r/bugidentification Sep 17 '25

Anouncement KISSING BUGS - PLEASE READ :)

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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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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 5h ago

Location included this a brown recluse? kentucky

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r/bugidentification 12h ago

Location included Milkweed bugs?

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Delaware are these milkweed bugs?


r/bugidentification 9h ago

Location included Arizona Bark Scorpion?

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I live in SE NM and am used to seeing striped bark scorpions on the walls, but this one definitely isn’t striped. If you zoom in you can see a pattern on its back, it has super slender pincers and tail, it looks like an Arizona Bark Scorpion probably in the nymph phase. However it is said that they aren’t in my town, so I’m not sure.


r/bugidentification 9h ago

Possible pest, location included Found these on my shower mat

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Staying at an air bnb in Spadina Toronto ON


r/bugidentification 5h ago

Possible pest, location included What kind of bug is this

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Found this bug in our living room and I’m hoping it’s not a termite need to know what bug is this


r/bugidentification 5h ago

Possible pest, location included (Middle Georgia, US) Grub identification

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Hi y'all,

Found some grubs while I was getting ready to stack some lumber I bought for pretty cheap (Im seeing why now). I believe it's from a sawyer beetle, but I really can't tell. There also seems to be ambrosia beetles, at least that's what the guy that sold it to me was saying. The wood is southern yellow pine if that helps any.

Mostly just wanna make sure they're not asian longhorn beetles. There were a few grubs I was attempting to keep from dying if they were native (though Id be very surprised if that works out anyways).

I'll get some pictures of the smaller holes in the wood if anyone would be interested in seeing those also!


r/bugidentification 14h ago

Location included What species of bot fly is this? Ohio, USA

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Found sticking out of a mouse our cat killed. (Yes, I know the cat should not be outdoors, he's my mom's cat and she won't stop letting him out despite what I've told her about the ethics of outdoor cats :/) I'm assuming it's a mouse bot fly but I know that bot flies sometimes parasitize different animals than what is typical for their species. It's around two centimeters long, has ten segments, black mouthparts, off-white/tan body covered in reddish black/brown bumps. Any guesses are very appreciated!


r/bugidentification 6h ago

Location included Loud crickets in kentucky

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what are these loud ass crickets in kentucky i cant sleep it sounds like loud little bells its so loud I cant take it


r/bugidentification 13h ago

Possible pest, location included Vancouver BC Canada ID?

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anyone know what this is? found in. a greenhouse on a monstera leaf


r/bugidentification 7h ago

Location included Are these buffalo beetle larvae or should I be trapping & removing them?

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I have a small household compost bin containing Madagascar hissing cockroaches, 3 species of isopod, crickets, buffalo beetles, and two species of springtail. Lately I've been dealing with gnats so I've been using produce to collect them and toss them, its been about a week and a half of that and now I see maybe one gnat when I open up the bin.

Today when checking I found these little things - are these tiny buffalo beetle larvae or something else? Should I be getting rid of them?

Southern CA, USA


r/bugidentification 8h ago

Location included North Austin Texas. Assasin bug?

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Hi. I just moved to a new apartment and I been seeing a couple of theses every night. Like 3 every night on windows, front door, lights. Is that an assassin bug?


r/bugidentification 18h ago

Location included Tree Ants?

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Hello redditors,

From East Virginia. I’m trying to identify what bugs made this colony and if they’re endangering the health of my tree. TIA!


r/bugidentification 13h ago

Location included ID: What type of bug is this?

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Can’t tell what it is. Located in the mid-atlantic. Found in a rattan basket on our kitchen counter where we keep mail. We had bed bugs a week ago but got heat treatment 5 days ago. Bedbugs had been isolated to an outlet in the bedroom but now nervous that they spread. #pleasehelp


r/bugidentification 18h ago

Possible pest, location included Bug Identification Help

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So I’ve been having this issue in 2 of my bedrooms (Brooklyn, NY) with these tiny bugs that keep biting me all summer. They feel kinda like mosquito bites and it’s worse at night so I’ve been sleeping in my living room.

I’ve sprayed home defense and an exterminator came and sprayed but it hasn’t really helped. Granted he didn’t seem like he knew what I was dealing with because he took a picture and put it into ChatGPT 😭 and sprayed what ever liquid he already had.

But does anyone know what these are and how to get rid of these bugs? I also have screens in my window so I don’t know where they are coming from!


r/bugidentification 14h ago

Location included What is this?

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Escondido California (Southern California)
Came out after watering garden beds.
I live in an apartment complex so I’m hoping they’re not bed bugs or something invasive looking for a drink. Thanks everyone.


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included Central Saskatchewan, What species of roach is this?

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r/bugidentification 23h ago

Location included Help?

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I found this guy/gal in my garage under some clothes that had fallen out of a hamper.
I live in Southeast NM
I don’t know too much about the insect world, but ive recently sparked an interest after playing the Grounded video game series and I’m still trying to get better at identification in real life and “finding my own adventure” even if it’s in my garage.
I really wanted it to be a wolf spider (I know, it’s probably not.) considering we have a Striped Bark Scorpion issue and ANY help with that is appreciated.

I was thinking possibly huntsman based on shape and the “lowrider” kinda stance, but not totally sure.

*I apologize for the terrible picture, it was 3:40AM or so and he/she spooked me a bit and I thought this picture came out better. I just wanted to move my laundry over that I forgot about last night😂


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Already Identified – Just Sharing Southern Ontario, not asking what these are but what are they doing?

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Ants in my house. Never seen this behaviour before. Is this some kind of death spiral variant?


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included Who he is? Found around noon in southern Louisiana.

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I saw this guy climbing on my window and he looked unique enough for me to take a picture and ask.


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included Whats this bug? Germany

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r/bugidentification 1d ago

Possible pest, location included What’s eating my horseradish leaves? West Central Alabama

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These caterpillars are ravaging my horseradish leaves. Any help is appreciated.


r/bugidentification 2d ago

Location included Verification needed

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I need help identifying some of these smaller bugs on our sticky trap. GF is worried they are carpet beetles but they aren’t anything like our usual variated ones. San Diego


r/bugidentification 2d ago

Location included Doesn’t look like a tick. Identification

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Found this in NorCal.