What is this brown-bodied, red-headed, winged insect?
August 17, 2012 5:23 PM Subscribe
Another insect ID question: what's this thing that was in my NYC apartment? It might be a biting insect, but it's obviously not a bedbug.
As you can see from my Flickr photo, this tiny insect has a little red head, a long torso that's medium-brown with black stripes, pencil-thin legs, and small grey-ish wings.
It splattered a bit of brownish/orange-ish substance against the paper towel when I killed it.
The fact that it has wings means it is not a bedbug or louse.
My girlfriend has gotten bitten by something when she's stayed over here, so we're trying to figure out if this bug might be the culprit.
To be totally clear, I'm not asking for information about bedbugs here (even if those might be what are causing the bites). My only question is what the thing in the photo is. Thanks.
As you can see from my Flickr photo, this tiny insect has a little red head, a long torso that's medium-brown with black stripes, pencil-thin legs, and small grey-ish wings.
It splattered a bit of brownish/orange-ish substance against the paper towel when I killed it.
The fact that it has wings means it is not a bedbug or louse.
My girlfriend has gotten bitten by something when she's stayed over here, so we're trying to figure out if this bug might be the culprit.
To be totally clear, I'm not asking for information about bedbugs here (even if those might be what are causing the bites). My only question is what the thing in the photo is. Thanks.
Response by poster: It's significantly smaller than a typical house fly.
posted by John Cohen at 5:30 PM on August 17, 2012
posted by John Cohen at 5:30 PM on August 17, 2012
Best answer: IT'S A FRUITFLY.
Drosophila mumble mumble.
posted by Cold Lurkey at 5:31 PM on August 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
Drosophila mumble mumble.
posted by Cold Lurkey at 5:31 PM on August 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
Then I agree that it's a fruit fly. To be certain - where was it? How was it flying?
posted by crabintheocean at 5:33 PM on August 17, 2012
posted by crabintheocean at 5:33 PM on August 17, 2012
Response by poster: I agree it seems to be a fruit fly.
To be certain - where was it?
On the tile wall of my bathroom.
How was it flying?
Slowly.
posted by John Cohen at 5:35 PM on August 17, 2012
To be certain - where was it?
On the tile wall of my bathroom.
How was it flying?
Slowly.
posted by John Cohen at 5:35 PM on August 17, 2012
Lol it's just a fruit fly.
These little bastards are always drowning in my wine glass.
It probably hitchhiked in on your fruit.
posted by colinshark at 7:56 PM on August 17, 2012
These little bastards are always drowning in my wine glass.
It probably hitchhiked in on your fruit.
posted by colinshark at 7:56 PM on August 17, 2012
It's a fruit fly and they don't bite, so it is not the culprit.
posted by Anonymous at 6:00 AM on August 18, 2012
posted by Anonymous at 6:00 AM on August 18, 2012
I've also had fungus gnat's that looked like that. So if it's not around your fruit but around a potted plant...
posted by vegartanipla at 10:45 PM on August 18, 2012
posted by vegartanipla at 10:45 PM on August 18, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by crabintheocean at 5:26 PM on August 17, 2012