True Bug Identification: Telling It From Look-Alikes

• Stink bugs are shield-shaped with a large triangular scutellum covering the base of the abdomen.
• Boxelder bugs are dark grey/black with red eyes and orange-red stripes on the thorax and wings; smaller than eastern conenose (kissing) bugs.
• Assassin bugs have an elongate head and body with long legs, unlike the compact shield shape of stink bugs.
• Folded wings form a visible triangle or X-shape on the back, a general hallmark of true bugs.
• Brown marmorated stink bug has alternating light/dark banding on its antennae, a key feature separating it from similar bugs.
• Stink bugs release a foul-smelling defensive fluid when disturbed, the origin of their common name - a behavioral tell not shared by boxelder bugs.

People most often mix true bugs up with:

• Beetles

Open the other page and compare its list against the marks above; the differences are usually in the antennae, wings or the way the body is divided.

Boxelder bugs do not bite people. Kissing/conenose bugs, blood-feeding relatives in the same true-bug group as assassin bugs, do bite (often around the face) and can transmit Chagas disease. Seek medical care promptly for severe symptoms or any allergic reaction.

Assassin bugs are general predators but are not considered reliable biological control agents because they also feed on beneficial insects.

Many true bugs (e.g. leaffooted bugs) overwinter as adults in protected sites like woodpiles, buildings, and tree bark, and feed outdoors on host plants otherwise.

Get as close as your camera will focus, from directly above, in daylight or a bright lamp. Include the whole body with the legs and antennae in frame; a second shot from the side shows wings and body segments. Put a coin or ruler next to it for scale. For a bite or a bug found on skin or bedding, photograph the bug itself, not the mark. The app names the likely group; use the list above to confirm.