True Bugs(suborder Heteroptera,
order Hemiptera,
infraclass Neoptera, subclass
Pterygota, class Insecta, subphylum Hexapoda, phylum Arthropoda, kingdom
Animalia)
It's a lot of fun to study true bugs here in Piedmont
North Carolina. Those strange
"half-wings" (half hardened like the beetles' wing covers and half membrane)
don't seem to be wings at first glance. They are among the most accessible of insects, once you keep an
eye out for them! They also happen to be agriculturally important, some as
helpful predators, some as crop pests: some true bugs, in fact, are used
to control others. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Stink bug, Durham, NC, 8/21/06. Probably a Spined Soldier Bug,
perhaps somewhat emaciated. The marsh habitat seems to change the appearance of stink bugs.
Florida Predatory Stink Bug (Euthyrhynchus
floridanus [Linnaeus, 1767), Durham, 10/29/05. I found this bug
scurrying along a tree branch and had to put it on the ground
temporarily to photograph it.
Green Stink Bug
(Acrosternum hilare [Say, 1832]), Durham,
11/30/05. I retrieved this bug by raking leaves. This is a major soybean pest.
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.
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
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.
Rice Stink Bug (Oebalus pugnax [Fabricius, 1775]), Durham, 9/5/05.
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 (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.
Stink bug (Banasa calva [Stal, 1860]), Durham, 3/2/06,
9:28 pm. ID based on Marshall (2006), p. 112.
Stink Bug nymphs
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.
Maybe a Brown Stinkbug nymph,
Cypress Gardens, Berkeley County, SC, 10/13/07
Florida Predatory Stink Bug 5th
instarnymphs(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.
Mystery stink bug
nymph, Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, Wake County, NC, 10/28/07.
This 12 mm long insect was scurrying up a tree trunk.
Mystery stink bug nymph,
about 2 mm long. Durham, NC, 11/9/07
Most likely a Menecletes insertus stink bug
nymph, Durham, 6/13/05. You can see the partially formed scutellum
in the middle and the wing pads (immature wings) on the sides.
Most likely a Menecletes insertus stink Bug
nymph, Durham, 4/25/06. It seems to be a different instar from the bug nymph on the left.
The large scutellum of the adult bug takes up its entire back.
At first glance, though, it looks as though it lacks one altogether!
Shield-backed Pine Seed Bug (Tetyra
bipunctata[Herrich-schaeffer, 1839]), Durham, 10/31/05. It showed up on a path going through
pine woods. ID based on
a
University of Minnesota Cedar Creek photo.
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.
Burrower Bug(Pangaeus bilieatus),
Durham, 8/24/07. This bug was about 5 mm
long.
White-lined Burrower Bug (Sehira cinctus), 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.
Stilt Bugs, 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
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)
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.
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)
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.
Same Small Milkweed Bug, NC Botanical Garden, 8/17/06.
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.
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.
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
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.
Zelus Genus Assassin Bugs
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
Bee Assassins (Apiomerus crassipes)
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.
Bee Assassin, Eno River State Park,
Old Cole Mill Rd. access, Orange County, NC, 6/15/06
Pselliopus cinctus
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°.
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.
Pselliopus cinctus nymph, Eno River State Park, Old Cole Mill Road access,
6/23/05
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 Eaton for ID.
Spined Assassin Bug nymph (Sinea diadema),
Durham, NC, 6/17/07. This bug was about 3 mm long.
Spined Assassin Bug(Sinea diadema)
nymph, Eno River State Park, Old Cole Mill Road
access, 6/23/05.
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!
Spined Assassin Bug (Sinea diadema),
Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 10/15/05.
Perhaps a later Assassin Bug instar.
Again note the spiny foreleg in the foreground.
Emesinae subfamily
Thread-legged Bug (Stenolemus genus,
Emesini tribe, Emesinae subfamily), Durham,
8/11/06. ID thanks to
Lynette Schimming. It looks as thought it has forelegs on
its head, but that's because most assassin bugs have tiny heads. This
photo was taken at night.
