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True Bugs
(suborder Heteroptera,
order Hemiptera,
infraclass Neoptera, subclass
Pterygota, class Insecta, subphylum Hexapoda, phylum Arthropoda, kingdom
Animalia)
What makes True Bugs distinctive are 1) a versatile
(piercing, injecting digestive enzymes, sucking) beak attached to a small head
and 2) forewings that are half hardened (as are beetles' wing covers), and half
membrane, the material best for flying. True Bugs overwinter as adults here,
hiding under fallen leaves. But they often make their appearance late in
the year on warm days, often on black surfaces, especially when leaves are
raked.
Immature True Bugs are called "nymphs" because they experience incomplete
metamorphosis. This means that they don't become pupae: one molt
changes a nymph into an adult. However, nymphs go through a lot of very
different stages called instars before they become adults.
True Bugs in North Carolina aren't dangerous unless handled. Like all animals with
natural weapons, they will fight back if attacked and flight isn't an option.
I've never smelled a stink bug or been stabbed by the beak of an assassin bug,
but I've heard complaints about these experiences. However, the Triatoma
genus (a member of the Reduviidae assassin bug family), endemic in tropical
parts of Latin America, spreads a parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, among mammals.
This parasite causes a serious and common infection (human American
trypanosomiasis) originally named for its discoverer,
Carlos Chagas, who used a revolutionary combination of study in the lab
and in the field to give a complete account of the cause and course of the
disease in 1910. Although he is generally recognized today as deserving of
the Nobel Prize, for which he was the only nominee in 1921, he was denied the
prize because of
these apparent political factors.
The validity of all classifications were checked against
the contents of the
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Stink Bugs
(family Pentatomidae,
superfamily Pentatomoidea, infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
Stink Bugs are economically important as a group, some as
mostly beneficial predators and others as crop pests. Below are photos of
adults of nine
species. Note the shoulder-like "pronotum" and the large triangular
scutellum (the Latin word for "shield"), which characterize adults of this family. To see
other photos, and get more detailed information on these
species, go to
Stink Bugs.
To see some Stink Bug predation (on Colorado Potato Beetle
larvae) photos, see Mike Tetzlaff's page.
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| Spined Soldier Bug
(Podisus maculiventris [Say, 1832]), Durham,
6/18/05. This is an especially important predator. Notice how the membranous parts of the wings
overlap at the rear, just behind the triangle-shaped "scutellum" in
the front. According to
Podisus Online, this bug has proved
its effectiveness in controlling the Southern Green Stink Bug, as well
as the Colorado Potato Beetle and several Noctuidae family moth
caterpillars. |
Florida Predatory Stink Bug (Euthyrhynchus
floridanus [Linnaeus, 1767]), Durham, NC, 6/26/10 |
Southern Green Stink Bug
(Nezara viridula [Linnaeus, 1758]), Durham,
11/30/05. I retrieved this bug by raking leaves. |
Rough
(Tree?)Stink Bug (Brochymena
genus; arborea [Say, 1825] is apparently the most common species), Mason Farm Biological
Reserve, Orange County, NC, 11/14/07. The membranous portion of
the wings looks like the Mississippi River delta, IMHO. |
Stink bug
(Brochymena arborea), Durham, NC, 4/15/10 |
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| Brown Stink Bug
(Euschistus servus [Say, 1832]),
Durham, 10/18/06. This is a notorious soybean pest. But
since soybeans aren't grown anywhere around here, seeing one around here
(in my neighborhood, in this case) is a rare treat. |
Brown Stink Bug (Euschistus servus [Say, 1832]), Mason Farm
Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 4/25/07 |
Brown Stink
Bug, Durham, NC, 5/29/08 |
Stink bug
(Euschistus ictericus), Durham, NC, 8/21/06. Seen on cattail in my
neighborhood swamp. ID thanks to
v belov.
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Stink bug (Menecles insertus [Say, 1832]), Durham,
2/9/06. Thanks to Eric Eaton for ID. These bugs are
relatively common here in the Research Triangle area. But their
relative unimportance agriculturally has made them a very obscure
species. |
Stink bug (Mormidea lugens [Fabricius, 1775), Duke Forest, Korstian
Division, Orange County, NC, 6/11/06. This little critter was
about
¼ inch long. ID based on
BugGuide's Mormidea lugens page.
