Heteroptera
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Bug Identity
May 30, 2009
Hello bugman,
We found this brown bug on our balcony in Hong Kong. We’re curious to know its origins, living habits and what it eats. Can you help?
Email Signature
Hong Kong, China
Unknown Stink Bug
Dear Email Signature,
This is some species of Stink Bug in the family Pentatomidae. We will try to get you an exact species name, or perhaps one of our readers will have the time to research this Stink Bug’s taxonomy.
What type of insect are these?
May 29, 2009
What type of insect are these?
I was trimming bushes and noticed what appeared to be a small nest (for lack of a better word) on the side of a service berry tree. A couple days later the bugs hatched and were grouped around the nest. I’ve not been able to identify these. What are they?
George in Central Ohio
Central Ohio
Wheel Bug Hatchlings
Hi George,
These are newly hatched Wheel Bugs, a species of Assassin Bug. Most Assassin Bugs, including Wheel Bugs, are beneficial predators.
Carnivorous Orange Beetle
Mon, Jul 6, 2009 at 6:37 PM
My wife spotted this pair in the backyard. I don’t know the identity of either bug, but found the scene quite interesting. I’m just curious what was sucking the life out of what.
Dave
Beloit, WI
Predatory Stink Bug eats invasive Gypsy Moth Caterpillar
Hi Dave,
We located a nearly identical image on BugGuide, except that three Predatory Stink Bugs in the genus Apateticus are feeding on a Gypsy Moth Caterpillar. Sadly, BugGuide does not provide any information on the genus and a nymph or immature insect, like the one in your photo, is often quite difficult to identify to the species level. We can tell you that the Gypsy Moth Caterpillar, Lymantria dispar, is an introduced pest species. BugGuide has this to say about the range of the Gypsy Moth: “Native to Eurasia, introduced to North America at Boston, Massachusetts circa 1869 and has been spreading ever since ( US Forest Service ). Michigan, Pennsylvania, and all states to the north and east of these. Also much of Wisconsin. Also the northern parts of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Most of West Virginia is included in the insect’s range, as well as parts of Virginia and North Carolina. The United States Forest Service estimates the moth’s range is spreading south and west at a rate of about 21 kilometers per year. In Canada, the Gypsy Moth is present in British Columbia and in much of eastern Canada. “ BugGuide has the following comments with regards to food, life cycle and general remarks: “Food Many hardwood species. A very partial list includes Red Oak, Cherries, Willows, Hickories, and Pines. Over 500 spp. of plants are known hosts.
Life Cycle In late summer females lay up to 1,000 eggs per egg mass. The eggs overwinter and hatch in the Spring. Larvae feed heavily and do considerable damage to forests. Pupation typically occurs in mid-Summer.
Remarks Etienne Leopold Trouvelot, an amateur entomologist, brought Gypsy Moths into the United States to see if they could be successfully reared for silk culture. Around 1869 some of Trouvelot’s charges escaped from his home near Boston. Realizing the potential magnitude of the problem, he reported the escape but no action was taken until the infestation grew serious several years later. Trouvelot later became interested in astronomy and astronomical illustration, and eventually became a Harvard professor of Astronomy. ”
Predatory Stink Bug eats invasive Gypsy Moth Caterpillar
Are these Bed Bugs?
Sat, Jul 4, 2009 at 4:39 AM
I found some bugs in my bed a few months ago and concluded that they were bed-bugs. I found a lot of them under the matress, so I sprayed an insecticide to get rid of them.
They seem to be back, but much smaller now. In the photo, you can see one larger bug (which I guess is a bed-bug), and two smaller ones. Are these just young bed-bugs, or something else?
Tim
Paris, France
Bed Bugs
Hi Tim,
Sadly, your identification is correct. All three insects in your photo are Bed Bugs, and their immature status indicates you must have breeders nearby as well. Ordinary spray insecticide will not rid your place of Bed Bugs. You should seed professional assistance for the eradication of your infestation. If you rent a flat, inform the landlord. Bed Bugs often hide under the mattress, behind pictures, and between the baseboards and the wall. Consult BugGuide for more information on Bed Bugs. Since Bed Bugs feed on blood, they are most troublesome.
