/r/MedicalEntomology

Photograph via snooOG

What is medical entomology?

  • Medical entomology, also known as public health entomology, is the study of insects and related arthropods that affect the health or well being of humans, through transmitting diseases (vectors), causing wounds or blood loss, injecting venom or simply being a nuisance.

  • These "human pests" can be (but are not limited to) insects, ticks, mites, spiders and scorpions. These arthropods are often pests of livestock and other animals too, which is why the field of medical entomology is closely tied to veterinary entomology.

  • Please note this is not a bite identification subreddit! Bites are very difficult as a diagnostic tool as they vary significantly from person to person. See a medical professional if you have unusual bites.


Useful external links

Friends of /r/MedicalEntomology

/r/whatsthisbug

/r/Entomology

/r/publichealth

/r/Bedbugs

/r/insects

/r/invasivespecies

/r/Parasitology

/r/MedicalEntomology

1,287 Subscribers

4

Is this a spider egg sac? Should I move it?

Today I decided to take the window air conditioner units out of the garage. Once I got them into the house I noticed that one of them had this spider egg looking thing attached to the back.

https://preview.redd.it/nrt8y873r3471.jpg?width=1120&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b8113ddc605f2868b84a0a8fe9068863b25e3c43

(If you look closely you can see a spider hanging out on it too. Click here for a closer look.)

Is this a spider egg sac?

If so what should I do?

Here's a more zoomed out view of the back of the air conditioner for context

https://preview.redd.it/6k0o6md4r3471.jpg?width=2059&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5a97b892af5fd19903f1c1e442179084bba69553

Is it possible to move the eggs without harming them? I have no idea how I would do this and would be very worried about hurting the eggs.

Where would I put them to make sure they're still able to hatch? (I would move the spider with the sac of course.)

Would it be better just to leave them on the air conditioner? Would they still hatch?

Could the vibrations of the air conditioner harm the eggs? And maybe the temperature changes too. Does anyone know if this part of the air conditioner gets warm/cold? Or even just being on the outside of the house exposed to the elements like that.

How long will it take for the eggs to hatch? Maybe it's best if I just leave to air conditioner in the garage until then? How long has the sac been there already?

The sac also looks rather old to me. Is it possible the eggs have already hatched? Or that it's not even an egg sac at all?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thank you

Also I'm in southern Ontario and the garage that I have is not attached to the house at all and does not have any power or running water or anything. It's just a wooden structure.

If anyone knows of other sites/subreddits I could post this in too please let me know.

Thanks :)

1 Comment
2021/06/08
20:33 UTC

2

Does anybody know what these are??

7 Comments
2020/12/10
13:37 UTC

3

Booger or parasite?

0 Comments
2020/12/10
01:41 UTC

3

Invertebrate Discord Server!

Hello everyone! Bug Hub is a discord server that is focused around the topic of invertebrates. Specifically around arthropods, but all invert chat is allowed! We are a new server, with around 450 members with an average of 1-2k messages a day. We have a very friendly community and are always there to answer any questions! We also have quite a few users who pin insects, and have a specific specimen collecting channel. Invite: https://discord.gg/bugs

0 Comments
2020/10/06
16:16 UTC

19

Thought this might interest this community. One of my hatchling Buffalo leeches. These guys get to be 1-2ft long when grown.

3 Comments
2020/06/22
18:43 UTC

6

Anyone know what this is? It bit me.

12 Comments
2020/04/28
17:38 UTC

7

Please help. I came home to my Madagascar hissing cockroach like this. I know they don't pay eggs and give live birth I can't find it the sack anywhere and she's still the same size as before. what is she doing?

7 Comments
2020/03/12
15:08 UTC

5

Yikes! Help me find out what bug(s) is biting me.

For the past few days, I've felt like I've been going nuts in here. And that's fair, honestly, but aaaaa.
Mysterious bug bites (presumably) have been occurring all over my body recently. But it's February, and not to mention FRIGID COLD.

My house does have a bug problem, but it's only ever cockroaches and stinkbugs, and they're usually only isolated to the bathroom areas. But in my bedroom, it seems like I've been getting chewed up by something. My itchiness has only gotten worse, and no amount of anti-itch cream is helping me. I've seen a doctor, and not even they know.

I live in Georgia, in a decently wooded area. I own a dog and two mice. Dog basically never comes in my room, I haven't handled my mice recently. My bed has a plastic sheeting around it keeping bedbugs from occurring.

But somehow this still happened. I first I figured I needed to shower, and it remedied it a little bit. But I just got incredibly itchy again, so much so I accidentally tore into my skin on my wrist and knuckles. But I've been bitten everywhere that isn't my torso: wrists, hands, legs, ankles, toes, head, fingers. The bites originally appeared mosquito-like in nature, but again, it's getting to freezing temperatures here most nights. My latest is a bit smaller and more raised, however.

Anyone know of anything that can occur in a relatively clean bedroom that can cause mosquito-like, incredibly itchy bites? I'm not known to be allergic to anything, at least nothing I have in this house. But I feel like I'm going mad in here, three of us live here and I'm the only one suffering this, so it might just be centralized to my bedroom.