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| Rice Stink Bug (Oebalus pugnax [Fabricius, 1775]), Durham,
6/27/09.
This bug attacks rice and sorghum, but lives as a nymph on wild grasses,
including marsh vegetation, as shown here. |
Rice Stink
Bug, Durham, NC, 4/25/08 |
Stink bug (Banasa calva [Stal, 1860]), Durham, 3/2/06,
9:28 pm. ID based on
Marshall (2006), p. 112. |
Stink Bug (Banasa dimiata), Eno River State
Park, Orange County, NC, 7/22/09 |
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Stink Bug nymphs
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| Green Stink Bug
(Acrosternum hilare)
nymph, Little Scaly Mountain, Macon County, NC, 8/11/05.
Apparently an early instar, i.e., stage of development in the
immature insect, demarcated by a molt. |
Green Stink Bug
nymph,
Boone, Watauga County, 8/31/05.
ID according to
Iowa State University's Entomology Image Gallery website. This
is apparently an early instar (2nd or 3rd), but later than the one on
the left. Order a product with this picture on it at
our online store.
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Green Stink Bug nymph, Daniel Boone Gardens,
Boone, Watauga County, NC, 8/9/06. One of the middle instars,
apparently. |
Green Stink Bug
nymph, Moses Cone Memorial Park, Watauga County,
NC, 8/31/05. ID according to
the
University of Kentucky Critter Files. According to information
at
University of Missouri (at Columbia)Extension's stink bug (as soybean pest) page,
i.e., "pale, yellow-green color with black markings," this is probably a
fourth or later instar. |
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Florida Predatory Stink Bug nymph, Durham, NC, 6/10/09 |
Florida Predatory Stink Bug
5th
instar
nymphs
(note the separate scutella and wing pads),
Fort Fisher Recreational Area,
New Hanover County, NC, 8/27/03. These bugs appear to be attacking
or scavenging a cockroach. ID based on
IFAS document EENY-157.
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Stink bug nymph,
Boone, NC, 8/4/08. Seen in woods on Community Trail. |
Brown
Stink Bug (Euschistus servus) nymph, Durham, NC, 6/11/09. ID:
Forestry Images image # 1242034 |
Spined Soldier Bug
nymph. Moses Cone Memorial Park, Watauga County,
NC, 8/31/05. ID done referring to
the
University of Kentucky Critter Files. According to
Featured Creatures website of University of Florida and the Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, it's
a fifth (and final) instar nymph. |
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Stink
bug (Menecletes insertus) nymph, Durham, NC,
5/16/08 |
Maybe a
Brown Stinkbug nymph,
Cypress Gardens, Berkeley County, SC, 10/13/07 |
Rice Stink
Bug nymph, with wing pads, dorsal view, Durham, NC, 7/18/09. Seen
in a marsh. |
Green Stink bug
(Acrosternum hilare) nymph,
appeared on San Antonio River bank. San Antonio, Bexar County, TX,
5/28/10. It was relatively large, probably a late instar.
ID:
Forestry Images image # 1242008 |
Acanthosomatid Bugs (Acanthosomatidae
family,superfamily Pentatomoidea, infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
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Shield bug (Elasmucha genus, Acanthosomatinae sufamily,
Acanthosomatidae family),
with parasitic mite attached. Blue Ridge Parkway (Milepost 296),
Caldwell County, NC, 8/5/08 |
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Shield-backed Bugs (family Scutelleridae,
superfamily Pentatomoidea, infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
The large scutellum of the adult bug takes up its entire back.
At first glance, though, it looks as though it lacks one altogether!
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| Shield-backed bug
(Homaemus parvulus), Durham, NC, 7/27/08.
About 5 mm long. |
Shield-backed Bug,
Durham, NC, 5/7/08 |
Burrower Bugs
(family Cydnidae, superfamily Pentatomoidea, infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
These bugs burrow underground and live on plant roots, but
apparently climb up on plants, too. Their numbers are apparently not great
enough for them to be considered pests.
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Burrower Bug (Pangaeus bilieatus),
Durham, 8/24/07. This bug was about 5 mm
long. |
Mating White-lined
Burrower Bugs
(Sehira cinctus), Daniel Boone
Gardens, Boone, Watauga County, NC, 8/5/08. |
White-lined Burrower Bug
Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, Wake
County, NC, 3/17/06. About ¼ inch
long. Not sure why a member of this family would be high up on a plant. Thanks to Eric Eaton for
ID. This picture was included in Wezi G. Mhango's
Field Guide Contribution for CSS 360, a Crop and Soil Science course at Michigan State University.
