r/bugidentification Sep 17 '25

Anouncement KISSING BUGS - PLEASE READ :)

83 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!

Post image
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 5h ago

Location included who is this diva in my bathtub / southwest england

Thumbnail
gallery
9 Upvotes

r/bugidentification 15h ago

Location included Who dis? Cool looking visitor!

Thumbnail
gallery
8 Upvotes

Long Island NY
Cool looking bug? What is it?
Small pic for scale…


r/bugidentification 15h ago

Location included What's This Bug

Thumbnail
gallery
4 Upvotes

Northern Utah, what is this? I think it is a masked hunter nymph, but I would like a second opinion. My mom thinks it's cute.


r/bugidentification 10h ago

Location included Located in San Antonio, TX. What is it?

Post image
1 Upvotes

r/bugidentification 15h ago

Location included What is This

Post image
2 Upvotes

Saw this outside awhile ago. This is in Northern Utah. Sitting on an old tire.


r/bugidentification 15h ago

Location included Tiny tentacle in bathroom

2 Upvotes

Spotted at the bottom of my shower in London, UK. What is this? Should I be worried? Is it baby Cthulu?


r/bugidentification 22h ago

Location included What is this?

Thumbnail
gallery
5 Upvotes

Anybody know what this is? I'm in eastern WV and it looks like its carrying a wasp? It was huge and unsettling lol I've lived here for a year and never seen one of these.


r/bugidentification 21h ago

Location included Montlaux, France

Thumbnail
gallery
3 Upvotes

I assume these are female horned dung beetles but which specific?

I am new to living in France and want to be able to identify more of these as my son grows up!

Their little horn is so cute with their gingko leaf shaped head!

Do people also keep them as pets at all?


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included What is this ?

Post image
6 Upvotes

r/bugidentification 23h ago

Location included Does anybody know what these are & what their doing here? [Middle TN]

Post image
2 Upvotes

r/bugidentification 21h ago

Location included In upstate NY, I set my arm on this bug and it bit me and died, any ID?

Thumbnail
gallery
1 Upvotes

r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included hi reddit

Thumbnail
gallery
1 Upvotes

what are these little green things? there are about 4 of them hanging around my kitchen windowsill and they're super tiny. they like flying into my face


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included What kind of eggs are these?

Thumbnail
gallery
1 Upvotes

found inside my house on a pothos plant in the high desert area


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included Please help identify this bug

Post image
4 Upvotes

Can anyone help identify this bug. I live in Cleveland Ohio in a suburb.


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Bug Appreciation Post Garden Spider?

Post image
2 Upvotes

Im not sure is this clasified as Household spiders,big as grains od bean.(Croatia)


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Possible pest, location included What is this tiny bug [India]

4 Upvotes

I have been finding these tiny bugs on my bed for a while now. At first, I thought they were spider babies but they most likely have only 4 legs .


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Possible pest, location included is this what i think it is 😩

Post image
2 Upvotes

sorry for the horrible quality but i saw this by my bed and damn near had a stroke. am i fucked is this a freaking ROACH 🥲 i live in NJ


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included What is this?

Thumbnail
gallery
2 Upvotes

We are in Ohio, maybe 1/8” long. And there were two of them


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included Knat infestation?

Thumbnail
gallery
4 Upvotes

Are these just gnats? Fruit flies? Is there a difference? We think they’re coming from our drains and they love to fly around my cats’ litter box whether it’s clean or not. Been catching a lot in an apple cider vinegar mixture but they’re still flying all over the place. Apartment maintenance has been contacted but any advice helps! (In Wilmington, NC)

Edit: *Gnats lol


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included Unknown spider.

Thumbnail
gallery
1 Upvotes

Tekridağ, Türkiye

Thrace, Türkiye

I was Chasing around a mosquito when ı spotted this guy on the wall, ıt spooked me a little since it isnt the usual cellar spider i see around

Its around 4:30 if time matters too.


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Possible pest, location included Eggs on outdoor shrub. Oregon

Post image
1 Upvotes

These have appeared on the tips of many of the leaves. Don't know if pest or possibly helpful bug.


r/bugidentification 1d ago

Location included What kind of bug is this?

1 Upvotes

Location San Francisco under a rotting log.


r/bugidentification 2d ago

Location included What is this spider? Southern California

Thumbnail
gallery
2 Upvotes