What’s ON that bug? Ranatra w/ orange bumps
Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 3:12 PM
I recently tracked down the ID of this odd insect in a local pond as a Water Scorpion (Ranatra spp.), but all of the individuals I’ve seen so far are covered in strange, orange bumps that do not appear to be “normal” or common. Do you have any idea what these might be caused by? The pond is next to the building I work in and appears to be the result of dam work by the local beaver’s union. There is plenty of food for these guys with damsel flies, tadpoles in the thousands and other small, crunchy things. The other wildlife in the area does not appear to be suffering from any apparent disease or sicknesses and the vegetation around the pond appears to be thriving.
Eric Snyder
Issaquah, WA 98027
Water Scorpion with Phoretic Mites
Hi Eric,
Congratulations on identifying the Water Scorpion in the genus Ranatra. That is not an easy identification. The orange bumps are Aquatic Mites. The Aquatic Mites often use flying aquatic insects to get from one body of water to another, a behavior known a phoresy. Some time back when we posted an image of a ToeBiter with mites, we got this comment from a reader.
Previous Comment on similar posting: Mites on the toe-biter?
Hi Daniel and Lisa Anne,
About the email on the Toe Biter from Tom on (01/27/2007) who talks about having 12 red mites on his Toe Biter? I remember seeing mites on aquatic insects, looking suspicious, and so I looked it up, and it turns out that *all* of the more than 5,000 known species of aquatic mites (Hydracarina) are partly parasitic. When they are larvae, aquatic mites are parasitic on aquatic insects, but as adults the mites become free-swimming and predatory. Winged aquatic insects, such as the toe biters, fly around of course, and that way the mites are spread from one body of water to another. You can read a lot more interesting stuff about them at:
http://www.tolweb.org/Parasitengona
And at :
http://www.tolweb.org/Hydracarina
Best to you as always,
Susan J. Hewitt
western manitoba – beetles mating on columbine
Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 9:03 PM
Hello there. Could you help me identify these lovely bugs mating on some columbine in our Riding Mountain National Park official gardens. I took the photo just today – it’s July 1st.
Their lower backs seem to be silver or transparent.
Thank you so much for your time.
M.M.
Clear Lake, Manitoba – Riding Mountain National Park
Mating Twice Stabbed Stink Bugs
Dear M.M.,
These are not mating beetles, but mating Twice-Stabbed Stink Bugs, Cosmopepla lintneriana. According to BugGuide, it is “Formerly Cosmopepla bimaculata , and still listed that way by most guides.” BugGuide also indicates: “Adults suck plant juices from many different plants: thistles, mints, goldenrods, ragweeds, columbines.” The Columbine is our favorite flower, and we want to post your photo uncropped, but we are also cropping in closer to better showcase the Twice Stabbed Stink Bugs.
Twice Stabbed Stink Bugs Mating
unknown insect spotted in the flower bed
Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 4:47 PM
I snapped this photo of a strange insect in my flower bed. I have no idea what it is. This was the one and only time I’ve seen it. The paddle like front legs are interesting. You may have to zoom in a bit on the photo.
Mr. Rob
Eastern NC nearFayetteville
Ambush Bug
Dear Mr. Rob,
You have photographed a Jagged Ambush Bug in the genus Phymata. Ambush Bugs were originally in their own family, but they have recently been reclassified as Assassin Bugs in the family Reduviidae, and the Ambush Bugs subfamily Phymatinae. Ambush Bugs often wait on flowers in order to ambush and eat pollinating insects.
Bug found in Cochise County AZ
Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Hi- I photographed these bugs on the flower stalk of a shin dagger (Agave schottii) in Cochise County AZ (SE AZ) on June 25 2009). There were dozens of shin daggers in late bloom in the area, but only a few had these insects present. Thanks, Keith
I’m not sure what this field means
Cochise County AZ (SE AZ) near Sonoita AZ
Giant Agave Bugs
Hi Unsure,
The field in question is for your name, or alias. These are Giant Agave Bugs, Acanthocephala thomasi. We posted an image yesterday before you wrote, but you must have missed it on our website. That querant described the Giant Agave Bugs as having red socks. Your photo shows the Giant Agave Bugs on their host plant.
