I posted earlier about bugs on my Blackberries http://www.gardenstew.com/about21952.html I thought they were Leaf Footed Stink Bugs (bad guys) and Carolyn says they are Assassins (good guys). I found one a bit ago and grabbed him for some "mug shots". I still can't tell the difference... they are so similar. What do you all think? assassin or leaf-foot1 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) assassin or leaf-foot2 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) assassin or leaf-foot_bellyside ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) assassin or leaf-foot_sideview ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Good guy or bad guy?
I have looked and looked and I am getting a crick in my neck from sitting here. I agree that they are very hard to tell apart. Are there any egg casings on the back of any of the leaves. the leaffoot lays a gold elliptical egg, according to the website bugguide. the leg on your one picture shows it as a wide leg, but I can find nothing similar to it. You could always send an ID request to the bugguide website and see if they can tell you for sure. Since it was rainy or about too humid here and I was babysitting today, it was a good day to look for the info, but I really didn't find much. Sorry Cheryl, I really wasn't much help. I think I just added to the confusion of the identity more because I am not certain either way. Do you still have it? if so, I wonder if putting another small bug in the jar would help,(to see if it would eat it or leave it alone). just a thought. carolyn
Carolyn... I really appreciate all your effort in helping with this. They just look too much alike! Bugs! They're beginning to really bug me! I don't want to kill off any beneficial insects. So I will take your advice and post the photos to the bug guide site. And, I didn't notice any egg sacks... but then again I wasn't really looking for them. I just saw this guy and snagged him up to get more photos. And oh yeah... I didn't keep it or kill it. I set it free with the understanding that if I see it again before I get a definitive ID... it would be smushed!
Hi Cheryl, good thinking. There are just sooooooo many bugs, it has to be a major project for even an entomologist to learn them all. Sorry I wasn't more helpful. I saw this small (ladybug size) beetle in my greenhouse the other day and it was gold. Looked like it had been dipped in gold and dried. there was only one, so I was HOPING it wasn't a pesty one.
Spotted some more of these buggers today. And since I really don't like using chemicals... especially on something I'm going to eat... I gave them a shot of my "old stand by". A bit of Dawn dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle. Killed them almost instantly! And I couldn't help but tell them, as they lay there twitching and taking their last breath... "that'll teach you to mess with my new blackberries!"
Maybe now you'll get to enjoy those blackberries yourself Cheryl. Just watch out though 'cause as soon as they are all ripe the birds will probably take a fancy to them as they do in my garden.
Eileen.... I have been making sure there's plenty of seeds in the bird feeders. Plus... I've placed all sorts of "whirly shiny things" on the fence and next to them to help keep them away. Guess only time will tell who gets to eat the most berries! I'm just happy that I can kill the little buggers without chemicals/pesticides.