This guide explains the role of True Bugs in soil ecology. |
White-lined Burrower Bug
nymph,
(Sehira cinctus),
Durham, 5/18/05 |
Ebony Bugs (family
Thyreocoridae, superfamily Pentatomoidea, infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
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| Ebony
Bug, Durham, NC, 6/8/09 |
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Flat Bugs (family Aradidae,
superfamily Aradoidea,
infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
Stilt Bugs (family Berytidae, superfamily
Lygaeoidea, infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
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| Stilt Bugs
(Jalysus wickhami),
Durham, NC, 7/1/07. You can
see the beak on the left one in the large image. They showed up in
the little marsh near a power line cut in my neighborhood. They
touched each other and seemed to be communicating. |
Stilt Bug, Penny's Bend, 10/15/05 |
Stilt Bug, Indian Creek Trail, a Jordan Lake Game Land,
Chatham County, NC, 7/7/06 |
Stilt Bug,
Durham, NC, 8/30/06 |
Chinch
Bugs (family Blissidae, superfamily
Lygaeoidea, infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
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Chinch
bug
(Blissus leucopterus). Cypress Gardens, Berkeley County,
SC, 10/13/07. Very tiny (2 or 3 mm long): it
looked like a fly at first. |
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Seed Bugs
(Family Lygaeidae,
superfamily
Lygaeoidea, infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
Milkweed Bugs are similar to Monarch Butterflies in that they
use the poisons from the milkweed plant as a defense against predator and warn
of this danger to them with their coloring.
Eric Eaton informs me that this family has recently been
broken down into nine new families.
Large Milkweed Bugs (Oncopeltus
fasciatus, subfamily Lygaeinae)
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Large
Milkweed Bug
(Oncopeltus fasciatus [Dallas, 1852])
on a milkweed pod, Occoneechee Mountain State
Natural Area, 10/4/07. Note the fuzzy surface of the pod. |
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| Large Milkweed Bug .
NC Arboretum, Asheville, NC, 7/8/05. It appears to have lost its
right forewing and the left one is unusually pale. |
Large Milkweed Bug,
apparently a nymph. Fort Fisher, New Hanover County, NC, 6/22/06 |
Large Milkweed Bug
nymphs, NC Botanical Garden,
Orange County, 11/26/05 |
Large Milkweed Bug
nymphs,
NC Botanical Garden, Orange
County, NC, 8/11/04 |
Small
Milkweed Bugs (Lygaeus kalmii, subfamily Lygaeinae)
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| Small Milkweed Bug (Lygaeus kalmii [Stal, 1874]),
Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 3/2/08. |
Small Milkweed Bug, NC Botanical Garden,
8/17/06.
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Same
Small Milkweed Bug, NC Botanical Garden, 8/17/06.
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White-crossed Seed
Bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus, subfamily Lygaeinae)
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| White-crossed Seed Bug (Neacoryphus
bicrucis [Say, 1825],
subfamily Lygaeinae), Penny's Bend, Durham County, NC,
5/23/06 |
Pachygronthidae family,
superfamily
Lygaeoidea, infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
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| Bug
(Oedancala crassimana), Durham, NC,
7/29/07. This bug was about 8 mm long. Found in a power line
cut near a small marsh in my neighborhood. |
Bug
(Oedancala crassimana), Durham, NC, 6/29/09 |
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Dirt-colored Seed Bugs
(Rhyparochromidae
family,
superfamily
Lygaeoidea, infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
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Dirt-colored seed bug (Pseudopachybrachius basalis, Myodochini tribe,
Rhyparochrominae subfamily, Rhyparochromidae family, Lygaeoidea
superfamily), on cattail leaf. The genus name refers to its fat
forelegs (literally, fake elephant arms). Very tiny, about 3-4 mm long.
The unpoetic common name is less easily explained. |
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Largid Bugs (family
Largidae, superfamily Pyrrhocoroidea, infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
Squash Bugs and Leaffooted Bugs
(family Coreidae,
superfamily Coreoidea, infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
These are very large insects, often reaching two inches in
length including antennae. They are mostly crop pests. They overwinter
in my area and make frequent appearances on warm days late in
the year.
