CLOSED: Termite(?) with wiggly butt

Waldorf, MD

Sorry for bad lighting.

I bought a bag of worm castings that was littered with some kind of white/clear eggs. I suspect they hatched these guys.

Very small bug, but still easily visible, looks like a skinny ant/termite. Can't tell if he has wings, but their back half is real wiggly, able to bend and twist around 90 degrees.

Is this a bad bug? Currently just on tomatoes but I added the worm poop to peppers as well.

Thank you!

This message was edited Jul 19, 2022 2:42 PM

Thumbnail by Dorkmaster Thumbnail by Dorkmaster Thumbnail by Dorkmaster
Minot, ND

This is a rove beetle (family Staphylinidae). The vast majority of these are general predators on other small arthropods; some live as 'guests' in ant colonies. Nearly all are harmless, but some species in the genus Paederus can give off a chemical that can cause skin bllstering and eye irritation - see https://www.aocd.org/page/PaederusDermatitis

Waldorf, MD

You're a wild man, flap doodle.

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
BACK TO TOP