What should I do with him?

[mtnsnake]

This little guy has been making appearances in my bathroom on and off for the last few weeks. I even found out what kind of bug he is by researching him online. He's probably less than an inch long. Do you know what he is?

Sometimes he just crawls slowly around the top of the sink, and sometimes he sits right on the faucet handle and I have to be careful that I don't inadvertantly grab him when I go to turn the water on. He disappears for a few days and then returns. He's gotta be pretty smart because he never crawls inside the sink where he could accidentally be washed down the drain.

My wife thinks that the next time the weather warms up a bit, we should stick him outside. I don't know. I've kind of grown attached to him. Besides, he'd probably die if we stuck him outside in winter. What would you do with this guy?

[u4ic]

1. I'd call Rummy in to deal with him

then again, I hate bugs. :scared:

[Reverend_Smitty]

2. What the hell is it?

:scared:

[Maddy McCall]

3. Looks like a stink bug.

Don't squish it!! :D

[mtnsnake]

10. Yup, it is also called a stink bug in addition to its real name

I guess if you handle it, it can let off some odor as a defense. LOL

[cynatnite]

4. Unless he's got a job, send him on his way...

No moochers.

That's the rule in my house.

[Maddy McCall]

5. Don't squish him. It looks like a stink bug.

I'd give him an outside home, if I were you. :D

[Floogeldy]

6. That's a Southwestern Decor Cockroach.

It's worth millions. :)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. It appears to be a Western Conifer Seed Bug

Here's some info on them...They reduce seed production of conifers...

http://www.inlandforest.com/p10-stinkbug.html
http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/western_conifer_seed_bug.htm

[mtnsnake]

9. Yes!!

Pretty little bug, eh?

Thanks for the input, Goddess!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

13. It's cute!

I've got boxelder bugs flying around here. They aren't hurting anything, so I don't really care. In the summertime, I always let in a few lightning bugs just for fun. :D

[Kali]

8. True bug - probably emits a rather unpleasant odor when disturbed

most likely he is a plant sucker, or insect predator, but there are a few (conenose kissing bugs - look just like that photo except the leafy leg 'decorations" on the back legs) - that are blood suckers so if it doesn't exactly match that picture, you might want to just flush it or at least put it outside - where are you located, by the way?

[mtnsnake]

11. Yes, apparently they can emit that kind of odor if provoked or squashed

I'm located pretty much in the northernmost section of NY. Cold country, much colder than downstate and often the coldest in the country.

[Kali]

12. Probably the plant sucking variety

We have several out here (south east Arizona) a giant variety that smell like playdoh - kind of pretty - the reds are very bright and the white and black contrast - but they smell without even disturbing them - about 2 inches long and gather in small groups in mesquite trees.

We also have assasin bugs (known as alley bugs to most kids) and the conenose kissing bug I mentioned before - also known as the Walpi tiger - some folks have severe allergig reactions to them and they can carry chaga's disease, but mostly they wait until you turn out the light and then clumsily land on your bed to try to bite/suck your blood. They are sort of half evil and half doofy. They leave a mosquito bite sort of bump on me that itches for two weeks.

I'm sure there are lots more but those are the ones I am most familiar with.

[MrScorpio]

14. Insects in my house are automatically classified as vermin

and I react accordingly

[Floogeldy]

16. Back off, man. God put that creature here for a reason.

Just because you don't understand the ecological balance of the Earth does not mean that you have a license to kill. In fact, quite the opposite.

Please, reconsider.

[MrScorpio]

17. The bug can be anywhere else, except inside my house

Here... I'm God

[mtnsnake]

18. hmmm, considering your handle, MrScorpio, that's a little surprising!

:evilgrin:

[MrScorpio]

20. Well, if a scorpion was ever in my house...

it wouldn't be here long

[Catchawave]

15. You can get him a little bug condo

[Whoa_Nelly]

19. He'd probably rather be outside.

He'll find a place to be.

And are you sure it's only one...? Could be there's a gang gathering for a winter party in you bath area....:eyes:

And it is from the assassin bug family. We have these in CA, and they bite. and stink. and are a nuisance.

Read this, and then decide if you really want to keep him inside....

http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4th/kkhp/1insects/assassin.html

Assassin Bug

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Facts
Nearly 3000 species of assassin bugs exist and scientists feel that many more will be discovered. These insects can be commonly found throughout most of the world. They vary in size from a few millimeters to as much as 3 or 4 centimeters. They come in many colors and shapes and most species have two pairs of wings. However, ALL assassin bugs have a powerful, curved rostrum, or beak, that they use to pierce and suck out the tissues of their prey.

Most assassin bugs lay their eggs in the autumn in cracks and crevices that contain lots of leaves. The eggs hatch in the following spring and the nymphs look very much like the adults, except they are smaller. Assassin bugs go through incomplete metamorphosis (egg-nymph-adult). After hatching from the egg, the nymph passes through five instars (growth stages). The nymph molts at the end of each instar, becoming an adult after the final molt. Adults often are the stage that live through the winter, and they begin a new generation in the spring.

This insect preys on other insects and benefits people because they help reduce populations of certain pest species. But assassin bugs themselves are preyed on by many enemies, especially birds and reptiles. Some species have developed a unique defense where they use their beak to squirt their venom at their attacker as far as a foot away! Their saliva can cause severe irritation of the eyes and nose and even temporary blindness in humans!

[mtnsnake]

21. He's not an assassin bug; he's a Western Conifer Seed Bug & harmless

according to the articles I've read about it. He's just coming in from the cold for a while. He's my chum.

[Whoa_Nelly]

22. Well, then...Enjoy!

:hi:

My personal philosphy is to tell the critters they came to the wrong address :silly:

[Flaxbee]

23. he's neato...

looks kinda like one who cruised around our bathroom for a while when we lived on a mountain in Virginia.

Only bugs that get squished if caught inside my house are black widows or roaches. I'll let anything else stay, or put it out (even gigantor wolf spiders -- after I get done squealing, I can usually cope enough to catch 'em and release outside). Don't like flies of course, but if you're careful they usually don't make it inside and usually don't live long anyway.


If you don't mind him, let him hang out.

[KyndCulture]

24. The question is what to do with YOU...

for posting a bug pic that BIG.... ewwwwwwwwww

[mtnsnake]

25. LOL

Hey, at least I didn't claim the pic was actual size! I think he's just under an inch long but I coudn't get him to crawl on a ruler. He needs more training.

I also thought it would be a good thing to take a shot of that bug to see how the macro worked on my new camera ;)

[LaurenG]

26. I think I'd keep him

then when it warms up I'd show him how to get back out. What will you feed him for the next few weeks?

*on edit: error, that is all just an error a silly minor error, that's corrected now.

[mtnsnake]

27. What will I feed him?

I think I heard somehere that these bugs like to eat bushes ;)

[LaurenG]

28. Good call lol nt

[Rhiannon12866]

29. I'd probably leave him alone.

It does sound as if you've become attached to this little guy, LOL, and that he's making out just fine, all on his own...:D

And I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who carries bugs outside, lady bugs, moths, ants, daddy-long-legs, spiders...:shrug: