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Organic Gardening

Is This an Assassin Bug? Friend or Foe?

12 years ago

Found this guy in a pot on my potting bench, acting very sluggish. He posed nicely for me. I've seen a few in the garden in the past. I moved him into a garden bed. Was that the right thing to do? It's still quite cold here in the morning, so we're not getting a lot of bugs out there yet, of any kind, for him to assassinate, if he is.

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Here's one a little out of focus, but closer.

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Comments (6)

jolj
12 years ago
Yes, they eat bad bugs.
And no they eat good buds, even honeybees.

Here is a link that might be useful: Assassin bug
GreeneGarden
12 years ago
The only way to know for sure is to turn it over and look at the proboscis. If it reaches or surpasses the second set of legs, it is a plant sucker. Otherwise it is an assassin.
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
12 years ago
Looks more like a leaf-footed bug to me. I'd not handle it too much...even a plant sucking insect can stab you. The proboscis on an assassin bug is more pronounced; the insect will often fold it underneath when not in use.

These insects can greatly resemble each other and without a good look at those mouthparts, it can sometimes be difficult to ID them.
jolj
12 years ago
Greengarden, I sometimes teach children about good/bad bugs.
Do you have a link for your test.
I believe you, but the children will want me to show them proof.
Do not want another what is the most Poisonous Spider, goof up.
It like the hottest pepper.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
12 years ago
Identify the proboscis (mouth part). You don't have to turn the insects over, but simply need to be able to see them from the side. See attached images for a look at several examples. You can't miss that stabbing mouthpart. It is much stouter than that of a plant sucking stinkbug.

Here is a link that might be useful: Click here for lots of pictures
GreeneGarden
12 years ago
jolj

I was trained in the US Army as a preventive medicine technition. They trained us to recognize blood suckers because they can transmit infectious diseases to troops. The PHD in entomology taught us this method.

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