Adults
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| Adult Squash Bug, also called the
Orange-tipped Leaffooted Bug (Acanthocephala terminalis), Durham, 7/4/05. |
Squash Bug,
Penny's Bend, Durham County, NC, 6/4/06 |
A species of adult
Leaffooted Bug (Leptoglossus phyllopus
[Linnaeus, 1767]), Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, NC, 6/9/06.
Here you can see the characteristic light dorsal double dash. ID based on
Featured Creatures information.
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Leaffooted Bug
(Leptoglossus phyllopolus),
Durham, 10/18/06 |
Leaffooted Bug
(Leptoglossus oppositus
[Say, 1832]), Asheboro, Randolph County, NC, 11/13/05.
This is the predominant Leptoglossus species where I live. |
Squash Bug and/or Leaffooted Bug Nymphs
There are many instars, and probably at least two species
represented in these photos. However, they are probably all members of the
Leptoglossus genus, to judge from their antennae colors.
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Leaffooted Bug
nymphs, Eno River State Park, Old Cole Mill
access, Durham County, NC, 6/15/06. Very early instars. |
Even more Leaffooted Bug
nymphs! Johnston Mill Nature
Preserve, Orange County, NC, 5/31/07 |
Leaffooted bug nymphs, Ft. Fisher Basin Trail, New Hanover County, NC,
10/15/09. They were moving very fast, looked like fire ants at
first. |
Leaffooted Bug
nymph, Durham, 6/6/05. This bug appeared on my car for no
apparent reason. An early instar. |
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Leaffooted Bug nymph, Eno River State Park, Old Cole Mill Road access, 6/23/05 |
Leaffooted Bug nymph, 7/14/06. Much smaller than adults:
only about a half inch long. I found this one in the street and
moved it to a plant on my lawn. |
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Leaffooted Bug nymph, Durham, 7/4/06, on a
Scuppernong grape
vine. A later instar: wing pads are still very small. |
Later-instar Leaffooted Bug nymph, Durham, NC, 8/1/08.
Wing pads are small, Durham, NC, 8/1/08. |
Leaffooted bug nymph, late instar, Durham, NC, 6/26/09 |
Late-instar
leaffooted bug nymph, American Tobacco Trail (~Mile 5), 6/24/10 |
Late-instar
Leaffooted Bug
nymph, Durham, NC, 8/16/08. Wing pads are fairly large. |
Leaffooted Bug (Leptoglossus genus) nymph, Raulston
Arboretum, Raleigh, Wake County, NC, 9/15/06. This late-instar
nymph was
about 3/4 inch long. |
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Scentless
Plant Bugs (family Rhopalidae,
superfamily Coreoidea, infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
Rhopalinae subfamily
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| Rhopalid bug (maybe
Niesthrea genus, Durham, NC, 8/24/07. Found in the
same power line cut. |
Rhopalid bug (Niesthrea genus, Niesthreini tribe), Durham,
6/17/06 |
Rhopalid bug (Harmostes
reflexulus, Harmostini tribe), Penny's Bend, Durham, NC, 5/24/08 |
Serinethinae subfamily
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| Boxelder Bug
(Boisea
trivittata),
Durham,
NC, 11/18/07 |
Boxelder Bug, Winston-Salem,
Forsyth County, NC, 7/31/06. This bug apparently had been
attacked, and had lost its right wings. |
Boxelder
Bug nymph (taken on city path leading to Old Salem) |
Boxelder Bug nymph, Durham, NC, 5/6/09 |
Boxelder
Bug nymph, Durham, NC, 5/15/09 |
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| Mating Boxelder
Bugs, two of dozens, maybe hundreds, where the trail first came
beside Sandy Creek. Sandy Creek Park, Durham, NC, 3/19/10 |
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Red-shouldered Bug nymph (Jadera haematoloma), Raulston
Arboretum, Raleigh, NC, 6/9/06. |
Adult
Red-shouldered Bug, Raulston Arboretum, 6/9/06. Maybe a nymph
of the same species as that on the left,
found in the same small area in the Asian plants section.
ID made referring to
Georgia state Boxelder Bugs factsheet.
