Subject: Harlequin?
Location: Miami, Florida
May 5, 2013 3:49 pm
Hi Bugman, Just wondering if these are Harlequin stinkbugs or something else? I suspect the latter. I am in Miami and these were found today ( Cinco de Mayo!! ) I thought they might be partying! They started a few days ago as 5 or 6 individuals and now the group is up to approx 15-20. Thanks for any info.
Signature: Duvzor

Leaf Footed Bugs: Spartocera fusca

Hi Duvzor,
You have the correct insect order, True Bugs, but the wrong family.  These are actually Leaf Footed Bugs in the family Coreidae, and we identified the species as Spartocera fusca thanks to BugGuide.  Alas, the species which BugGuide notes is found from “Mexico, southwestern United States, Florida” in habitat described as “Open areas, cultivated land, gardens,” it does not have a common name, an oversight with such a dramatically colored and marked insect.  The leaves on the plant they are feeding upon looks like nightshade, and BugGuide states:  “Breeds on Solanum americanum and other plants. Early instar nymphs are gregarious.”  Most of the individuals in your photo appear to be wingless nymphs, though it seems the individual on the lower left that is partially obscured by a leaf might be a winged adult.  If you have a chance to take another photo of a winged adult, we will gladly add it to this posting.

Spartocera fusca nymph

Hi Daniel, Thanks for your response! I’ve been watching these guys for over a week now. They never venture away from the 3 plants they are on. I managed to get a family shot…from nymph to adult and a single adult shot. Thanks again for your help in identifying my backyard visitors.
Brad

Spartocera fusca aggregation

Hi Brad,
Thanks for the additional photos and information.

Leaf Footed Bug: Spartocera fusca

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Subject: Mexican Mesquite Bug
Location: Tulum, Quintana Roo Mexico
March 17, 2013 7:56 am
You have a couple of picture of these identified as nymphs of Mexican and Costa Rican Mesquite Beetles. I am enclosing a picture taken at Tulum Mexico in March 4th in which there appear to be two stages of the bug – does this help to identify the species?
Signature: Gord Wakeling

Giant Mesquite Bugs

Dear Gord,
These are Giant Mesquite Bugs in the genus Thasus, but we cannot say for certain which species it is.

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Subject: What’s the bug?
Location: Richmond TX
March 12, 2013 3:01 pm
Hi I live in Richmond TX and I want to know what’s the bug? Good guy, bad guy.. trying to plant organic, so I need your help.
Thanks
Simone
Signature: Simone

Spot Sided Coreid Bug

Dear Simone,
We thought this looked like a Leaf Footed Bug or Big Legged Bug in the family Coreidae, but it is not a species we recognized.  We quickly identified it on BugGuide as the Spot Sided Coreid Bug, Hypselonotus punctiventris.  It represents a new species on our site, and that always excites us greatly.  According to Bugguide, it is:  “common in gardens” and this is clarified with “Nearly year round in Texas.”  Finally, BugGuide notes:  “Feeds on Mallows and a wide variety of other flower families.”  Though it is a plant feeding species, there is nothing to indicate that it is a pest species.  Our advice is that it it is not plentiful, and it is not feeding on something you value greatly and use as food, we would allow it to coexist in your organic garden.  This is a True Bug and they feed with their piercing mouthparts that are designed to draw fluids.  Many mallows are considered weeds, and it is entirely possible it is feeding on the weed mallows, in which case it is most likely not harming your cultivated plants.  Thank you again for providing us with a new species.

Hi Daniel,
Thank you so much for your answer! I couldn’t find anything similar at google lol.
I’ll send you other pictures with I find something unusual.
Thanks again
Simone

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Subject: A grasshopper mated with a stink bug?
Location: Pittsburgh, pa
March 9, 2013 7:19 pm
Found this big in my bathroom and I’m curious what it is because I’ve never seen it before.
Signature: Sean

Western Conifer Seed Bug

Hi Sean,
This Western Conifer Seed Bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis, is classed in the same insect order as a Stink Bug, but it is in the Big Legged Bug or Leaf Footed Bug family Coreidae, which is most likely the reason you thought a stink bug mated with a grasshopper.

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Subject: Name that bug
Location: Waltham, MA
February 28, 2013 8:24 pm
We found this bug flying around our apartment in MA. Any idea what it is?
Thanks.
Signature: Been bugging me

Western Conifer Seed Bug

Really?  This Western Conifer Seed Bug appears to be swimming, not flying.  They often enter homes during the winter to hibernate.  Thw Western Conifer Seed Bug is native to the pacific northwest, but since the 1970s, it has been increasing its range across North America and it has been introduced to Europe in the 21st millennium.

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