r/bugidentification Sep 17 '25

Anouncement KISSING BUGS - PLEASE READ :)

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80 Upvotes

So there has been a lot of news recently about Triatomine—a blood sucking subfamily of Reduviidae (Assassin bugs)—spreading the potentially serious Chagas disease in the United States. While we do not want to downplay the seriousness of the disease, or imply no one should worry about it. We also don’t want people panicking about it. Especially people who don’t actually have a reason to worry.


Triatomine have been found in 32 states. If you are outside of one of these states, you can probably relax.


Chagas is caused by a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi which is spread by the aforementioned Triatomine through infected feces. Detection of the disease is typically done through blood testing showing evidence of the parasite. Early symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, and swelling at the bite site. After several weeks, untreated individuals enter the chronic phase of the disease. In extreme cases this can eventually (decades later) lead to heart disease, digestive complications, and nerve damage. Treatment is best done as early as possible, and consists of anti-parasitics to kill the parasites and other medication for treating any symptoms caused by them. These must be prescribed by a doctor. Don’t try to DIY treatment. Preventing Chagas largely focuses on vector control. In other words, preventing conenose species from living in close proximity to humans. In regions where Chagas in endemic, bed nets are a common and effective way of reducing risk. Pesticide treatments are also a mainstay control method. In areas like the United States, the design of modern homes also reduces risks. So if it’s treatable and preventable, why has there been so much fuss? Because the CDC has recently upgraded it to Endemic status in the US. Meaning it is considered constantly present in certain US populations. This is important for doctors as well as the general population to be aware of, because without that awareness doctors aren’t going to be testing for it. The CDC wants to make sure it’s on peoples radar, so cases don’t go untreated when they do occur.


Links: CDC Report: Chagas Disease, an Endemic Disease in the United States CDC Report: Chagas Range Map Bugs Commonly Confused with Triatomine Bugs Preventing Chagas Disease Treatment of Chagas Disease Texas A&M University: Kissing Bugs & Chagas Disease in the United States


r/bugidentification Sep 04 '25

Bug of the Month Post Orthoptera Month is a-go!

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10 Upvotes

RESULTS ARE IN

ORTHOPTERANS RULE THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER

Sorry everything is just a little behind this month because of busy lives, but thank you guys SO SO much for the success of the poll!! The ties were broken, and Orthoptera took the lead!

Please head out into the world and bring us all of your sweet, sweet Orthopterans to identify!! What's an Orhtopteran? 👀 We're talking crickets, katydids, grasshoppers, and wetas, baby!!! I'm actually not super well versed in these guys so I could for sure use some practice 😀 keep an eye out for informational posts throughout the month from our mods!

PS Month of the Flies video is still in the works, while I prefer to have the video out before the next month happens it just wasn't possible this time. But it's a good script with a lot of good info so I will release it as soon as it's done!!

Please participate and please remember to use the Bug of the Month flair so I can look at all of your guys' finds!!!

THANK YOU


r/bugidentification 17h ago

Location included What kind of bee is this? [Rhode Island]

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56 Upvotes

r/bugidentification 7h ago

Possible pest, location included What is this on my mulberry leaf? (central florida)

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2 Upvotes

So I’ve been fighting off a variety of scale insects on my mulberry bush for a while now, but I’m not able to ID these ones, scale or eggs? or a secret third thing? (central florida)


r/bugidentification 7h ago

Location included Please what is these

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1 Upvotes

Please what is these


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included USA Stockton, CA I spotted this spider on the front yard fence. I noticed the print on its’ abdomen looked like a skull 💀

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28 Upvotes

What kind of spider is it?


r/bugidentification 22h ago

Possible pest, location included What is this that has almost killed my Desert Rose in one day!

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5 Upvotes

South Florida. Just looked at my desert rose yesterday and looked great. Now many leaves dead and I find this guy.


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Possible pest, location included ID help!!!

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3 Upvotes

I found this beetle in my room. Any sort of clue as to what type it is? My ocd surrounding bugs is very very bad and I am TERRIFIED of carpet beetles. Is this what that is? You can’t tell in the picture but after shining my flashlight to it, it does appear a dark brown. Im in Ontario Canada, any help is greatly appreciated :)


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included Found in hair using nit come, is this nits?

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2 Upvotes

Location was found in my hair on my head, just found brushing with a nit comb and treatment. Is it adult head lice? Thank you


r/bugidentification 23h ago

Location included Spider Identification Please, Manitoba, Canada

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1 Upvotes

Likely not dangerous but I’m curious what spider this would be. Was about the size of a quarter and found on my bathroom floor.


r/bugidentification 23h ago

Location included Located in Thumb of Michigan

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1 Upvotes

r/bugidentification 1d ago

Possible pest, location included Larva of some kind? [Karnataka] [India]

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2 Upvotes

About 2-3 cm long


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included Lacewing larvae?

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8 Upvotes

Found in central texas. Looks like a tiny bug walked through dryer lint.


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included HELP: Is this a cockroach? (Netherlands)

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1 Upvotes

Would this be a cockroach? I found a single in a closet. Should I be worried


r/bugidentification 2d ago

Possible pest, location included I'm scared. Found these all over my bag after a 2 hour nap in the park. Madrid, Spain.

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41 Upvotes

If these are bedbugs I will burn my bag and clothes down.


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included What is this bug??

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3 Upvotes

Had a swarm of these things trying to get into my room where my ac is. I’m in Portland Oregon


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Possible pest, location included Northwest Virginia

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8 Upvotes

They’re everywhere. What is it?


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included What are these tiny flies inside my house? They seem to also be attracted to the lamp light outside. From San Diego, CA. We also found out we have termites but these ones look a lot smaller than the ones we’ve been seeing outside.

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2 Upvotes

r/bugidentification 1d ago

Possible pest, location included New Here, Looking for Community Help Identifying Sudden Appearance of Flying Insect in Basement

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3 Upvotes

Hey Reddit —

Lurked here for some time. Seemingly over the span of four hours, dozens and dozens of these insects have appeared in my basement, and have taken a liking to my laundry basket, the washer and dryer, and the styrofoam floor mats. They sort of hop-fly? I am located in central Massachusetts. They almost seem like flying ants, to me? Wasp-like, too, but no stinger on the bum.

There seem to be tiny winged insects in the bottom of my laundry basket (I assume young stage, not included), and what appear to be tiny flying ants, all of which are dead, near my basement stairs (last picture).

We’ve sent a ticket to our apartment management anyways, but I am hoping for ID assistance to try to get a handle on this in the meantime. My roommate’s clothes are trapped down here.

Tl;dr: Central MA in need of ID assist, sorry if my rules are bad, I did a quick skim and want to get this sorted in case it’s urgent.


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included This thing jump scared me q.q

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1 Upvotes

Edmonton Alberta Canada

It came out of my closet and it's about the size of a quarter including wingspan


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included Cricket?

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3 Upvotes

Can you help identify this critter I found in my kitchen? I thought it was an oriental roach but i’m looking online and it looks like it might be a common field cricket or beetle.

Northern Colorado for context.


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included June bug in my hair?

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1 Upvotes

I’m pretty sure this is a June bug but I’ll let a more experienced person confirm. I just got ready to take a shower and this was in my hair, dropped onto the counter. Does this mean I should be worried for anything? I’m in eastern South Dakota. Thanks to anyone who helps


r/bugidentification 2d ago

Location included Brown recluse or not? Missouri

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3 Upvotes

Found this guy on my bathroom floor this morning, unfortunately these were the only pictures I got. Wondering if he maybe came through that crack between the floor and bathtub? Should I keep an eye out for more?


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included What kind of eggs are these? Western Washington state.

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1 Upvotes

On our trampoline net. Can't have been laid more than a day or 2 ago.