after researching more pics on the web i have determined that i think he was a squash bug by his striped markings around the edge of his back. unfortunate for him... but he was the prettiest color blue/green inside....

I donÂt know if itÂs a squash bug or a soldier bug, but in my country (Argentina), itÂs called "vinchuca". In the North of Argentina itÂs constantly fought, for being -*some of them, not all, and not everywhere*- the vector of a disease to humans. Never imagined that "vinchucas" also damage squash. Interesting, though.

Carol

I empathize with the difficulty in positive identification. Bug colorizations, and markings too, seem to vary with stage of development and locality but the form/structure seems to be consistent.

Spined soldier bug pic
{{gwi:82274}}
Photo by W. Sterling.

Also (Copyrighted): http://www.ent.iastate.edu/imagegal/hemiptera/stinkbug/spined_soldier_bug.html

The diff is in the thorax. Stink bugs and soldiers are short and flatter -rounded in(concave). Squash bugs are longer and rounded out(convex):
Squash bug pic
{{gwi:87625}}Photo by J. V. Robinson.

The stink bug and soldier are the hardest for me to distinguish. Almost identical except for the Spined soldier's 'spine' at the tail end. I'm sure I have whacked some soldiers while growing spaghetti squash...

Texas A&M has a very good field guide at http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/ :
TAMU Field Guide (opens new window/tab)

carol 71,

You wrote: "but in my country (Argentina), itÂs called "vinchuca". "

Not the same as a squash bug.

http://www.uta.edu/chagas/html/biolTinf.html

Here is a link that might be useful: vinchuca, a nasty bug

Jean, the ones you link to, look different compared to the ones on the pictures from Sarah, and different to the ones commonly found in Argentina. The link you provided is one of the first ones you will find on a google image search. But really, that might be rare looking "vinchuca".
This is what we call "vinchuca":

{{gwi:87629}}

Please correct me if you still believe I'm wrong.

Carol

that close up really doesn't look like my squash bug. your picture looks like his back is almost concave, and maybe has wings??? i can't tell, but my squash bug has like a hard shell almost for his back and it definately isnt concave. thanks for clearing that up, i've been thinking of this vincucha all night. squash bugs are very common around here and i have never known them to be harmful to people except in that they destroy whole crops.

In that very good pic of the spined soldier bug it appears he is piercing the caterpillar with his probiscus. It the probiscus a distinguishing feature of the soldier bug, or do the others have it as well?

Jim

Sarah, It's a pity that you ran into such panic. If you re-read my post you can probably realize that the intention was on the contrary: an informative and anti-alarmist comment.

I was expecting you to be able to ID better the bug. Good that it isnÂt.

Carol

jimster, I agree - the TAMU guide has improved a lot over the years.(and that's a great pic by the photographer, Sterling).
A proboscis is used for piercing &0R sucking. ... I.e., possibly a characteristic of Insecta, Order Hemiptera since they all have mouth parts to poke & suk... so nope not just the soldier.

It may look diff for a squash or stink bug but I think that might be kinda hard to see in the field when trying to dispose of them. I'd be more inclined to squash it before it stuck its tongue out at me. :)

It looks like a squash bug to me (the ones in this area), but there's another very similar looking bug here that is reddish in color that is predatory. From your picture (original poster) I would say squash bug- especially if there are lots of them in the squash. I always judge pests by their numbers. If there are lots of them -- pests, especially when they congregate.
Mrs H

That there is a squash bug. No question about it.