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Soap Against Boxelder Bugs: Another Endorsement!
(10/16/2005) box elder bugs
Hi, I just wanted to confirm that box elder bugs can be killed
very inexpensively at home with warm water and dish-soap.
Approximately 1/8th cup to a sprayer of warm water. Dawn works
best as it has detergents that can penetrate the oily substance
on the box-elder bugs backs. It will stick to them and suffocate
the bugs It is funny to watch them fall from their
perches in clumps after a soaking! We had an unbelievable
infestation from my new neighbor's mulch delivery. They covered
our tree (golden showers) and moved to our the front of the
house. This is a very well tested remedy! You may have to
repeat as these bugs have a lengthy life cycle. Seems it took
me an entire summer to get the tiny crawling nymphs without
wings to the medium sized and adult with wings.
Merry
Boxelder
Bugs
(10/22/2005) There are many of these infiltrating our house
just recently.
And we have been innundated with questions wanting them
identified. Seems no matter how many photos of Boxelder Bugs
we post, no one ever bothers to scroll down the page.
Boxelder
Bug
(11/29/2005) Red and black beetle, or what?
Can you identify this dude? I have been looking on web sites
for two days now and cannot come up with it. First time seeing
them around my house. They seem to be coming from behind the
vinyl siding, near the edges, but we have found several inside
in different rooms. Can you offer any help? Thanks in advance.
Gene O'Connor
Hi Gene,
We feel somehow compelled to give you a hard time. Out of
curiosity, how much time in those two days did you spend looking
at our site? because the Boxelder Bug is prominently featured
at the very top of our homepage since we get so many requests
to identify it.
Coreid
Nymphs
(11/13/2005) North Florida Insect
I've tried to ID these insects, at first I thought it was
one of the Redviidae but the head doesnt look right and I
have not had much luck finding anything that looks just like
these They wereq clustered on wild Nightshade plant(
which is eaten) but I have not actually seen these eat the
plant. The youngest are very orange and about 1/4
inch, except for the head they do resemble young wheel bugs,
as they molt they get darker. One that just molted was light
yellow, but I believe it darkened during the day because there
were no yellow insects that night. Final size is about that
of a thumbnail. Could not get a closer, in-focus picture.
Chris Bittle
Tallahassee, Fl
Hi Chris,
We contacted Eric Eaton and he agrees this is an immature
Coreid Bug, but could not be more conclusive as to a genus
or species. Eric writes: "I think I collected an adult once,
but am still trying to figure out what it is! "
Update: (01/07/2006)
While surfing to find information about Leptoglossus occidentalis,
I found this note in a webpage. I am almost sure this is genus
Spartocera. Hope it helps.
Julieta
USDA, taxonomy of Heteroptera
Western
Conifer Seed Bug
(11/10/2005) Please identify this beetle for me, thanks!
This beetle is very prolific at our home in the Sandia Mountains
of New Mexico from late summer to present. We are at
7300' altitude and have not had a hard freeze or snow yet.
I can't keep these guys from getting into my house.
They emit a foul smelling substance when disturbed.
Please let me know anything you can. Is it a mesquite
bug or a biting bug? It buzzes when it flies and has
dark bands on it's abdomen. Thanks!
Tammy
Hi Tammy,
The Western Conifer Seed Bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis. It
is an introduced species that has become very wide spread
in about 20 years. They are seeking shelter from the winter
by moving into your home. Here is a site
with more information.
Small
Milkweed Bug and Jumping Spider
(11/08/2005) Various bugs & spiders
Hello: You have a wonderful and informative website. I applaud
your use of color pictures and your professional approach
at identifing and informing the public about various creatures
they encounter. From your site, I believe the first photo
is that of a boxelder insect. I saw him on my garage door
and wanted to take a picture. At that time, I had to leave
to make it to an appointment. The garage door opened and
closed and repeated the cycle when I returned. Still the
boxelder remained. I got my camera and shot a couple of pictures. After
dumping them to my computer, I could see that they were blurry
and had no depth-of-field. I went back out to see if the insect
was still there and he was. Then I set up the camera on a
tripod and went back out. Much to my delight, the insect
was still there. I shot the picture you see (entitled Boxelder.jpg).
The next morning I went out and found the insect laying on
the ground in front of my garage door. It was his last day
on Earth and he survived long enough to become immortalized
in pictures. The second photo is a house centipede, which
your site helped me identify. Spider1.jpg is a small spider
trying to hide in the keyhole of the deadbolt lock on my garage
door. No doubt he was hoping I didn't have a key. I have
no idea what kind of spiders are in spider2.jpg and spider3a.jpg. Any
identification would be appreciated. No insects or spiders
were harmed in making the photographs. The photos are yours
to use as you see fit. I am not making any silly copyright
claims. They are in the public domain as far as I am concerned.
Thank you, Jon
 
Hi Jon,
Thank you for the wonderful letter. Your bug is actually a
Small Milkweed Bug, Lygaeus kalmii, one of the Seed Bugs.
Your third spider is a Jumping Spider in the genus Phidippus,
Family Salticidae. We are not sure about the other spiders.
Leaf
Footed Bug
(11/07/2005) Wheel Bug?
I was in Austin TX this summer and took a picture of a good
reason that I don’t live there. This guy was on
our hotel sliding glass door (the outside thankfully).
From looking through the pages, and being a regular visitor
to your site (which I love), I believe it is some sort of
wheel bug or assassin bug, but it doesn’t have the serrated
thingy on the back. Am I close? I also thought
they were pretty good pictures. J Thanks for all your
time and effort. It really is a great site and I have
learned so much by visiting, which knowledge has had a direct
relationship to the safety of critters in my home and garden.
Leah Woodard
Hi Leah,
Thanks for your nice letter. This isn't a Wheel Bug, but a
Leaf Footed Bug, genus Acanthocephala. They are also known
as Coreid Bugs or Big Legged Bugs.
