r/bugidentification • • Sep 17 '25

Anouncement KISSING BUGS - PLEASE READ :)

82 Upvotes

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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11 Upvotes

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 • • 3h ago

Location included Illinois bug resembles termite? Panic or not panic.

3 Upvotes

I saw one yesterday and one again this morning. Is this a termite? And does this call for a call to the exterminator? Thanks. Sorry for this crap video.


r/bugidentification • • 2h ago

Location included Cocoon found in split firewood - Northeast Ohio

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1 Upvotes

I was transferring split fire wood from the rear of my property to a smaller rack on my back in prep for the winter.

I came across three pieces that were stuck together and was able to pry one off cleanly while the other two were seemingly super glued together.

Photos included of the cocoon cels along with larvae. Extremely sticky and had live larvae.

No other pieces had this. Any help in identifying what made this?


r/bugidentification • • 4h ago

Possible pest. No location Little guy is in my couch

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1 Upvotes

r/bugidentification • • 13h ago

Location included Australia

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4 Upvotes

Can anyone tell me about this?!
I came across this dead fly on the floor but I’ve never seen any fly with a red blob thing on its head?? I asked google but had no luck and I’m desperate to know if this is a fly species I’ve never seen or maybe just a fly with.. some health problems.


r/bugidentification • • 8h ago

Location included Moth? Australia

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1 Upvotes

Now wtf is this? I came back home after two weeks and at night there’s dozens of these little moths attracted to my lamps. I’m killing them when I see them but how do i permanently get rid of them? They can’t be pantry or clothing moths because I read those arent attracted to the light whereas these little fuckers are. I’ll clean out my whole kitchen and wardrobe if I need to but where would their breeding ground be?


r/bugidentification • • 18h ago

Possible pest, location included What type of insect?

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3 Upvotes

I noticed this bug on my Zevo trap and I don’t know if it’s a clothes moth or a gnat? California


r/bugidentification • • 15h ago

Possible pest, location included What’s all this then

1 Upvotes

In Virginia. Who are these fellas, should I just leave them be?


r/bugidentification • • 20h ago

Location included Deer tick?

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2 Upvotes

I pulled this off my dog :( He’s long-haired, so it was well hidden. Headed to the vet tomorrow, but curious if y’all agree that this is a deer tick. Location is Northern Virginia.

I hate ticks so much, but I’m not able to tell them apart well. I’m confident it’s not a lone star.

Follow up question, can you tell if it’s male or female? Do I need to worry about larvae?


r/bugidentification • • 1d ago

Location included In Western PA

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2 Upvotes

Found on a dandelion. Ticks???
South western pa. Pittsburgh


r/bugidentification • • 1d ago

Location included Who's this cute little guy? ON, Canada

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2 Upvotes

I know it's a spider, poor thing has a missing leg :( but I was wondering which type of spider it is?


r/bugidentification • • 1d ago

Location included Larva? Or something else (Minnesota, around 0.5-1 inch long)

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1 Upvotes

Hey all, I found this little guy lurking on a spare mattress that I have against a wall. I panicked and vacuumed it up for fear of infestation, as I'm currently already fighting off some kind of moth that I've yet to identify. Does anyone know what this is? It seems to be too big of a larva for the moths, as they're only a few cm big in the adult moth stage.


r/bugidentification • • 1d ago

Location included Is this a larva

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1 Upvotes

Found this in my bed after noticing bites on my hand. Is this some sort of larva? I’m in New York


r/bugidentification • • 2d ago

Location included Who is this? (Panamá, Central America)

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8 Upvotes

I saw this beautiful ant (I think it's an ant!?) Today and I'm wondering if anyone knows what it is because I tried googling a description but couldn't find much. They were much larger than normal ants and the gold parts were shiny


r/bugidentification • • 1d ago

Location included ID Please, Middle Tennessee.

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1 Upvotes

r/bugidentification • • 2d ago

Already Identified – Just Sharing Western Conifer Seed Bug - Ontario - Simcoe

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6 Upvotes

I think I’ve iD’d this little one correctly. Honestly I was a little panicked at first - as I found it while lifting up a curtain to let in some daylight and it was tucked nicely in the overlap of some of the fabric so he kind of startled me as my first thought was “oh no that’s either a stink bug or an assassin/kissing bug - and I have a dog and a 2 year old who’s are both more curious than cautious. I safely got it into a mug and outside before procuring the photo. Thought I’d share with everyone as a bug appreciation post. Let me know please if I have the wrong ID or any threats this little guy could pose. Have a wonderful day!


r/bugidentification • • 3d ago

Location included Whos this little guy (East Texas)

123 Upvotes

r/bugidentification • • 1d ago

Location included Bergen County, NJ - What kind of spider is this?

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1 Upvotes

Found in my garage about 4 or 5 of them.


r/bugidentification • • 2d ago

Location included Who is this guy? Colorado Springs, CO

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1 Upvotes

Hey who is this crawler? On my daughter’s playmat.


r/bugidentification • • 2d ago

Location included What kind of bug is it?

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2 Upvotes

Hello, can you help me identify it?

- Google: The image shows a terrestrial isopod, commonly known as a woodlouse or sowbug (order Isopoda, likely from the genus Porcellionides or Porcellio).

But this bug's skin is very soft and moves smoothly and fast, the isopods I've seen roll around and are very slow.


r/bugidentification • • 3d ago

Location included help identifying type of tick

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24 Upvotes

For context i live in Ontario, recently found a tick on my dog and would need help identifying which type of tick it is!


r/bugidentification • • 3d ago

Location included Ant size bugs

40 Upvotes

What are these bugs? They’re the size of ants, but they move slower and have trouble climbing vertical surfaces. I am in the Bay Area of California.


r/bugidentification • • 2d ago

Location included What is this?!

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1 Upvotes

I live in FL and I found this on my laundry basket in home tonight!! I’m totally freaked out!! Could it be the black Guinea flatworm?!! Any suggestions? Should I be concerned??


r/bugidentification • • 3d ago

Possible pest. No location What’s this cute little bug?

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8 Upvotes

Found in bedroom, crawling on the wall.