Which beetle is this?

We found this beetle on our wall. Can you tell us which beetle this is?

Asker: Femke, 15 years old

Answer

Dear Femke,

this insect is not a beetle, but a bug (order Heteroptera). Based on this photo, the bug cannot be further identified at species level. Most bugs feed on plant juices and seed juice, and have adapted mouthparts for this. These are stinging mouthparts (rostrum), a kind of injection needle, with which the plant cells are punctured. Due to their sucking activity, growth deformities often occur in the plant. There are also useful bugs, ie predatory bugs, that feed on all kinds of (harmful) insects, eg larvae of butterflies and beetles. A large number of bugs spread an unpleasant pungent odor.

Kind regards,

Hans

Answered by

Hans Casteels

identification of pest insects in agriculture and horticulture, stock goods and homes

Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research
Burg. van Gansberghelaan 96 box 1 9820 Merelbeke
http://www.ilvo.vlaanderen.be

.

Recent Articles

Related Stories