Western
Conifer Seed Bug
(10/25/2005) small critters in my room
Hi! I discovered your site while trying to identify the very
small bugs that keep on squeezing their way into my room.
Makes me reluctant to open my window, because whenever i find
them, they are either dead or dying. And i always seem to
find them near my window. Since i've only seem them dead,
i don't have much information besides the photo i've attached.
i hope the picture works...
Thank you!
Brenda from Ontario
Hi Brenda,
The Western Conifer Seed Bug often seeks shelter from the
cold inside homes. It won't damage your interior. It is just
cold.
Cotton
Harlequin Bug from Australia
(10/23/2005) What's that bug?
I was just websurfing with a 'cool site finder' when I found
that one. I never thought of searching a website to identify
a bug before... And I think it's pretty cool. I would be glad
if you could help me identify this insect, which I found not
too far from my home. Please see the attached files.
Bye,
Stephane
 
Hi Stephane,
We knew this was exotic for us here in southen California,
but your letter gave us no hint as to where your home is.
Luckily, the pod caused us to search Australian
insect sites and we located your Cotton Harlequin Bug,
Tectocoris diophthalmus. They are also called Hibiscus Harlequin
Bugs. The patterns vary between individuals. You other photo
shows a cluster of nymphs.
Boxelder
Bug
(10/20/2005) what kind of bug is this?
I have hundreds of these bugs around my house in a Milwaukee
WI suburb. Many of my friends report these too.
I never recall seeing these before this year. Can you identify
this?
Thanks,
Jim
Hi Jim,
We are getting numerous requests daily for the identification
of the Boxelder Bug. In an attempt to reduce incoming mail,
we now have one prominently featured at the top of our homepage.
Big
Legged Bug
(10/20/2005) It sounds like a helicopter!!
Hello!!! and thank you again for being such a great resource
for identification of all things buggy! I've turned to you
in the past when I've had a critter I just couldn't name,
and now, I come to you again. I have searched through your
archives of Beetles 2004, 2005 and current. I've also looked
at assasin bugs and "true" bugs, but I haven't been able to
find anything that closely matches my "beast". Attached are
two not so great photos of this 1 inch long, black, flat creature.
The segmented burgundy-colored antennae add another inch to
the total body length. The back (torso) is completely flat,
but he seems to have a nasty hunchback. He (or she) has a
probiscus which it carries curled under it's teenytiny little
head. The back legs are hefty but slightly flattened. When
it flies it sounds like a powerful propellor engine. Could
you help me identify it? Thank you so much!
Sharon Israel
Memphis, TN
Hi Sharon,
You needed to check the True Bugs page for this one. This
is one of the Coreid Bugs or Big Legged Bugs or Leaf Footed
Bugs. More specifically, it is in the genus Acanthocephala.
Swiss
Fire Bugs
(10/19/2005) Is this a ladybug? If so what kind?
The children and I just went to Europe . . .we found
this bug and thought it was a Switzerland - Italian lady bug
since we found it just before the Italian border in Switzerland
. . . Can you tell us what it is? Any links that we
can find pictures of it?
Thanks,
Denyse Gates
Calgary, Alberta
Hi Denyse,
This is a True Bug, a Hemipteran. They are numphs, but sorry,
we do not know the species.
This Just In!!! (10/20/2005)
Was browsing your wonderful site when I saw the post about
the Swiss Hemipteran Nymphs (10/19/2005). Just to let you
know these are Firebugs ( Pyrrhocoris apterus). A rare species
here in the UK, but more common in continental Europe. Keep
up the good work
Aaron Woods
London England
Eric Eaton's additions: (10/20/2005)
"Ok, I found out what those red and black bugs are. The common
name is "fire bug." Scientifically, they are Pyrrhocoris
apterus, referring to the abbreviated wings in the adult stage.
Family is the cotton stainer family Pyrrhocoridae. Lots of
info on the Internet about them. "
Harlequin
Bug
(10/10/2005) Here's my beetle!
Like others I have been searching to figure out what kind
of beetles have been living in my garden all summer. They
stay on one particular plant and have been there since July.
I'm in SoCal if that helps.
Thanks in advance,
Richard
Hi Richard,
The flaw in your searching is that the Harlequin Bug, Murgantia
histrionica, is not a beetle but a true bug. It can be found
on cabbage, sweet alyssum and wild mustard among other plants.
Boxelder Bug Aggregation
(10/08/2005) what are these in such a big cluster?
Sorry this is not a closeup of one or two beatles but I thoght
you might be able to ID then because of their marking,,,,,,,,Thanks
Tim Knight
Hi Tim,
Excellent photo of a Boxelder Bug Aggregation.
Louse???
No: Gnat Bugs or Unique-Headed Bugs
(10/06/2005) Leaf-litter denizens
Bugman, I am stumped by this one. Hopefully
you can provide an ident. I collected
several of these guys from leaf-litter samples using a Berlese
funnel . Along with the usual smattering of mites and
springtails. They range in size around 1mm in length.
Three tagma, three pair legs, possible sucking mouthparts
(hypostome). Magnification is 100X and 400X respectively.
Thanks.
George
 
Hi George,
We really don't know what this is but we will post it on our
Louse page in the hopes that someone can identify it.
Update (02/27/2006)
Hello Lisa and Daniel,
I was looking at your "what's that bug" website and think
I have some answers for your pages: On your louse page, the
leaf litter critter is a heteropteran (true bugs) in the family
Enicocephalidae (gnat bugs or unique-headed bugs). They are
thought to be the most primitive heteropteran family (with
fully membranous wings in the winged forms).I hope this helps!
Matt Bertone
Entomology Graduate Student
Insect Molecular Systematics
North Carolina State University
Department of Entomology
Leaf Footed Bugs Mating: Leptoglossus zonatus
(10/05/2005) Leptoglossus zonatus
I found these all over our only orange tree and the bean
pods of a hyacinth bean vine. We live just north of
Houston, TX. Found an article
that says they are new to FL. Can you help ID the one on the
green leaf?
Thanx
Dan
 
Hi Dan,
We actually believe your species is another Leaf Footed Bug,
Leptoglossus phyllopus. The adults are mating and the insect
on the leaf is an immature nymph of the same species.
Update (01/06/2006)
Yes, Leptoglossus zonatus
Dear Bugman Dan,
Yes, the person that submitted this message was right. It
is L. zonatus. Nice photos he submitted! I like reading what
is posted in your website. I learn a lot especially from the
home owners' point of view.
Julieta
USDA, taxonomy of Heteroptera
Boxelder
Bug
(10/04/2005) beetle?
We just moved from NY to Michigan. We have been here
about a month, and then suddenly our yard seems to be infested
with these red and black insects. They seem to congregate
underneath our windows and between panels on the siding of
our house. Their bodies measure about 1.5 cm, and
when they fly their bodies appear bright red. Could
you help me identify them?
Thanks,
Amy G in Kalamazoo, MI
Hi Amy,
Boxelder Bugs are not beetles but true bugs. They often form
huge aggregations.
Small Milkweed Bugs: adults and a nymph
(10/02/2005) Milkweed Bug
Hi Bug Man....
a search on your webpage suggests that these are Small Milkweed
bugs. Is the one in the upper left hand corner also a small
Milkweed bug (perhaps a WEE small milkweed bug)? Or is it
another species altogether? The bugs were found, appropriately,
on a swamp milkweed pod.
Thanks,
Jill
Hi Jill,
Great photo. These are all Small Milkweed Bugs, Lygaeus kalmii.
The smallest is an immature nymph that will grow wings at
the final molt.
Western Conifer Seed Bug
(10/01/2005) Bug in Western Mass.
Hi Bugman!
Your website is so helpful regarding other bugs. I
have this bug that's been coming into our dorms in Amherst,
MA. It's about an inch long, and it emitted a somewhat
foul odor when we tried to kill it. I was told
it was a stinkbug because of this, but it doesn't look like
any stinkbugs on your site. How do I keep them
out??? They come in every night. Thanks from some curious
UMass students,
Stephanie
Hi Stephanie,
This is a Western Conifer Seed Bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis.
in the family Coreidae. Both Leaf-Footed Bugs and Stink Bugs
are in the same order, Hemiptera, the True Bugs.
Cotton
Stainer Bug
(09/29/2005) Cotton Stainer Bugs?
Hi,
I am from Singapore and I found these bugs on the cotton plant.
The nymphs at bright red without any markings. Please kindly
help to identify. Thanks!
Best regards,
Yueat Tin
Hi Yueat Tin,
This sure does appear to be one of the species of insects
known as Cotton Stainers. They are in the Red Bug Family Pyrrhocoridae.
Boxelder
Bug Aggregation
(09/21/2005) What's this Bug?
My ex wife has discovered a lot, and I do mean a lot, of these
bugs on the side of her house. There are literally hundreds
of them. It appears as if the younger bugs have red bodies
and as they mature they grow black wings. Any idea what they
are?
Thanks,
Stephen Bland
Hi Stephen,
We get many letters regarding large aggregations of Boxelder
Bugs. We have also gotten reports that spraying them with
soapy water will kill them.
Small
Milkweed Bugs Mating
(09/18/2005) Photo of mating Boxelder bugs
I LOVE your site!!! (You just helped us ID our
first Robber Fly!) I thought you may be interested
in this photo of a mating pair of Boxelder bugs. We
took the photo on 09/05/05 at Table Rock Mountain in Western
North Carolina.
Lori Martin
Maiden, NC
Hi Lori,
Sorry for the long delay but we had lots of Boxelder Bug photos
when your letter arrived. We are catching up on old mail and
we were pleasantly surprised to see you had misidentified
your bugs. These are actually Small Milkweed Bugs, Lygaeus
kalmii.
Aggregation
of Milkweed Bug Nymphs
(09/02/2005) milkweed bug nest
Is this a nest of adult or young milkweed bugs or do all ages
swarm or nest in this fashion? This
is the first time this summer that I have seen
such a cluster at the conservation area. I want
you to know how much I enjoy and am addicted to
your website. It is fun, informative,
international, and rich in content. I am more
interested and curious about insects thanks to your website. Take
Care,
Janet from Dundas, Ontario
Hi Janet,
First, thank you for your kind words. Secondly, these are
young Milkweed Bugs. Adults have well developed wings. Many
Hemipterans, and these are Hemipterans or True Bugs, form
large aggregations of insecfts in all stages of development.
This is nothing compared to the way Boxelder Bugs gather en
masse.
Immature
Squash Bugs
(08/28/2005) Gray hoards win squash
Hi Bug Man!
My first crop of spaghetti squash has yielded one small prize,
and look who got it first. I didn't find anything similar
on the site. Know these guys?
Kelly B., Grafton, Massachusetts
Hi Kelly,
These are immature Squash Bugs, Anasa tristis. How surprising
is that? I found a site
with more information.
Thank you Daniel. Looks as though they are what killed the
vine, too. Don't think I'll be eating that squash. Your site
is saved under "favorites," and my five-year-old son and I
visit often. What a fun way to learn! We usually find what
we're looking for just by looking through the excellent photos
-- like the dobson fly, the hummingbird moth, and that freaky
burying beetle that scared me half to death last year when
I saw an obviously dead bird writhing and flopping about at
my front door. My nickname for that bug is the re-animator
beetle! Thank you for a wealth of information. -Kelly B.
