Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab

Arthropod Samples in June 2012

Black Carpet Beetle (Dermestidae)

Scientific Name: Attagenus unicolor

black carpet beetle

Photo(s): Black carpet beetle, adult (top) and larvae (bot) Clemson University USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series.

Type: Household pest

Situation: Found in home

County: Davis

Fact Sheets: Colorado State University; University of California IPM


Hobo Spider (Agelenidae)

Scientific Name: Tegenaria agrestis

hobo eggs

hobo spider

Photo(s): Video and photos by Ryan Davis, Utah State University.

Type: Biting/Beneficial

Host: Various insects

County: Cache

Fact Sheets: Utah State University Extension


Carpenter Ant (Formicidae)

Scientific Name: Camponotus sayi

carpenter ant

carpenter ant

Photo(s): New York Carpenter Ant, April Nobile, Antweb.org

Type: Structural pest

Situation: In home

County: Davis

Fact Sheets: Utah State University Extension; University of Nebraska Lincoln


Plant Bug (Miridae)

Scientific Name: Plagiognathus sp.

plant bug

Photo(s): Adult sycamore plant bug, Marion Murray, Utah State University.

Type: Landscape ornamentals

Situation: On Honey Locust

County: Cache

Fact Sheets: Utah State University Pest Advisory Article


Winter Fern Tick (Ixodidae)

Scientific Name: Dermacentor albipictus

winter fern tick

Photo(s): Mat Pound, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org (Male on left, Female on right)

Host: Mammals

Situation: Brought home from hike

County: Salt Lake

Fact Sheets: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Minnesota; Colorado State University


Noctuid Larvae (Noctuidae)

Scientific Name: N/A

cutworm

cutworm

Photo(s): Joel Smith, Utah State University.

Type: Garden pest/turf (Larvae are "cutworms" that feed on leafy green plants such as lettuce)

Situation: Found in soil (early spring)

County: Cache/ Davis

Fact Sheets: Utah State University Extension


Indian Meal Moth (Pyralidae)

Scientific Name: Plodia interpunctella

indian meal moth

indian meal moth

indian meal moth

Photo(s): Clemson University, USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org;

Type: Stored food products pests

Situation: In home

County: Salt Lake, Cache

Fact Sheets: Utah State University


Masked Hunter (Reduviidae)

Scientific Name: Reduvius personatus

masked hunter

masked hunter

masked hunter

Photo(s): (1) & (2) Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org; (3) Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org

Type: Predatory Bugs, Biting insects, Beneficial

Host: Found in home

County: Cache

Fact Sheets: Penn State University; Michigan State University


Bird or Rat Mite (Dermanyssidae)

Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus or Dermanyssus

bird or rat mite

bird or rat mite

Photo(s):Ryan Davis, Utah State University; Marcelo de Campos Pereira, University of Sao Paulo

Type: Biting pest

Host: Found in home

County: Cache

Fact Sheets: Illinois Dept. of Public Health; University of Minnesota; Santa Barbara County


Scorpion (Vaejovidae)

Scientific Name: Paruroctonus sp.

Photo(s): Samuel Abbott, Utah State University

Type: Non-medical (Not poisonous)

Situation: In home

County: Utah

Fact Sheets: Utah State University


Blister Beetle (Meloidae)

Scientific Name: Epicauta fabricii

blister beetle

blister beetle

Photo(s): Adult blister beetle, Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org; (Right) Blister beetle adult, Ryan Davis, Utah State University.

Type: Blister beetle are highly toxic to horses if consumed in hay and can cause blisters and irritation if handled.

Situation: Alfalfa field

County: Washington

Fact Sheets: Colorado State University; University of Kentucky; University of Illinois IPM; North Dakota State University


Soft Scale (Coccidae)

Scientific Name: N/A

soft scale

Photo(s): Eugene E. Nelson, Bugwood.org

Type: Sucking Plant pest

Situation: Found on lime tree on campus

County: Cache

Fact Sheets: Utah State University Extension


Springtail (Collembola)

Scientific Name: N/A

springtail

springtail

Photo(s): (Left) Springtail with extended furcula, Jared Kunz, Utah State University; (Right) Springtails crawling through the soil, Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org.

Type: Tiny Nuisance

Situation: In home

County: Salt Lake

Fact Sheets: Colorado State University; University of California IPM


Figeater Beetle (Scarabaeidae)

Scientific Name: Cotinis mutabilis

figeater beetle

figeater beetle

Photo(s): Figeater beetle larvae, Ryan Davis, Utah State University; Adult figeater beetle, Wikipedia.com

Type: Beneficial (aids in decomposition); may damage ripe or overripe fruit.

Situation: Found in soil

County: Utah, Cache

Fact Sheets: Wikipedia; University of California IPM


Flour Beetle (Tenebrionidae)

Scientific Name: Tribolium sp

flour beetle

flour beetle

Photo(s): Ryan Davis, Utah State University

Type: Stored grain and food pests (not typically considered hive pests)

Situation: Found in beehive

County: Cache

Fact Sheets: University of Florida; Penn State


Thrips (Thysanoptera)

Scientific Name: N/A

thrips damage

thrips damage

thrips damage

thrips damage

thrips damage

thrips damage

Photo(s): Immature thrips and thrips damage and fecal spots on cucumber. Ryan Davis, Utah State University.

Type: Vegetable pest

Situation: On eggplant

County: Cache

Fact Sheets: Utah State University; University of California IPM


Blister Mites (Eriophyidae)

Scientific Name: N/A

blister mites

blister mites

blister mites

Photo(s): Damage from blister mites, Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org; Two photos: Mites on Apple leaf, Ryan Davis, Utah State University

Type: Fruit and Leaf-damaging pest

Situation: On Pear

County: Washington

Fact Sheets: Utah State University Extension


Comb-Footed Beetle (Tenebrionidae)

Scientific Name: Hymenorus sp.

For photos click HERE

Photos: BugGuide

Type: Structural

Situation: Found in home

County: Washington

Fact Sheets: None


*Links on the page are not intended as authoritative sources of management information. Established links allow users to view pictures of pests and find general biology and control information; for Utah-specific control recommendations please contact the Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab @ 435-797-2435. Pictures above are not always the exact species identified, but are representative photos of submitted samples.