r/bugidentification Sep 17 '25

Anouncement KISSING BUGS - PLEASE READ :)

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80 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 27m ago

Location included Why are these ladybugs so frickin teeny

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I am assuming these actually aren’t ladybugs, wondering what they are? they’re pretty cute

Saskatchewan


r/bugidentification 3h ago

Location included Caterpillar in Showlow, AZ

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2 Upvotes

Got an accidental poke in Show low, Arizona. Who's this little gal/guy? And with some hatched babies? Orangish red, with white pinstripes along the back. Spines are all black with light tips.

tia / Thanks all


r/bugidentification 3h ago

Location included Is this a cricket, a grasshopper, or a katydid? And what species? Thankyouuu ^^

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2 Upvotes

r/bugidentification 49m ago

Location not known/Other question Can anyone identify this small brown bug?

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Upvotes

Hi! I found this bug on my leg while lying in bed. I had just changed the bed sheets with a duvet cover that had been stored in a closet for a while.
Location: Málaga, Spain.
Size: About the size of a small fly or a lentil (around 4–6 mm).
Color: Brown/reddish-brown.
Shape: It looked like a small seed or little ball. The legs were not very visible because they seemed tucked underneath the body.
It was walking normally, not jumping or flying.
I crushed it and there was no blood.
Does anyone know what it could be? I’m mainly wondering whether it’s a harmless beetle or something like a bed bug or tick.
Thanks!


r/bugidentification 53m ago

Location included Little brown bugs in bathroom

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Upvotes

I have loads of these little dark brown bugs seemingly coming out of my bathroom window hinge. Does anybody know what they are? They're aproximately 3 mm long and I live in Western Europe.


r/bugidentification 4h ago

Location included Texas found on my floor want to know what kinda plants it would eat so I can put it somewhere it would flourish.

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2 Upvotes

This Lil guy is adorable.


r/bugidentification 1h ago

Location included neat lil guy found on my cloak in Philadelphia, PA

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it had 6 legs, a yellow underbelly, two protruding front-facing mandibles (NOT ANTENNAE, they did not wiggle - and it got one under my fingernail and tried to lift it up at one point)
its tail is prehensile and it often pressed it up against my skin as if using it like a 7th leg while heartily crawling about
very friendly, i put it outside on one of the bushes
a few times i tried to pin it in place gently with my fingers, but it unhurriedly escaped each time, and rarely stopped moving

if desired/needed, i can measure one of my keyboard keys to get a good estimate of its actual length

looking at the keyboard photo, wow it sure does have short antennae


r/bugidentification 22h ago

Location included Michigan

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12 Upvotes

I’ve never seen anything like this in all my life.


r/bugidentification 21h ago

Location included South eastern Canada

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5 Upvotes

What is this?? Found it in my bathroom on the shelf above my toilet.


r/bugidentification 16h ago

Possible pest, location included What types of roaches are these?

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2 Upvotes

Hi there, I’m freaking out a bit.

I found both of these on my kitchen floor today, a few hours apart. Yesterday I found one on my front porch. A couple of months ago, I also found two under a bucket in my garage near the garage entrance.

I’m in Arkansas. I’m hoping someone can help identify what kind of cockroach these are and whether this points to an infestation inside my house or if they’re just wandering in from outside.


r/bugidentification 14h ago

Possible pest, location included Identification and Advice Please

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0 Upvotes

Twin Lake Michigan -

I’ve been having issues with these tiny gnats. ChatGPT identified them as Fungus Gnats. I’m not sure.

I don’t notice them much during the day. They hover around me usually at night while I’m on the couch reading. They seem to fly around my face, and occasionally land on my shirt. Sometimes I hear a buzzing sound much like a fly, near my ear (as opposed to a mosquito). Can anyone identify these? There is probably more than one type of insect. What is the best way to clear them out?

They are very much attracted to the bug zapper and all these photos are bugs that got zapped.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included Augusta, Georgia

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4 Upvotes

I found this outside my door dead. I dont know what it is. I found this today.


r/bugidentification 19h ago

Location included Is this a cockroach? Whitewater WI

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1 Upvotes

Found outside the restaurant I’m eating


r/bugidentification 23h ago

Location included Tulsa, OK, USA wasp

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1 Upvotes

I keep finding these wasps in my living room. They’re black with yellow stripes on the sides. Black only on the top. What kind?


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included What is this bug?

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3 Upvotes

In new york state. This thing scared me in the bathroom haha


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Possible pest, location included Stinkbugs thta i found. I think they're invasive.

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2 Upvotes

Stinkbugs that I found. I don't know if they're invasive, I found the brown one in my house and the orange/red ones on a fig tree near my house; I live in the area of the Madonie, in Sicily.

P.s. I'm sorry if some pictures are blurry.


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included What is this bug? I found it in the shower and it bit me twice.

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1 Upvotes

r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included Guys was this a bed bug

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1 Upvotes

I took a video of this about two years ago (it was my flash back on snap). I didn’t know if it was a bed bug or not. It’s been two years now and I have no bites or any signs of bed bugs. Should I still be concerned? it def looks like a bed bug to me. This was at my house btw. 🤢🤢


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Possible pest, location included Is this a german cockroach?

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2 Upvotes

Was about 1/2 inch. Could this be a nymph of a different cockroach or is this a german? In south carolina.


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included teeennnnie tiny bug ID pls - Illinois

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3 Upvotes

It has a grey/silverish color. But it doesn’t look like silverfish (I hope). Only saw 1 and I hope there aren’t more. When I got close it seemed to jump???? It is squished now and I was wondering if anyone could help me ID this bug. thank you (:


r/bugidentification 2d ago

Location included Found this chilling on my front stoop last night (Southeast Nebraska)

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9 Upvotes

Spotted around dusk on my front stoop in an urban area. Haven’t ever seen a bug like this in the area neither had any of my friends. Shell had a sort of shine to it.


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included Buge (south new jersey)

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1 Upvotes

r/bugidentification 1d ago

Possible pest, location included What are these worm things (San Bernardino)

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4 Upvotes

Also if anyone knows can I feed them to my baby mantis?