With the website currently down and no questions to answer, we have been strolling through the canyon briskly every morning. We have been noticing several species of insects that we occasionally get letters regarding, and others that are just plain interesting. We decided to return with our digital camera and photograph some of the above. Here are some Harlequin Bugs, Murgantia histrionica. They are small stink bugs, about 1/4 inch long. They are variegated black, red, and white with a reddish or light colored + on the scutellum. These bugs are occasionally seen in the garden where they feed on cabbage, sweet alyssum and related plants of the family Brassicacaea, but in the canyon and vacant lots, they prefer wild mustard. According to Hogue: “Mating pairs are often present. The male illicits copulation by tapping the female’s antennae and body with his antennae.” Females lay several sets of 5-12 eggs that look like black and white striped barrels.
(06/26/2004) Copulating Harlequin Bugs will eventually lay eggs. The female places one or two rows of from usually 5-12 eggs neatly on twigs. The eggs look like black and white striped barrels. Here are some freshly layed eggs on anise.
Hello, my name is Kat and I live in Bakersfield California in the country. Recently I have found small skinny black bugs that smell really bad when crushed. They are really annoying me because at night if I lift the covers there is always one or two crawling around. What can they be? And more importantly, how can I kill them? They might live in the cotton fields around my house or in the alfalfa. There are almond trees too. Any help would be appreciated!
Not so good Kat. They sound like Bedbugs which will bite.
¶ Posted 08 June 2004 § Bedbugs ‡ ° Hello,
I was excited to find your site. It’s very useful and well done. Today I was looking at my apple tree and found these little guys on a leaf. Thinking that they are ladybugs I thought I would put them under a rose bush since it seems that a caterpillar tent has hatched right there without my knowing it until now. And there’s lots of aphids too. I looked up ladybugs and found that their larvae looks different than the little ones in this photo. Do you know what these bugs are?
Anna
Hi Anna,
You are correct, they are not Ladybird Beetles. They are True Bugs, Hemipterans. We can’t give you an exact identification. It is hard to identify the specimen in immature stage. There is a Family of True Bugs known as Red Bugs or Stainers, Pyrrhocoridae. They are described by Borror and Delong as "elongate oval bugs that are usually brightly marked with red and black. … They are phytophagous and gregarious." In other words, they are ravenous plant pests. They are common in the South.
¶ Posted 01 June 2004 § ‡ ° Heat Bug? Strange and Irritating Bug
Hi! I just moved to a region, where in summertime, the air is infiltrated by an extremely loud, buzzing, almost electrical sound. I’ve been told it is called the Heat Bug, as it only comes out in the summer and creates its din on very warm days. I have included photos of what the locals claim to be the insect responsible for this racket!
Hope you can identify it!
Jordan
Dear Jordan,
Your awesome photos are of a Giant Water Bug, Lethocerus americanus, which also goes by the colorful names Electric Light Bug and Toe-Biter. These are aquatic insects which can also fly, and they can deliver a painful bite. They are also the largest True Bugs in North America. They do not make loud noises. I have never heard the name Heat Bug, but I am guessing by your description, that they are probably cicadas. Cicadas make a noise similar to that which you describe. Additionally, this year marks the return of Brood X of the Periodical Cicada or 17 Year Locust which will be appearing in great numbers and making quite a bit of racket. Sadly, Jordan, your letter was one of the last to get through before heavy traffic shut us down, or I would direct you to our cicada page to see photos of what I am guessing are your Heat Bugs. Our site will return in June. (05/03/2004)
Daniel,
Thank you for such a timely and informative reply! To imagine that I got siting of one of the Biggest Bugs in N.America! Unfortunately, this letter may not reach you until later, however, I do hope to return to your e-page soon. Thanks again and good luck with Brood X Studies.
Jordan.
Bigger red bugs?
Hi……..
I live in Kansas and was just going to plant a planter in my yard. Upon pulling up an old plant from last summer, I unearthed thousands of little red bugs. At first I thought they were "baby lady bugs" but on further inspection….they have no spots and are a brighter, deeper red. It appears that the adults are about 1/4 " long and the babies are 1/8". I felt as though I had unearthed an ant den……..that’s how they scattered. Also, they have black heads and fine black legs ( hardly visible) Any ideas what they are….or if they are harmful? The planter is connected to the house. Should I be concerned? Do I need to exterminate before replanting? Thanks in advance for your help!
