This insect stings my newly growing squash plants. The younger ones are green (start growing wings) and as they get older they turn brown. They're only about 1-1.5 cm. As you can see their body is long and skinny with very long skinny legs. I think they actually shed their outer shell when they're growing and they lay round eggs in clusters on the leaves. I've never been stung by it, but a friend has while out in the garden.
The photo is not clear enough to be certain, but these could be assassin bugs (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Reduviidae) in the genus Zelus - see http://tinyurl.com/24wgjtc for an example. These are predators, and would not damage the squash plants, but many assassin bugs are capable of giving one a painful 'bite' if handled carelessly. The eggs you noticed likely are those of squash bugs, Anasa tristis, (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Coreidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/oufp7r
Thank you Suunto for your suggestion, but the assassin bug doesn't seem to match. I see how the picture isn't too clear. I'm attaching some more photos so hopefully it will be easier to identify.
Another photo..
A much better photo - I now believe these to be stilt bugs (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Berytidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/29bo9de for an image of a nymph and http://tinyurl.com/2ehhbd8 for an adult (I really was not happy with my previous guess at their being reduviids). I am not aware of any stilt bugs being considered serious pests; in fact, many will feed on other small insects such as aphids, and therefore may be considered beneficial.
Thank you so much! Do you know how to get rid of these bugs? I tried searching online but didn't find any good answers.
As these are not really considered pests. I doubt very much that you would find any specific control recommendations. If you are applying anything for control of other piercing-sucking insects (such as squash bugs), that should take care of these as well. However, unless you have an extremely large population of these bugs, they shouldn't really need control.
