Sammy, I'm not an expert on bugology, but your pic looks like a leaf footed bug to me, thus would be on the squishable list of undesirables if I'm correct.

Barb

I also say Leaf footed bug. Go squish it.

http://schmidling.com/lfbug.htm

Perfect timing! I just killed one of these little boogers since I could ID it courtesy of the picture posted above (thanks Sammy). I also took out two grasshoppers with my favorite high-tech garden implement (my gold sparkly flip-flop). I love it when fashion meets function! lol

Like Dawn says, one down.... a million more bugs to go....

Not only are they leaf-footed bugs, they will ruin your entire tomato crop just like tomato hornworms or stinkbugs will, so kill them, kill them all!

And, because the young numphs look so odd, I've attached a link from Texas A&M that includes a photo of the nymphs. I find the nymphs easier to kill....they are young and naive and don't realize you're trying to kill them until it is too late. The adults are smart and hide from you, so kill 'em young if you get the chance.

Dawn

Here is a link that might be useful: Leaf-footed Bugs

Thanks for the responses. They are quite difficult to catch and kill. I won't use "chemicals", but do you think either diluted vinegar or straight vinegar would knock them down so I could squish them?

They seem to cause a split in the skin, and bore a hole right through the skin. I really hate them.

It is difficult to reach quickly into the center of a tomato bush.

Sammy

For something like stink bugs and leaf-footed bugs, I've had the best success with taking a little hand-held vacuum out to the garden to suck them up quickly. Then I dump the contents of the vac into a bucket of soapy water to drown.

I have no idea if a vinegar spray would work, but a soap spray or an oil spray like neem oil or diluted orange oil likely would coat them and make them easier to catch. Be careful spraying anything on plant foliage, even in small amounts, in this heat because foliage burns easily in high heat.

Some organic gardeners feel like they can repel squash bugs, stink bugs and leaf-footed bugs by spraying with a vanilla-water mixture, believing these pests cannot stand the smell of vanilla. I haven't tried this myself and have no idea if it works.

In the past I have dusted DE on the nymphs when I first saw them. Missed them this year. Went to Calif on vacation--and came home to find lots of adults. Adults are much harder to kill. I have managed to squish several and dusted the plants with DE anyway. Only marginally successful. Thanks for the vac idea, Dawn.

Personally I wouldn't spray my plants with vinegar. Commercial grade vinegar kills some weeds. I've sprayed it on a few weeds and just the splash on a nearby tomato or pepper plant will burn the leaves. If you did you would want to really dilute it. This is just my opinion. I have about quit using vinegar anywhere around my plants. Jay

I guess the vinegar idea was not thought out well. I thought that we often would eat tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers with a vimegar dressing, therefore vinegar would not hurt the tomatoes. It also would not contaminate them like a pesticide would .

It is time to get the brain in gear. My school starts next Wed. A very sad fact for me!!!!

Sammy

Dorothy,

You're welcome. A little portable vaccum is great for 'sucking up' all kinds of pests that are hard to catch.

Jay,

I must have been brain dead when I replied to Sammy because even though I suggested alternates like diluted neem or orange oil, I failed to mention that 20% vinegar is used as a herbicide and that even 10% or 5% can damage plants. I'm glad you mentioned how deadly vinegar can be to plant foliage. There is very little of anything that I'll spray on my plants in the summer months since the combination of heat and various sprays seem to cause plant damage at high temps that you don't see at moderate temps.

Sammy,

Oh no! How can summer be over already? I bet you're not the only teacher thinking that....and a lot of kids probably are saying it as well. Why in the world the summer days fly by so quickly is beyond me, but it happens every year. It seems like we go from mid-May to mid-August in the blink of an eye. I hope you enjoy what is left of your summer "vacation".

Dawn