Red Bug
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
June 26, 2011 7:19 pm
The bugs have been crawling around our front walk along a garden filled with vinca ground cover. Some move very quickly, scampering across the concrete bricks, while others gather in clumps. They have been around for more than a week, and I can see that they have about doubled in size.
The start out as a bright red-orange in leg and body color, gradually developing the darker body and legs It looks as if they are developing wings, and I am guessing that the red bumps on the head are eyes. From head to tail, they measure between 1/4” and 1/2”, at least so far.
I’d like to know what they are and whether they are beneficial or harmful to my garden and house.
Signature: lloyd
Boxelder Bug Nymphs
Hi Llyod,
We already responded to three previous requests from today for Boxelder Bug Nymph identifications, and with your letter, we decided we needed to post a letter with photos. Coincidentally, your photos were also the best. Boxelder Bugs will not harm your home or garden, though they do feed upon the seeds of boxelder and other maples. They are more of a nuisance than a problem, especially when they are extremely numerous. They also seek shelter indoors when the weather begins to cool.
Boxelder Bug Nymphs
Ambush Bug Eating Honeybee
Location: Milton, VT, USA
June 25, 2011 8:56 am
I mentioned the Ambush Bug in my previous submission so I thought I would send you the photos of the one I saw that had ”ambushed” a honeybee in a Queen Anne’s Lace! The one I am holding is a second one that was in the next flower over. He/she had the coolest face I’ve ever seen on a bug (except for a cicada), kind of reminded me of a dinosaur. Anyway I hope you enjoy these, and I love this site. This site kept me from killing a pseudoscorpion I found in my closet that I thought was a tick!
Signature: Betsy
Ambush Bug eats Honey Bee
Hi Betsy,
Your letter inspired the entire editorial staff to go out and weed in the garden and observe insects on our grounds in Mt. Washington, Los Angeles. Many of the species of insects in the east that frequent Queen Anne’s Lace also visit the flowering carrots in our our garden. Pollinating insects love Queen Anne’s Lace and carrots as do predators that prey upon pollinating insects. The staff began to feel guilty that computers were abandoned and emails and comments were left unanswered so we returned to the desk, but we only felt guilty enough to post your letter and wonderful photographs before immediately heading back outside to the sun and activity.
Ambush Bug
Thanks Daniel! Your entire site today inspired me to go outside and take about 100 pictures of teeny tiny bugs! I even spotted a spider the size of a pin head that had caught one of those little iridescent flies on a milkweed, a perfectly matched green grasshopper hiding in milkweed blossoms/leaves, and lots of mating beetles! Our Queen Anne’s Lace hasn’t blossomed yet this year but I always look for the Goldenrod crab spiders and other interesting critters that reside in them on my walks.
Elisabeth
2
Percevejo
Location: Londrina. Brazil
June 23, 2011 10:07 am
That’s a killer.
Signature: Aloysio Paschoal
Predatory Stink Bug eats Stink Bug
Hi,
I’m sending the other photos by e-mail.
I’m having trouble to send the images. Always come back with an error.
Love the site
Thank you
Aloysio
Predatory Stink Bug eats Solitary Bee
Hi Aloysio,
That is one interesting Predatory Stink Bug you have there in Brazil. Your first photo shows it feeding on another Stink Bug that might even be an immature member of the same species. Your second photo shows it feeding on a Solitary Bee and the third image shows it feeding on a Bee as well. Your photos are excellent additions to our Food Chain page. We are copying our webmaster in the hopes that he is able to assist you with the technical problems you experienced.
Predatory Stink Bug feeding on Bee
Cool alien looking bug
Location: Lewes, DE
June 23, 2011 11:35 am
I found this bug on a mailbox (exactly where the picture shows it) and when I slammed the lid open and shut again it hadn’t moved a bit, so I know it has a good grip, but I was scared of being stung or bitten. Are these bugs dangerous?
Signature: Sherry
Immature Wheel Bug
Dear Sherry,
This predatory immature Wheel Bug has piercing and sucking mouthparts. It is capable of biting if it is carelessly handled, though we rarely get reports of people being bitten by Wheel Bugs. The bite is reported to be painful, but not dangerous.
