North eastern PA
Location: north eastern pennsylvania
December 27, 2010 10:03 am
i have repeatidly found this bug in the curtins over my windows. that seems to be the only place i ever find them. i have found over 10 of them this fall season. all in the curtins over the windows.
Signature: any way
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Dear any way,
This is a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys, an agricultural pest from Asia that was accidentally introduced to North America in Allentown, PA, according to BugGuide. The species has spread to many surrounding states as well as the West Coast. According to BugGuide, it feeds upon “Mostly fruits and other crops. Considered a major agricultural pest in Asia, with potential for causing significant damage to crops in the United States.“ BugGuide also indicates: “may invade homes in the winter by the hundreds” where they become a nuisance, though they will not actually damage the home or its contents and they are not dangerous to humans or pets.
Shiny mostly red beetle
Location: Serpentine Falls Park, WA Australia
December 20, 2010 2:22 am
We saw this bug on somebody’s shirt yesterday afternoon near Serpentine Falls WA Australia. None of us could identify it but I got a pretty decent photo. I was surprised to not see any visible split in the shell. Any idea what this might be?
Signature: Nathan
Red Jewel Bug
Hi Nathan,
True Bugs are often mistaken for beetles. Your insect is a Red Jewel Bug, Choerocoris paganus, in the Shield Bug Family Scutelleridae which we identified on the Insects of Brisbane website. The Indigenous Flora and Fauna website, which identifies this species as the Ground Shield Bug states: “The Shield bugs resemble beetles with their tortoise-like shell. However, whereas in beetles this is formed by the hardened and thickened forewings, in Shield bugs the shell is formed by the greatly enlarged scutellum (which is like a tiny triangular plate between the wings of other insects). The patterns on this species vary markedly depending on the stage of growth (‘instar’). Females are basically orange with metallic green spots while males are blood red with metallic green blotches but there are many variations. The bugs are commonly noticed in aggregations of dozens.“ We would love to find some information on the wing structure of this species, but our initial web searching has not provided any information on the phenomenon that you noted. You indicate that there is no visible split in the shell, and that would be an indication of a fused wing structure which would render this species flightless which might be why it is commonly called a Ground Shield Bug. We hope one of our readers is able to provide information regarding the probability that the Red Jewel Bug is flightless.
3
Rasta Bug
Location: Mozambique
December 10, 2010 2:19 am
Hello! Friend of mine in Mozambique found this interesting bug in Mozambique. Not sure of location, but did find a similar picture from Kew Gardens expedition, and they have not identified it. Really need to know if this critter is rare or common? And of course what it is!!
Signature: any way ?
Picasso Bug
Dear any way,
Sadly, we haven’t the time to research this right now, but we are posting the photo. We believe this is a Stink Bug in the family Pentatomidae. The markings are truly awesome. Alas, we must get ready to go to work now.
Hi Daniel and any way:
Picasso Bug and Zulu Hud Bug are the two common names I found for this guy. It’s a Shield-backed Bug (Scutelleridae), probably Sphaerocoris annulus, but there could be similar species. I couldn’t find out much about it other than it appears to be quite widely dispersed – I found photos from South Africa, Ethiopia and Cameroon. What an amazing creature! It’s almost hard to believe that it’s real, but nothing surprises me anymore. Regards. Karl
¶ Posted 10 December 2010 § ‡ ° I spy a green bug in my spinach
Location: Found in organic spinach container distributed by Lucerne (located in Pleasanton, CA)
December 6, 2010 10:02 pm
Hello,
Thanks so much for your help in identifying this green bug that I found in my spinach. It was quite disappointing as I was really looking forward to eating Chicken Paillard tonight. This bug was in our Organic Spinach container and ALIVE.
Signature: Heather
Stink Bug in Organic Spinich
Dear Heather,
We could not help but to be terribly amused by your letter. One of the characteristics of organic produce is that pesticides are not used during the cultivation. When pesticides are not used, insects can thrive on the cultivated food supply. Washing and inspecting packaged greens is a must even if the produce is organic. Traditionally, greens should be washed in seven changes of water to remove all of the dirt and grit that accumulates during cultivation, and a thorough cleaning will also remove any insects that are still clinging to the plants. In the future, you should inspect your greens before dumping them onto a plate for consumption. Anyone with a garden knows that you are going to find insects munching on the plants, and hand picking them will help in most cases, though infestations of Aphids and certain other pests that form dense colonies may need to be sprayed off with a hose.
¶ Posted 07 December 2010 § ‡ ° Is this a stinkbug?
Location: Sunnyvale, CA 94086
November 14, 2010 5:56 pm
I saw this bug on my windshield in Sunnyvale, CA, yesterday and was wondering what it was. I’ve seen them before and thought they might be some variety of stinkbug. I think they’re fairly common around there.
Signature: Paul
Rough Stink Bug
Hi Paul,
This is indeed a Stink Bug. More specifically, it is a Rough Stink Bug in the genus Brochymena. This is a beneficial species that is predatory and it feeds mainly on caterpillars. See BugGuide for additional information.
¶ Posted 16 November 2010 § ‡ ° Stink bug survives microwave
November 6, 2010 3:27 pm
During a cool spell in Sept. I made some hot chocolate in the microwave. After one minute on high I removed the mug to give it a stir. I was surprised to see a stink but walking around under the glass tray! He had been in there for a full minute with no ill effects! Had not even made it stinky in there. I removed the tray and he crawled onto the ring, which I picked up and carried outside. I wonder if he’ll grow 10-foot tall with two heads and come back??
Signature: Pam
Hi Pam,
We hope that your letter does not inspire a spate of science projects.
¶ Posted 07 November 2010 § ‡ ° Tagged: mysteries small beetle id
Location: Orange County, California
November 4, 2010 8:27 pm
I found a small bug on my arm. Looks like in the beetle family. About 3/16 inches long. I was not bitten. I slapped it but did not crush it. Photo attached. Would like to know more about it if you can identify from photo.
Really appreciate your help.
Signature: Irv Waaland
African Painted Bug
Hi Irv,
True Bugs are often mistaken for beetles. This is a Stink Bug in the family Pentatomidae, and furthermore, it is an invasive exotic species. The African Painted Bug, Bagrada hilaris, was first observed in Southern California in 2008 and in two short years it has demonstrated that it will most likely become a significant pest on plants in the cabbage family. It reproduces in prodigious numbers, and when there are no cultivated plants for it to feed upon, it is perfectly content to feed on the ubiquitous introduced black mustard that has naturalized and now grows wild over much of Southern California.
Need info on this beetle.
Location: Statesville, NC
November 2, 2010 6:40 am
My son is a Cub Scout and we have to do some research on an animal, plant or insect that lives off of another source of food. He wanted to do this one seeing as though we found these on the outside of our home. What are these? I can’t seem to locate them anywhere…I personally love the skull on their backs, although I am not sure if that is truly what the design is. Any help would be great!
Signature: Thank you, Nikki
Florida Predatory Stink Bug Nymphs eat Cricket
Hi Nikki,
These are not beetles. They are immature Florida Predatory Stink Bugs and they are eating a Cricket. As they mature, these Stink Bugs will stop hunting in a pack.
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