Identifying characteristics of True Bugs 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. This is where True Bug identification is most challenging.
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)
Some stink bugs are predators (Aesopinae subfamily), while members of most species are herbivorous (Pentatominae subfamily). The Spined Soldier Bug is an economically important predator; the Brown Stink Bug, the Green Stink Bug, the Southern Green Stink Bug and the Rice Stink Bug are all economically important crop pests. This is not entirely related to sheer numbers: in Durham, NC, the Menecles insertus stink bug is by far the most common, but apparently gets along without eating crops. Note the shoulder-like "pronotum" and the large triangular scutellum (the Latin word for "shield"), which characterize adults of this family.
To see some Stink Bug predation (on Colorado Potato Beetle larvae) photos, see Mike Tetzlaff's page.
Florida Predatory Stink Bug (Euthyrhynchus floridanus), Aesopinae subfamily
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| Florida Predatory Stink Bug (Euthyrhynchus floridanus [Linnaeus, 1767]) 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. | Florida Predatory Stink Bug (Euthyrhynchus floridanus [Linnaeus, 1767]) adult, Durham, NC, 6/26/10 |
Spined Soldier Bug (Podisus maculiventris), Aesopinae subfamily
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| Spined Soldier Bug (Podisus maculiventris) 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. | Spined Soldier Bug (Podisus maculiventris [Say, 1832]) adult, 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. |
NOTE: There seems to be some controversy about whether the Acrosternum hilare species is found in America (as well as in Europe), and therefore whether American Green Stink Bugs should be named Chinavia hilaris.
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| Green Stink Bug (Chinavia hilaris) 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 (Chinavia hilaris) 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. | Green Stink Bug (Chinavia hilaris)nymph, Daniel Boone Gardens, Boone, Watauga County, NC, 8/9/06. One of the middle instars, apparently. | Green Stink bug (Chinavia hilaris) nymph, appeared on San Antonio River bank. San Antonio, Bexar County, TX, 5/28/10. A later instar. | Green Stink Bug (Chinavia hilaris)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. | Green Stink Bug (Chinavia hilaris) adult, Durham, NC, 9/20/11 |
Southern Green Stink Bug (Nezara viridula), Nezarini tribe, Pentatominae subfamily
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Rough (or Tree) Stink Bugs (Brochymena genus, Halyini tribe, Pentatominae subfamily
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| Rough Stink Bug (Brochymena quadripustulata) nymph, Durham, NC, 8/25/09 | Rough Stink Bug (Brochymena quadripustulata) is apparently the most common species), Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 11/14/07. | Rough Stink Bug (Brochymena arborea), Durham, NC, 11/9/10 | Stink bug (Brochymena carolinensis?), Durham, NC, 4/15/10 | Rough Stink Bug nymph, Boone, NC, 8/4/08. Seen in woods on Boone Green Way Trail. |
Pentatomini tribe, Pentatominae subfamily
Carpocorini tribe, Pentatominae subfamily
Unidentified Stink Bug Nymphs
Acanthosomatid Bugs (Acanthosomatidae
family,
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.
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.
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
Rice Stink
Bug nymph, with wing pads, dorsal view, Durham, NC, 7/18/09. Seen
in a marsh.
Brown
Stink Bug (Euschistus servus) nymph, Durham, NC, 6/11/09. ID:
Forestry Images image # 1242034
Stink
bug (Menecles insertus) nymph, Durham, NC,
5/16/08
Stink bug (Cosmopepla lintneriana),
McAfee's Knob, Roanoke, VA, 6/15/11
An early-instar true bug nymph is apparently attacking a treehopper
(Telamona decorata). I am guessing that this nymph is a stink bug.
Durham, NC, 5/6/09.
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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 |
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 |
Flat Bugs (family Aradidae, superfamily Aradoidea, infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
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| Flat bug, probably Aradus genus (see Aradus photo, Cedar Creek Natural History Area website), Durham, NC, 4/23/08. Thanks to John R. Maxwell for family ID. |
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)
These are known corn pests, but they apparently can get along on cattails.
