Reduviidae (Assassin Bug)?

ReignofInvertebrates · Apr 27, 2015

Found in Michigan. About 3/4 cm in length. Can anyone narrow down to genus?

Second pic

EDIT: IF I AM CORRECT, I'VE FIGURED THIS TO BE A DAMSEL BUG.

The Snark · Apr 27, 2015

Probably Nabis Rugosus. One of the beneficial predators getting the wholesale insecticide spraying shaft. I recall reading an article where they were spraying for certain corn borers, mostly slaughtering the local Damsel bugs that preferred the corn borers as their main diet. Typical midwest ill educated victims of corporate BS.

ReignofInvertebrates · Apr 28, 2015

Yeah. That kind of stuff is kind of disappointing. These beneficial predators and others are losing entire populations in crop fields. I try to tell me parents the same thing when they decide to spray for bees. So many people think of insecticides and other sprays as the norm. In situations like the one you described, they don't have to spray to get rid of the borers. :/

The Snark · Apr 28, 2015

Grasshopper99 said:
Yeah. That kind of stuff is kind of disappointing. These beneficial predators and others are losing entire populations in crop fields. I try to tell me parents the same thing when they decide to spray for bees. So many people think of insecticides and other sprays as the norm. In situations like the one you described, they don't have to spray to get rid of the borers. :/

Just ask your parents what I ask people: "Let's say that can of spray you are using is okay. It's just one can, after all. Now, what about the other 10,000,000 cans used every day? And that is only a tiny fraction of the insecticides used each day. Do you think this could be harming the environment?"

Reduviidae (Assassin Bug)?

ReignofInvertebrates

Arachnoprince

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods

ReignofInvertebrates

Arachnoprince

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods