Spined SoldierBug&Caterpillar - Picromerus bidens

Moved

Moved from Podisus.

… John R. Maxwell, 3 November, 2008 - 5:16pm

Picromerus bidens

… v belov, 3 November, 2008 - 5:06pm

fuzzy white caterpillar

V J Hickey: ID by U Maine Ext Svc as prob Lymantriidae, w/?Arctiidae, further ID to follow. Bug is Soldier Bug, Podisus sp...thanks to R Leung.

… Vincent J Hickey, 19 September, 2004 - 1:58pm

Not just checking out...

...but preying upon. That's a predatory stink bug sucking the life from the caterpillar (which I don't recognize).

… Troy Bartlett, 31 August, 2004 - 9:19am

Strong buggers!

I have seen predatory stink bugs with ridiculously heavy prey hanging off their beaks. How they manage to hold on with such weighty morsels is beyond me. It would be like me holding a piano by my teeth:-)

… Eric R. Eaton, 31 August, 2004 - 2:26pm

Fuzzy & Stinky

V J Hickey: I think the stink bug is Euchistus spp, fam Pentatomidae. What is the caterpillar? VJH

… Vincent J Hickey, 31 August, 2004 - 5:35pm

Disagree with stink bug ID

Euchistus are plant-feeding stink bugs. I'm very certain this is a spined soldier bug, Podisus sp., which are predatory stink bugs.

… Richard Leung, 1 September, 2004 - 6:57am

V J Hickey: I agree....unques

V J Hickey: I agree....unquestionable sharp pointed "shoulders" which I missed. Thanks.

… Vincent J Hickey, 1 September, 2004 - 2:02pm

Euchistus members, some of th

Euchistus members, some of them at least, also display the pointed shoulders and look very similar to Podisus. The obvious difference, though, is what they feed on (i.e. plants vs. insects).

… Richard Leung, 1 September, 2004 - 2:26pm