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Many true bugs are beneficial predators in addition to those that are plant pests. They have sucking mouthparts arising from the front of the head. The front part of the forewing is hardened and the hind part is membranous, thus the name half wing or Hemiptera for this order. Many have but one generation per year while others can have multiple generations. Scent glands are common giving many disagreeable odors when sqaushed or the odor can be detected on fruit etc where they have been.

  Box Elder Bug Adult

Adults overwinter in house walls and other protected places. They feed on boxelder and maple trees. They can be a large nuisance in the fall and spring when they collect on the outside of homes.

  Boxelder bug nymph

Immature boxelder bugs are reddish and feed on leaves and developing seeds on boxelder and maple tree. This is the stage to control so they don’t mature and move to houses.

  Imature Spittlebug

Spittlebugs feed on a variety of plants and feed in a large frothy mass. Adults are squat and frog-shaped. They suck plant sap but are seldom abundant enough to cause damage.

  Spittlebug froth mass

The frothy material where spittlebugs live is easy to spot and identify.

  Grass bug

Many types of grass bugs can be found in Idaho yards. Most of them feed on grasses in waste areas and then come into yards and houses. Most of the time they are not pests and simply matters of curiosity to those who find them.

  Lygus bug

Lygus bugs can be found feeding on a variety of plants. They like to feed on developing flower buds of legumes. Adults have a distinctive yellow triangle on the back.

  Lygus bug nymph

Nymphs of lygus bugs are bright green, fast moving, and have various numbers of black spots on top of the thorax.

  Leaf-footed plant bug adult

Leaf footed plant bugs are generally brownish with a characteristic leaf –like expansion on the hind leg. They suck plant sap but generally do not cause much damage around the yard.

   Milkweed bug

Milkweed bugs are slightly less than ½ inch long and feed on various milkweed plants. Their abdomen and dorsal area are bright red while the legs, head and thorax are black. They can be quite numerous but seldom cause problems.

  Masked hunter adult

Masked hunters are predacious insects that feed on bedbugs in swallow nests. They are often found in and around the house as they search for food. People can be bitten if they try to handle these insects.

  Say stinkbug adult

Stinkbugs are shield shaped rather large insects when mature. Most are green or brown but some are also brightly colored. Plant feeders can often be found on mustards or cane fruit plants.

  Stinkbug eggs

Eggs of stinkbugs are barrel-shaped and laid in clusters. They are easy to identify.

Under Construction  Stinkbug nymphs

Immature stinkbugs look like miniature ladybeetles but do not have wings. They have a characteristic "humped" appearance.