What is this flying insect?

[lapk78]

I have found a few of these near my tomato plants. Any ideas as to what it is? Good? Bad? Neutral? Any treatment recommendations? The coin is a quarter by the way. Thanks!

-Lyle

[Dewayne mater]

I hope that is not a leaf footed bug, such as a stink bug. It doesn't quite look like them, but is fairly similar. If so, the only things I've heard work on them are squishing them, drowning them in soapy water and kaolin clay. Hopefully, someone smarter will chime in.

Dewayne mater

[tjg911]

i think it is a tarnished plant bug. i have seen them here and they are bad bugs.

https://www.google.com/search?q=tarn...w=1161&bih=619

i chose this link vs many others as you are in texas and this was from oklahoma.

http://entoplp.okstate.edu/ddd/insects/tarnishedbug.htm

tom

[lapk78]

Thanks Tom. Hmm... yeah, that looks like my bug. I found a description that says they're supposed to be from 6 to 6.5mm long. My bug was less than half of that length, though. If it is, I think I may need to get some white sticky traps. Is this a common pest in your neck of the woods? Thanks for the link.

-Lyle

[Kazfam]

My son has confirmed that it is a tarnished plant bug (amateur entomologist - he is my go-to bug guy). And a bad news critter as stated above.

Active from spring through fall in gardens, agricultural fields, and meadows. They draw juices from the leaves, young stems, and fruits of more than 200 plant species - including alfalfa, cotton, grasses, strawberries, and sugar beets. Possilble damage to peaches and apples. Females insert pale green eggs into soft stems and leafstalks; there are up to 5 overlapping generations in the South.

Source: Field Guide to Insects and Spiders of North America (National Wildlife Federation)

[John3]

I went through some notes. If you have some neem oil it wouldn't hurt to spray the plants (do this early evening as the sun could cause the oil to burn the leaves) - this will not kill the tarnished plant bug but is a repellant. This might give you some time until you get something worked out to get rid of them.

[tjg911]

Originally Posted by lapk78

Thanks Tom. Hmm... yeah, that looks like my bug. I found a description that says they're supposed to be from 6 to 6.5mm long. My bug was less than half of that length, though. If it is, I think I may need to get some white sticky traps. Is this a common pest in your neck of the woods? Thanks for the link.

-Lyle

sorry i never saw your question to me until just now.

no, i don't think these are a common pest at least not in my garden. i have seen them tho a few years back and id'ed them so that's why i knew what they were.

tom