Anyone know what kind of insect this is?

[Saladsamurai]

We have heard that the http://www.uvm.edu/albeetle/faq.html#2" is invading the Massachusetts area. I don't think that this is one since it does not look like the one in the photo; but I want to rule out the possibility of it being a relative.

Any ideas on what this is?

 

[Astronuc]

It seems to be a variation of a Squash Bug (Anasa) similar to Anasa tristis
http://bugguide.net/node/view/240125

also similar

Anasa armigera - http://bugguide.net/node/view/132659

Anasa repetita - http://bugguide.net/node/view/9707

Western Conifer Seed Bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis) - http://bugguide.net/node/view/311242

http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=squash+bug

 

[drizzle]

A 5 leged insect!...

 

[MotoH]

 

[dlgoff]

Looks like a stink bug to me.
[PLAIN]http://www.schizofunaddict.com/stinkbug.jpg

 

[Borek]

Impossible. Take a closer look - you bug has three legs on the left, two on the right, while Saladsamurai's bug has three on right, two on left.

 

[drizzle]

Saladsamurai has flipped his bug's photo, right Salad?
Is it even possible for a bug to have an odd number of legs?

 

[MotoH]

Saladsamurai has flipped his bug's photo, right Salad?
Is it even possible for a bug to have an odd number of legs?

If one gets ripped off, yes.

 

[drizzle]

So we can say both Salad and Golfguy have an awkward habit of ripping off a bug's leg? And one is right handed while the other is left handed? ...

 

[Borek]

You have finally started to think on the correct wavelength.

 

[dlgoff]

So we can say both Salad and Golfguy have an awkward habit of ripping off a bug's leg?

Yea. Then we smell our fingers. hmmm...

 

[fluidistic]

I'm pretty sure it's one of those: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triatominae.
But there are so many species I can't give the exact name. Maybe an insect specialist can.

 

[drizzle]

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-sick029.gif

Yea. Then we smell our fingers. hmmm...

 

[Saladsamurai]

Wow. So many good posts here I don't even know where to start.
But anyway, I just received an email from someone at the USDA who has informed me that it is a http://bugguide.net/node/view/311242". Nice call Astronuc!

So I set him free in the woods.

 

[dlgoff]

I'm pretty sure it's one of those: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triatominae.
But there are so many species I can't give the exact name. Maybe an insect specialist can.

I don't think so. Doesn't my picture look exactly like the OPs?
It's a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentatomoidea" .

Pentatomoidea is a superfamily of insects in the Heteroptera suborder of the Hemiptera order and, as such, share a common arrangement of sucking mouthparts.[1] They are commonly referred to as shield bugs or stink bugs. Shield bugs have glands in their thorax between the first and second pair of legs which produce a foul smelling liquid. This liquid is used defensively to deter potential predators and is sometimes released when the bugs are handled carelessly. The distinctive smell comes from aldehydes such as CH3–(CH2)2–CH=CH–CHO.

We should wait for Saladsamurai to reply after taking a whiff.

 

[dlgoff]

Dang Astronuc

 

[Proton Soup]

any suggestions on non-conventional insecticide control of these things? I've been trying to grow some different types of squash and other curcurbits this year, and I'm just eat up with stink bugs and leaf-footed bugs. I've tried Dawn detergent in water, which works great, but is very hard on the foliage. plus, it requires a great deal of vigilance. would something like boric acid be a good thing to try? I'm about at the end of my rope with these guys. the worst part is the leaf-footed bugs attack the tomatoes, and pretty soon you've got fruit that is scarred with about a 100 or so hypodermic punctures and has the complexion of a meth addict.

 

[Proton Soup]

any suggestions on non-conventional insecticide control of these things? I've been trying to grow some different types of squash and other curcurbits this year, and I'm just eat up with stink bugs and leaf-footed bugs. I've tried Dawn detergent in water, which works great, but is very hard on the foliage. plus, it requires a great deal of vigilance. would something like boric acid be a good thing to try? I'm about at the end of my rope with these guys. the worst part is the leaf-footed bugs attack the tomatoes, and pretty soon you've got fruit that is scarred with about a 100 or so hypodermic punctures and has the complexion of a meth addict.

seems people say that too much boron can be phytotoxic. so i said the heck with it and whacked them with malathion.

 

[hypatia]

I boil one ounce of tobacco in 1/2 gallon of water, a rapid boil for about 25 minutes. Strain it in coffee filters. Add 1/4 cup of grated Fels-Naptha soap, mix very well. Spray tops and bottom of leafs and you can also spray the veggies, use it on flowers and trees too.

This mixture works so well killing many kinds of bugs, that for years I haven't used anything else. I use it about every 3 weeks.

 

[Proton Soup]

thanks, i'll have to try that. i remember stocking Octagon soap back when i worked at the grocery years ago, but the Fels-Naptha is new to me.

 

[lyndas9254]

Looks like the western conifer seed bug. Take alook at the bug guide link provided by above. definitely looks exactly the same.

 

[Proton Soup]

thanks, i'll have to try that. i remember stocking Octagon soap back when i worked at the grocery years ago, but the Fels-Naptha is new to me.

if anyone wants to try this, i found Fels-Naptha soap at Ace Hardware. seems to be a key ingredient in making your own laundry soap among the budget-minded folks.

as for the leaf-footed bugs, i can't say it has helped much. at first i thought maybe that it was because they are so mobile and were flying in from other gardens, but even nymphs are running around still. my guess is that it has to do with what appears to be the mode of action of the mixture: laying down a thin film of nicotine-infused soap on the plants. which should work great on insects that chew and ingest the poison. not so great on insects that pierce the skin of the plant to suck out the juicy goodness. that, and they are hellspawn. so, I've dusted with pyrethrin, which hopefully should lead to more ingestion with preening, like how boric acid works.

 

[Evo]

I boil one ounce of tobacco in 1/2 gallon of water, a rapid boil for about 25 minutes. Strain it in coffee filters. Add 1/4 cup of grated Fels-Naptha soap, mix very well. Spray tops and bottom of leafs and you can also spray the veggies, use it on flowers and trees too.

This mixture works so well killing many kinds of bugs, that for years I haven't used anything else. I use it about every 3 weeks.

I thought I had entered the food thread and was wondering what hypatia was making for dinner until I read the naptha soap.

 

[dlgoff]

I thought I had entered the food thread and was wondering what hypatia was making for dinner until I read the naptha soap.

At first I thought maybe she was wanting to post in the Espresso machines thread.