Subject:  Is this a kissing bug
Geographic location of the bug:  Northfield, Minnesota
Date: 10/01/2021
Time: 04:00 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  This particular one has been infesting and appearing all across my campus – I wanted to confirm any possibility that it is a kissing bug or some invasive species.
How you want your letter signed:  To: Alexander

Eastern Boxelder Bug

Dear Alexander,
This is not a Kissing Bug or Blood-Sucking Conenose Bug, the insect that spreads Chagas Disease.  This is an Eastern Boxelder Bug which you can verify by comparing your image to this BugGuide image.  Kissing Bugs and Boxelder Bugs share some physical features which is why they are classified together in the insect order Hymenoptera.  Eastern Boxelder Bugs do not suck blood and they are not dangerous, but they are sometimes considered a nuisance when they form large aggregations on homes and in yards.

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Subject:  Small multicolored bug on milkweed plant?
Geographic location of the bug:  South FL
Date: 09/06/2021
Time: 09:33 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman :  Hi there! I need help ID-ing a bug I found on a potted tropical milkweed plant I recently bought. It is a small bug ~5mm in length. Picture attached. I’ve never seen anything like this before so I was just curious as to what it was (google wasn’t much help unfortunately!).
Thank you!
How you want your letter signed:  B. Sanders

Immature Large Milkweed Bug

Dear B. Sanders,
Many folks purchase milkweed to attract Monarch butterflies, but they do not realize that milkweed is visited my numerous other insects.  This is an immature Large Milkweed Bug.  Here is a BugGuide image for reference.

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Subject:  Elder of some sort??
Geographic location of the bug:  Vermont
Date: 07/02/2021
Time: 07:47 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Hi Daniel – thank you so much for your comments on my orchard Spider from June…Need your help again.  Saw these two on milkweed and I think I interrupted a lovefest..My guess is some type of Elder??
I am happy to send you as many images as you would like…Im a professional commercial photographer, but I love wildlife, astro and MACRO photography as my hobby. I take LOTS of bug pics!  Thanks again for your help!  Have a great weekend!
How you want your letter signed:  Caroline Minneci

Small Milkweed Bug Nymph

Dear Caroline,
We are not certain what an elder is, other than a person of greater age.  These are definitely not elders.  They are immature Small Milkweed Bugs, Lygaeus kalmii, which are pictured on BugGuide.  They were also most certainly not mating, though they are a communal species.

Small Milkweed Bug Nymph

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Subject:  What’s this bug
Geographic location of the bug:  Baja Sur
Date: 06/21/2021
Time: 11:47 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Hi, I’ve seen this bug a few times over the years but cannot find a photo and name for it on the web.
How you want your letter signed:  Ryan

Six Spotted Milkweed Bug

Dear Ryan,
We quickly identified your Seed Bug as a Six Spotted Milkweed Bug, Oncopeltus sexmaculatus, thanks to images posted to BugGuide.

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Subject:  Friend or Foe?
Geographic location of the bug:  Southern California Foothills
Date: 10/23/2019
Time: 12:50 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Hopefully this is an easy one. I am asking you to help identify these little guys. I do not want to miss identity a bug who is helping our cherry tomato plant. These showed up after the plant was established for several months.
Thank you for your time!
How you want your letter signed:  New guy

Immature Large Milkweed Bugs

Dear New guy,
These sure look to us like immature Large Milkweed Bugs and we do not believe they will harm your tomato plants.  Here is a BugGuide image for comparison.  Is there any milkweed growing nearby?  They are also sometimes found in association with oleander.

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