What is this insect?

Did you find an unusual looking insect in your yard or house? Maybe we can help you identify it. You can email our Grad Student Outreach Coordinators at entowork@life.illinois.edu with your questions, and we'll try to get you some answers.

Information to include in your email:

  • Where did you find it and when?
  • What does it look like (be as detailed as possible or attach a photograph)?
  • How big is it?
  • Where do you live?

Please note that we answer emails on a volunteer basis and receive many emails during the summer months. If you need a quick response, we recommend contacting your local extension office.

Bed Bugs

For questions regarding bed bugs, please consider reviewing information at: https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs

What's this big wasp?

giant ichneumonid wasp

We get a lot of questions about this giant ichneumonid wasp (Megarhyssa sp.) This female will use her long ovipositor to drill into wood and lay eggs on her host: siricid wood wasp larvae (Tremex spp.) She is incapable of stinging you with that long ovipositor.

Getting Bitten or Itchy and Not Sure Why!

Please consider downloading and reviewing this pdf from the Illinois Department of Public Health: "Prevention & Control: Biting Bugs or Something Else?".

The Entomology Department at the University of Kentucky also has a very informative webpage at https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/entfacts. Please review the information there and download and review their pdf "Invisible Itches: Insect and Non-Insect Causes".