5 Comments
2020/02/29
03:01 UTC

1

are bat bugs dangerous? can they breed with bed bugs and or coexist?

can they make you sick? how can you know if your building is infested with them? is it common for management companies to try and say your building has bat bugs rather than bed bugs for any liability reasons? can it have both? can these bugs interbreed? what can i look for? am i entitled to a copy of the exterminator report from the management company? i want to know whats REALLY going on here. i moved in 9 months ago. apparently this has been going on for at least 6 years. we were never notified. we saw 3 bugs last week. they still havent sent someone out. upstairs and across the hallway have infestations per their own words. how long do we have to wait before we call out the board of health.

1 Comment
2020/02/25
02:59 UTC

10

Why is this sub a ghost town?

I used to be a part of this sub (as another user name) & it was fairly active. It seems to have really died down, which is a shame. From personal experience it has been a hell of a mosquito season, so perhaps we’re all just over worked. It would be nice to have another avenue to bounce ideas off one another.

6 Comments
2019/10/11
18:28 UTC

9

Medical Entomology Paths?

Not quite sure if this is appropriate for this sub, but I'm a ecology biology undergraduate student in my third year who is interested in pursuing a masters, possibly in medical entomology. I have recently (this year) discovered my interest in insects and other arthopods. I have been part of an arachnid lab for a year and this semester I began working in my university's museum of entomology. I was wondering if anyone here has any experience in this field or ent in general and advice as to what other opportunities I should pursue that will help grad school prospects. What were the paths you took? Feel free to pm me as well. Thanks!

4 Comments
2019/04/22
23:45 UTC

5

Invisible biting mites?

I’ve been dealing with this issue since last August after our cat disappeared. Shortly after our (indoor/outdoor) cat disappeared, our house became infested with fleas. We bombed the house, and spread flea powder on the carpets, which resolved the flea issue.

But I noticed that I was still getting bit.

Then shortly after that, I started to experience a sensation of bugs crawling on my face and in my hair, which freaked me out. I went to the doctor, then a dermatologist, then another doctor, who said that there was nothing wrong with me, and prescribed a antipsychotic medication. I agreed because after all, I seemed to be the only one who was experiencing this, and all the doctors said there was no evidence of bugs. For two months, I dealt with the effects of the psyche meds,AND the bugs. It was a horrible experience.

The things I’ve tried: Kleen Green - no affect at all. Steam cleaner- some affect Change of diet- no affect Selsum blue medicated shampoo and a conditioner- works great to stop the crawling in the hair Recently bought a ozone machine- not sure, too early to tell Hot tub w/chlorinated water- works great until I get home. Nylon/polyester underwear, socks and undershirts- will never switch back to cotton, stopped a lot of bug activity ‘down there’ Mattress cover and pulled bed away from wall- hardly feel them in bed anymore

Now I don’t feel ‘crawling’ as much as I feel a presence, and itching, and I don’t get bit as much. Mostly what I feel at home, in the car, and at work(office) is white powder, or dust, or bugs falling on my head, followed by itchiness all over my body, especially at work.

I sometimes feel a sensation and end up digging one of the white dots out of my skin, especially my scalp. I started getting my hair cut every two week, which seems to make a difference for about four days or so. Right now I’m really hopeful that the ozone machine will make a difference. Any suggestions on what else I should do?

9 Comments
2019/04/04
02:33 UTC

1

Arthropedia | #1 Arthropoda Discord Server | Giveaways & Events | Growing Community

Arthropedia is the best Discord server for all of Arthropoda. The community is constantly growing and always is happy to greet new people. There are frequent giveaways and events. If the server reaches 300 members by February, there will be a giant (USA) Scolopendra dehaani giveaway. There are channels for all different arthropods from spiders and tarantulas to eusocial insects like ants and bees. Join here: https://invite.gg/arthropedia

0 Comments
2019/01/02
00:02 UTC

1

Arthropedia! #1 Arthropod Discord Server!

Have you ever wanted to talk with other invert keepers? Then come join our discord server, Arthropedia! The go-to hub for all Arthropod lovers! We have a section for nearly every Arthropod! From crustaceans like crayfish and crabs to arachnids like scorpions and tarantulas! And more of course! And not to mention, if we get 300 members by February we will give out a FREE SCOLOPENDRA DEHAANI to a randomly selected winner in the US. If you're interested, here's the invite code: https://invite.gg/arthropedia

0 Comments
2018/12/31
00:16 UTC

0

On Glasses Again. Any idea what this is? I wish I could say it was a smudge, but unfortunately it's not.

2 Comments
2018/12/20
17:49 UTC

3

need a tick identified? Our lab just put out an awesome app!

Hello Everyone,

Our new app, TickCheck ID, is an app designed for users to get a professional lab identification on ticks from anywhere. Simply fill out the form in the app, upload/take a picture, and you will receive an identification report from our lab within 1-2 business days! This app is great for home use, gardeners, hikers, and for pretty much any outdoor activity this tick season. We are doing this to spread awareness of tick-borne diseases. TickCheck is looking for beta testers to fill out their survey.

Filling out the survey not only helps the tick testing lab, and furthers the fight against tick-borne diseases, but also qualifies testers to a 10% discount coupon off a TickCheck tick test!

Download the app here for android (iOS to be coming out soon): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tickcheck.id&hl=en

Please fill out the survey here: https://goo.gl/forms/kmBOLOhpmJV4TMlc2

Thank you so much for your consideration!

0 Comments
2017/07/31
21:32 UTC

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