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Broad-headed Bugs
(family Alydidae,
superfamily Coreoidea, infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
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| Broad-headed Bug, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC,
5/21/06 |
Broad-headed Bug, Durham, NC, 10/27/07 |
Broad-headed Bug, Indian Creek Trail, a Jordan Lake
Game Land, Chatham County, NC, 7/7/06 |
Assassin Bugs
(family
Reduviidae, superfamily Reduvoidea, infraorder Cimicomorpha)
Assassin bugs (Reduviidae family) are reputed to have inflict pain on humans
with their beaks if mishandled by them. They are not known to be dangerous
in the US. However, in tropical areas of the New World those of the
Triatoma genus are known to transmit Chagas Disease to humans.
Harpactorinae subfamily
Wheel Bugs
(Arilus cristatus [Linnaeus, 1763])
These are relatively large predaceous insects that eat a wide
range of other insects, including moths, beetles, and stink bugs. Unlike
other species of Assassin Bugs, e.g., genus Sinea, these bugs do not have spines on their legs.
For more information on this species go to
the
University of Florida/State of Florida's Featured Creatures Wheel Bug page.
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Mating Wheel Bugs, Durham,
10/26/09 |
Wheel Bug, Durham,
11/20/07 |
Wheel Bug,
Durham, NC, 11/1/07 with Bumblebee prey. Note the bug's long red beak. |
Wheel Bug,
Durham, 11/2/05. This head shot shows
the long, red beak. The long antennae, also red, are mostly
truncated in this picture. |
Wheel Bug Nymphs
IDs of nymphs with red abdomens based on a
BugGuide Wheel Bug nymph page.
There are some differences: Some antennae are orange-tipped, while others
alternate orange and black, so IDs are uncertain. Nymphs in the first row are early
instars; the second, late instars.
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Wheel Bug nymph,
Penny's Bend, Durham County, NC, 5/23/06. |
Wheel Bug nymph,
Durham, 6/2/06. This bug, not
so well-fed, has its beak inserted in a flower. Predatory insects
also seek nectar as a rule. |
Wheel Bug nymph,
Durham, 5/28/06, on pine needles on the
edge of a power line cut near a little marsh in my neighborhood.
Apparently a very well-fed bug. |
Wheel Bug, Penny's Bend, Durham County, NC,
6/4/06 |
Wheel Bug
nymph, Korstian Division, Duke Forest,
Orange County, NC, 6/11/06 |
Very well-fed
Wheel
Bug
nymph, Durham, NC, 5/10/08 |
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Wheel Bug nymph (late instar) with prey, perhaps
Flatid Planthopper
nymphs. Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access,
Orange County, NC, 6/23/05. |
Wheel Bug nymph (late instar) with prey (apparently some kind of ladybug beetle larva), Eno River SP,
Old Cole Mill Road access, 6/15/06. |
Wheel Bug nymph, late instar, Durham, NC, 6/13/09 |
Wheel Bug late-instar nymph, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange
County, NC, 6/25/09 |
Zelus Genus Assassin Bugs
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Milkweed Assassin Bug (Zelus longipes), Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC,
5/11/09 |
Reduviid Bug (genus Zelus), Greenville, Pitt County, NC,
11/16/05.
I found this bug in
a grassy field. The very long antennae are truncated. ID
thanks to Eric Eaton. |
Same Reduviid bug, genus Zelus (with one
antenna truncated). Note the rather bumpy beak. Assassin
Bugs have segmented beaks. |
Reduviid Bug (genus Zelus), no River State
Park, Old Cole Mill Road access, Durham County, NC, 5/19/06 |
Reduviid Bug (genus Zelus), Durham, NC, 5/25/07 |
Bee Assassins (Apiomerus crassipes)
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Bee Assassin (Apiomerus crassipes [Fabricius,
1803], subfamily Apiomerinae),
NC Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC,
5/29/05. ID based on
U. of Florida's Stink Bug Trap page.
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Bee Assassin,
Eno River State Park,
Old Cole Mill Rd. access, Orange County, NC, 6/15/06 |
Pselliopus cinctus
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| Pselliopus cinctus, which appeared on my garage door frame
in Durham, NC on 1/25/10 during an unusual warm spell. |
Adult
Pselliopus cinctus [Fabricius,
1776], subfamily Harpactorinae,
Durham, 1/11/06. This bug showed up
on my garage door on an
unseasonably warm day, when it was about 70°.