Sheri
Hi Sheri,
I wish you had a photo. They might be Box Elder Bugs. Here is an image of an aggregation. They are difficult to erradicate.
Thank you for your response. After further investigation……..you are correct they are boxedler bugs. I guess it was just a bunch of babies…..because I saw no adults…………until I checked back later. Boxelder bugs are common around here. I’m not too concerned. Anyway, thanks again!
Sheri
¶ Posted 10 May 2004 § ‡ ° I live in central Florida. I have a type of bug that doesn’t bite, or make nest, it only crawls, but there are thousands of them. I cut my lawn and the whole end of the house gets covered in them. They are up to about 1 inch long, mostly black with a dark red back and as they grow the red goes underneath. They have 6 leg’s, Is this enough information? I really want rid of them as my wife really has a hard time with crawling bugs. Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.
They sound like Box Elder Bugs which can be a real nuisance.
Sorry I guess my description needs a little work. There are no stripes, just a red spot that starts on the back then seems to just be around the edges. I am going to try to put 1 on paper then scan it.
Thank You, Doc
The scanner idea isn’t perfect, If you can’t get a better idea from this pic I’ll try another way. Thank you for your pateince, Doc.
Dear Doc,
Your scanner idea was great. You have squashed Box Elder Bugs, both a winged adult and several nymphs. These bugs are pests, often entering houses to hibernate. We have never been successful in advising our readers how to rid their yards of them. They often form dense aggregations with thousands of Box Elder Bugs, adults and nymphs, forming colonies.
¶ Posted 02 May 2004 § ‡ ° Hi Bugman,
In the Slocan Valley in British Columbia there are stink bugs everywhere. My son took these photos. I would like to identify this particular bug so that I can learn what attracts them and how to get rid of them. There are various theories; stink bugs are attracted to light colors, they come into the house with the firewood, they come inside to get out of the cold, they were introduced as a predator for another species, they are naturaly occuring in this area, ladybugs will control them, etc. We are building a small resort and would like to make our buildings stink bug proof. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Isy
Dear Isy,
You have a Western Conifer Seed Bug. The Western Conifer Seed Bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis was first described in California in 1910 and prior to 1969, it was only known in the Western U.S. Then it started to move East. By the 1970′s it was established in Wisconsin and Illinois, and by the mid 1980′s was found in Minnesota, Michigan and Ontario. In 1990 this species was collected in New York State and in 1992 it was found in Pennsylvania. It is also present in Mexico. The Western Conifer Seed Bug is a True Bug from the Family Coreidae, the Big Legged Bugs or Leaf Footed Bugs. It is a pest on conifer trees. We have no theory about how to keep them out of your resort. That is a question for your contractor.
¶ Posted 12 April 2004 § ‡ ° Hi Mr. Bugman,
I’ve just visited your website for the first time and thought that I’d submit a critter for identification.
I found these little red and black "beetle" looking critters on my Arbiacola plants out in the back yard in the shade. There were about 20 or so of them sort of hearded together. Later I went back and took this photo in hopes of identifying them. They’re poised on my Pentas that are near the Arbiacola plants and surrounded with ferns. These little bugs are about the size of the tip of my finger…not to big at all. I don’t believe them to be the typical "Lady Bug" though they do somewhat resemble them.
I really enjoyed my visit on your site….thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge with us "buggies" …you’ve got "buggies" instead of "groupies" 
I’m a musician.
Thanks,
Michelle
Dear Michelle,
They are not beetles, but True Bugs, Hemipterans. We couldn’t give you an exact identification, so I contacted Weiping at the Museum of Natural History in Los Angeles. He wrote this reply: “Sorry to answer you late. The picture you attached should be immature Hemiptera. It is hard to identify the specimen in immature stage. Probably, you ask the sender to pay attention on the bugs. I am sure the adults should be coming soon.” I actually thought I might be able to give you something more concrete. There is a Family of True Bugs known as Red Bugs or Stainers, Pyrrhocoridae. They are described by Borror and Delong as “elongate oval bugs that are usually brightly marked with red and black. … They are phytophagous and gregarious.” In other words, they are ravenous plant pests. They are common in the South and it appears as though you are from Florida.
¶ Posted 07 April 2004 § ‡ ° 
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