Red Socks
Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 4:36 PM
I saw this guy on a trail in a forested canyon in the Huachuca Mts., southeast AZ (el. 6000 ft). It’s about 4cm long. This is my first foray into bug ident., so I don’t even know where to start! Thanks for the great site, I’m bookmarking it.
mt
Sierra Vista, AZ
Giant Agave Bug
Dear mt,
This is a Giant Agave Bug, Acanthocephala thomasi, a Leaf Footed Bug in the family Coreidae. Red Socks is a very colorful description for this distinctive member of the genus. You may read more about this species on BugGuide.
six legs, scorpion end, black & red/orange, walks like a walkingstick
Fri, Jun 26, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Hello!
This is my first submission of a picture to you, I think. Though I have used your site for years. Thanks! 
We live in West Lafayette, Indiana and we found this bug on June 26th, 2009. We took several pictures – do with them what you like. I found this bug crawling up the side of an interior door frame in our house. At first glance, I was sure it was a spider. Then I could only find six legs and two long antennae. I also thought of a scorpion as its rump went up in the air. The way it walked reminded me of a walkingstick or praying mantis. It was black and bright red/orange. We tried to take pictures of it inside, then finally took it outside and got a few shots.
Please, do you know what kind of bug this is?
Thanks! -Anne
Anne
West Lafayette, Indiana
Wheel Bug Nymph
Hi Anne,
This is an immature Wheel Bug and it is one of the Assassin Bugs. Most Assassin Bugs are beneficial predators, but they are also capable of biting painfully if mishandled.
Strange Red & White Cricket (?)
Sun, Jun 21, 2009 at 9:07 AM
Hi -
I am visiting my mom in Rio Rico, AZ (about an hour south of Tucson, AZ) and we found these strange looking red, white and black crickets (?) on a bean plant this morning (06/21/09). I’ve never seen anything like them, especially their antennae. Towards the end of it there is a flattened almost circular area, and then the straight line antennae continues. They seem to be feeding on the beans in the plant, and there must be 30-40 on one plant.
Kristy
Rio Rico, AZ
Giant Mesquite Bug nymphs
Hi Kristy,
These are not crickets. Rather they are True Bugs, more specifically, Giant Mesquite Bugs, Thasus neocalifornicus, in the family Coreidae, the Leaf Footed Bugs. They are not feeding on beans, but rather the pods of Mesquite. These are colorful immature nymphs. Once they become winged adults, much of the bright coloration with distinctive markings is covered by the wings. You may read more about them on BugGuide.
Giant Mesquite Bug nymph
Red and black what I think is a beetle eating a bumble bee
Sat, Jun 20, 2009 at 1:42 PM
I was outside working in my yard when I looked up on my awning and saw what I thought was a bumble bee holding a flower, but then I saw some liquid drop and I decided to look closer. When I did, I saw that it was a bunch of small red and black beetles eating the bumble bee. I was kind of shocked. I just moved to northern North Carolina and have seen some strange bugs, but these ones eating the bumble bee is the strangest. If you could, please tell me what this is.
Angelica
Reidsville, NC
Florida Predatory Stink Bugs eat Bumble Bee
Hi Angelica,
These are immature Florida Predatory Sting Bugs, Euthyrhynchus floridanus, sometimes called Halloween Bugs because of the black and orange coloration of the adults, which are winged. According to BugGuide, they are: “Predatory on other insects, including caterpillars, beetle. Nymphs, and to some extent, adults, are gregarious, and may attack large prey in groups.” Your photo nicely illustrates this. Despite what your photo illustrates, the Florida Predatory Stink Bug is a beneficial insect because of the caterpillars and beetles it consumes. We are guessing Bees, since they can easily fly away, are not commonly eaten.
Update: From Eric Eaton
Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:12:31 -0700 (PDT)
The predatory stink bugs appear to be scavenging the remains of a dead carpenter bee (it is missing both hind legs, so who can say for certain…). Many hemipterans, even plant-feeders, will scavenge dead insects on occasion.
Eric
