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Trying to identify tiny bugs falling from our Black Walnut trees. #568578

Asked June 08, 2019, 8:40 PM EDT

Yesterday around 6:45 pm were sitting on our back deck in Ann Arbor and there was a pleasant breeze. All of a sudden, many really tiny black bugs fell down upon us. At first we thought they were vegetation from the trees, but then they started moving. They moved very slowly, crawling, but did not fly. We had to go inside. Today, we went back outside and only saw a few on the chair cushions, that must have been left from yesterday. We thought they were all gone until around 7 pm when a few started falling again. I collected some of them in a jar, but they are too small to get a good photograph. I'm attaching a photo of one of the bugs lying on its side on a white piece of paper. They have tiny legs underneath, not off to the sides like a spider or tick. We have lots of Black Walnut trees so we think they must be falling from them. Do you have idea what they could be? Thanks, Kitty

Washtenaw County Michigan

Expert Response

Hi Kitty,

That looks like a twig or bark beetle. Would you be kind enough to collect me a dozen or so and send them to me?

To preserve and protect fragile specimens, it’s always best to submit insects in a small leak proof vial filled with rubbing alcohol.  Place the vial in a small zip-lock baggie, then in a small box or mailing tube and mail to

Diagnostic Services
578 Wilson Rd.
East Lansing MI 48824-6469

Be sure to include a note with your contact information including your email address.

You can download one of our submittal forms here:

https://pestid.msu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/MSU-DS-Form-012-001-version-2.0.pdf

Here is our location: https://pestid.msu.edu/location/

Regards, Howard



Howard Russell, Entomologist Replied June 10, 2019, 8:53 AM EDT

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