Is this a termite? - Ask Extension
I found this bug on my wall. It looks similar to other pictures of termites I see online. This is the only one I have see
Knowledgebase
Is this a termite? #785404
Asked March 28, 2022, 11:56 PM EDT
I found this bug on my wall. It looks similar to other pictures of termites I see online. This is the only one I have see
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Nicholas,
You are in the clear. That is not a termite. It is a soldier beetle (Order: Coleoptera, Family: Cantharidae). The resolutions on the photos are a bit low to ID it for with certainty, but I thing it could be the species Podabrus pruinosus. Here is a link to a photo of one of those for comparison so you can see what you think.
https://bugguide.net/node/view/1517434/bgimage
Soldier beetles in the genus Podabrus feed mainly on soft-bodied insects like aphids, so they are nice to have around if you are growing garden plants. Some adults also feed on nectar or honeydew. They don't bite people or pets or damage things people generally care about.
Enjoy!
You are in the clear. That is not a termite. It is a soldier beetle (Order: Coleoptera, Family: Cantharidae). The resolutions on the photos are a bit low to ID it for with certainty, but I thing it could be the species Podabrus pruinosus. Here is a link to a photo of one of those for comparison so you can see what you think.
https://bugguide.net/node/view/1517434/bgimage
Soldier beetles in the genus Podabrus feed mainly on soft-bodied insects like aphids, so they are nice to have around if you are growing garden plants. Some adults also feed on nectar or honeydew. They don't bite people or pets or damage things people generally care about.
Enjoy!
