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Anyone know what kind of tiny beetle / bug this is?

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

I've been finding these dark, small (5 mm) bugs/beetles walking in random places inside my home. My recent finds included one walking on the sofa in the living room. That was five weeks ago and I haven't seen one since. Until today. Now suddenly, I found three in the span of one hour! The first one walked over my monitor screen. I took it out, but after a while I spotted a second one walking on the nearby wall. And lastly, after yet a little while, I spotted the third one on the ceiling right above my head.

I have no idea why they all showed up at around the same time! Especially since it was 5 weeks since I saw the last one.

I've been googling around for an hour trying to find an image match, but haven't found anything that looks like this one. The shape and colour of the bug is very peculiar; it has a very tear-drop shaped body, dark brown on top but with light-brown (almost yellow) feet.

First I thought it might be a weevil, but weevils seem to be both

a) chubbier

b) this bug doesn't have that thick of a "snout" in front (for the lack of
a better word). It does have a very thin snout between its antennae,
but it's certainly not as thick as the weevils have (at least on all the
photos I've seen). Unless it could be some specific weevil breed?

Any ideas would be much appreciated!

PS. I live in the UK, in case that helps with identification.

Underside:

Top side:

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Comments (6)

Jean
6 years ago
You live where?
PRO
The Logician LLC
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Lives in the UK per other forum. Both images show the underside, making ID more difficult. The shape and extremities are more like a true plant bug than like a beetle (including weevils). We need a picture of the upper side rather than a silhouette. Refrigerating briefly allows for better posing.

Try this:

https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/gallery_het.html

(clicking on any image in a group gets an expanded gallery for that group)
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idabr
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you, I will have a look at the link.

The second image is certainly the top side, not the underside. It was literally walking around on the table, as I had temporarily placed it there to take the photo. Admitted, it's not a very good photo, mainly because I only had a phone to take it with but also because it moved very quickly, causing blurriness.

Unfortunately I've already taken them out so can't refrigerate. Will keep that in mind the next time I see one.
PRO
The Logician LLC
6 years ago
OK, gave the second image a closer look. I think this is a middle (2,3,4) instar plant bug nymph; the above link mostly shows adult bugs.
idabr
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Thanks!
I'll have a look online if I could find a photo of an instar plant bug nymph. Earlier, I did already find an image showing the nymph stages of the 'kissing bug', and my bug (at least to me) looks a lot like the 2nd nymphal instar:

http://www.wrdw.com/home/headlines/Health-officials-Deadly-kissing-bug-reported-in-Georgia-353134901.html

But considering these should not normally exist in the UK (according to a quick google search, at least) I doubt it's the kissing bug! But still, there's a lot of similarities -- dark brown colour, tear-drop shaped body, fairly short antennae and dark orange legs. I think the biggest difference is, however, that kissing bugs don't have that anteanna-like snout that my bug has.
PRO
The Logician LLC
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Kissing bug has a different head structure at all stages. Your bug has its proboscis extended, this is normally a feeding posture but might be a reaction to a strange environment (jar). Many plant bugs have this proboscis, often tucked away. Beetles do not; they have different mouth/feeding parts and sometimes pincers.

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