Showing posts with label North American Insects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label North American Insects. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Unusual Bug Spotted on the Golf Course--How to ID

I found an unusual bug, for me anyway since I'm new to the south of the US and new to Florida.

Here's the bug photo:

So I went looking to see what he might be. I found two species, closely related  in the National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders. One was a stink bug and the other was a plant bug. Both bugs have many different species. So then I went searching on the internet.

The first I found was the green stink bug. This bug matched in terms of green color and the shield like appearance of the back, but no picture showed this marking.

So I searched for plant bug. Many different types showed up along with a number of insect sprays on how to  kill them. Ooops, I didn't bother to squish it when I could, I was too fascinated by its odd appearance.

Then I found this site: http://www.cirrusimage.com/bugs_plant.htm

I believe the correct species is the Scentless Plant Bug, harmostes species. It's a sucking insect and mint and daisies are a target. Learn something new every day.

Chitika