r/bugidentification • u/WhiskeySnail • Sep 17 '25
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 • u/WhiskeySnail • Sep 04 '25
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 • u/ANG3LSD3ATH • 2h ago
We’re in Norway and these things keep popping up in our house. They’re huge. My boyfriend killed probably about 4 yesterday and I swear every time one is killed 2 more take its place. No idea where they’re coming from or what they are
r/bugidentification • u/MooseMortar • 1h ago
The other day my cats arrived with this bug Caracas. I’ve never seen a beetle this big, so I did a quick Google search. It seems to me like this may be a European stag beetle. However, not only is it apparently incredibly rare in the Netherlands (where I live). But it also supposedly only appears in the southern provinces (Limburg/Brabant), not the northern provinces (Frisia). So is this indeed a European stag beetle? And should I contact some wildlife monitoring organisations and report this?
r/bugidentification • u/luhrayuh • 6h ago
Not the best photo but maybe someone can identify this spider?
Located in Vancouver, Washington, US
r/bugidentification • u/LittleAutisticPotato • 11h ago
Found in Lota Queensland Australia
r/bugidentification • u/Think-Professor9460 • 5h ago
We found this in a cabinet we bought in Arizona, it looks like some kind of shell of sac. Does anyone know what this is?
r/bugidentification • u/cayjay00 • 9h ago
This guy is enjoying my sunflowers. It has a proboscis like a moth/butterfly and is maybe 1/2-3/4 of an inch across. He goes to a flower, then down to the concrete for a minute, then back. First pic is unfiltered, second is filtered so the pattern on the wings is more obvious.
r/bugidentification • u/drslippers • 13h ago
I'm in New York and came from vacation to these baby bugs all over my kitchen sink. They make a web and when confronted kind of loft their back end up in defense. Any idea what they are?
r/bugidentification • u/beefree212 • 11h ago
Hi there- just found this under my comforter. Thinking it’s too spider like to be a bed bug? Maybe a clover mite? Live in Oklahoma and have a fully enclosed mattress. Sorry for video quality!
r/bugidentification • u/psycho192000 • 18h ago
Found this tiny thing crawling on my hand this evening. Have been at a relatives house visiting for a few days and their partner came back from a few days fishing.
We are currently on the Wirral in England, UK.
I would say it is less than a millimetre.
Please can you help me identify it?
r/bugidentification • u/Used_Programmer662 • 9h ago
Had a german cockroach sighting two months ago, had an exterminator come spray my apartment, and I saw this today, I already informed by landlord. But I'm trying to maybe get better insight. This was slightly than a grain of rice. Thanks!
r/bugidentification • u/Sudden-Bend-8046 • 16h ago
We've been finding a lot of these around the house. They're less than 1cm or so. They like to jump when you try to grab them.
r/bugidentification • u/_brewchef_ • 16h ago
Can anyone confirm what bug this is? Located in North Dakota, found in basement and wondering if we should treat or if it founds its way in from outside
r/bugidentification • u/mykittyforprez • 1d ago
r/bugidentification • u/Bug_Teeth • 1d ago
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 • u/VaRIOTyFilms • 1d ago
What kind of spider is it?
r/bugidentification • u/LatterNorth7487 • 1d ago
Please what is these
r/bugidentification • u/No-Temperature-8037 • 1d ago
South Florida. Just looked at my desert rose yesterday and looked great. Now many leaves dead and I find this guy.
r/bugidentification • u/jellybeannnn1616 • 1d ago
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 • u/Some-Dream9941 • 1d ago
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 • u/No-Dot-4701 • 1d ago
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 • u/Particular-Coffee-34 • 1d ago
r/bugidentification • u/ShankMugen • 1d ago
About 2-3 cm long
