| "Snug as a ___ in a rug" |  |  | 
          
            | Software flaw | Newsday | 28 Sep 2025 | 
          
            | *Common term for a glitch in a program, and something you'd hear often in tech jargon |  |  | 
          
            | Eavesdrop on an insect (3) | Mirror Cryptic | 15 Sep 2025 | 
          
            | Harass (3) | Mirror Quick | 15 Sep 2025 | 
          
            | Cockroach or cicada, for one |  |  | 
          
            | Glitch | Eugene Sheffer | 10 Sep 2025 | 
          
            | Small insect, like a beetle |  |  | 
          
            | Glitch | Eugene Sheffer | 04 Sep 2025 | 
          
            | Tributary of the Narew River forming part of Poland's border with Belarus and Ukraine (3) | Mirror Quiz | 27 Jul 2025 | 
          
            | Program error | Thomas Joseph | 11 Jul 2025 | 
          
            | Plant a microphone, which will annoy one (3) |  |  | 
          
            | Gremlin, glitch (3) |  |  | 
          
            | Insect | The Sun Two Speed | 19 Jun 2025 | 
          
            | Glitch | Eugene Sheffer | 19 Jun 2025 | 
          
            | Software problem to irritate | The Sun Two Speed | 19 Jun 2025 | 
          
            | Insect, especially one that infests houses and beds (3) |  |  | 
          
            | For listening in secretly to a Fontaines DC single (3) |  |  | 
          
            | A small insect; annoy or pester someone (3) |  |  | 
          
            | Harry; earwig, e.g. | The Telegraph Cross Atlantic | 29 May 2025 | 
          
            | Issue for a programmer |  |  | 
          
            | Tributary of the Narew River forming part of Poland's border with Belarus and Ukraine | Mirror Quiz | 13 May 2025 | 
          
            | Computer program glitch ... or with 17a, a spotted insect |  |  | 
          
            | Listen in on a germ (3) |  |  | 
          
            | Computer system error |  |  | 
          
            | Insect | Commuter | 18 Apr 2025 | 
          
            | Virus (3) | Puzzler | 06 Apr 2025 | 
          
            | Insect eyed as a monster? (3) |  |  | 
          
            | The Love ____, VW Beetle adventure film | The Telegraph Cross Atlantic | 06 Mar 2025 | 
          
            | It will enable one to listen secretly and annoy one (3) |  |  | 
          
            | Town | New York Times | 02 Mar 2025 | 
          
            | Crash cause, sometimes | Wall Street Journal | 20 Feb 2025 | 
          
            | The flu or a fly, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Secret listening device (3) |  |  | 
          
            | Disease-producing germ, informally (3) |  |  | 
          
            | It may annoy one to put in a listening device (3) |  |  | 
          
            | What you're building in a game of "Cootie" |  |  | 
          
            | Coder's concern | LA Times Daily | 18 Jan 2025 | 
          
            | Harass | Mirror Quick | 09 Jan 2025 | 
          
            | Eavesdrop on an insect | Mirror Cryptic | 09 Jan 2025 | 
          
            | Small insect |  |  | 
          
            | Electronic listening device |  |  | 
          
            | Annoy (sl) (3) |  |  | 
          
            | A harmful microorganism, typically a bacterium |  |  | 
          
            | Coding problem | USA Today | 01 Nov 2024 | 
          
            | Crawling insect |  |  | 
          
            | Insect. slangily | Newsday | 30 Oct 2024 | 
          
            | Beta tester's discovery |  |  | 
          
            | Creepy-crawly | Puzzler Backwords | 20 Oct 2024 | 
          
            | *Common term for a glitch in a program, and something you'd hear often in tech jargon |  |  | 
          