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| Chinch Bug (Blissus leucopterus) on a cattail leaf, about 2 mm long. Durham, NC, 7/30/10 | Chinch Bug (Blissus leucopterus), on the tip of an agave leaf. About 1-2 mm long. Bay St. Louis, Hancock County, MS, 10/16/10. | Chinch bug (Blissus leucopterus). Cypress Gardens, Berkeley County, SC, 10/13/07. Very tiny (2 mm long): it looked like a fly at first. |
Big-Eyed Bugs (Family Geocoridae, superfamily Lygaeoidea, infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
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| Big-eyed bug (Geocoris uliginosus), Durham, NC, 10/22/10, about 3 mm long |
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 predators 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. | Same Small Milkweed Bug, NC Botanical Garden, 8/17/06. |
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 |
Rhychromid Seed Bugs (Rhyparochromidae family, superfamily Lygaeoidea, infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
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| Rhyparochromic (true) bug, which looked very much like an ant when scurrying over this sidewalk in Durham, NC on 9/21/11. About 3 mm long. | Rhyparochromid seed bug (Ozophora picturata), Durham, NC, 7/21/11. Photo taken at night. Very lively, apparently attracted by light. | Rhychromid 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. | Rhyparochromid Seed Bug nymph (Rhyparochromidae family), Myodochini tribe, possibly Slaterobius genus. ID thanks to v belov. Durham, NC, 5/14/11 |
Largid Bugs (family Largidae, superfamily Pyrrhocoroidea, infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
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| Largus succinctus [Linnaeus, 1763], Goose Creek State Park, Beaufort County, NC, 11/6/07. A seed eater. ID with reference to Texas Cooperative Extension/Texas A&M University System. |
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. | 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. |
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| Leaffooted bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis), 10/27/10. Photo by Greg Cogswell. |
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. | Leaffooted bug nymph, Linn Cove Viaduct Visitors Center trail, Avery County, NC, 7/8/11 |
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Scentless Plant Bugs (family Rhopalidae, superfamily Coreoidea, infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
Rhopalinae subfamily
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| Rhopalid bug, Durham, NC, 8/24/07. Found in the same power line cut. | Rhopalid bug (Niesthrea genus, Niesthreini tribe), Durham, NC, 10/9/10 | 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. |
Broad-headed Bugs
(family Alydidae, superfamily Coreoidea, infraorder Pentatomomorpha)
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| Broad-headed Bug (Alydus eurinus), Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 5/21/06 | Broad-headed Bug (Alydus eurinus), Flat River Impoundment, Durham County, NC, 10/4/10 | Broad-headed Bug (Alydus eurinus), Durham, NC, 10/27/07 | Broad-headed Bug (Alydus eurinus), 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.
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| Mating Wheel Bugs, Durham, NC, 10/26/09 | Wheel Bug, Durham, NC, 11/20/07 | Wheel Bug, Durham, NC, 11/1/07 with Bumblebee prey. Note the bug's long red beak. | Wheel Bug, Durham, NC, 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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| Sixteen Wheel Bug nymphs, Catawba County, NC, 4/3/11. Appeared on clothing in a wooded area, perhaps by contact with vegetation. Photo taken by Randy Miller, who said they were about half a centimeter long (5 mm). | 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. | 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. |
Emesinae subfamily
Bugs of the below species wiggle constantly when they walk, and researchers have proposed an explanation: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/10/26/the-strumming-assassin-that-hunts-spiders-on-their-own-webs/#more-2924
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| Thread-legged Bug (Stenolemus bituberus, Emesini tribe, Emesinae subfamily), Durham, 8/11/06. ID thanks to Lynette Schimming. 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 |
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), 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), Durham, NC, 6/29/09. Found in local marsh. | Plant bug, Tropidosteptes genus, Miridae family. This one was about 2 mm long and hopping around in the street. I thought it was a gnat at first. ID thanks to v. belov. | Four-lined Plant Bug (Poecilocapsus lineatus), Wind Rock, Giles County, VA, 6/16/11 |
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 |
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 |
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. |
Damsel Bugs
(family Nabidae, superfamily Cimicoidea, infraorder Cimicomorpha)
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| Damsel bug (Nabis genus), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 6/25/11 | Damsel bug (Lasiomerus annulatus, Nabidae family), Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 6/24/09 | Damsel bug, Durham, 7/27/05. This picture was taken at night. |
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 treaders (Gerromorpha). About 12 mm long. San Antonio Botanical Garden, Bexar County, TX, 5/26/10 |
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. |
Broad-shouldered Water Treaders (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 Treader (Microvelia genus), Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, Wake County, NC, 8/2/07. This bug was less than 2 mm long. | Broad-shouldered Water Treader nymph: wing pads seem to be evident. Durham, NC, 12/15/08 | Broad-shouldered water treader nymph, about 2 mm long. Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, Wake County, NC, 9/3/08 | Broad-shouldered water treader 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 treader (Microvelia americana), Durham, NC, 9/22/05. Maybe a very early instar. |
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| Broad-shouldered Water Treaders (Rhagovelia obesa). These tiny insects, no more than 1 mm long, were in frantic motion at Bobbitt's Hole. |
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. | Shore bug, Dismall Falls, Giles County, VA, 6/14/11 |
(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.
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| Toad Bug scooting across the water surface of a small stream, Jordan Lake at the NC-751 bridge, Chatham County, NC, 10/26/11 | 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. | Mating toad bugs, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Eno River SP, 6/16/12 | 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), in a drainage ditch, Durham, NC, 5/18/08 | Backswimmer. This bug showed up on the edge of a dried-up drainage ditch 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. |
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! These animals are rarely more than 2 mm long.
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| A single Water Boatman at the lake's edge at a Jordan Lake Gameland, Chatham County, NC, 11/3/11. You can see its oarlike appendages. | Four Water Boatmen with a tiny leaf (also submerged), a Jordan Lake Gameland, Chatham County, NC, 11/3/11. These and many others appeared in the shallowest waters of Jordan Lake, near large mudflats. | 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. |
Mystery Bugs
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| Mystery Plant Bug, Durham, 9/14/05. |