Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab

Arthropod Samples in August 2013

Cynipid Gall Wasp

Scientific Name: N/A

gall wasp

gall wasp

Photo(s): Ryan Davis USU

Type: Plant pest

Host: found on oak tree

County: Wasatch

Fact Sheets: Forestry Images


Spider Mites (Tetranychidae)

Scientific Name: N/A

spider mite

spider mite

spider mite

spider mite

Photo(s): Milan Zubrik, Forest Research Institute- Slovakia, Bugwood.org; John A. Weidhass, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org; Ryan Davis, Utah State University

Type: Plant Pest

Situation: In building entry way

County: Salt Lake

Fact Sheets: Penn State University; Colorado State University


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


Grass Spider (Agelenidae)

Scientific Name: N/A

grass spider

grass spider

grass spider

Photo(s): Samuel Abbott, Utah State University

Type: Non-medical, Beneficial

Situation: Found in home

County: Cache

Fact Sheets: University of Kentucky; Penn State; bugguide images


Flea Beetle (Chrysomelidae)

Scientific Name: Altica sp.

flea beetle

flea beetle

Photo(s): Western Black Flea Beetle, Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org; Johnny Dell, insectimages.org.

Type: Landscape plant pest

Situation: On side of home

County: Beaver

Fact Sheets: Colorado State University; ATTRA(organic); University of Minnesota


Pyralid Cone Moth (Pyralidae)

Scientific Name: Dioryctria sp.

pyralid cone moth

pyralid cone moth

pyralid cone moth

pyralid cone moth

Photo(s): Seth M. Drury, Utah State University; Larry R. Barber, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org.

Type: Plant pest

Situation: Found infesting austrian pine cones

County: Utah

Fact Sheets: Penn State


Drywood Termite (kalotermitidae)

Scientific Name: N/A

drywood termite

Photo(s): Mohammed El Damir, Pest Management, Bugwood.org

Type: Structural pest.

Situation: In House

County: Washigton

Fact Sheets: Utah State University, Lyme Disease Tick Survey; UCIPM Drywood Termites


Stink Bug (Pentatomidae)

Scientific Name: Holcostethus sp.

stink bug

Photo(s): Adult Holcostethus sp, Jared Kunz, Utah State University.

Type: Plant pest

Situation: In garden

County: Carbon

Fact Sheets: Utah State University Newsletter; Utah State University; University of California IPM


Long-horned Beetle (Cerambycidae)

Scientific Name: Prionus sp.

long-horned beetle

long-horned beetle

long-horned beetle

Photo(s): Donald Owen, California Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection, Bugwood.org; Steven Valley, Oregon Dept. of Agriculture, Bugwood.org; Jerry Payne, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org.

Type: Root-boring pest

Situation: In home

County: Lincoln (NV)

Fact Sheets: Utah State University Extension; Oklahoma State Universtiy


Root Weevil: (Curculionidae)

Scientific Name: Otiorhynchus spp.

root weevil

root weevil

Photo(s): Rocky Mountain Weevil larvae, Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org.

Type: Fruit/ornamental pest

Situation: In home

County: Cache

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


Wolf Spider (Lyxosidae)

Scientific Name: N/A

wolf spider

wolf spider

wolf spider

Photo(s): Adult wolf spider carrying her young, Circumjacence, Wikipedia.org.(Middle) Characteristic eight eye pattern, Jared Kunz, Utah State University; Wolf spider, Eugene E. Nelson, Bugwood.org;

Type: Biting/Beneficial

Situation: Found in home

County: Wayne

Fact Sheets: University of California IPM; Colorado State University Extension


Bumble Flower Beetle (Scarabaeidae)

Scientific Name: Euphoria sp.

bumble beetle

bumble beetle

bumble beetle

Photo(s): Merle Shepard, Bugwood.org

Type: Beneficial predatory insect

Situation: On corn and on peach

County: Cache

Fact Sheets: Utah State University Extension; Images


Yellowjacket (Vespidae)

Scientific Name: Vespula pensylvanica

yellow jacket

yellow jacket

yellow jacket

Photo(s): (2 images) Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org; Jim Baker, North Carolina State University, Bugwood.org - Yellowjacket (left) and Bald-faced hornet (right)

Type: Beneficial, stinging pest

Situation: People stung at bus stop

County: Sevier

Fact Sheets: Utah State University Extension; Univeristy of California IPM; West virginia University Extension


Carpet Beetle (Dermestidae)

Scientific Name: Anthrenus sp.

carpet beetle

carpet beetle

Photo(s): Black carpet beetle adult and larvae, Clemson University, USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org; Carpet beetle larva and shed skin, Jared Kunz, Utah State University.

Type: Stored food, structural.

Situation: In Home

County: Davis

Fact Sheets: University of Florida; Penn State; University of California IPM


Rose Stem Girdler (Buprestidae)

Scientific Name: Agrilus cuprescens

rose stem girdler

rose stem girdler

rose stem girdler

Photo(s): Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University; James W.Armine Jr, West Virginia University, Bugwood.org.

Type: Plant pest

Situation: Found on a raspberry

County: Cache

Fact Sheets: Utah State University News


Cobweb Spider (Theridiidae)

Scientific Name: Blissus sp.

cobweb spider

cobweb spider

Photo(s): Univ. of Wisconsin Dept. of Ent. Bugwood.org, Colorado State Univ. Whitney Cranshaw.

Type: Predator Beneficial

Situation: In Home

County: Salt Lake

Fact Sheets: Fact Sheet Univ. CA Davis; Fact Sheet Virginia Tech; Images Univ. CA Irvine; Images Bugguide; Fact Sheet Penn State Univ.


Fungus Gnat (Sciaridae)

Scientific Name: N/A

fungus gnat

fungus gnat

Photo(s): David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org

Type: Feed on fungi and decomposing organic matter

Situation: Found in greenhouse

County: Summit

Fact Sheets: Utah State University Extension; Utah State University Entomology; Colorado State University Extension


Two-spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychidae)

Scientific Name: Tetranychis urticae

spider mite

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

Type: Plant pest

Situation: Found on eggplant

County: Cache

Fact Sheets: Utah State University


Crevice Weaving Spider (Filistatidae)

Scientific Name: Kukulcania sp

crevice weeving spider

crevice weeving spider

Photo(s): Edward Manigault, Clemson University Donated Collection, Bugwood.org; Sturgis McKeever, Georgia Southern University, Bugwood.org

Type: Beneficial

Situation: In home

County: Lincoln (NV)

Fact Sheets: University of Florida


Hunting Billbug: (Curculionidae)

Scientific Name: Sphenophorus venatus

hunting billbug

hunting billbug

Photo(s): Rocky mountain weevil adult (Sphenophorus cicatristriatus), Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org; Rocky Mountain Weevil larvae (looks similar to hunting billbug larva), Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org.

Type: Turfgrass

Situation: Turfgrass

County: Salt Lake

Fact Sheets: Utah State Unversity Extension; Colorado State University

*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.