            | App issue | LA Times Daily | 04 Oct 2024 | 
          
            | Small insect, like a beetle |  |  | 
          
            | Programming problem | Wall Street Journal | 19 Sep 2024 | 
          
            | Annoy or pester (3) |  |  | 
          
            | Program error | Thomas Joseph | 03 Sep 2024 | 
          
            | "Snug as a ___ in a rug" |  |  | 
          
            | Pest, maybe, but a good listener? (3) |  |  | 
          
            | Software code error (3) |  |  | 
          
            | Software glitch | USA Today | 25 Jun 2024 | 
          
            | App glitch | USA Today | 12 Jun 2024 | 
          
            | Program error | Thomas Joseph | 10 Jun 2024 | 
          
            | Flu or fly | LA Times Daily | 31 May 2024 | 
          
            | Software error |  |  | 
          
            | Glitch | Eugene Sheffer | 16 May 2024 | 
          
            | Insect in the order Hemiptera (3) |  |  | 
          
            | Glitch | Eugene Sheffer | 22 Apr 2024 | 
          
            | Insect | USA Today | 16 Apr 2024 | 
          
            | Insect | Commuter | 08 Apr 2024 | 
          
            | Word after lightning or stink | New York Times Mini | 15 Mar 2024 | 
          
            | Listening device might make one ill (3) |  |  | 
          
            | Concern for a coder |  |  | 
          
            | Problem with the code |  |  | 
          
            | Glitch | Eugene Sheffer | 13 Feb 2024 | 
          
            | Flu or other illness (colloq) (3) |  |  | 
          
            | A craze (colloq) (3) |  |  | 
          
            | A word for an object of dread originally, later a creepy-crawly or minibeast; a harmful micro-organism or viral disease; a gremlin in a computer system; or, a miniature microphone, hidden for secret e |  |  | 
          
            | Tributary of the Narew River forming part of Poland's border with both Belarus and Ukraine | Mirror Quiz | 09 Jan 2024 | 
          
            | Small insect |  |  | 
          
            | What word can describe an illness, an insect and a listening device? (3) |  |  | 
          
            | Needle damaged non-metal tubing? (3) |  |  | 
          
            | Passion |  |  | 
          
            | Creepy critter |  |  | 
          
            | Cricket or grasshopper | Family Time | 31 Jul 2023 | 
          
            | Firefly, for example | USA Today | 09 Jul 2023 | 
          
            | Software glitch | USA Today | 11 Jun 2023 | 
          
            | Annoy | Newsday | 02 Jun 2023 | 
          
            | Programming error | Thomas Joseph | 23 May 2023 | 
          
            | Software defect | The Times Concise | 16 Apr 2023 | 
          
            | Coding flaw, say |  |  | 
          
            | Coding flaw | Universal | 31 Mar 2023 | 
          
            | Glitch | Eugene Sheffer | 23 Mar 2023 | 
          
            | Cricket or beetle, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | "Snug as a ___ in a rug" |  |  | 
          
            | Glitch | Eugene Sheffer | 17 Jan 2023 | 
          
            | Brazilian treehopper, for one | Family Time | 05 Dec 2022 | 
          
            | Software glitch | LA Times Daily | 17 Nov 2022 | 
          
            | Program error | The Times Concise | 23 Sep 2022 | 
          
            | Raid target | Wall Street Journal | 21 Sep 2022 | 
          
            | App glitch | The Washington Post | 11 Jun 2022 | 
          
            | App glitch | LA Times Daily | 11 Jun 2022 | 
          
            | Gaming glitch |  |  | 
          
            | Pester | Canadiana | 23 May 2022 | 
          
            | Creepy crawler |  |  | 
          
            | Thing that might crawl on your neck | Family Time | 10 Apr 2022 | 
          
            | Listening device | Canadiana | 28 Feb 2022 | 
          
            | Listening device | LA Times Daily | 16 Feb 2022 | 
          
            | Listening device | The Washington Post | 16 Feb 2022 | 
          
            | Programming error | Thomas Joseph | 07 Feb 2022 | 
          
            | Record - the type that will make you sick | Irish Times Crosaire | 05 Feb 2022 | 
          
            | Beetle, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Creepy-crawly | Universal | 20 Dec 2021 | 
          