Ambush
Bug feasting of flower visiting fly
(08/27/2005) Southern Ontario Canada Bug
Bugman,
Photograph was taken at the end of August, 2005 in my backyard.
Bug on the right in the photograph was 'eating' the bug
on the left. What is the bug on the right?
Thanks,
David
Hi David,
This is a Jagged Ambush Bug, Phymata erosa. They are True
Bugs in the family Phymatidae. They often sit and wait on
flowers where they are camouflaged. When a bee, butterfly,
or flower visiting fly like the one in your photo, comes to
the flower to feed, the Ambush Bug earns its name, often capturing
insects far greater in size.
Small Eastern Milkweed Bug
(08/23/2005)
Hello! It took a few minutes of investigating but
I was able identify these as milkweed bugs. It
is the heart shaped pattern that made me run to get my camera!
Take Care,
Janet
Hi Janet,
Thanks for sending in such a great photo of a Small Eastern
Milkweed Bug, Lygaeus kalmii.
Boxelder Bugs: Nymphs and Adults
(08/08/2005) box elder bugs...
Could you stand another couple of box elder bug pictures? These
seem to
have developed a taste for some weeds in the yard...
Pat
 
Hi Pat,
Thanks for the Boxelder Bug Photo. We have decided to give
it a permanent place at the top of the True Bugs pages, just
above the Soap remedy letter.
Soap
against Boxelder Bugs
(02/03/2005) A WAY TO ELIMINATE BOX ELDER
HELLO, I AM FROM NEW YORK STATE AND WE HAVE A VERY SERIOUS
PROBLEM WITH THE BOX ELDER BEETLES. THEY ARE ALL
OVER OUR TREES, OUR POOL DECK AND OUR HOME. OUR
NEIGHBOR ONE DAY WAS DOING HER LAUNDRY AND SAW ONE IN THE
BASEMENT SO SHE SPRAYED IT WITH A DETERGENT SOLUTION SHE HAD
IN A BOTTLE. THE BEETLE DIED IN NO TIME. AFTER
THAT WE WOULD FILL UP OUR 2 GALLON SPRAYERS AND PUT A CAP
OR TWO OF LAUNDRY SOAP IN IT AND SPRAY THESE BEETLES. THEY
DO DIE FROM THIS SOLUTION. THIS IS A CHEAP SOLUTION
AND A NON TOXIC SOLUTION.
DEBBIE FENCLAU
Hi Debbie,
Thanks for the great tip. I'm sure our readers will love it.
We are posting it at the top of the True Bug page. Incidentally,
Boxelder Bugs are True Bugs and not Beetles.
Large
Milkweed Bug
(08/08/2005) Milkweed Beetles?
Hello, Bug People!
I observed these little guys last summer in VA over the course
of several weeks, from larva to adulthood, yet I'm still not
sure what they are! There were a few colonies on different
milkweed plants, so I figured they were milkweed beetles,
but they do not look like any pictures of milkweed bugs I've
seen. Did I misidentify my little bug friends?
Val
 
Hi Val,
You Large Milkweed Bugs, Oncopeltus fasciatus, are True Bugs
or Hemipterans, not Beetles. They suck juices from the maturing
and mature seeds of milkweed.
Immature
Hemipterans
(08/08/2005) friend or foe
Hi I have just come across your web site and wonder if you
can help me identify these creatures. I live in the u k just
outside Southampton and found these eggs and beetles on a
fuschea leaf. The eggs were lime green turning transparent
as they got near to hatching you can see the beetles inside.
I hope you can enlarge the picture. Many thanks
Maggie
Hi Maggie,
Despite your excellent photo, we can only give you a general
identification. These are immature Hemipterans, True Bugs,
not beetles. They are also some plant infesting species, so
they are foes, not friends. They do not chew leaves, but suck
juices, so the damage is not immediately apparent.
Western Leaf-Footed Bug
(08/06/2005)
Found these all over our Juniper bushes and I have scoured
this site for them. What are they and are they
a pest or help in the garden? This guy without
his/her antennae is about the size of nickel or so.
Lots of young on the bushes too. The hind legs
are kind of leaf-like.
Adam W.
Hi Adam,
Scour on down to the True Bugs pages. Just for fun, we tried
the search engine, typing in your most obvious words: "juniper,
legs, leaf-like" and sure enough we were led to the correct
page. This is a Western Leaf-Footed Bug, Leptoglossus clypealus,
which is found on juniper. They use their sucking mouthparts
to draw fluids from the plants.
Ambush
Bugs Mating
(08/06/2005) two buggy things
First off, I'm now totally hooked! Many of the killer bad
bugs have been ID'd and we can breathe easier knowing they
are not killer bugs after all. My kids and I have had the
camera with us now whenever we go out because we never know
when we'll get a good shot. OK, the first one is of two tiny
mantis looking bugs. They are maybe 1/2 inch long, can fly,
and have those praying type of front legs. We were wondering
if the mantis looking bugs were in fact tiny mantis critters
(hope pic is clear enough).We live in SE CT.
Thanks so much,
Erika
Hi Erika,
Your mantis bugs are Ambush Bugs, Family Phymatidae, and they
are mating. They wait on flowers to ambush nectar seeking
insects.
Ambush
Bug
(08/01/2005) What this bug?
Hello,
You have a great site. Can you tell me if this is an
Assain Bug?
Thank You
Lynn
Hi Lynn,
You are close. Not an Assasin Bug but an Ambush Bug, Family
Phymatidae. Your photo shows the four segmented clubbed antennae
nicely. They wait on flowers and ambush flying insects many
times their own diminutive size.
Ambush
Bug
(07/27/2005) true bug?
I found this small bug on my eunonymous bush in the hudson
valley, NY. It's about 1/4" long.
Bennett Gray
Hi Bennett,
Yes this is a True Bug, but more specifically, it is an Ambush
Bug, Family Phymatidae. These small greenish-yellow or brown
and yellow insects are usually found on flowers where they
wait to ambush insects, often bees or wasps many times their
own size.
