NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Red orange bugs swarming all over my precious blackberries.
Google to the rescue- they are Milkweed Assassin Bug Nymphs and they are good guys! They eat aphids (which we have begun to see on the corn) as well as flies and mosquitoes. They look mean and scary but apparently only if you are a crop eatin' bad bug. People are quite quick to reach for a spray or chemical to kill off any and all bugs but bugs are our friends. Sometimes. These can bite.
Edited to say: These grew up to be Leaf Footed Bugs! Commonly confused in their youth with assassin bugs. So Sorry if I led you astray. Info on leaf footed bugs here.
By the way, the blackberries are juicy, amazing backyard delicacies. I'm glad I have these little heroes around to protect them.
Change my answer on who inspires me to whoever named Milkweed Assassin Bugs and their nymphs. That person is my new hero.
ReplyDeleteThose are some nummy looking blackberries. You definitely do not want to get bit by and assassin bug - they HURT!! But they are SO good for your garden.
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