What is this bug?

[Sleeper7784]

Can anybody identify this bug? I seen some in late October last year. Now I have found them in May. The hang out in clusters on the bottom tips of the leaf. If you turn the leaf they all shifted and walk together in attempt to remain up side down. If they feel distressed they release and drop off.

What am I...

 

[Sleeper7784]

Most importantly, are they friend or foe???

 

[Grow Tech]

knee jerk reaction...a type of aphid, which would be foe

 

[Storm Shadow]

lol your new friends

 

[Sleeper7784]

Damn they're the biggest fastest moving aphid I've ever seen. Lol

 

[Sleeper7784]

Maybe its duds. Oh fuck run for the hills, save the women and children!

 

[Captain Ginyu]

Those are assassin bugs; they devour aphids!

 

[Sleeper7784]

Those are assassin bugs; they devour aphids!

Thanks for your input. How sure are you? I haven't seen any damage from them yet so I was wondering if they were just stopping by or there to stay.

Or if they lay eggs and leave some sort of damaging offspring.

They're crazy looking little suckers.

 

[Captain Ginyu]

Trust me, I know my bugs. I hope you didn't kill them; if you do, you invite the bad bugs! They are one of the best predator insects to have in the garden, consider yourself blessed. Look at the size of those legs, antennae, and the most important part... that proboscis, (mouth), which they use to capture, inject venom, and feed. That pic happens to be a litter of hatchlings, they get larger, (depends on the species).

They usually hang out together for a few days, then they start to drift apart from each other. They will stay as long as there is a steady food supply of aphids, caterpillaries, and other nasties; and then they will move on. If they lay eggs, it will be on the fan leaves. You should g**gle, or other search engine: "assassin bug eggs", and you will see spectacular & diverse photos of many different species.

Good luck with the little monsters!

 

[Lesterburnum]

Damn! Can't find assassin bugs on bugological.
Is there another, more specifc genus name or something to look these benes up Captain?

 

[lost in a sea]

milkweed assassin bug nymphs ?

 

[Captain Ginyu]

Look up..."Reduviidae", that's the name of the genus that covers all the assassin bugs.

 

[elchavo]

lol! send their to our gardens! hahaha

Gl man!