Burrower
Bugs
(07/22/2005) what is it?
Hi,
Sorry, I am new at photographing bugs – this is the
best I could do. I collected these bugs from our house and
then dumped them on a tile – so some are on their back
and two are stuck together on the 19 – Can you identify
them? Unfortunately they are all over the neighborhood. Our
neighborhood is under heavy construction since many homes
were burned to the ground during the So. Cal wildfires in
Oct. 2003. We are back in a newly rebuilt home and have had
our share of ants to deal with. But this is a new one –
we ’ re hoping these are not Powder Post Beetle s .
Some of our neighbors are sure these are ticks. They have
been sited in neighboring towns too – that are not under
heavy construction. We have a newly built two-story house
and they continue to appear upstairs and downstairs by the
dozens. OK, we had fire, we had terrible rains last year,
but hopefully there are no locusts on th e way. All kidding
aside, we are so happy to be home and hope that you can tell
us that this bug isn ’ t something that can destroy
our home or carpet or hurt our animals. Thanks!
Lynda Felder
Hi Lynda,
These are neither ticks nor powderpost beetles, but Burrower
Bugs, Family Cydnidae. According to Borror and Delong: "They
are usually found burrowing beneath stones or boards, in sand,
or in the mold about the roots of grass tufts; sometimes they
are found in ant nests." This might be Cyrtomenus mirabilis,
a species found in the South and Southwest.
Leaf-Footed
Bug: Acanthocephala species
(07/21/2005) What is this bug?
Saw a bunch of these in Bushkill, PA. What is it?
Thanks
Sarah
Hi Sarah,
This is one of the Coreid Bugs or Big Legged Bugs or Leaf
Footed Bugs. More specifically, it is an Acanthocephala species,
probably confraterna. Eric Eaton believes it might be Acanthocephala
terminatus.
Red
Shouldered Stinkbugs: Splendor in the Grass
(07/16/2005)
While trying to pull out ivy and invasive crawling grasses
from around our squash plants, we stumbled upon this Spendor
in the Grass: Two Green Stinkbugs embracing. We hurried indoors
for the camera and had a difficult time relocting them, but
they were very cooperative for the camera.
Ed. Note Update: (12/03/2005)
stink bugs identified!
Greetings Bugman, I am browsing your site and enjoying the
information and beautiful photos. Thanks for doing a great
service to the public. From my recent work in agricultural
entomology, I instantly recognized some of the little stinkers
on your site, so I thought I'd point them out. Green Stinkbugs:
Splendor in the Grass (07/16/2005) This looks like the red-shouldered
stink bug, Thyanta custator. It is fairly common but not
as harmful as some other stink bugs like the southern green. It
should not be confused with a similar invasive South American
species, Piezodorus guildinii, which has a two-toned black
and orange or black and white stripe.
Take care,
Heather Spaulding
Squash
Bug
(07/07/2005) Bug??
This was on the tomato plant. There are a few of these on
the plants. We live in Houston. Assasin bug?
Thanks
Richard
Hi Richard
Definitely not an Assasin Bug. We checked with Eric Eaton
who replies:"Looks like a coreid, maybe Anasa sp? That is
"squash bug" to the general public."
Adelphocoris
Plant Bug
(07/03/2005) Bug query
I found this lovely bug in the gaden today, there are lots
of them under a hawthorn hedge. Any idea?
Love the site
Geoff Dagger
Hi Geoff,
Even though you are across the pond and I'm not always sure
of the British bugs, I would venture a pretty sure guess that
this is one of the Adelphocoris Plant Bugs, and most definitely
one of the Family Miridae. These are soft bodied insects that
are pests in the garden. The genus Adelphocoris is marked
with green, orange-red, yellowish brown and black in bold
patterns or stripes. It is found in crops, pastures and gardens.
Shield
Bug from Hong Kong
(07/08/2005) bright orange bug
was hiking up Victoria Peak in Hong Kong when I came across
this very interesting and friendly bug. It kept crawling towards
my camera, and paused long enough in front of a leaf for me
to take this photo..
Ji Yoon
Hi Ji Yoon,
We are not well versed in the exotic, and Hong Kong is exotic
for us in Southern California, but this is some type of Shield
Bug, a True Bug. Beautiful insect though..
Boxelder
Bugs
(07/01/2005) Can you tell me what this is?
These showed up in my yard last week—I’ve never
seen them around before (I live in St. Louis, MO) I
have them in what appear to all stages from babies to adults,
only the adults seem to fly, and they seem to eat other bugs—dead
ones—but I don’t know what else. I don’t
know if they are harmful or not. Can you help? I’ve
done quite a few web searches, and I must be putting in the
wrong search parameters, because I keep getting ladybugs.
These are NOT ladybugs!
Thanks--
Carol in MO
Hi Carol,
You should be able to find plenty of information online now
that you know you have Boxelder Bugs. They form huge aggregations
of both adults and wingless nymphs and feed on boxelder and
maple trees. Get rid of them with a mild soapy water.
Coreid
Bug
(06/30/2005) Tiger beetle??
Seen on my office window in Austin, Texas. About
three inches long, total length. I am guessing
some sort of Tiger Beetle. Hard to tell from photo,
but a wild guess from you would be ok. Thanks,
Ron
Hi Ron,
Tiger Beetles are usually less than 3/4 inch long. This is
a Coreid Bug. Great Photo.
Yet
another "Mesquite Bug"
(06/24/2005) Thasus neocalifornicus
Apparently you received three reports of Thasus neocalifornicus
on June 21 in Southern Arizona. Here's another report, and
two images I grabbed on the exact same day. Unfortunately,
"my" insect wasn't as romantic as a bunch of them
crawling around in mesquite trees. It was a solitary one crawling
on a styrofoam coffee cup someone left behind on a brick wall
at The University of Arizona in Tucson. Why all on the same
day, in the same general location, and why have I never seen
this insect here before although I have lived in Arizona for
nearly 15 years?
Best regards,
Pamela D.
 
Hi Pamela,
First of all, we love your photo with the styrofoam cup. It
appeals to our sense of humor. Now addressing your point,
perhaps we should wax philosophically about the genius of
nature. Something in the insects life cycle triggers the insects
to appear during a specific season to better insure the survival
of the species. If all the members of a given species mature
at the same time, chances are better for finding a mate. Some
critters are off schedule, and if they happen to find a mate,
it even further ensures success for the species. As to this
year being a year that Thasus neocalifornicus is proliferating,
I'm sure the unseasonal rains have contributed to the population
explosion.
Another
Thasus neocalifornicus
(06/21/2005) Bug found under Tree
Hi - We found this bug under a eucalyptus tree in Arizona
and couldn't identify it. My six year old daughter
really wanted to know what it was. Any ideas? Thanks!
Boyd Burkhardt
Hi Boyd,
This is the second photo today of Thasus neocalifornicus.
That might be too much for your daughter to pronounce but
we don't really have a common name for this True Bug. The
group is the Coreids or Leaf-Footed Bugs. She can call it
a Leaf-Footed Bug. It is immature and the adult will grow
wings.
Hemipteran:
Thasus neocalifornicus
(06/21/2005) Beetle
What's this? A number of these were inhabiting a mesquite
tree here in Tucson on a pleasant summer day, about 110 deg..
Striking colors, length about 1 inch, with very long antenna
that have a small disk about midway.
We wrote to Eric Eaton who identified this colorful Hemipteran
as Thasus neocalifornicus (formerly T. gigas).
Giant
Agave Bug
(06/21/2005) Unknown beetle
I ran across this little guy (well, BIG guy actually) while
I was out for a walk today. He was hiding from the sun
on a rug thrown over a fence. This guy was pretty good
sized - about 2" or maybe a little more (body only).
The photo doesn't show it very well, but its hind legs were
extremely long compared to the others. I'd love to know
what it is. He was a very cooperative photo subject.
Dawn
Bisbee, AZ
Ed. Note: Before we had a chance to reply,
Dawn found her Giant Agave Bug,Acanthocephala thomasi, on
BugGuide.
It is one of the Coreid or Leaf-Footed Bugs.
Coreid
Bugs
(06/10/2005) Hi,
I have attached two pictures. The slightly out of focus one
shows a large number of these bugs, mostly juvenile (I assume)
and at least one of the larger ones (adult of the same
species?) and the other photo shows just a few, but is sharper.
These, as you can see, have been all over my tomatoes, and
are also on my peppers and eggplants. Are they good bugs or
bad? I am assuming bad, and have tried to kill them, but so
far insecticidal soap and pyrethrum dust have both failed
to do much damage. Any suggestions?
Thanks, Mary
Mary Elizabeth Word
 
Hi Mary,
It is difficult to be certain based on your photos, but I'm
guessing you have a type of Coreid Bug, known as Big Legged
Bugs or Leaf Footed Bugs. These include many plant pests including
the Squash Bug, Anasa tristis. Be careful, they can bite.
Immature
Coreid Bug
(06/07/2005) Red/yellow unspider
I have no clue what this bug is. It has 8 legs, but two of
them it seems to use as antennae, so I don't think it's a
spider....do you know what it is?
Korey
 
Hi Korey,
You have a species of immature Coreid Bug. You are very lucky
you did not get bitten. Even the nymphs can deliver a painful
bite. In addition to its sucking mouthparts, it has six legs
like all insects, and two antennae.
Harlequin
Bug Nymphs
(06/02/2005)
I know you'll be so excited to receive yet ANOTHER email asking...do
you know what kind of bug this is? I live in San Antonio,
TX and have found these bugs in my garden just in the last
couple of weeks. I can't quite tell if they're damaging my
plants or not, but they are everywhere and multiplying rapidly.
I really appreciate your help!
Thanks,
Cara
Hi Cara,
Your photo is rather blurry, but we are almost certain you
have Harlequin Bug nymphs, Murgantia histrionica. This is
a type of Stink Bug that often infests cabbage plants and
wild mustard. They can get very plentiful.
Leaf-Footed
Bug
(05/30/2005) Orange Bug - now BIG black bug
I had emailed a few weeks ago about some small orangish bugs
with black dots along it's tail end -- you had suggested they
might be asassin bugs.....NOW - - I just got back from vacation
and found these bad boys on my tomato plants....no more of
the small orange ones....I think they grew up...and they fly
now.... > I watched them a bit this morning and they seem
to be "secreting" some clear fluids from their tails.....
Do I kill these things or leave them?
Robyn McRae
Hi Robyn,
You have Leaf-Footed Bugs, Leptoglossus phyllopus, from the
Coreid Bug group. It is a widespread and conspicuous minor
pest of many kinds of crops including fruits, vegetables,
grains, nuts and ornamentals. This includes tomatoes. Here
is a page
with more information.
Plant
Bug
(05/24/2005) ID, plant bug?
Hi, Daniel.
You were so helpful with the last mystery bug, I wonder if
you could help me with this one. Finding it on my cukes and
celery. About 1/4" long. Any ideas?
Cheers.
Amanda
Hi Amanda,
I'm afraid we can't be much more accurate than you have already
been. It is a True Bug, and possibly a member of the Plant
Bug family Miridae. This is a large family of soft bodied
insects, most less than 3/8 inch long. They use their beaklike
mouthparts to suck plant juices. They are often injurious
to crops.
Good enough. I'll keep feeding them to the chickens. Thanks
again.