            | Glitch | Eugene Sheffer | 29 Nov 2021 | 
          
            | "Snug as a ___ in a rug" |  |  | 
          
            | Glitch | Eugene Sheffer | 22 Jul 2021 | 
          
            | Entomology specimen | Wall Street Journal | 13 Jul 2021 | 
          
            | Irritate | Universal | 23 Jun 2021 | 
          
            | "Lady" beetle |  |  | 
          
            | Cricket or Brazilian treehopper, for example | Family Time | 09 May 2021 | 
          
            | Glitch | Eugene Sheffer | 19 Mar 2021 | 
          
            | Generic crawler | Newsday | 13 Mar 2021 | 
          
            | Annoy | The Times Concise | 22 Nov 2020 | 
          
            | Ant or beetle | Premier Sunday | 06 Sep 2020 | 
          
            | Computer program's glitch |  |  | 
          
            | Computer program glitch |  |  | 
          
            | A small insect in lime from Belgium | Irish Times Crosaire | 06 Jun 2020 | 
          
            | Software glitch | LA Times Daily | 25 May 2020 | 
          
            | Software glitch | The Washington Post | 25 May 2020 | 
          
            | Take heroin away from neighbour with infection | Irish Times Crosaire | 23 May 2020 | 
          
            | Programming glitch | USA Today | 04 May 2020 | 
          
            | Programming glitch | LA Times Daily | 24 Mar 2020 | 
          
            | Programming glitch | The Washington Post | 24 Mar 2020 | 
          
            | Computer glitch |  |  | 
          
            | Computer program glitch |  |  | 
          
            | Small insect, like an ant |  |  | 
          
            | Fault in program | The Telegraph Quick | 27 Dec 2019 | 
          
            | Programmer's problem | New York Times | 05 Dec 2019 | 
          
            | Programmer's problem |  |  | 
          
            | Annoy; insect | The Telegraph Quick | 30 Nov 2019 | 
          
            | Irritate | Canadiana | 14 Oct 2019 | 
          
            | Creepy-crawly | USA Today | 31 May 2019 | 
          
            | Irk | New York Times | 07 Apr 2019 | 
          
            | Spy's plant | USA Today | 27 Mar 2019 | 
          
            | Cricket or beetle, e.g | Family Time | 11 Feb 2019 | 
          
            | Coding flaw | Newsday | 10 Jan 2019 | 
          
            | Creepy-crawly |  |  | 
          
            | Annoy |  |  | 
          
            | Irk |  |  | 
          
            | Spy's plant |  |  | 
          
            | Programming glitch |  |  | 
          
            | Small insect |  |  | 
          
            | Programming error | Thomas Joseph | 22 Oct 2018 | 
          
            | Cricket or ant | Family Time | 30 Sep 2018 | 
          
            | Snug rug inhabitant | New York Times | 05 Sep 2018 | 
          
            | Computer glitch | New York Times | 06 Aug 2018 | 
          
            | Software glitch | USA Today | 08 Jun 2018 | 
          
            | Tap defect | The Telegraph Toughie | 01 Jun 2018 | 
          
            | Insect | The Telegraph Quick | 31 May 2018 | 
          
            | Agent involved in spying? It makes you sick! |  |  | 
          
            | Obsession | Newsday | 20 Jan 2018 | 
          
            | Program error | Thomas Joseph | 19 Jan 2018 | 
          
            | Software problem | Jonesin | 09 Jan 2018 | 
          
            | Software glitch |  |  | 
          
            | Computer glitch |  |  | 
          
            | Snug rug inhabitant |  |  | 
          
            | Planted microphone | USA Today | 18 Nov 2017 | 
          
            | Victim of a patio zapper | Wall Street Journal | 31 Jul 2017 | 
          
            | Insect | Family Time | 17 Jul 2017 | 
          
            | Pesky thing | Universal | 15 Apr 2017 | 
          
            | Take heroin away from neighbour with virus | Irish Times Crosaire | 08 Apr 2017 | 
          
