Subject: Assasin or Leaf-Footed?
Geographic location of the bug: Cape Coral, FL
Date: 05/03/2019
Time: 07:32 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: I’m trying to decipher if these are assassins or Leaf-Footed, I read that assassins can be carriers of Chagas Disease. If we have assassins in our garden I want to know about it.
Thank you for your time and sharing your knowledge.
How you want your letter signed: Please identify this bug.
These are Leaf Footed Bug nymphs, probably in the genus Leptoglossus, and though they are harmless to you, they will feed on the tomatoes . Additionally, not all Assassin Bugs are a concern, though many will bite if carelessly handled. Only the Blood Sucking Conenose Bugs run the risk of carrying the pathogen that causes Chagas Disease, a condition that is relatively rare in North America. Chagas Disease is more of a concern in the tropics.
Thank you for your time. As I tried looking at various picture on the internet, I couldn’t identify these bugs because of the large dots on the back abdomen.
Sharon