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.
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 ½ inch
long.
Ambush
Bug, on goldenrod. Cypress
Gardens, Berkeley County, SC, 10/13/07.
Ambush Bug,
Little River Regional Park, Orange County, NC, 10/20/07
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
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.
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.
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 nymph? Durham, NC, 7/15/05.
Leaffooted Bug nymph, Eno River State Park, Old
Cole Mill Road access, 8/4/05
Leaffooted Bug nymph, Durham, 7/24/05.
Leaffooted Bug nymph, Eno River State Park, Orange County,
NC, 7/27/07
Leaffooted Bug nymph,
Durham, 6/6/05. This bug appeared on my car for no apparent
reason. A very early instar.
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.
Leaffooted Bug nymph, Durham, 7/4/06, on a scuppernong grape
vine. A later instar.
Leaffooted Bug (Leptoglossus genus) nymph, Raulston
Arboretum, Raleigh, Wake County, NC, 9/15/06. This late-instar
nymph was
about 3/4 inch long and has small wing pads.
Rhopalid bug (probably Harmostes genus), 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.
Rhopalid bug, Durham, NC, 8/24/07. Found in the
same power line cut.
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 these insects below
the family level is a special form of torture for all but specialists in this
area.
Mirinae subfamily
Durham, 6/18/05. Looks like a Tarnished Plant
Bug (Lygus lineolaris [Palisot, 1818]). This is probably the
most familiar member of this family.
Bryocorinae subfamily
Yucca Plant
Bug(Halticotoma valida), on agave plant at NC Botanical
Garden, 11/21/07
Mirid 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.
Mirid bug (Lopidea genus), North Carolina Museum of Art outdoor trail,
Wake County, NC, 5/8/07
Phylinae subfamily (maybe)
Mirid Bug, Raulston Arboretum,
Raleigh, Wake County, NC, 9/30/07, about 4 mm long. Might be
a member of subfamily Phylinae.
Other Miridae
Mirid Bug. According to Mike Quinn,
Invertebrate Biologist,
Rare & Nongame Species,
Texas Parks & Wildlife,
this tiny bug (less than a sixteenth of an inch long)
is a Miridae family member. It was crawling over very tiny flower
buds (Asian River Grass?) in my Durham neighborhood marsh on 9/26/05.
Same mirid bug.
Mirid bug, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill campus, 8/7/07. This was a tiny bug, maybe 2 or 3 mm
long.
Mirid Bug, Durham, 9/19/05. This bug appeared in
a marsh in my neighborhood. Thanks to Eric Eaton for family ID.
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.
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, found at same Durham swamp
on 4/11/06. The difference in color may be due to lighting.
This bug seems to have a damaged right eye.
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
Toad Bug,
Durham,
4/18/06. Two views of a bug that appeared in the edge of my
neighborhood swamp.
Water Striders
(family Gerridae,
superfamily Gerroidea, infraorder Gerromorpha)
The Gerromorpha are "semi-aquatic" bugs.
To read about experimental work on the physics of water striding, see
MIT strider study page.
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.
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.
Broad-shouldered Water Striders (family Veliidae)
The bugs in these photos vary quite a bit, so I have some
doubts about identification. But there are clear similarities: for
one thing, they are all very tiny and dart around on the surfaces of puddles.
Broad-shouldered Water Strider (Veliidae family). This was one of many tiny insects that showed up
in the surface of a stream in my Durham neighborhood on 9/22/05.
They were no more than a sixteenth of an inch long. ID input:
Veliidae from
Dr. Doug Yanega of the University of California at Riverside
and Eric Eaton. Maybe it's a nymph.
Broad-shouldered Water Strider
(Microvelia
genus), Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, NC, 7/31/06.
This bug was more than ⅛ inch long and was
one of many scooting around on a puddle.
Broad-shouldered Water Strider
(Microvelia
genus), aJordan Lake Gameland,
Chatham County, NC, 10/29/06, one of several seen. These bugs seemed to the naked eye to
be specks darting over puddles.
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!
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.
