Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab
Arthropod Samples in June 2012
Black Carpet Beetle (Dermestidae)
Scientific Name: Attagenus unicolor
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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