Immediate PEST ID NEEDED ASAP!! THANKS!

bearabull7 · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 30 Location: Lewisville

I have 23 of these bugs to be exact trapped in a jar since yesterday 7/24/04 with a pantyhose with a rubberband around it to keep them in and allowing oxygen in as well. I don't want to kill them until I find out if they are bad bugs. If they are good bugs I will put them back in my yard.

I found them on my Zinnia's. So I figured if that is where I found them, I would put one in the jar with them to see if they would eat it. Nope! They are not eating the Zinnia. So, I thought maybe they are meat eaters. So I found some aphids on a Butterflyweed and put that in the jar. Nope! They don't eat Aphids. Now I am confused! As you can see from the photo on the group site they have a very long stabbing sword like needle that comes out of their nose area and goes all the way along their belly. Does this make them a good bug? Maybe they eat larger bugs like maybe leaf footed bugs. Or, are they bad bugs and if I put them back in my yard will cause much damage to all plants? I do not know. Can you tell me what they are? Please let me know ASAP. I am not sure how long I can keep them alive in the jar if I don't find them a food source soon. If they are good bugs I don't want to kill them. I will want to put them back in the yard.

Here is a link that you can copy and paste into your browser so you can see the 2 photos I have posted on my Yahoo photos so you can help me ID these critters ASAP.

http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/perfumfree2003/album?.tok=ph7fDfBBTBLSGwpS&.dir=/8c33&.src=ph

Thanks for your helps in advance!

Shari

lil · Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 31 Location: Houston

I believe they are larvae--possibly of a leaf footed bug.

CCC/Shaunh · Joined: 17 Mar 2003 Posts: 24 Location: ,

To me it looks like a young assasin type bug (wheel bug/leaf footed). Both are very benificial
I took a pick a few months back that kinda looks like the insects in your pics. The pick has some adults on the flower as well. Watchout they have a painfull bite.

bearabull7 · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 30 Location: Lewisville

Shaunh, if you look in the Texas Bug Book, The Leaf-footed bug is not beneficial. Adults and nymphs like to suck the juice from leaves, shoots, fruits, buds and seeds according to page 87 of the Texas Bug Book. The Giant Wheel bug is beneficial. I is an Insect Eater. They suck the juice from troublesome insects such as moths, squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and webworms (page 62 Texas Bug Book).

So until I know which it is I cannot let these critters into the wilds of my yard. If they are bad bugs, they will destroy my yard. I do not want to take that chance.

http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/perfumfree2003/album?.tok=ph7fDfBBTBLSGwpS&.dir=/8c33&.src=ph

Check the photo with the long black snout under the belly going past its back legs. That is the sign of a bad bug. Yes? According to Howards email to me.

It is definitely not the nymph of a Giant Wheel bug according to the photo in the Texas Bug Book.

If it is the nymph of a Leaf-footed bug, then they are bad bugs and will become bug juice. If that is what they are. I don't know for sure yet. What do you think?

Thanks for helping and your continued help.

Shari
perfumfree :lol:

culdeus · Joined: 18 Mar 2004 Posts: 101 Location: Dallas TX

The bug is similar to the one ID'd in this thread

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4357

I found the LF bugs to be eating the tops of my bell peppers and have since hand picked or orange oil sprayed them.

This thread helped because now I see I have larvae in addition to the adults.

They are quite tasty :lol:

bearabull7 · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 30 Location: Lewisville

Culdeus, Which recipe for Orange Oil did you use for the Leaf-Footed Bugs and Nymphs? What time of day did you spray your veggies and or flowers with it?

Thanks for the help. I also grow veggies at a Community Gardens that is having the same critter problem. If I can get the exact recipe you used to make them go away, then I know we will have success.

Of course, if you want come and pick your own from our gardens for your Leaf-Footed Pizza, I am sure they will not be heart broken about their not being any Leaf-Footed Bugs or Nymphs in our gardens.

Thanks in Advance for your help!

perfumfree :lol:

culdeus · Joined: 18 Mar 2004 Posts: 101 Location: Dallas TX

I think from reading on this site you have to actually hit the bugs with the mix it is not a preventative measure. I bought straight orange oil in a little 10oz container and mix a half oz with a half G of water and shake it up. I only use it to actually nail the ones I can't catch (yours do fly? right?).

They show up for dinner at about 7:30CST usually. About the time I go out to get basil or whatever.

bearabull7 · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 30 Location: Lewisville

No the nymphs don't fly. They are starting to morph into their next stage and you can start to tell the Leaf-Footed back legs. It is interesting to watch them in the jar. They are starting to get darker with a bit more armour with the Leaf-Footed back legs.

I fed them some passion vine vines. They seemed to like that! Another indicator that it is a plant eater and not a meat eater.

I am trying to keep them alive to watch the entire metamorphosis to prove for sure they are Leaf-Footed bugs. I am doing this because the Extension Office told me they were assassin bug nymphs. But has not commented yet to my question about the long proboscis under its body being an indicator of it being a bad bug plant eater and not a good bug meat eater. Maybe he will change his story.

Thanks for your remedy.

perfumfree :lol: