What is this bug?

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
tsia Riverside, CA Jul 04, 2013

Our backyard (Southern CA) is infested with these bugs. Also, there a bunch of black balls where they like to congregate, can these possibly be eggs?

Thumbnail by tsia Thumbnail by tsia Thumbnail by tsia Thumbnail by tsia Thumbnail by tsia
Post #9587158
Quote
tsia Riverside, CA Jul 04, 2013

also, the black ones and red ones do infact appear to be the same species because we see them mating

Post #9587161
Quote
Flapdoodle Minot, ND Jul 05, 2013

These are nymphs (the red ones) and adults (the black one) of a red-shouldered bug, The black objects are not their eggs, as these are laid in cracks and crevices of tree bark.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jadera_haematoloma
http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/884/
https://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/aimg69.html

Post #9587327
Quote
Gilliansara13 Auburn, NY Jul 05, 2013

They are called Mildweed bugs, or Love bugs. Love bugs because when the adults (which are the black larger bugs) mate they stick their butts together and they are attached for hours on end. They are harmless. I hope this helped.

Post #9588061
Quote
Flapdoodle Minot, ND Jul 05, 2013

@Gilliansara13 - If you mean milkweed bugs, those are in an entirely different family, Lygaeidae. And the term Lovebugs usually refers to a species of fly in the family Bibionidae - http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg068

Post #9588170
Quote
vawilben Southfield, MI Jul 06, 2013

Could these possibly be box elderbugs? The nymphs are red and the adults are black and red.




Thumbnail by vawilben
Post #9589095
Quote
Flapdoodle Minot, ND Jul 06, 2013

@vawilben - In a word, no.

Post #9589305
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Insect and Spider Identification Threads

Go to all Insect and Spider Identification threads
BACK TO TOP