It has parasites, a kind of tachinid fly:
Yonke and Medler, 1970. |
Adult
Pselliopus cinctus,
Durham,
1/28/06. This might be the same bug as the one on the left.
I found it in the same location and nudged it into the sun for the photo
(although it quickly returned to the shade afterwards). Who
knows what this little orange carnivore had been eating? There were no
insects in the vicinity. |
Pselliopus cinctus nymphs
Note the similarity to the adults of this species just
above. Unlike adults, however, they lack wings and have lots of abdominal
spines.
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Pselliopus Cinctus nymph, American Tobacco Trail (Miles
4-6), Durham, NC, 7/8/10 |
Pselliopus cinctus nymph, Eno River State Park, Old Cole Mill Road access,
6/23/05 |
Spined
Assassin Bugs
(Sinea diadema, subfamily Harpactorinae)
These nymphs have spiky forelegs, which seems to be unusual
for adult Assassin Bugs in this part of the country. The second and
third nymphs from the left were similar in size (about ⅛ inch long),
although their colors are different; the leftmost nymph was larger.
In the second picture, the insect's elongated head (with one prominent antenna)
blocks part of the view of the right foreleg. Thanks to Eric R. Eaton for ID.
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| Spined Assassin Bug
nymph (Sinea diadema),
Durham, NC, 6/17/07. This bug was about 3 mm long. |
Spined Assassin Bug
(Sinea diadema)
nymph, Durham, NC, 5/28/09. A very early instar, about 3 mm
long. |
Spined Assassin Bug
(Sinea diadema)
nymph, Eno River State Park, Old Cole Mill Road
access, 6/23/05. Also very tiny, and it's a good thing, too! |
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Spined Assassin Bug nymph,
Durham, NC, 7/4/08.
A later instar. |
Spined Assassin Bug
nymph, Eno River State Park, Old Cole
Mill Rd. access, 8/17/08. A later instar. |
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Emesinae subfamily
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| Thread-legged Bug (Stenolemus genus,
Emesini tribe, Emesinae subfamily), Durham,
8/11/06. ID thanks to
Lynette Schimming. It looks as though it has forelegs on
its head, but that's because most assassin bugs have tiny heads. This
photo was taken at night. |
Ambush Bugs (subfamily Phymatinae,
family Reduviidae, superfamily Reduvoidea, intraorder Cimicomorpha)
These are predaceous insects that station themselves on
flowers in brushy areas to ambush smaller insects. They often hide
in sprays of goldenrod flowers, and can be retrieved during some summers by
running one's hand through them. Their camouflage is effective but not
perfect, though!
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| Ambush Bug (Phymata genus) Durham,
7/15/05, awaits a weevil on a Queen Anne's lace flower. |
Another view of the
Ambush Bug on the left.
Durham, 7/15/05. This bug was ~12 mm
long. |
Ambush Bug,
Boone, Watauga County, NC, 8/5/08 |
Ambush
Bug, on goldenrod. Cypress
Gardens, Berkeley County, SC, 10/13/07. |
Ambush Bug,
Little River Regional Park, Orange County, NC, 10/20/07 |
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Ambush Bug,
probably a nymph, about 2 mm long, Durham, NC, 6/30/08 |
Ambush Bug,
Durham, NC, 8/23/08 |
Ambush Bug,
Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 9/17/08 |
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Plant Bugs
(family Miridae, superfamily Miroidea, infraorder Cimicomorpha)
This herbivorous family comprises about 300 documented genera
and about 10,000 species. However, very few have agricultural
importance in North Carolina. The bugs shown below appeared in brush,
wetlands and on undeveloped property and were small enough to be overlooked by
most people (with the possible exception of Yucca Plant Bugs, which appear by
the dozen on agave plants). Identification of most of these insects below
the family level is a special form of torture for all but specialists in this
area.
Mirinae subfamily
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Tarnished Plant Bug
(Lygus lineolaris [Palisot, 1818]),
Durham, NC, 5/29/08. A very tiny bug, about 2 mm long. These
were fairly common in an unmowed meadow near a power line cut, often on daisies. |
Tarnished Plant Bug on Buttercup fruit, Durham, NC, 5/4/09 |
Tarnished Plant Bug on Spotted Jewelweed flower,
Boone, Watauga County, NC, 8/6/08 |
Tarnished
Plant Bug,
Durham, NC, 7/17/08. You can see part of the beak in this ventral
view. |
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Plant bug
(Neurocolpus genus, tribe Mirini, subfamily Mirinae),
about 3 mm long. It landed on this leaf after flying. The
red is natural, not an artifact of using the flash: it was red in flight
in the shade. |
Plant bug (Neurocolpus genus, Miridae family), Durham, NC, 6/29/09.
