Too Tiny to Tell

Some insects are too small to see the fine details necessary for identification. Listed below are some other characteristics that will help you identify the insects. In general no insect is smaller then a grain of salt, there are no such things as "invisible insects".

Check below on each of follow characteristics that apply: Fly, Jump, Bite, Found on Books, In Wet and Damp Areas, Has Feathery Antenna, Found in Potted Plants, Flying in Windows, Red eyes, Color pale, or Color Dark.

Insect Characteristics	Possible Suspects
Fly?	Fungus Gnat Midge Mosquito Parasitic Wasp Fruit Fly
Jump?	Flea Springtail
Bite?	Mosquito Flea
Found on Books	Booklice (psocids)
In Wet or Damp Areas	Fungus Gnats Mosquitoes Springtail Booklice/psocids (psocids)
Has Feathery Antenna	Midge Mosquito (male, does not bite)
Found in Potted Plants	Fungus Gnat Springtail
Flying at Windows	Fungus Gnat Midge Mosquito Parasitic Wasp Fruit Fly
Red Eyes	Fruit Fly
Color Pale	Fruit Fly Springtail Booklice (psocids)
Color Dark	Fungus Gnat Midge Mosquito Parasitic Wasp Flea

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Maintained by Eric R. Day
Manager, Insect Identification Laboratory
Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech

Revised 2/5/99

If you have questions or comments about this page, or notice errors, please contact my office at:

Insect Identification Lab
Department of Entomology
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0319

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