Pirates and Assassins [Bugs] to the Garden Rescue

I’m not going to lie: they’re not pretty. In fact, they can be pretty gnarly; and they hurt if they jab you in the finger! But, assassin bugs, especially the large wheel bugs, and pirate bugs are the unsung heroes of garden protection. You may have cursed the squash bugs’ existence, but there is a whole group of bugs that do a lot of work in your garden.

Order Hemiptera are the “real” bugs

Usually, when someone says, “Look at that bug,” they mean any generic creepy-crawly, from a beetle to a spider. However, entomologists, discerning farmers, and horticulturists reserve the term “bug” strictly for insects in the order Hemiptera, the true bugs.

This name comes from their unique wing structure. Their forewings are called "hemelytra," meaning they are semi-hardened and leathery at the base but thin and membranous at the tips. True bugs are incredibly diverse, found all over the globe, and possess a hallmark weapon: a needle-like, piercing-sucking mouthpart that acts like a straw.

Why shouldn't you just squish them?

Insects, including the “ugly” bugs, are generally beneficial or at least not harmful (Though there are certainly exceptions, like the invasive brown marmorated stink bug or the dreaded squash bug!). These organisms are generally the next step in the food chain, bringing energy from plants into the higher levels of the food chain. They suck plant juices, or juices out of other organisms, and then get eaten by larger insects and animals themselves. It is all a part of the circle of life.

If you are concerned about a mysterious insect you are seeing in your yard, you can always reach out to your local NC Cooperative Extension office to get a free, science-based identification before you reach for the shoe or the chemical spray!

bug crawling on flower — A North American Wheel Bug crawls through your garden looking for insect prey. These are large insects with a unique cog-like hump on its thorax. They are very beneficial! Photo by Amanda Bratcher

Some “good guys” to look out for:

Florida Predatory Stink Bug (Euthyrhynchus floridanus)

Don't let the name fool you; this is a helper. Unlike plant-damaging stink bugs, this striking insect is a deep, metallic blue-black with bright red or orange spots. They are known to hunt in packs as nymphs, working together to take down caterpillars and beetle larvae much larger than themselves. Sometimes they will spear a bumblebee too, but, remember, that is the circle of life!

North American Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus)

This is the heavyweight champion of our local assassin bugs. Growing up to an inch and a half long, it features a bizarre, prominent, cog-like wheel on its back. It moves slowly and deliberately, but it is a fierce predator of massive garden pests, including large caterpillars, Japanese beetles, and stink bugs. Handle with care: Their defensive bite is notoriously painful!

Minute Pirate Bugs

Pronounced "my-noot" pirate bugs, these guys are tiny—barely a few millimeters long—but they have a massive appetite. They are elite microscopic hunters that feast heavily on thrips, spider mites, aphids, and insect eggs. You will often find them hanging out inside open flowers like marigolds or sunflowers waiting for a snack.

What Can You Do in Your Yard to Encourage These Guys?

If you want to recruit these natural bodyguards to your property, you need to create a welcoming environment for them. Provide hiding spots for them. You can leave a small, undisturbed corner of mulch, leaf litter, or perennial stems for them to shelter and lay their eggs over the winter. Grow a wide variety of flowers (yay!). Minute pirate bugs love small-flowered plants like sweet alyssum, buckwheat, and sunflowers, which provide alternative pollen and nectar when pest populations are low. Reduce the use of broad-spectrum insecticides. These chemicals don't discriminate and will wipe out your free army of predatory bugs right alongside the pests.

The next time you see a jagged, armor-clad insect stalking across your tomato plants, pause before you squish. You might just be looking at the best, completely free pest control manager money can’t buy.

Get in Touch!

Amanda Bratcher is the horticulture agent with N.C. Cooperative Extension—Lee County Center. You can reach out to the office at 919-775-5624 for insect identifications, garden diagnoses, or any other questions about your land and plants. Check out our website's events page to see what programs are coming up next!

This article originally appeared in The Sanford Herald. You can read more articles from the Herald here.

Resources:

Order Hemiptera are the “real” bugs

Why shouldn't you just squish them?

Some “good guys” to look out for:

Florida Predatory Stink Bug (Euthyrhynchus floridanus)

North American Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus)

Minute Pirate Bugs

What Can You Do in Your Yard to Encourage These Guys?

Get in Touch!

Resources:

Florida Predatory Stink Bug

Wheel Bug

Minute Pirate Bugs

Other Resources:

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