One day, while talking with my father on the phone, a bright shiny bug entered the house and I passed right by it. Although I wasn’t into bugs then nearly as much as now, I was so excited that I immediately placed a cup over it to prevent it from going anywhere. After the conversation was over I uncovered the interesting bug and took some shots of it.
The shot above is one I made several weeks later, when I found another one of these bugs in one of my Japanese maple bushes. Many of your probably already know what this bug is – but for those not acquainted this is the stink bug. Supposedly they have the ability to spray a cyanide containing mixture that smells rather bad, though I have never seen one do this. Still, I have never bothered to handle one to find out. Above is the aptly named “green stink bug” – one of my favorites around the garden. They are among the most photogenic insects around here and are quite common. For more information about this fascinating creature, follow the jump.
The above portrait is one of my favorite shots of another kind of stink bug. I believe this one is a Parabrochymena arborea. One interesting fact about stink bugs is they are actually bugs. Technically speaking, only insects in the order hemiptera can actually be called “bugs”. Stink bugs are a member of this order (in the family pentatomidae). Some stink bugs eat caterpillars and other insects, but most eat plants. Some are considered pests in the garden. On the other hand, some of the predacious species are highly beneficial, so killing any stink bug you find is not a good idea.
Recently I had the opportunity to photograph two new (to me) species that I found on the side of the house.
This appears to be the Red-crossed stink bug, or Elasmostethus cruciatus. The “cruciatus” part comes from the red “X” on its back. This is actually not a stink bug, but instead is called a “parent bug” and is in the family Acanthosomatidae.
I suspect that the above bug is not a stink bug either, but is still in the family hemiptera. It looks a bit like a squash bug but I was unable to find a good match in my literature. My only regret with taking these pictures is I wish I took them on top of an interesting flower. The parent bug I actually attempted this, but it disappeared when I brought back something to grab it with. The last bug I just did not have the time – as dinner was ready when I was still shooting. Still, they frequent the sliding glass door area so I’m sure sometime this year I’ll get another chance.
4 Comments
April 15, 2008 at 9:13 am
Great portraits of these unassuming little “bugs!” The one on the blade of grass is especially nice, with the diagonal line and well-managed DOF.
April 15, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Interesting post!
That last beetle is a western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis.
Here’s one I caught; bugguide.net/node/view/151382.
(I’ve forgotten how wordpress handles urls. I hope that works.)
April 17, 2008 at 12:24 am
Great shots, Joe. I’m no expert, but I think you are right about the bottom image being a squash bug — if not, some closely related leaf-footed bug. That’s my guess anyway.
April 17, 2008 at 7:06 am
Thanks for the nice comments.
@Susannah – thanks for the Id!