Subject: What is this?
Geographic location of the bug: North Dakota
Date: 12/16/2017
Time: 08:28 PM EDT
We found this bug in our dogs water dish. Can you please tell me what it might be?
How you want your letter signed: Alisha
Dear Alisha,
This distinctively marked insect is a Two Spotted Stink Bug, which you can verify by comparing your individual to this BugGuide image. According to BugGuide: “originally a western species that spread eastward following its principal prey, the Colorado Potato Beetle” and “each individual is capable of destroying an average of 231.5 Colorado potato beetle eggs during its nymphal development and 150 to 200 larvae during its lifetime.” We will be postdating your submission to go live to our site at the end of the month when our editorial staff will be taking a holiday.