What are these gross little bugs?

September 3, 2007 11:25 PM

BugIdentificationFilter: What are these creepy-crawlies in my apartment?

So my boyfriend and I were getting ready for bed when I noticed a couple of these little bugs on the wall above my bed. Boyfriend was nice enough to kill them, then I noticed more. We've seen over a dozen in the past 10 minutes. Any idea what the hell they are?

The living situation: I live in New Orleans on the third floor of an old house-turned-apartment building. Been here about two months. No pets. I have the usual cockroaches and had a minor mouse problem. It's a studio apartment and the crawlies seem to be localized on the wall near the bed and nightstand. It's about as far away from the kitchen and bathroom as you can get. Never noticed them before tonight.

The bugs: They seem to crawl sideways and upwards. About a quarter-inch long. They also fly.

posted by radioamy to home & garden (13 comments total)

Why do pictures show up in preview but not post? Sorry, it's 1am and this is a little hasty.

Pic 1

Pic 2
posted by radioamy at 11:27 PM on September 3, 2007

It looks like a leafhoppery-type-of-thing.
posted by univac at 2:17 AM on September 4, 2007

silverfish?
posted by zardoz at 2:27 AM on September 4, 2007

They're not silverfish, having had the misfortune of living in an infested apartment in the past.
posted by maxwelton at 4:28 AM on September 4, 2007

They remind me of clothes moths. I don't think that that's what they are though, but it's hard to tell from the pics. :)
posted by Solomon at 5:40 AM on September 4, 2007

Springtails?
posted by jet_silver at 5:42 AM on September 4, 2007

Not Springtails.. they are typically smaller than ants and they "jump" as opposed to flying.
posted by odi.et.amo at 6:15 AM on September 4, 2007

Another vote for leafhopper.
posted by malaprohibita at 8:40 AM on September 4, 2007

Why would leafhoppers be hanging out in my apartment? Are they ever light brown in color?
posted by radioamy at 8:44 AM on September 4, 2007

Looks like a planthopper to me.

It is quite similar in appearance to Stenocranus lautus.

They are sap feeders, so there is no need to kill them.
posted by nobodyyouknow at 9:29 AM on September 4, 2007

Why would leafhoppers be hanging out in my apartment?

Whenever I get them in my apartment, it's almost always at night; I think they normally live in the trees near my apartment, but after dark they're attracted by the light source. The little buggers are small enough to fit through the holes in the screens, too. I don't think there's too much that can be done about them unless you want to leave your windows closed all the time.
posted by Johnny Assay at 10:07 AM on September 4, 2007

That would make sense, as the wall is adjacent to windows...I never open the windows but they are not sealed well at all.
posted by radioamy at 11:44 AM on September 4, 2007

Y'all linking to bugguide.net was great - I posted it there and they agree that it is a leafhopper.
posted by radioamy at 11:52 AM on September 4, 2007