1
Friend or foe?
Location: Hawaii
June 23, 2011 1:03 am
I’ve been looking for the culprit that has been nibbling my eggplant leaves for some time now with no luck. Today I saw this bug which almost looks like a lady beetle. I took these photos, then watched it for a while to see if it left any holes (lol I know that seems silly but my plant is healthy overall). Either it was full or scouting because it didn’t appear to be eating. Is this a garden friend or no?
It’s quite lovely looking. I’m usually terrified of bugs 
but my garden which I love & this site which keeps me informed, are both making me braver.
Thanks for your awesome site that my kids and I learn from and enjoy.
Signature: Dasi
Unknown Leaf Beetle
Dear Dasi,
We tried unsuccessfully to identify your beetle, which we believe to be a Leaf Beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. BugGuide’s section on Hawaiian Insects did not help, nor did our search for Hawaiian Chrysomelidae. Many insects found on Hawaii are not native. Perhaps one of our readers will be able to assist in this identification.
Update with Correction
Hi again Dasi,
While trying to research the new photo you submitted, we stumbled upon this Hawaiian insect page that pictures your Black Stink Bug, Coptosoma xanthogramma. Upon doing additional research, we learned it is not native on the Insects of Hawaii website. Then we found the ScholarSpace of the University of Hawai’i at Manoa website that it is considered “a New Pest of Legumes in Hawaii.” You may also find this excellent paper on the ScholarSpace site, which states: “Since the initial discovery of this bug in Honolulu during September, 1965, very heavy populations
have been observed on several legume hosts on Oahu, and it is considered a potentially serious pest of cultivated beans and certain ornamental vines and trees.” It also indicates the species originates in the Philippines.
That you so much for that great website. I had seen a very blurry photo on the other Hawaii bug id website and thought that might it be the one listed as “stink bug” but was unsure. I lost it shortly after taking the picture and haven’t seen it on my Eggplant since. Thanks for the most excellent info. Hmm, does that mean he emits an odor as protection?
I’m also glad that I found that ladybug–a welcome addition to my garden. I did notice during my research that quite a few lady beetles were introduced to Hawaii. Thanks again for all your effort.
Foreign…beetle?
Location: Orange County, California
June 20, 2011 7:24 pm
Ran across this guy near my house. I’ve never seen this kind of bug around here, so I figured it was foreign. It didn’t fly off even when I got inches away to take this shot.
Signature: Mike Michika
Rough Stink Bug
Dear Mike,
This is a Rough Stink Bug in the genus Brochymena and it ranges across North America.
Insect identification
Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
June 21, 2011 3:20 pm
Greetings from Dominican Republic. A friend of mine send me your website to clarify my search of what’s that bug?
Yesterday I was at my new home and I found this small insect standing on the floor opening his legs in a curious an funny way. Can you please tell me many things on this bug. Thanks on advance.
Signature: Alejandro (Dominican Republic)
Assassin Bug
Hi Alejandro,
We do not recognize the species, but we can tell you that this insect is an Assassin Bug in the family Reduviidae. Most Assassin Bugs are predators on other insects and arthropods, hence they are considered beneficial insects. A very small percentage of Assassin Bugs, most notably the Blood Sucking Conenose Bugs in the genus Triatoma, take blood from warm blooded prey like mammals and occasionally humans. Your Assassin Bug is not a Blood Sucking Conenose. We can speculate that it is a beneficial species.
this bug is the first like it i have ever seen.
Location: texas
June 21, 2011 12:13 am
I found this bug in my kitchen sink. It makes a loud chirp/ squeal. I live on a lake in south Texas. It has visible eyes and its front legs look like it uses them to eat.
Signature: Jeanette Stockman
Toe-Biter
Hi Jeanette,
We love your photo. This is a Giant Water Bug and it is also commonly called a Toe-Biter. Though it is an aquatic insect, we doubt that it was attracted to your sink as a water source, and it is also not interested in food scraps as it is a very proficient predator. Another common name for the Giant Water Bug is Electric Light Bug, and we believe it was probably attracted to a light over the sink.
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