Varigated Vampire-Lobster-Ant?
Location: Thomson, GA, USA
August 2, 2010 10:22 am
I like that name until you provide a more accurate one. This image was captured July 31, 2010 in my wife’s garden in Thomson, GA. The plant is a Black & Blue Salvia (Salvia guaranitica) and the insect is perhaps a centimeter long, minus antennae.
Cliff in Thomson
Sycamore Assassin Bug Nymph
Hi Cliff,
One of the ways we select letters to post is if they have an interesting subject line. You had us going from the second word. When we get a colorful description with a pop culture tone to it, we immediately try to guess what insect the person is trying to describe. We have a decent track record in that arena, but your description had us totally stumped, but we were nonetheless intrigued. Your insect is an immature Assassin Bug in the family Reduviidae, but at that point, our memory not being quite as keen as that of most people we know, we needed to turn to internet research. We know where to research NOrth American insects and spiders. That is BugGuide. Your Assassin Bug is in the genus Pselliopus, the Sycamore Assassin Bugs, which we quickly located on bugGuide, but we are not comfortable identifying a nymph to the species level since they all look alike in this genus.
Thanks, folks.
I’m glad I was able to pique your interest.
Insect that kills Monarch Butterfly caterpillars
Location: North Central Wisconsin
August 1, 2010 7:33 pm
My aunt saw this bug killing one of the caterpillars in her garden. Do you know what it is?
Todd Nelson
Spined Soldier Bug Nymph (we believe) feasting on Monarch Caterpillar
Hi Todd,
This hunter is a Predatory Stink Bug nymph in the subfamily Asopinae. We believe it is a Spined Soldier Bug in the genus Podisus, but immature insects are often notoriously difficult to properly identify. BugGuide has a nice description of the genus.
Not the fig beetle
Location: Western AZ
July 31, 2010 12:38 pm
I was looking up beetles that are found on figs, and kept coming up with the larger fig beetle that looks like a Japanese beetle. These are much smaller and seem to be in a mating frenzy. Location western AZ, elevation approx. 1800 ft.
Judi V. Cugat
African Painted Bugs
Hi Judy,
These tiny Stink Bugs are called African Painted Bugs, Bagrada hilaris, and they are one of the most recent agricultural scourges to hit the western states. They are an invasive exotic species that was first reported in Los Angeles in 2008 according to a very comprehensive report from the University of Arizona College of Agriculture. We encountered them in our Los Angeles vegetable patch last summer where they proliferated on collard greens and kale, and your photos are the first indication we have received that they will also infest figs. That is significant information. BugGuide remarks: “Not native to North America, and a potential pest, especially of cruciferous crops (Brassicaceae, i.e. cabbage, kale, mustard), but also other crops (incl., at least in Africa, cotton, millet, potato).“
Mating African Painted Bugs
Thank you for your prompt response. My father (in Florida) sent me identification just a few minutes before you did. I am glad to help and will report any unusual things I come across. I’m a Master Gardener, La Paz County, AZ.
Kissing bugs? And why are they congregating?
Location: Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, AZ
July 29, 2010 3:47 pm
Hi folks! We have been noticing in recent weeks (how could we not?!) that these bugs have been congregating in large numbers on the park offices security gate around sunrise.
Seed Bugs
They somewhat resemble kissing bugs/assassin bugs in appearance but are much smaller than species we are familar with.
Seed Bugs
Questions: Are they in fact kissing bugs, and if so, do they suck vertebrate blood? There were no birds or other wildlife hanging around for a feast, so are they unpalatable to wildlife? And finally, why would they be attracted to the gate’s electronics and lights? Thanks,
Ed Kuklinski, Sarah Howard
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, AZ
Ed Kuklinski, Sarah Howard
Aggregation of Seed Bugs
Hi Ed,
Your documentation of aggregating Seed Bugs is fantastic. They appear to be Melacoryphus lateralis, based on images posted to BugGuide, which notes: “Often comes to lights. Reported in large numbers especially in July/August in Arizona, Nevada, other western states.“ Many insects are attracted to lights, and we have no theory why they are attracted to the electronics. To the best of our knowledge, Seed Bugs are not unpalatable. Your photo of the lamp post is especially fascinating. We just posted a photo of unidentified nymphs from Arizona, and we wonder if they might be immature Seed Bugs.
Seed Bugs attracted to light
¶ Posted 29 July 2010 § ‡ ° Water Strider
Location: North Middle Tennessee
July 27, 2010 4:33 pm
Hi Daniel,
Took a trek down to the creek today here are some water striders from the trip. They are very common around here but have always caught my interest. From my childhood memories they are very difficult to catch, from today they are difficult to photograph. Thank You for all that you do and have a wonderful day.
Richard
Water Strider
Hi Richard,
Thanks for sending us your images of Water Striders so we can provide them for our readership. They are fascinating to watch as they skate across the surface of ponds and streams while waiting for luckless insects to fall in, providing them with a meal.
Green Stink Bug nymph?
Location: San Jose CA
July 27, 2010 11:50 am
Hi again!
My friend found these little buggers all over her pea plants, and asked me to identify them (being the closest thing to a bug ’expert’ my friends know!). I could tell her that they were true bug nymphs, and that they were up to no good, but I can’t figure out exactly what they are. I read that Green Stink Bug nymphs are highly variable, so perhaps that is why I can’t find a photo to match them. They are pretty small, about an 1/8 inch long.
Do you by any chance recognize them?
BugManDave
Green Stink Bug Nymph
Hi BugManDave,
We agree that this looks like a Green Stink Bug Nymph, Chinavia hilaris, though sometimes nymphs are difficult to distinguish from closely related species. BugGuide illustrates many of the color variations seen in Green Stink Bug Nymphs.
Green Stink Bug Nymph
Are these Bagrada hilaris
Location: San Pedro California, south of LA
July 25, 2010 1:38 pm
I found these all over the hose in the front yard flower bed. The smaller ones look like ladybugs but I think they are just immature versions of the bigger ones. If they are harmful I’ll get rid of them but I will leave them alone till I hear. It looks like they might be Bagrada hilaris from your site. I am curious if the small red ones are immature versions.
Delbert
Aggregation of African Painted Bugs
Hi Delbert,
Your identification is absolutely correct, and we would strongly advise you to squash this invasive exotic insect before the immature insects develop and mate and it infests your garden plants in the cabbage family including kale and broccoli. Bagrada hilaris is a relatively new addition to the list of invasive exotic species that have been reported in California, but they are most prolific and difficult to eradicate. You can read more about the African Painted Bug on BugGuide as well as numerous other internet sources.
African Painted Bugs
Thank you for your quick response. I have already eradicated them. I sprayed the area with 3 different insecticides, and completely dug up the flower bed and sprayed again. I will keep an eye for them around the house. I told my brother about them. He is a specialist in pesticides and fertilizers in the sanjoaqine valley Bakersfield to Fresno. Works for a major agriculture chemical company there. He said he would keep an eye for them up there.
Delbert Crawford
¶ Posted 27 July 2010 § ‡ ° 
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