Black bug with orange spot is eating my basil plants - Largus

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Pentatomomorpha » Pyrrhocoroidea » Bordered Plant Bugs (Largidae) » Largini » Largus » unidentified nymphs (Largus unidentified nymphs)

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Copyright © 2007 Susan Sentman

Black bug with orange spot is eating my basil plants - Largus

South of Tallahassee, Florida, Wakulla County, Florida, USA
June 4, 2007
Size: approx. 1mm

We live on 5 acres rural and began finding large numbers of this bug in May 2007. They are everywhere we look! Varieties of sizes from what appear to be babies to adults. IT is black or dark brown in color with a striking orange/yellow dot or triangle on the back. The legs are yellow with black-tipped toes. There are black segmented-looking antennae and these guys do not appear to fly. Recently discovered these are the culprits for leaving my basil plant leaves looking like see-through lace. I sprayed the basil with white-fly spray (we also have lots of white fly here) this morning and it did seem to have a fatal effect on these bugs. I don't like to harm any wildlife, but I am growing the basil for ME...not them! I do not recall ever seeing this species of bug on this property in the 3 years we have been here until now.

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Black bug with orange spot is eating my basil plants - Largus

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Contributed by Susan Sentman on 4 June, 2007 - 11:25am
Last updated 20 March, 2009 - 6:14pm

same problem

i work at a garden center in new orleans, i see my share of bugs but i've never seen this one. i think they are eating my hibiscus but i haven't noticed them actually nibbling. are they indeed plant eaters or are they eating other bugs??

… emilylagarde, 2 September, 2010 - 6:08pm

Moved

Moved from Largus.

… v belov, 20 March, 2009 - 6:14pm

Moved

Looks like Largus.

… Brad Barnd, 27 June, 2007 - 10:48pm

It's an immature bug, aka nymph.

The absence of wings tells us that. Perhaps you've seen adults around, but haven't connected them to this. You're not alone, as only about 5% of nymphs have been tied to adults. As a result, ID on this critter may not be forthcoming. But here's hoping...

… Ron Hemberger, 4 June, 2007 - 3:49pm

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