Assassin bug, friend or foe?
slowpoke_gardener
11 years ago
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scottokla
11 years agoOkiedawn OK Zone 7
11 years agoRelated Discussions
Name that bug?? Friend or foe?????
Comments (9)Great bug. It's an immature wheel bug, a type of assasin bug. Someone posted pictures of a mature wheel bug the other day, feasting on Japanese beetles. This guy is really your friend. He'll go thru several changes as he grows--they start out with a red butt, and end up with a ridged half "wheel" on their backs. They eat other bugs at all stages of their lives. Their bite is supposed to pack a wallop, but only if you pick them up and mess with them. Here are some great pictures of him from bugguide.net. Looks just like yours. You can check out all his forms at this site so you'll recognize him....See MoreWhat bug is this?
Comments (7)We have so many assassin bugs they are beginning to show up in search of water the same places as the ants are (recently have returned) and that includes the bathroom sink and tub. Our house is very old, btw. I'm with Scott (on another post regarding) the large numbers of assassin bugs may be doing damage to the local plant life but their impact on the other bugs within the same ecology outweighs the damage they may be doing by themselves. I'm with Okiedawn's perspective here. I hate to see my garden destroyed this year by any one type of species but realize they may be eliminating next year's problem of potentially biblical proportions. As she would suggest: If predator bugs are in enormous populations they are because the pests are in huge numbers already. They need to be left alone to do their business. bon...See MoreFriend or Foe: black bug in melon flower
Comments (1)Since this is not a photo of your actual insects and the insect in the photo is much larger than a grain of salt, identifying your insect will be impossible without further information. (The stray bits of pollen on the petals above are in the size range of salt grains) It would take a lot of these tiny insects ganging up on your melons all at once to have a negative effect. I lightened your photo by increasing the gamma and saw what could be pollen grains on the wing covers, so the insect in the photo could actually be beneficial to pollination....See Morebug on succulent... friend or foe?
Comments (1)That is a mealy bug....old enemy of all succulents. Can clean them off with alcohol soaked Q-tip. You have to make sure they are not in the roots as well. Check all your other plants nearby as well....See Moreslowpoke_gardener
11 years agohelenh
11 years agomulberryknob
11 years agookievegan
11 years agoMacmex
11 years agoslowpoke_gardener
11 years agochickencoupe
11 years agosusanlynne48
11 years agoOkiedawn OK Zone 7
11 years agohelenh
11 years agosusanlynne48
11 years agoslowpoke_gardener
11 years agohelenh
11 years agoOkiedawn OK Zone 7
11 years agoslowpoke_gardener
11 years agoMacmex
11 years agoslowpoke_gardener
11 years agosoonergrandmom
11 years agoslowpoke_gardener
11 years agohelenh
11 years agovlhenson
11 years agoOkiedawn OK Zone 7
11 years agojoellenh
11 years agoRonald Schultz
8 years agomote1001
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoMacmex
6 years agoBarbara Richer
4 years ago
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Okiedawn OK Zone 7