Found in local marsh. |
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Bryocorinae subfamily
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Yucca Plant
Bug
(Halticotoma valida), on agave plant at NC Botanical
Garden, 11/21/07 |
Yucca
Plant Bug (Halticoma valida) nymph, Durham, NC, 6/17/09 |
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Lopidea genus,
Orthotylini tribe, Orthotylinae subfamily?
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| Mirid bug nymph, Asheville, NC, 7/7/05. A nymph,
possibly of this family, with small wing pads. Thanks to Eric
Eaton for family ID. |
Mirid bug nymph, Penny's Bend, Durham County, NC,
5/5/06. This bug was about ¼ inch
long without the antennae. Thanks to Eric Eaton for ID. |
Mirid Bug (Lopidea genus),
Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham, NC, 5/24/08 |
Mirid bug (Lopidea genus), North Carolina Museum of Art outdoor trail,
Wake County, NC, 5/8/07 |
Phylinae subfamily (maybe)
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| Mirid Bug, Raulston Arboretum,
Raleigh, Wake County, NC, 9/30/07, about 4 mm long. Might be
a member of subfamily Phylinae. |
Other Miridae
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Mirid Bug? Duke
Gardens, 10/20/07 |
Mirid Bug, Durham, 9/19/05. This bug appeared in
a marsh in my neighborhood. Thanks to Eric Eaton for family ID. |
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| Mirid bug nymph, Durham, NC, 11/9/07.
Confirmed by
Eric R. Eaton. |
Mystery
True Bug
nymph, Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, Wake County, NC, 10/28/07.
This 12 mm long insect was scurrying up a tree trunk. The antennae
suggest that it's a Miridae family nymph. |
Mirid Bug,
Durham, NC, 5/23/09 |
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Lace Bugs
(family Tingidae, infraorder Cimicomorpha)
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Lace bug (Tingidae
family), Durham, NC, 7/27/08 |
Lace bug
(Teleonemia genus), Riverside Nature Center, Kerrville, Kerr County, TX,
5/27/10, 2 or 3 mm long. I'd guess the species was
nigrina. |
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Damsel Bugs
(family Nabidae, superfamily
Cimicoidea, infraorder Cimicomorpha)
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| Durham, 7/27/05.
This picture was taken at night. Take a look at that beak! This is a predaceous insect. |
Damsel
bug (Lasiomerus annulatus, Nabidae family), Johnston Mill Nature
Preserve, Orange County, NC, 6/24/09 |
Water Measurers (family
Hydrometridae, superfamily Hydrometroidea, infraorder Gerromorpha)
The Gerromorpha are "semi-aquatic" bugs.
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| Water measurer,
Hydrometra genus, Hydrometridae family. In same infraorder as
water striders (Gerromorpha). About 12 mm long. San Antonio
Botanical Garden, Bexar County, TX, 5/26/10 |
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Water Striders
(family Gerridae,
superfamily Gerroidea, infraorder Gerromorpha)
To read about experimental work on the physics of water striding, see
MIT strider study page.
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| Common Water Strider
(Gerris remigis
[Say, 1832]),
Durham, 4/15/05. Family info provided by Josh Rose. |
Mating
Common Water Striders,
Eno
River State Park, Old Cole Mill Road access, 5/29/05. You can see
their wings if you look closely. |
Mating
Common Water Striders,
Eno
River SP, Orange County, NC, 4/28/06. They are on the Eno River,
which was unusually high after two days of heavy rain. |
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| Adult water
strider (Trepobates subnitidus), Natural Bridge, Rockbridge County, VA,
7/9/09. Seen in artificial pool. |
Adult water strider, maybe Trepobates subnitidus, Haw River State Park,
Rockingham County, NC, 5/30/08. One of many in a pond. |
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Broad-shouldered Water Striders
(family Veliidae, superfamily Gerroidea, infraorder
Gerromorpha)
These aquatic insects probably represent different stages in
the life cycle of members of this family, possibly all members of the Microvelia
americana species.