            | Computer program glitch | New York Times | 20 Mar 2017 | 
          
            | Software problem | New York Times | 14 Feb 2017 | 
          
            | Wiretapper's plant | USA Today | 11 Feb 2017 | 
          
            | Eavesdropper's plant | USA Today | 20 Jan 2017 | 
          
            | Pesky thing |  |  | 
          
            | Planted microphone |  |  | 
          
            | Eavesdropper's plant |  |  | 
          
            | Software glitch |  |  | 
          
            | Computer program glitch |  |  | 
          
            | Software problem |  |  | 
          
            | Insect | The Times Concise | 11 Oct 2016 | 
          
            | Hidden mike | Premier Sunday | 31 Jul 2016 | 
          
            | Wiretapper's device | Universal | 29 Jul 2016 | 
          
            | Bother | New York Times | 24 Jul 2016 | 
          
            | Micro-organism | The Guardian Speedy | 26 Jun 2016 | 
          
            | Insect or defect in a computer program | Irish Times Simplex | 07 Jun 2016 | 
          
            | Annoy | Wall Street Journal | 25 Apr 2016 | 
          
            | Programmer's headache | Universal | 21 Mar 2016 | 
          
            | Drive nuts | The Washington Post | 09 Feb 2016 | 
          
            | App glitch | Newsday | 28 Jan 2016 | 
          
            | Software issue | LA Times Daily | 14 Jan 2016 | 
          
            | Raid target | Wall Street Journal | 09 Jan 2016 | 
          
            | Bother |  |  | 
          
            | Software issue |  |  | 
          
            | Wiretapper's device |  |  | 
          
            | Raid target |  |  | 
          
            | Pester | Thomas Joseph | 16 Dec 2015 | 
          
            | Spy's favorite plant? | LA Times Daily | 22 Nov 2015 | 
          
            | Computer program glitch | USA Today | 16 Nov 2015 | 
          
            | Wiretap | Eugene Sheffer | 22 Oct 2015 | 
          
            | Insect or computer program defect | Irish Times Simplex | 15 Oct 2015 | 
          
            | Volkswagen Type 1, familiarly | LA Times Daily | 14 Oct 2015 | 
          
            | Annoy | Eugene Sheffer | 04 Jul 2015 | 
          
            | Computer program glitch | LA Times Daily | 11 May 2015 | 
          
            | Micro-organism found in creepy-crawly? |  |  | 
          
            | Sickness cause | Eugene Sheffer | 26 Mar 2015 | 
          
            | Program interruption? | Universal | 06 Mar 2015 | 
          
            | Wire-tapping device | Universal | 25 Jan 2015 | 
          
            | Volkswagen Type 1, familiarly |  |  | 
          
            | Cockroach or cicada |  |  | 
          
            | '88 Dinosaur Jr. album about an insect? |  |  | 
          
            | Wire-tapping device |  |  | 
          
            | Spy's favorite plant? |  |  | 
          
            | Computer program glitch |  |  | 
          
            | Computer program glitch |  |  | 
          
            | Program interruption? |  |  | 
          
            | Plumb ugly housing tap |  |  | 
          
            | Irritate |  |  | 
          
            | Surveillance device |  |  | 
          
            | Wiretap |  |  | 
          
            | '88 Dinosaur Jr. album |  |  | 
          
            | Locust or fly |  |  | 
          
            | Flu or fly |  |  | 
          
            | Wiretapping device |  |  | 
          
            | Eat at |  |  | 
          
            | Annoy, so to speak |  |  | 
          
            | Virus, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Beta tester's find, maybe |  |  | 
          
