Welcome to Catnapin's

Insect Gallery

True Bugs

order Hemiptera

Assassin Bugs - family Reduviidae

Wheel Bug Arilus cristatus

Eggs are laid in a honey comb shape.

Leaffooted Bug Leptoglossus phyllopus

Mostly solid dark brown.  White band in center.  White stripes on abdomen are

Similar Species

Leaffooted Bugs - family Coreidae

Leaffooted Bug Leptoglossus sp.

The above have the color and leg shape of L. Occidentalis, but the white zigzag is wide, like L. phyllopus.  Can these bug species crossbreed or is this a variant? 

These bugs love yucca.  They can often be found in large numbers.

Hunting Similar Species

very similar but not   Western Conifer Seed Bug Leptoglossus occidentalis

Triangle is redder.  Narrow white zigzag lines in center (or no white).  White stripes on abdomen are dull white.

not    Leaffooted Bug Leptoglossus oppositus

Mostly solid dark brown.  No center stripe.  Small white spots on back and sides.

not    "no common name" Acanthocephala terminalis

Mostly solid dark brown.  No center stripe.  Small white spots on sides.  Orange tipped antenna.  Eat plant juice not other bugs.

Also Similar to:

>Leaffooted Bugs - family Coreidae

Helmeted Spuash Bug Euthochtha sp.

Leaffooted Bugs - family Coreidae

Spuash Bug Anasa sp.

Leaffooted Bugs - family Coreidae

Bee Assassin Apiomerus spissipes

Does not have the triangle.  Much more white at sides.

Ambush Bugs - family Phymatidae

Jagged Ambush Bug Phymata americana metcalfi

Seed Bugs - family Lygaeidae

Large Milkweed Bug Oncopeltus fasciatus

Red to yellow-orange.

Similar Species

Seed Bugs - family Lygaeidae

Small Milkweed Bug Lygaeus kalmii

Very similar but bands are different.  Black down the midline and spots at side.  It also can have white on apex of wings

Beetles - order Coleoptera ------ Longhorned Beetles - family Cerambycidae

Texas Canyon Longhorn Crioprosopus magnificus

Very similar but black bands are different.

Plant Bugs - family Miridae

possible  Scarlet Plant Bug Lopidea media

Scentless Plant Bugs - family Rhopalidae

Red-shouldered Bug (Soapberry Bug) Jadera haematoloma

One of the scentless plant bugs.  They feed on seeds and do no harm to the host plant.  Often confused with the similar Boxelder Bug.

To reduce an infestation, use an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil sprays, or a combination of the two. Concentrations of the bugs can be destroyed as they rest on the ground or on vegetation.

Make your own spray:

1 gallon of water

2 tablespoon of a non-degreasing liquid dishwashing detergent soap

1 tablespoon of vegetable oil (corn, soybean, peanut, sunflower)

Raking shortly after the seedpods or lanterns have fallen to the ground is also recommended but should be done when the trees first drop the seedpods, before the seeds detach. Attempting to rake them when the bugs become noticeable in March or April, after the seeds have detached from the seedpods, is too late.

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