cell phone is the only camera around right now.
No Bugs For Me
California
Silverfish
Dear No Bugs For Me,
While the way you signed your letter suggest an unrealistic world view, we will admit that the Silverfish in your photo is an inhabitant you probably do not want reproducing in your home unchecked. They are considered household pests whose diet, according to BugGuide, is: “omnivorous: starchy foods, cereals, moist wheat flour, glue on book bindings and wallpaper, starch in clothing made of cotton or rayon fabric; outdoor individuals eat lichens.“
Bathroom Buddy!
December 6, 2009
This little critter has been hanging out in our apartment bathroom here in Lakewood, CO for quite a while…Since september of this year. He’s about 1cm long and faster than a speeding bullet when you go to squish him! He has white and black stripes and resembles an earwig. He hides underneath our radiator in the bathroom and I’m pretty sure he may be coming in through a crack in our floor. (However, we live on the top floor of our apartment building!)
I’m sure he’s not the only one of his kind, but we have only seen one or two at a time. I managed to catch this guy (affectionately named “dwight” by the roomies) a few hours ago. I stuck him in our freezer and took this picture afterwards.
I checked your website this morning and couldn’t find anything like it!
Can you ‘dentify Dwight for us?
Everli in Colorado
Lakewood, Colorado, USA
Firebrat
Hi Everli,
Dwight is a Firebrat, Thermobia domestica, a type of Silverfish that likes heat, which would explain Dwight’s fondness for the radiator. According to BugGuide: “nymphs and adults feed mostly at night on products rich in carbohydrates or protien; stored foods, glues, book bindings, and paper products may be attacked.”
Firebrat
1
¶ Posted 12 December 2009 § ‡ ° insects from Montana desert
September 21, 2009
These are all from roughly the same location in a high-altitude desert in southern Montana. Someone suggested that the first is an antlion larva, even though it doesn’t look like any antlion pictures I’ve found so far. The second looks almost more like a crustacean than an insect, given the lack of wings and the antenna position. The third looks similar to a damselfly.
Mark
south central montana
Jumping Bristletail
Dear Mark,
Your Solpugid and Robber Fly are well represented on our site, but the creature that you believe looks like a Crustacean is a real mystery. We also believe it looks crustacean-like. Its presence on land makes it doubtful that it is a crustacean. We would lean toward an Arachnid, but it really has us baffled. The clarity of the image is somewhat problematic, as is the texture and tonality of the background which seems to obliterate some of the anatomical details. It also appears like some body parts might be missing. We will post your letter and image in the hopes that one of our readers can provide an answer. Meanwhile, could you provide any additional information regarding the conditions under which it was found and the size?
Eric Eaton identifies Montana Mystery
Hi:
Yes, the “Montana Mystery” is a “jumping bristletail,” order Microcoryphia. They are very, very primitive insects. This specimen is missing most (maybe all) its caudal (tail) filaments.
Eric
¶ Posted 21 September 2009 § ‡ ° three-pronged tail antennae
August 31, 2009A few of these little guys were crawling around in and on the mailboxes for my apartment complex. I saw one when I opened the mailbox around noon, at which point that one and a couple others scurried away out of the mailboxes through some cracks, onto a wall. At first I thought it was a roach nymph because of the way it moved, but it looks too skinny and has these 3 tail antennae. Thanks!
Nick
Austin, TX
Silverfish
Hi Nick,
You have done an amazingly accurate drawing of a Silverfish considered it scurried away.
Found in my kitchen but not in my bug books
Sat, Mar 7, 2009 at 4:25 PM
I found this guy trapped inside a casserole bowl in my kitchen. It looks something like an earwig, but the pincers in front and what looks like likes wings on the back.
Rich Guthrie
upstate New York – near Albany
Bristletail
Hi Rich,
This is a Bristletail in the order Microcoryphia. It is a primitive insect related to Silverfish. Bristletails are nocturnal and secretive, generally found outdoors, though some species are found in houses. Current taxonomy has Bristletails and Silverfish in distinct orders, but some old texts lump them together.
¶ Posted 08 March 2009 § ‡ ° Strange Cockroach (?)
Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 10:41 AM
I keep seeing these bugs in my bathroom which vary greatly in size. they run between being less than a centimeter in size to almost half an inch. They have long antennae coming out of both ends and it seems sort of furry around the head area and are yellow/gold with black/grey spots. It almost seems like an immature kind of beetle. I finally caught one to post a picture, they are unbelievably fast! Sorry the photo isn’t closer or more clear, they move like there’s no tomorrow! Can you please tell me what these creepy bugs infesting my bathroom are!?
Taylor W.
Denver, Co
Silverfish
Hi Taylor,
You have Silverfish, a common household pest. You can find much information online about the difficult to eradicate Silverfish.
identify bug
Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 1:03 PM
This bug is found sometimes in the bath tubs or the sinks in my house so I assume they are coming from the drain. How can I get rid of them?
Rich
Tubs and Sinks in Bathrooms
Silverfish
Hi Rich,
This is a Silverfish, long considered a household pest. The person who can figure out how to safely discourage them from entering and infesting homes will be an instant millionaire.
Hello! Identification help!
Hi,
I have attached a picture of a bug I have found in my room. Just curious if you know what it is and a little about it? Thank you so much!
Matt
Hi Matt,
The Silverfish is a primitive insect that is generally cosidered a household pest.
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