Insect ID: Found on a Pet or other Animal (or associated with them; e.g. bedding and feeding areas)
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- A pair of Black Carpet Beetles and two carpet beetle larvae
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- Larder Beetle larva
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- Larder Beetle larvae
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- Larder Beetle (Dermestes lardarius)
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- Larder Beetle (Dermestes lardarius)
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- Deer Fly (their larvae are aquatic)
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- Deer Flies (additional examples)
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- Four-lined Silverfish (Ctenolepisma lineatum)
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- Firebrat
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- Fleas (Cat Flea shown here)
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- Horse Fly
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- Horse Fly
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- Horse Flies (additional examples)
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- House Fly larvae
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- House Fly
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- Meal Moth (Pyralis farinalis) (central Maine; 5/3/2021)
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- Meal Moth (Pyralis farinalis) (central Maine; 5/11/2021)
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- Meal Moth (Pyralis farinalis) (resting on a bathroom wall with its abdomen curved up and out for more effective pheromone dispersal; central Maine; 5/10/2021)
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- Pantry Moth / Flour Moth (Plodia interpunctella)
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- Magnified view of a mature Pantry Moth / Flour Moth larva
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- Pantry Moth / Flour Moth (Plodia interpunctella) (newly-emerged; 4/23/2021)
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- Pantry Moth / Flour Moth (Plodia interpunctella)
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- Mealworms (larvae and adults) (Found in areas with dry dog or cat food)
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- Stable Fly
Additional Photos and Information:
- Carpet Beetles (including Larder Beetles and their larvae which are often found in or near a pet’s food and water dishes feeding on any tiny crumbs that are left behind)
- Chiggers (University of Kentucky)
- Deer Flies
- Firebrats (in warm places where dog or cat food is stored)
- Fleas
- Horse Flies
- House Flies— see also our page for Cluster Flies, because they look so similar.
- Larder Beetles and their larvae (Found in or near a pet’s food or food dishes)
- Meal Moths (their larvae will infest alfalfa, clover, and stored grains found in the cages of hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, etc.) (BugGuide.net)
- Mealworms (often found in areas with dry dog or cat food)
- Pantry Moth / Indian Meal Moth (their larvae often infest bird seed, hamster food, etc.)
- Stable Flies (University of Florida)
- Non-insect Possibilities:
- Spiders
- Ticks
- Mites:
- Bird Mites [will bite people in the absence of their bird host(s)] (University of Minnesota Extension) See also: Bird Mites (NC State Univ.)
- Straw Itch Mites (Can hitch a ride on a pet that has been outdoors) (NC State Univ.) | Straw Itch Mite photo (Bugwood.org – Univ. of Georgia)