That is about all the value they have...I have yet to find anything that eats them besides ants and I don't really want to encourage the ant population.....Plus, by smashing them I know they are dead, even if I do amuse the neighbors with the Lubber Stomp dance.

ranedie said:Hi all, new member here. I've recently had a go as well with the exact same critter (leaf footed bug). I've had plenty of shield bugs/squash bugs before, but this was a new one for this year. There was some confusion between various bug sites that ID'd it as an assassin bug, but further digging revealed the altho the nymph stage of the leaf footed bug & an orange colored true assassin bug look petty similar depending on the quality & aspect of the image. The clincher for me was the absence of a developed "rostrum" on the nymph when viewed from the side.

We've had the usual annoyances of the shield or stink bugs on our squash, & then this year on our pumpkins as well. Prevention phase is try to remove the egg rafts with some sticky tape, or clip the leaf if it's really covered. For the ones I miss, I simply spray them, preferably in the newly hatched nymph stage, or whenever I find them with a homemade mixture of Doc Bonners unscented liquid soap & water. Strength to be determined by what works, usually 1-2 tablespoons or so to 16-20 oz spray bottle. Excellent results with grasshoppers as well! A large hopper will usually succumb within a couple minutes if your soap strength is right. I've heard some folks will add a few drops of liquid cayenne extract(from natural food stores) for really gnarly bugs. I use a large bottle with a stream & spray setting. Long range stream for hoppers, short range spray for most everything else. Be aware this WILL kill bees & wasps so be careful who you shoot! We have a backyard Top Bar hive so that's always an issue for us.

As far as ill effects on plants, I've never had any yet, unless maybe one was to drench a plant or leaf in full sun. For large applications or those pomegranate trees mentioned in the other thread, I'm thinking this stuff is cheap enuff you might could use a small pressure sprayer with good results...

Excellent tip. I intend to try this mixture very soon. Thanks again.

Moonhowl, I was just reading your info about the Lubber grasshopper. I'm not sure if these are lubbers but they are everywhere in the blackberry briars. They have now taken over my butterfly bush! I'm really getting tired of going over there to look for some pretty butterflies and it's just a big lubber orgy!!! Guess I'll get my soap spray out there. (Don't have Dr. Bronners but do have Meyers brand that is all natural)

On the site you posted, it shows several parasitic flies that can do a pretty good job of getting the numbers down! Hope some Tachinid flies show up to parasitize them!

Do these look like lubbers? Both the chickens and the dogs will chase them down and eat them! Maybe that's why the dogs are eating grass and throwing up? Sometimes I catch them and feed them to the chickens. Maybe I shouldn't. Ho-hum!

Hi Christine.

That grasshopper that is giving you grief is the Differential grasshopper, Melanoplus differentialis. They are a bit smaller, 1.75 inches, that the lubbers here, but look to be every bit as hungry. The Lubber and the Eastern Lubber get to about 4 inches in length. Those are great pictures by the way. Here is some info for you on yours.

https://insects.tamu.edu/field...

Hi ranedie, and to ATP.
Great information. I will have to see if I can find that soap and give it a try if grasshoppers or spotted cucumber beetles become a problem. So far so good this year.

Hubby asked at Wal Mart for Dr. Bronners and they had never heard of it. Gonna try Walgreen or Rite Aid next.

I am not wanting to try any do it yourself home remedy. Tried something years ago for aphids and killed the vine. Then tried for mildew and killed that vine also. So only using commercial insecticides or fungus controls from now on.

This is just castile soap and water, sort of like insecticidal soap. I'm going to try and kill those little leaf footed buggars that are all over my tomatoes. Since the tomatoes are finished anyway, I've got nothing to lose!

OK, let us know. I am worried about the soap burning the plant leaves.

I think you only use 1-2 Tbls. per quart or 20 oz. of water. I'll let you know.

Here is a link to find Dr Bronner's soap in your area

http://www.drbronner.com/locat...

Oh good, Moon, thank you for that info and link! Whew, what a relief! I'll have to tell hubby they are great as fishing lures!

You are most welcome. My Dad's family hails from the Longview/Kilgore area of east Texas, and I can remember catching them before He and the uncles went fishing.

Also, I ran across this earlier this summer.....using plain old all purpose flour to get rid of them....(not the self-rising kind)

http://mypestprevention.com/20...

http://pestcontroloptions.com/...

http://crazygardening.blogspot...

Green Lynx Spider (check out the black hairs on the legs!):

Oh no. Creepy. Do those bite?

I just read up on them and, yes, although seldom, they will bite. The bite is suppose to be painful but is non-venomous.

The females reach .87 inches while the males are smaller (just less than 1/2 inch). They are considered to be a somewhat beneficial insect as they prey on moths and their larvae - including the bollworm, cotton leaf worm and cabbage looper moths. They do, however, also prey on honeybees

They are listed as North America's largest lynx spider. I am just glad I spotted him before dead-heading!

NEAT photo! Beautiful, even if it is a bit creepy.

I am just always creeped out by spiders. I try and avoid them as much as possible.

OldGardener, that's such a good pic of the Lynx spider!

Newyorkrita said:I am just always creeped out by spiders. I try and avoid them as much as possible.

They give me the eebies, too! Thanks, Woofie - the camera saw much more detail than I could with the naked eye.