/r/whatsthisbug

Photograph via snooOG

Bug identification! All insects, spiders, crustaceans, etc. welcome!

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ID Request Just Sharing Other

Frequently Asked Bugs

Carpet Beetle House Centipede Wheel Bug
Cicada Dobsonfly Household Casebearer
Cockroach Water Bug Oil Beetle
Mole Cricket Jerusalem Cricket Silverfish

Please also read our Wiki

Submit a bug!

WELCOME TO R/WHATSTHISBUG!

Got a photo of a bug you'd like identified? Submit it here and we'll try to figure it out! Best view for ID is top-down, well-lit, low-contrast photos. Pictures are preferable to videos for ID requests but we'll work with what you have.

I don't need an ID, but can I share a cool bug? Yes! This subreddit is also a community for any arthropodic discussion. But remember, every ID is needed! If you know the identity of your bug, do share it with the community!

Can I submit a dead bug for ID? Yes, but please bear in mind it’s always easier to ID living specimens. While we realize that extermination is sometimes necessary, comments promoting gratuitous violence against arthropods, or causing unnecessary suffering, (“kill it with fire” etc) will be removed. Linking to subs that explicitly promote hatred is not allowed.

Refrain from posting bites unless you saw the bug biting the person. We CANNOT diagnose injuries or identify insects/spiders that allegedly caused bites. Seek medical advice before our advice if you didn't see a bug biting you.

If your submission does not appear in the "NEW" bucket, message the mods to check the spam filter.


SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

  • Indicate the geographic location.

  • Take the clearest and most detailed photo possible. Videos are OK, but pictures are best for IDing.

  • Indicate the size excluding antennae - the more precise the better.

  • Provide any other information you feel could help! If you could not take a photo of the bug, a detailed description (or even a drawing) may work.


IDing GUIDELINES

  • Cite/Link a source whenever possible. Our "ID Guides" section below has some good ones. A search engine result page is not enough.

  • Don't make blind/random guesses. Our goal is to provide positive leads; false leads are counter-productive, e.g. "similar looking" is rarely good enough at the species level. If one is unfamiliar with the taxon, practice diligence, e.g. check other members of the taxon, as well as those of higher taxa. Especially for medically significant bugs, if you aren't 100% sure, leave the ID to someone more knowledgeable.

  • ID guides tend to be regional. While BugGuide.Net is popular, it only pertains to arthropods in the U.S. and Canada. For bugs outside the U.S. and Canada, try to search for a guide specific to that region. For example, if you want to ID a butterfly from Brazil, this would be a great guide.

  • In BugGuide.net, click on the "Browse" tab to switch to an ID-friendly, taxonomic view.


ID GUIDES BY REGION

Americas

North America

Central and South America

Europe

Australia

Worldwide


GLOSSARIES


FRIENDS OF r/whatsthisbug

Plinthocoelium suaveolens suaveolens by Beetles in the Bush

/r/whatsthisbug

1,092,833 Subscribers

1

Is this a brown recluse??

Found in Kansas City MO

0 Comments
2023/09/25
09:16 UTC

1

Found In Singapore, bedroom

Been seeing this bug all over my room randomly, spawns randomly. Once I was clearing my bed and saw a couple of them which seems to have died due to heat.

Is it harmful?

0 Comments
2023/09/25
09:07 UTC

1

What bug is this saskatoon

1 Comment
2023/09/25
08:54 UTC

1

Found in northern Ohio.

It did the mantis-type threat pose where it was waving its front arms around. As far as I could tell, it couldn't fly and moved pretty slowly. Mostly black with maybe some gray on its large abdomen, small head with what looked like a proboscis. Have a few other shots of it if needed. Powerade bottle for scale.

https://preview.redd.it/ggimr61c8dqb1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=76feb6577bab036c1ef3fc4b5ec28e82e293d3fc

0 Comments
2023/09/25
08:52 UTC

0

What is this flying triangle?

I'm staying in southern France and these little flyers are common. My main concern is do they bite? I have bites which are probably mosquitoes but it would be good to know. 1-2 MMS long.

1 Comment
2023/09/25
08:34 UTC

1

I have these bugs all over my house - what are they?

They seem to live where dust or food is. In food cupboards, or at the back of my work desk where its dusty, they are so small and seemingly harmless, and we are moving out soonish, so I don't bother them unless they are in my personal space then I get rid of them. But today I found 9 on my desk.

What is it?

Are they dangerous?

What do I do? DIY solutions only please :)

https://imgur.com/a/fTpAC9g

Any help on this would be appreciated as this might be the start of their mating season!

They are in Wales, UK. For reference the coin is 18mm or 1.8cm

4 Comments
2023/09/25
08:10 UTC

1

I found this half inch bug in my kitchen what is it?

I am in Southeast Texas I initially thought it was an infant roach but it had a cool pattern and for some reason refuses to go into dark areas so my curiosity brought me here.

1 Comment
2023/09/25
07:45 UTC

1

I found this tiny bug in my house what is it?

I initially thought it was an infant roach but it had a cool pattern and for some reason refuses to go into dark areas so my curiosity peaked.

1 Comment
2023/09/25
07:32 UTC

1

Found in Hobart, Tasmania, any idea? There were quite a lot.

I tried google but couldn't find any similar with the white spotty things

0 Comments
2023/09/25
07:31 UTC

2

what is this fella

found this old vid of when i thought every small 8 legged creature was a sweet baby spider lmfao i’m guessing tick or mite?

5 Comments
2023/09/25
07:28 UTC

1

who’s this fella that’s about to get eaten?

he looks like a ladybug larvae but pink and yellow. about the size of a fingernail, found in the UK. if you can id the spider too that would be pretty cool lol, thanks!

2 Comments
2023/09/25
07:27 UTC

1

Bed bugs?

Are these bed bugs? We can’t tell.

3 Comments
2023/09/25
07:18 UTC

1

Sorry for the horrible quality but this is the biggest spider I have ever encountered (Los Angeles) would love to know what it is

1 Comment
2023/09/25
07:11 UTC

1

it bit me

2 Comments
2023/09/25
06:57 UTC

2

This fella on my bathroom wall in BC Canada, about half an inch long

1 Comment
2023/09/25
06:53 UTC

1

What is this bug and what the hell is it doing? (realtime & slowmo)

1 Comment
2023/09/25
06:42 UTC

1

What's this bug?

Any ideas?

3 Comments
2023/09/25
06:38 UTC

1

Arkansas, found at work. about 2.5 inches

0 Comments
2023/09/25
06:14 UTC

2

Was found on my dining room floor. Really small. Is it eggs or feces and from what?

2 Comments
2023/09/25
06:11 UTC

0

[montana] what sort of bug is this, closest we got so far was fitchia aptera (xpost with /r/insects and /r/whatisthis)

1 Comment
2023/09/25
06:07 UTC

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