Search Results

Are these eggs of a beneficial insect to be protected or destructive insect that should be destroyed #817161

Asked December 02, 2022, 11:39 AM EST

Hi: The attached photo shows a cluster of what I am assuming are insect eggs attached to my brick house. They do not appear to be an egg mass of the dreaded spotted lantern fly. But perhaps they are of an equally destructive insect. And or course, if they are of a beneficial insect, I want to make sure they are protected. Using my wife's smart phone's seek application, the result showed "insects" but nothing more specific. Any idea what specific insect type the eggs belong to? If not, I will leave them alone just in case they are beneficial insects. Thanks!



Carroll County Maryland

What is this insect ? This insect infested my couch under the cushions. It is very difficult to see an actual insect. White and orange brown color debris is present underside of cushions. White debris is fine a dust like. I detect an odor and am getting single bites on abdomen and one on arm several days apart. Vacuumed thoroughly but persistently returns. Couch was so bad I discarded it. Waited one year after thoroughly cleaning wood floor and room, then purchased new couch. This pest has returned and I found this one under my chair cushion in the adjoining room! I have looked at commons household pest but have not been able to identify this insect. #816657

Asked November 18, 2022, 1:25 PM EST

This insect has invaded my couches. It is difficult to spot an insect. As  the only evidence is castings or dropping. Which are fine and white, some occasional miniature  sesame shaped and brownish orange debris. Thorough vacuuming did not clear the furniture, as they continue to return. I discarded the couch, throughly cleaned the room and waited a year before getting a new couch.

I have had the couch for 6 months and see the same insect evidence under the cushions! It presents a bad odor and I am getting single itchy bites a few days apart. 
mine on abdomen and a week before a single bite on my arm.

I just throughly vacuumed the black underside of the cushions with not a spot left and overnighted it is there. Looks like harmless dust mainly!


The white chair shows black hairs? I found this insect on the white chair underside which is in an adjoining room.

I have not been able to identify this pest through the pest identification images.

Thank you for you help!






Dutchess County New York

pear tree black soot #816588

Asked November 17, 2022, 10:55 AM EST

I have three pear trees that have a black soot on the trunks and limbs. I sprayed Captan and Rally all summer along with my apple trees. I also tried Neem Max Oil and Lime sulfur spray in the fall with no result. Is there any other fungicides I can try?

Leelanau County Michigan

Are these spots on my kitchen ceiling made by an insect? #813704

Asked October 09, 2022, 3:41 PM EDT

My house in Lakewood is 22 years old. Over the past 6 months, brown spots have been appearing on the kitchen ceiling (not over cooking or food prep areas). I’ve assumed they were rust spots caused by moisture getting to the drywall screws. Today I marked screw locations where indicated by a magnetic stud finder with green tape. The screws do not correspond with the spot locations. On closer examination the larger spot seems to be a substance deposited on the surface of the ceiling. It is slightly tacky. With a wet paper towel I rubbed off part of the spot. It was slightly slick when wet. The paper towel was slightly discolored. Could this substance be from an insect? I haven’t noticed any insects other than an occasional fly. Any ideas as to what is causing these spots?

Thanks very much for your time.



Jefferson County Colorado

To squash or not to squash pests? #805914

Asked August 12, 2022, 9:19 AM EDT

Hi! Since I've been identifying more insects in my yard these past summers and have understood how many are non-native or invasive I've wondered are there any general guidance about whether to kill and/or contain certain pests over others? For example, should I kill Asian lady beetles who compete with native lady beetles? Or Mediterranean Katydids that are considered an invasive ag pest in California? Last summer I had a Xenomelanophila miranda metallic wood-boring beetle (associated with wildfires) land on my arm and I just let it go unknowingly. And what about the Emerald Ash Borer? Is there a 'rule-of-thumb' or general practice for these types of "pest control"? I generally live and let live (unless it's slugs or cutworms ;)) but I'd especially like to give the native species in the yard the best chance! Thanks for your help.

Multnomah County Oregon

Western Red Cedar damage #803402

Asked July 27, 2022, 8:03 PM EDT

What can we do to help our Cedar tree overcome this girdling insect or disease. We planted the tree in 2015. The damage is about 7 ft up and just started showing up this Spring (2022). The tree lives in McKenzie Bridge, Oregon. The site is East of the 2020 Holiday Farm fire but did experience the 70 mph hot east winds. A few of our other trees were blown sideways, but not the cedars.



Lane County Oregon

How to address aggressive wasps at community garden. #803141

Asked July 26, 2022, 2:00 PM EDT

I would like to learn more about the nesting habitat and protective behaviors of wasps (yellow jackets?) to better eradicate problematic aggressive wasps at an organic community garden. Several gardeners have been stung and head-butted by protective wasps that we cannot seem to eradicate.  The garden is surrounded by wild field on three sides and a parking lot on one side. Farmland and a highway are close by.  There are some cultivated bee hives in the corner of the garden.  The garden has aggressive pest wasps and extremely docile beneficial wasps.  I don't know enough to ID. We have found some nests under tables and in fence posts, last year some in the ground in front of the garden pathway noticed by flying pattern of the wasps.  There have been wasp traps put up this week. The bee keepers suited up and hunted wasps and nests and eradicated several small nests. Two days later there were still many wasps head-butting me.  I can only garden at day break or will be chased away within 30 seconds of arriving.  Do wasps immediately build a new nest when found nests are destroyed? Best way to destroy founds nests--fire?  Where to look for nests of aggressive wasps? How to ID beneficial wasp nests? Are aggressive wasps attracted to some people more than others, if so why? Any other relevant information would be helpful. I am allergic to the stings, and have been stung 3x already, but would like to keep gardening at this location.

Weld County Colorado

What pest is damaging my crabapple tree? #802371

Asked July 21, 2022, 5:32 PM EDT

Hello! I am a new homeowner in Hillsboro who is trying to restore a very neglected crabapple. It is quite damaged with what looks to me like spider mites. (see photos!) The leaves are mottled yellow with brown edges. Many have fine white webbing on them. I also see a lot of little critters: they are pale beige and have a small head with a comparatively large tear-drop shaped abdomen. What can I do, if anything, to save this tree? Thank you!



Washington County Oregon

Potted Citrus tree in trouble #798860

Asked June 30, 2022, 4:30 PM EDT

We have had this tree for a number of years. As you can see from the cut-off trunk it has had some tough times. It is now growing again but is infested with something that leaves a sticky clear liquid on the leaves. In addition, there are tiny brown "cocoons" here and there. I tried taking it outside and using a bug spray but to no avail. I've washed it with Dove also. Same result. I guess I don't know if I'm working against a critter or a disease. I do appreciate your help. Thank You for what you do.



Polk County Oregon

Insect ID, white insect on squash #798037

Asked June 27, 2022, 10:32 AM EDT

I found a couple of these insects in my squash plants, sorry for the blurry picture, they're fast!  




Ottawa County Michigan