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Adult Broad-shouldered Water Strider, Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, Wake County,
NC, 8/2/07. This bug was less than 2 mm long. |
Broad-shouldered Water Strider nymph: wing pads seem to be evident.
Durham, NC, 12/15/08 |
Broad-shouldered water strider nymph, about 2 mm long. Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, Wake County, NC, 9/3/08 |
Broad-shouldered water strider nymph, about 1 mm long. It's
so tiny it doesn't make an impression on the water at all!
Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, Wake County, NC, 9/3/08 |
Broad-shouldered water strider (Microvelia americana), Durham, NC,
9/22/05. Maybe a very early instar. |
Shore Bug
(family Saldidae, superfamily
Leptopodoidea, infraorder Leptopodomorpha)
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| Shore Bug
(Saldula pallipes [Van Duzee, 1914], cf.
Insects of Cedar Creek Saldula page), Durham, 4/9/06. Seen in a large marsh
bordering on a swamp. This bug was about
⅛ inch long. These are scavengers. |
(Eyed) Toad Bugs
(Gelastocoris oculatus [Fabricius,
1798], family Gelastocoridae,
superfamily Gelastocoroidea, infraorder Nepomorpha)
The Nepomorpha are "semi-aquatic" bugs.
I found some not far from a swamp in my neighborhood, one on a lake
shore, and one on the banks of a river.
There are two subspecies of Gelastocoris oculatus.
Gelastocoris oculatus oculatus is more studied in the US, but I am not jumping
to any conclusions.
The bugs pictured here seem innocuous and barely visible,
making little darting motions when alone. But
Randy Emmitt's Gelastocoris oculatus page shows a fierce nature their prey
and fellow Toad Bugs know only too well.
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| Toad Bug, found
near a Durham swamp on 5/27/05. How is this for camouflage?
Ironically, this small bug was found in the general vicinity of numerous
small Fowler's Toads. |
Toad
Bug, Durham, NC, 4/17/09, which was hopping wildly on a walkway near
a creek. |
Toad Bug, Penny's Bend Nature
Preserve, Durham
County, 8/23/05. Found on banks of Eno River. |
Toad Bug, Jordan Lake shore, Chatham
County, NC, 10/16/05 |
Backswimmers (family
Notonectidae, superfamily Notonectoidea, infraorder Nepomorpha)
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| Common Backswimmer
(Notonecta glauca, tribe Notonectini, subfamily Notonectinae), Durham,
NC, 5/18/08 |
Backswimmer. This bug showed up on the edge of a dried-up
creek in a heavily wooded area in Durham on 6/11/08. |
Backswimmer, another
view of the Backswimmer on the left (retreating, in reverse), Durham,
NC, 6/11/08 See other
true bugs. |
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Water Boatmen
(family Corixidae,
superfamily Corixoidea, infraorder Nepomorpha)
No True Bugs can get oxygen from water, and aquatic bugs
have to come to the surface to do it. And yes, according to
Marshall (2006), p. 99, they do get to use their
wings: they fly to other bodies of water sometimes. Unfortunately for bug
photographers, it's an unusual event!
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| Adult Water Boatman (possibly Arctocoriza genus), Jordan Lake
Game Land, 12/17/06. This bug showed up on the bottom of a rather
muddy puddle, hence the necessity for image processing. It scooted
around the puddle using oar-like legs. |
Giant Water Bugs (family Belostomatidae,
superfamily Nepoidea, infraorder Nepomorpha)
As is the case with the Corixidae, these insects seem to
be able to fend for themselves far from water.
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| Giant Water Bug
(Lethocerus genus, Lethocerinae subfamily), MinnesotaTwins Ballpark canopy
roof, Minneapolis, MN, 10/19/09. Photo by Paul Leskovac, lead
project architect for this newly built ballpark; he
described the bug as being 1.5-2 inches long and flying away with a
loud, startling buzz. The temperature at the time was about 40°
F. |
This shows
where the Giant Water Bug was spotted, about 90 feet off the ground,
and where it flew (shown with red arrows). Paul Leskovac took
this photo too. This photo was taken on 11/15/09. |
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Mystery Bugs
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| Mystery Plant Bug,
Durham, 9/14/05. |
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© Copyright 2005-2010 Dorothy E. Pugh
