The one in the top photo is a Stink Bug :
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The other two ? not sure..

Vgkg, I am familiar with stink bugs, and these are different. These certainly act like pests.

Do a check for "leaf footed bugs." Last year I had a horrible time with them sucking on my tomatoes and making all of them look really bad. Damage in similar to stink bugs and they are part of the same family of bugs--along with the assassin bugs--"true bugs". Strange thing is that I haven't seen but one of them this year (the leaf footed ones).

Those pics don't look like the assassin bugs that I have. They look more "hideous" (as the link in the other thread described them).

I think they may be the leaf-footed bugs. Do they also have red nymphs? More importantly, do they sting?

Yes!!

Here is a link that might be useful: They bite

Peggy, but do the leaf-footed bugs bite? Sounds like they may be closely related to assassin bugs.

Definitely *not* leaf-footed bugs.

Assassin bugs are grayish and their nymphs are red. So, possibly, yes.

AnnaFL

The nymphs of the leaf footed bug and the assasin bug look very similar to me (as do the nymphs of stink bugs, wheel bugs etc). My experience is similar to yours in that I usually see the leaf footed nymphs in large groups attacking a tomato or some other vegitable in my garden. On the other hand I have only seen the assasin bug nymphs by themselves or in pairs. The first time I saw them I could tell that they were assasin bug nymphs due to the slightly longer body, smaller head and longer "nose"- oh yeah and they were also sucking the juice out of a small caterpillar. Some means of identification are more definite than others.

You mention that the nymphs in your garden can be found in groups and that they are severly damaging your tomatoes. If that's the case, it doesn't matter what they will become, they are currently a pest and I would send them to the great beyond ASAP. I say as soon as possible because if they are leaf footed bugs they will get harder to kill as they get older and develop the ability to fly. They are very good fliers and I would go as far to say that they get agressive as they get older. I think that most of the agressiveness is for show and I have never been bitten by one, but when they reach adulthood they develop a rather hard exoskeleton that can feel like a splinter to a bare-handed attacker. I have also seen adults using their stingers(?) to pierce mature sunflower seeds and I imagine that it would be about like a needle if you were trying to kill them by hand. As a result I usually wear gloves when I go after the adults. Hope this helps.

Matt

These are assasin bugs.

Here is a link that might be useful: Assasin bugs

The bug with the wider back legs is a leaf footed bug and is a harmful pest.
The nymphs look very similar to the assassin bug , how I tell the difference is the width of back legs.
Assassin have thin legs whereas leaf footed have wide back legs .
L

Will Sevin dust kill leaf footed a-bugs on tomatoes? Hate to go there but there are thousands of them on my tomatoes leaving speckles and shriveling the cherry and grape tomatoes.

Oh, Sevin dust will kill pretty much all bugs, as far as I know. But, you know, this is the organic gardening forum. Can you try hand-picking them (with gloves on) and dropping them in a bowl of soapy water?

Here is a link that might be useful: Insect management in the home garden

Sevin will kill everything it contacts. It is a broad spectrum poison that has no use in an organic garden.

NO!!! We call them sheild bugs,,, cause thery're shaped like a shield. all they do is suck the sp outa your vegetables, they don't care which ones. Assasins are more almond shaped, and flat,,, plus HELLO111 ASSASINS ARE BLOOD SUCKERS . They attack dogs , people . rats squirrles.. assasins are not big on vegetablers,,, they want blood!!!, and if you've ever been bitten by one, you'll know the differance,,, Welts,,, Fever,,, dileria, and a sore liver, espicially if you like to have a drink... the critters your'e talking about are not assasins. they are just lycopene lovers who will take a meal where they can get it

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/assassin.html
this is a website that has assasin bugs, pics of them

these are the ones ya want in your garden!!! LOL
http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/entomology/ornamentals/beneficials.html

~Medo

HOW DO YOU GET RID OF THEM!???? THEY ARE DESTROYING MY TOMATOES...AGAIN!!!!!

lotus, it would have been better to have started a new thread rather than pulling up one this old, but there is much confusion about these, as well as many other, bugs. Before anyone can tell you what to use to control any insect in your yard and garden we need that insect properly identified and it needs to be a pest. Some of the insects in the Assassin Bug family are beneficial while others are pests, but pest control also starts at the root of an organic garden and that is with the soil. Look into your soil to be sure it is good and healthy so it will grow strong and healthy plants that are better able to ward off attacks by insect pests.

Here is a link that might be useful: Assassin Bugs

I call those BIG stink bugs and they are the smelliest. Most people call them leaffooted bugs. Assassin bugs do not congregate in big numbers like that. KILL them. They will destroy your vegetables and sunflowers.Just grab them and slam them into a jar of lamp oil or kerosene.