There is this insect/arachnid I remember from my childhood in Las Vegas. It had a body about the size of a raisin, only it was quite flat. They were red with black spots (larger than ladybugs, but flatter), and the kids in the neighborhood called them "bloodsuckers" for some reason. (I have no idea if they bit or not.) I don't remember them flying, but I could be wrong about that. What insects were they? Scientific name or common name is fine, anything I can use to find out more info.
posted by ErWenn on Nov 7, 2009 - 13 answers

I'm home alone. Except I'm not. Please help me identify my new visitors. [more inside]
posted by xsquared-1 on Apr 28, 2009 - 11 answers

The cold weather seems to have caused horrible, alien looking bugs to invade our basement. They are fairly slow moving (unless startled) and look like spiders and grasshoppers mated to produce alien children. They are brown in color, have enormous, Daddy-long-legs type legs (but only six of them), and get pretty far off the ground when they jump. Can anyone tell me exactly what is sneaking up on me when I'm working at my desk at night? [more inside]
posted by roundrock on Nov 17, 2008 - 20 answers

Small pile of hundreds of insect/larvae carcasses found in home – should we be concerned? Have you ever encountered such a thing? [more inside]
posted by dreamphone on Nov 17, 2008 - 3 answers

What is this bug (1.5MB, 2848 x 2136 JPEGs), and should I be worried that I'm starting to see them in our home? [more inside]
posted by DakotaPaul on Feb 27, 2007 - 4 answers

Bug identification help; location: Texas. We found this half-inch bug walking on the wall in my son's bedroom. [more inside]
posted by zek on Oct 31, 2006 - 13 answers