Not a tick, right?

March 15, 2012 3:47 PM

Can anyone identify this bug?

link to picture
There were a ton of these under a trash can in my backyard. I'm trying to reassure someone that they are not ticks, and it would help my case if I could tell them what they actually are. I could try Google, but I have a feeling that I'll get an answer way faster on here. Plus, I'd probably end up down a Wikipedia wormhole. Thanks!

posted by amcm to science & nature (12 answers total)

Not a tick. Ticks have 8 legs, that looks like 6 legs.
posted by The otter lady at 3:51 PM on March 15, 2012

I think those are "true bugs," or hemiptera. I'm not sure about the species. They're definitely not ticks.
posted by infinitywaltz at 3:52 PM on March 15, 2012

What state are you in? It looks like a weevil, by the way.
posted by KokuRyu at 3:52 PM on March 15, 2012

I'm in Pennsylvania, and they pop when you squish them, if that helps. I knew this would be faster!
posted by amcm at 4:04 PM on March 15, 2012

Having done a bit more research, I'm reasonably confident in placing your particular bugs within the pentatomidae family (stink bugs and shield bugs in other words), and would probably guess that more specifically it's a stink bug of some kind, either a brown marmorated stink bug, which is an agricultural pest from Asia first spotted in Pennsylvania about a decade and a half ago, or one of the various local species.
posted by infinitywaltz at 4:05 PM on March 15, 2012

It looks pretty bulbous to be a shield bug...
posted by KokuRyu at 4:21 PM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

Stinkbugs can get into anything. My aunt opened a Rubbermaid tub sealed up before the stinkbug invasion and she found 8 inside. If it helps, they can't swim so we drop in the toilet.
They also make great fish food and (according to my brother) excellent crab bait.
posted by jaimystery at 4:59 PM on March 15, 2012

Definitely not ticks. Not a weevil, either -- a weevil would have a big snout on the front.
posted by Sys Rq at 5:03 PM on March 15, 2012

I don't know, but thought I'd recommend this fabulous bug guide which is what I use for insect ID questions.
posted by abirdinthehand at 5:49 PM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

Japanese Stink Bug. There has been an invasion of the east coast of US
posted by JayRwv at 6:15 PM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

That's totally a stinkbug. Found one in my kitchen last night! They get worse as the weather gets warmer, so be warned. The morning zoo crew from my local station did a rap song about stinkbugs.
posted by jabes at 6:23 PM on March 15, 2012

Looks like the consensus is that they are stinkbugs. We've never had them here before (Philly). I hope it isn't going to be stinkbug time this summer. Thanks for the help!
posted by amcm at 8:15 PM on March 15, 2012