Harlequin
Cabbage Bug
(05/16/2005) can you name this beetle?
... and do i need to eradicate from my garden? or is it a
good bug?
thanks........... bob
Effective communication is comprised of brevity, clarity,
simplicity & humanity.
Hi Bob,
You have a Harlequin Cabbage Bug, Murgantia histrionica, which
is a True Bug, one of the Shield or Stink Bugs from the Family
Pentatomidae, not a Beetle. They range across the U.S. They
feed on the juices of cruciform plants including cabbage,
kale, and broccoli as well as turnip, horseradish, potato,
beet, bean, grape, squash, sunflower, ragweed and citrus foliage.
I find them on wild mustard. The female lays double rows of
barrel shaped eggs and wingless nymphs are active all summer.
They are injurious to plants, causing blotching on the foilage
and ruining the commercial value.
Costa
Rican Coreid or Chincha
(05/16/2005) Costa Rican bug
Hi Bugman
Congratulations for your excellent website! Don't know if
you can also help me with some Central American bug... There
is a bug in Costa Rica whose droppings are extremely acid,
causing severe skin irritations: the spot first turns red,
then blue the next day and then all the skin far around the
spot gets full of blisters and after a week or so, peels off.
They call it "chinche" here. I happened to make
a picture of such a guy months before I made my own bad experiences
with it. Do you have any idea what class of bug it is, or
where could I find information?
Kind regards
Pia
Hi Pia,
Your bug is a True Bug from the Family Coreidae, The Big Legged
Bugs or Leaf Footed Bugs. They are plant pests. In California
we have a Western Leaf-footed Bug, Leptoglossus clypealus
which is called the Chincha, which means "bug" in Spanish.
There are also bugs known as Chinch Bugs in the Family Lygaeidae,
the Seed Bugs. Hope that helps, though we can't give you an
exact species name.
Cotton
Stainer
(04/06/2005) What's that witchdoctor doing on the insect's
back?
Hi Bugman,
Please ID this weird insect that I shot in our garden.I stay
in Palm Meadows
http://www.adarshdevelopers.com/projects/palmmeadows/palm_location.html
in Bangalore.
Thanks,
Shastri
Hi Shastri,
We checked with Eric Eaton who identified this insect as a
member of the Cotton Stainer Family Pyrrhocoridae which are
common in the tropics and the South. One species, Dysdercus
suturellus is very injurious to cotton by piercing the stems
and bolls with its beak and sucking the sap. The greatest
damage is done by staining the cotton with its excrement.
Boxelder
Bugs, young and nearly mature nymphs
(04/04/2005) Any clue?
Hi Bugman!
In desperate need of your assistance. I’ve looked at
every image on your site without any luck in identifying these
bugs. Attached are a couple of pics. They are located in our
backyard in Austin, TX (everywhere you look you see them crawling
around. They seem to be located mostly in small piles of dead
leaves and on our wooden fence). Although the two pics look
a bit different, I think the “blacker” one is
just older because they all “hang out” and run
around together. When they are first born, they are all grouped
together and start out as a bright red-orange and finally
begin mostly black. I also haven’t seen them fly. I
want to guess their size to be 1⁄4” to 1⁄2”.
They seem pretty harmless, but my daughter won’t go
outside because they freak her out. Not sure if this is enough
information, but I will provide any necessary info, if at
all possible. Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated!
Yvette
 
Hi Yvette,
You probably only checked out the images on our homepage.
If you go to the two True Bug pages by clicking the links
in the alphabatized list on the left side of the www.whatsthatbug.com
homepage, you will find lots of great photos and information
on Boxelder Bugs. Your photos are fantastic.
Harlequin
Bug
(02/13/2005)
Can't find this bug's info anywhere!
The attached photo shows the bug. He and his friends
are located in a patch of flowers in our back yard.
I believe they are eating the leaves. Let me know if
you need more info on the location. Any help you can
provide me in.
Hi there,
You have an immature Harlequin Bug, Murgantia histrionica.
They have sucking mouthparts and are often pests on cultivated
plants in the cabbage family as well as on Sweet Alyssum and
wild mustard. They are colorful members of the stinkbug family
Pentatomidae.
Australian
Bugs
(02/05/2005) identify a bug?
hi, i'm just wondering if you could identify this insect from
since i was a kid i just called it a stink bug and im wondering
if it is or not i have been trying all kinds of searches and
i cant seem to find it your welcome to use the picture if
you find an interest the seed pods it is photographed on are
from a wattle tree or an acacia in south australia along a
creek line
thank you
sandie
Hi Sandie,
First I must appologize for taking so long to reply. Somehow
your letter got lost in the black hole that is our incoming
mailbox. You have two bugs, and that is a correct term, in
your photo. At the top, partially obscured is a Coreid, or
Leaf Footed Bug, called Tip Wilters in Australia. I located
a picture on this page
that looks like your specimen, identified as a Crusader Bug,
Mictis profana. This bug is dark brown in colour and with
a diagonal white cross on its back like the Crusader's shield.
Its hind legs are thick and strong. At the bottom is an immature
Shield Bug, Family Pentatomidae which we call Stink Bugs in
the states. Sorry, we are not familiar with your species for
an exact identification. We did locate this great Australian
Stink Bug page.
Western
Conifer Seed Bug
(02/05/2005) whats this bug HELP
We have 5 of these bugs within 2 days.. what are they please
! thanks
The Western Conifer Seed Bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis,
often seeks shelter indoors to hibernate during cold winter
months.
Squashed
Western Conifer Seed Bug
(01/25/2005) What's this bug
It's the middle of winter here in Canada around -15C or so
and I find this bug in the middle of my upstairs hall. Unfortunately
my killer instincts kicked in, and I felt I had to protect
my whole family from our strange house guest so I flattened
it. Hopefully it's resting peacefully in bug heaven
and hopefully you can identify it.