            | Eat at |  |  | 
          
            | Windshield casualty |  |  | 
          
            | Flu |  |  | 
          
            | Passion, informally |  |  | 
          
            | Eavesdropper's aid |  |  | 
          
            | Programmer's problem |  |  | 
          
            | Creepy-crawly |  |  | 
          
            | Annoy |  |  | 
          
            | Software flaw |  |  | 
          
            | Creepy-crawly |  |  | 
          
            | Spy device dropped into each of the theme entries |  |  | 
          
            | Needle |  |  | 
          
            | Annoy |  |  | 
          
            | Flu or fly |  |  | 
          
            | Program problem |  |  | 
          
            | Pester |  |  | 
          
            | Volkswagen model's nickname |  |  | 
          
            | Programmer's problem |  |  | 
          
            | Word that can follow the last word in each theme entry |  |  | 
          
            | Bother |  |  | 
          
            | Programming problem |  |  | 
          
            | Good listener? |  |  | 
          
            | Wiretap |  |  | 
          
            | Sting operation item |  |  | 
          
            | Programmer's problem |  |  | 
          
            | Drive nuts |  |  | 
          
            | Irritate |  |  | 
          
            | Irritate |  |  | 
          
            | Listening device |  |  | 
          
            | Spying device |  |  | 
          
            | PC glitch |  |  | 
          
            | Surveillance device |  |  | 
          
            | Problem evident during runtime |  |  | 
          
            | Software problem |  |  | 
          
            | Computer problem |  |  | 
          
            | Wiretap |  |  | 
          
            | Unseen mic, maybe |  |  | 
          
            | Cockroach, for one |  |  | 
          
            | Wiretap |  |  | 
          
            | Spying device |  |  | 
          
            | Windshield casualty |  |  | 
          
            | Pester |  |  | 
          
            | Software flaw |  |  | 
          
            | Pester |  |  | 
          
            | Annoy |  |  | 
          
            | Irritate |  |  | 
          
            | Glitch |  |  | 
          
            | Annoy |  |  | 
          
            | Pester |  |  | 
          
            | Beetle, for one |  |  | 
          
            | Be a pest |  |  | 
          
            | Annoy |  |  | 
          
            | Listening device |  |  | 
          
            | Fan |  |  | 
          
            | Locust or beetle |  |  | 
          
            | Plant microphones |  |  | 
          
            | Surveillant's plant |  |  | 
          
            | Bother |  |  | 
          
            | Hidden mike |  |  | 
          
            | There one "planted" in each theme entry |  |  | 
          
            | The Y2K __ |  |  | 
          
            | Ancient fortress abandoning resistance in error |  |  | 
          
            | ___ zapper (back yard killer) |  |  | 
          
            | Listening device |  |  | 
          
            | Program glitch |  |  | 
          
            | Good listener? |  |  | 
          
            | Wire-tapping device |  |  | 
          
            | Wiretap |  |  | 
          
            | Glitch |  |  | 
          
            | Windows imperfection |  |  | 
          
            | Pester |  |  | 
          
            | Listening device |  |  | 
          
            | Hidden mike |  |  | 
          
            | Hacker's headache |  |  | 
          
            | Computer headache |  |  | 
          
            | Defect |  |  | 
          
            | Program problem |  |  | 
          
            | Flaw |  |  | 
          
            | Thrips, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Eavesdropper's device |  |  | 
          
            | Apprentice jockey's five-lb. allowance |  |  | 
          
            | Enthusiast |  |  | 
          
            | Eavesdrop, in a way |  |  | 
          
            | Earwig, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Rug occupant |  |  | 
          
            | Ukrainian river. |  |  | 
          
            | Troubleshooter's target. |  |  | 
          
            | Hidden mike: Slang. |  |  | 
          
            | Annoy |  |  | 
          
            | Common cold |  |  | 
          
            | Two rivers of this name crossed by German armies, 1939–1941. |  |  | 
          
            | Polish river. |  |  | 
          
            | River in the Ukraine. |  |  | 
          
            | Walking stick or bluebottle. |  |  | 
          
            | Insect. |  |  | 
          
            | Flaw in an invention: Colloq. |  |  | 
          
            | A defect, as in a machine: Slang. |  |  | 
          
            | Spider. |  |  | 
          
            | Enthusiast: Slang. |  |  | 
          
            | Beetle. |  |  | 
          
            | Mantis. |  |  |