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QUESTION: Are assassin bugs friend or foe to tomato plants?
comments (11) June 13th, 2010
I see assassin bugs on my tomatoes but not many other bugs. However several tomatoes were damaged and rotted on the plant before they were ripe. Will the assassin bugs cause any harm to the tomatoes, or is there a hidden culprit?
posted in: tomatoes, pests
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Comments (11)
Posted: 1:04 am on August 24th
Posted: 2:50 am on February 26th
Posted: 5:41 am on February 16th
Posted: 6:33 pm on September 27th
Posted: 11:41 am on April 10th
Posted: 11:01 am on June 22nd
Here's a bit more: http://garden-pests-diseases.suite101.com/article.cfm/attracting_beneficial_insects_to_the_garden
Posted: 12:32 am on June 15th
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&&sa=X&ei=l7EWTOPsMcP7nAeZ1f2zCg&ved=0CBEQBSgA&q=assassin+bugs+are+beneficial&spell=1&fp=2f8bff4900875437
Posted: 6:59 pm on June 14th
http://insects.about.com/od/insectpests/tp/top10beneficialinsects.htm
Posted: 6:54 pm on June 14th
Posted: 11:39 am on June 14th
Last year I was out of town often and they were out of control. KILL them as fast as you can. They are easy to catch because of their slowing metabolism. Be advised, these are members of the stink bug family. If held too long or crushed they emit a foul odor
Common Name: Leaffooted bug
Scientific Name: Leptoglossus phyllopus (Linnaeus)
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Coreidae
Description: Adults are about 3/4 inch in length and are dark brown with a whitish to yellowish stripe across the central part of the back. The hind legs have flattened, leaf-like expansions on the tibia. Nymphal stages look similar to adults except that they do not have fully developed wings.
A leaffooted bug in the genus Narnia is common on prickly pear cactus. Another species, Acanthocephala declivis (Say), is one of the largest true bugs in Texas, being over an inch in length as an adult. Adults are particularly active in the fall. Although some members of this group are predaceous, immature stages can be easily confused with assassin bugs (Reduviidae).
Broad-headed bugs (Alydidae) are similar to Coreidae, but the head is as wide at the widest portion of the throax. They grow to about 3/4 inch long and are yellow to dark brown. Immature stages remarkable resemble ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).
Life cycle: Immature stages are gregarious, being found in high numbers on certain fruit where egg masses were laid.
Pest status: Plant feeder; has well developed scent glands and will emit distinctive odor when handled.
Habitat and Food Source(s), Damage: Leaffooted bugs feed on a wide variety of developing fruit, including cotton, peaches, and tomatoes, and seeds such as beans, black-eyed peas, and sorghum. They also feed on the stems and tender leaves of plants such as potatoes. Damage produced is similar to that produced by stink bugs.
Posted: 11:05 am on June 14th
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