Some things to note:
-We did have a live Christmas tree
-We have just recently completed renovations including new
lumber
-After it was squished, there was a faint pine smell (could
be my imagination b/c the guts were green)
Thanks for any help, and I look forward to getting your response.
John
Hi John,
I looks like you have dispatched a Western Conifer Seed Bug,
Leptoglossus occidentalis, a member of the Big-Legged Bug
Family Coreidae. Since they feed on pine seeds, it could have
come in on your Christmas tree. They also seek shelter inside
of homes to hibernate. They are harmless other than damaging
pine seeds.
Immature
Hemipteran
(01/20/2005) Unknown Beetle
Here is a beetle I've found in my yard. Sorry the picture
isn't very good but I was wondering if you can identify it
for me. We live in Pequannock, NJ and it was around the garden.
I've seen it maybe once before a year or two ago.
Thanks,
Loretta
Hi Loretta,
You don't have a beetle but a True Bug or Hemipteran. It is
immature so it is difficult to be sure of the species.
Thank you for your quick response. In that case then, I guess
if I don't keep one in a jar, I may never know : ). Thanks
for looking though. Your site is very interesting. I will
show it to my children. It also might help me on my diet if
I look at it on a regular basis! Loretta
Brochymena
(01/19/2005) can you tell me what this bug is?
I live in Oakland, California and I found this bug on my outside
my window. I have never seen anything like it. Can
you tell me what it is?
Thanks. ~ Jeni
Hi Jeni,
It is difficult to be certain as your photo is blurry. It
is definitely a True Bug or Hemipteran. Judging by the silhouette
and coloration, I'm guessing a Brochymena. These are brown
to mottled grey with a pebbly surface, from 1/2 to 5/8 inch
long. Their coloration makes them difficult to spot on the
bark of trees. They prey on caterpillars and other soft injurious
insects, hence they are beneficial in the garden and in orchards.
Giant Shield Bug
from Malasia
(01/15/2005) Orange bug, what is that?
Hi, I'm currently doing a school project on insects when I
found this insect in a forest. Can you pls help me identify
this insect possibly by this month as my deadline is the end
of January? I'm from Malaysia. my friend's father got it from
the jungle in Johor. A jungle in Janda Baik, i think. Do you
have any idea what order it is from? I was thinking maybe
of a shield bug and perhaps it's common name? Thank you very
much.
Su Yan
Hi Su Yan,
We agree that it is a Hemipteran, but we turned to expert
Eric Eaton for additional information. He wrote back: "A book
I have ("Bugs of the World") has an image of similar
insects it places in the family Tessaratomidae, the "giant
shieldbugs." That is the best guess I can
hazard, being here in the mundane U.S."
Balinese Bug
(01/13/2005) Bug on the beach in Bali
Hi there,
My son found this insect on the beach in Bali, Indonesia last
week. Please see the attached picture. He would like to know
what it is as he had grown attached to it.
Thanks!
Meily Meyers
Hi Meily,
We wrote to Eric Eaton again for this one and he quickly responded:
"It is another Hemipteran, maybe even an adult of the nymph
that you send an image of earlier. Reminds me of
something in the Scutellaridae, as the scutellum (the normally
large, triangular segment between the wings) is greatly enlarged
and rounded, covering the entire abdomen and giving it a beetle-like
appearance."
Mating
Boxelder Bugs
(01/12/2005) Help with bugWe have been over run with these
little bugs and don’t know what they are, can you help?
We are in Tampa , Florida and the bugs seem to be mainly
in the wood chips or tree base.
Thanks,
Mike
Hi Mike,
And judging by the mating pair, you will soon have even more
Eastern Boxelder Bugs, Leptocoris trivittatus.
Leaf
Footed Bug
(01/08/2005) Is this an Assasin bug?
Hi There! I've been trying to identify this bug, and I am
fairly sure it's an Assasin bug of some sort. It was quite
large, although I did see one even larger (no camera though!)
It doesn't have the typical leafy leg decor, so I pretty sure
it's not a leaf leg bug. And he also doesn't have a lighter
tip on his antenna. I live in NW Georgia. I found this guy
on my Pyrracantha during the summer, and he stayed there for
weeks. Thanks for your input!
Shannon Davidson
Dallas, GA
Hi Shannon,
We wrote to Eric Eaton who correctly identified your: "This
is not an assassin bug, though. It is a male Acanthocephala
species, family Coreidae (leaf-footed bugs). Males have greatly
swollen hind femora ("thighs") armed with spikes and teeth,
which they use in battles over females. Both genders have
leaf-like flanges on the hind tibia ("shins"). Neat bugs,
totally harmless, feed on seeds mostly."
Box
Elder Bug nymph
(01/08/2005) mystery bug
We have these in numbers in the back yard and are not sure
that they are. I was thinking it was a type of chinch
bug but I have not been able to verify. If you could
help I would appreciate it.
Thanks allot,
Rick
Hi Rick,
You have an immature or nymph stage Box Elder Bug. Both nymphs
and adults congregate together in large aggregations often
on Box Elder and Maple trees, but also on other deciduous
trees. They are usually noticed in fall and warm winter day.
They sometimes enter homes in great numbers.
Maybe
French Milkweed Bugs
(01/05/2005)
Would you identify these bugs? I live in S.W.France. Are they
harmful to the lime tree that they have infested? if so, how
do I get rid of them? Many thanks for your help.
Michael Warrack
Hi Michael,
I am not as familiar with French insects, but it appears you
have an aggregation of Seed Bugs, Family Lygaeidae, of some
sort, possibly a type of French Milkweed Bug. Seed Bugs are
True Bugs and most suck juices from developing or dry seeds
or the sap of grasses. They are known to form aggregations,
sometimes to hibernate. My best guess is that they are not
harming your lime tree, but using it as a gathering site.
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