what species of bug is this?

[Ewok]

I found this little guy in my parents yard in Florida and am not sure what it is. Do any of you know what species this might be?

click on the smaller pic to enlarge

 

[Mr. Mordax]

It's a Hemiptera (true bugs), in the family Acanthosomatidae (shield bugs). The family was at first a guess, but it can be confirmed by the fact that the second photo shows only two tarsal segments. That should give you a start on IDing.

 

[Mr. Mordax]

That's all I could turn up so far. The two main genera of that family are Elasmosthethus and Elasmucha. Good luck!

 

[Ewok]

Thank you for the ID, I've seen these around before and have wondered what they were , and now I know

 

[Ewok]

I 've seen these around for the last couple of years too in my parents yard, are they also a type of shield bug?

 

[Mr. Mordax]

I doubt it . . . my guess would be a seed bug, Lygaeidae, but that's not very specific (the family has over 500 genera). The shield bugs look more shield-like.

 

[Ewok]

Thanks again, for the ID

 

[arachnocat]

Those are cool pics. We have similar ones here in CA. They're red and black and I only seem to see them during the summer months.

 

[Mr. Mordax]

You might be thinking of boxelder bugs. If so, those are really common in Oregon as well, and they are known for their apparent swarming tendencies. They're not really any cause for worry.

Of course, you might be describing some completely different bug. :?

But if my guess was correct, I'll point out that boxelders aren't in one of the "main" families of Hemiptera, or at least one not significant enough to be deserving of its own Wikipedia article.

 

[arachnocat]

Thanks. That's what they are! I've never had them in my house but I have seen swarms of them on trees. Pretty cool.

 

[K-TRAIN]

I found this little guy in my parents yard in Florida and am not sure what it is. Do any of you know what species this might be?

click on the smaller pic to enlarge

i find them around my house all the time during the summer. im not sure of the species, but i know its some kind of beetle.

 

[Stylopidae]

i find them around my house all the time during the summer. im not sure of the species, but i know its some kind of beetle.

Actually, beetles are part of Coleoptera and this is definitely Hemiptera. There's no elytra and beetles don't have sucking mouthparts

 

[Mr. Mordax]

And I'd already identified it down to family as a shield bug.

 

[Stylopidae]

And I'd already identified it down to family as a shield bug.

Well, yeah...that too. I just figured I'd share the quick way to ID them down to order

 

[K-TRAIN]

Actually, beetles are part of Coleoptera and this is definitely Hemiptera. There's no elytra and beetles don't have sucking mouthparts

well, i still consider it a beetle. even though it isnt.

 

[Mr. Mordax]

Um . . . only Coleoptera are beetles. If you call something that isn't a beetle a beetle, I doubt many entomological-folk will take you very seriously.

Just a thought.

 

[nepenthes]

A good one at that though I<3mantids

I used to live In South Dakota, Box elder bugs ran a muck every where. I guess thats why a town 2 min's away Was called box elder.