Help the BLind Guy Identify Bugs
October 15, 2022 6:38 AM Subscribe
I didn't expect to be asking this question, but here we are. My mom and I live in the pacific Northwest, and have been seeing these bugs, for the past few days. They apparently have mostly been outside, though mom says she found one in her bedroom, which was a little off-putting.
I have no idea what they are, as I'm totally blind, and I don't know what they look like. I hope the hive mind can help.
What are they and what do we need to do about them?
I have no idea what they are, as I'm totally blind, and I don't know what they look like. I hope the hive mind can help.
What are they and what do we need to do about them?
Looks like a shield bug a.k.a. stink bug. They try to get inside for warmth in cool weather and are harmless in your house—they don’t sting, or spoil your food, or eat your wood, or anything like that, just quietly lurk in corners. My kid calls them house guardians because there always seems to be one in the house but never two. They only stink if you smash them.
posted by tchemgrrl at 6:53 AM on October 15, 2022
posted by tchemgrrl at 6:53 AM on October 15, 2022
The photos aren't super clear but I also think it looks like a stink bug or boxelder. The Oregonian just published an article about them, how to remove them, and how to discourage them from entering your home.
I get icked out by them too, although they don't bite or get into your food or anything.
Good luck!
posted by happy_cat at 7:01 AM on October 15, 2022
I get icked out by them too, although they don't bite or get into your food or anything.
Good luck!
posted by happy_cat at 7:01 AM on October 15, 2022
The second photo could be a stink bug. The fourth one might be a box elder bug—it's clearly not the same species as the second. The others are too small to say. They're harmless.
FWIW, we share our living space with many different creatures, some of which have evolved to be specific to human habitations. Rob Dunn's book Never Home Alone is a fascinating account of them. It's available as an audiobook.
posted by brianogilvie at 7:07 AM on October 15, 2022 [3 favorites]
FWIW, we share our living space with many different creatures, some of which have evolved to be specific to human habitations. Rob Dunn's book Never Home Alone is a fascinating account of them. It's available as an audiobook.
posted by brianogilvie at 7:07 AM on October 15, 2022 [3 favorites]
Western conifer seed bug?
posted by drumcorpse at 7:08 AM on October 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by drumcorpse at 7:08 AM on October 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
It's hard to tell from the pictures exactly what kind of bugs they are, but they're clearly some type of true bug. ("Bug" can be used to mean any insect, but there is an order of insects, the Hemiptera, that scientists call bugs. Those are the "true bugs.") I agree that there are at least two different species in those photos. There are a few different types of true bugs (several are mentioned in the comments above) that commonly get into houses or are seen on the outsides of buildings in the fall. They're all harmless.
posted by Redstart at 7:24 AM on October 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Redstart at 7:24 AM on October 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
Best cure for excessive bugs indoors is more indoors spiders.
posted by flabdablet at 8:03 AM on October 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by flabdablet at 8:03 AM on October 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
Im particular that is Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, which is major agricultural pest and invasive species.
They don't bite, carry disease, or hurt your house, but they can start congregating in large numbers because they give off a pheromone to tell other stink bugs that there's a good spot to hibernate. If you want to understand the extreme nuisance thay dan be google New Yorker Stink Bug Article (cw for insect horror show).
I get rid of them by knocking them into soapy water. Don't vacuum unless you want your vacuum to stink, don't squish (unless outside then squish away). I am happy to share my house with spiders, but and generally not squeamish about bugs, but I don't tolerate the stink bugs because of thei status as invasive pest.
posted by brookeb at 8:33 AM on October 15, 2022 [3 favorites]
They don't bite, carry disease, or hurt your house, but they can start congregating in large numbers because they give off a pheromone to tell other stink bugs that there's a good spot to hibernate. If you want to understand the extreme nuisance thay dan be google New Yorker Stink Bug Article (cw for insect horror show).
I get rid of them by knocking them into soapy water. Don't vacuum unless you want your vacuum to stink, don't squish (unless outside then squish away). I am happy to share my house with spiders, but and generally not squeamish about bugs, but I don't tolerate the stink bugs because of thei status as invasive pest.
posted by brookeb at 8:33 AM on October 15, 2022 [3 favorites]
The chunkier looking ones in your top photos are stink bugs - there’s definitely a lot more of them around this year than past years.
The slimmer looking one in your bottom photo is most likely a western conifer seed bug. I live in a neighborhood with a lot of douglas firs and these guys are a seasonal visitor to my house. They are utterly harmless! Very gentle, it is easy to get them onto your hand to carry them to a better location. In theory they can make a stink but I’ve never experienced that.
posted by stowaway at 8:55 AM on October 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
The slimmer looking one in your bottom photo is most likely a western conifer seed bug. I live in a neighborhood with a lot of douglas firs and these guys are a seasonal visitor to my house. They are utterly harmless! Very gentle, it is easy to get them onto your hand to carry them to a better location. In theory they can make a stink but I’ve never experienced that.
posted by stowaway at 8:55 AM on October 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
They are all shield bugs, which are in the family Pentatomidae, of the 'true bugs' in the order Hemiptera. They are a little too blurry to be certain from the photo, but brown marmorated stink bug is a likely candidate for the first ones, and the last is most likely a conifer seed bug.
One of these days I plan to catch enough BMSB to make some tacos, similar to how Native Americans and Mexicans do. (They use different species though, do not eat these just because you heard it from me)
posted by SaltySalticid at 9:22 AM on October 15, 2022
One of these days I plan to catch enough BMSB to make some tacos, similar to how Native Americans and Mexicans do. (They use different species though, do not eat these just because you heard it from me)
posted by SaltySalticid at 9:22 AM on October 15, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ojocaliente at 6:45 AM on October 15, 2022 [2 favorites]