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Trying to ID the bug on t... #257634

Asked June 27, 2015, 11:26 PM EDT

Trying to ID the bug on this spiderwort. Any idea? I can send a larger file if you need to blow it up more, if that would help. Location is backyard, suburban, Coralville, IA, near Iowa City. Thanks, Bill H.

Johnson County Iowa

Expert Response

Bill, I am going to need a better picture to try to positively identify this insect. I can't exactly match up this particular color pattern and body shape with any insect I am familiar with or can find a picture of. When I try to enlarge it, it blurs out and I can't see the details of the head and mouthparts that might give me a better clue. My first impression was that it was a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. However, when I enlarge the picture, even with it blurry, it looks like this insect has a beak protruding down from the head suggesting possibly a weevil or a bug. I know of no weevils with this color pattern. Therefore, I am tending toward some kind of plant bug in the family Miridae. There is some feeding damage on one of the petals, and its possible that type of damage might be caused by a bug sucking out the fluid contents. At least one type of plant bug, Metriorrhynchomiris dislocatus is very similar in shape and variable enough in color pattern that it might fit, but again I cannot be sure unless I can see more details of the head, antennae and mouthparts, which will require better resolution.  I have included a link to this bug on Bug Guide which has pictures that you can compare to. That is my best guess unless I can get a better picture that shows more details. But even then, I may not be able to provide an exact identification unless I have the actual insect in hand. 

http://bugguide.net/node/view/40755/bgimage

An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 29, 2015, 11:04 AM EDT
Thank you very, very much for your help and expertise. I am attaching the original picture at the highest resolution I have. I know this may not be enough resolution but thanks so much for your efforts.

Best Regards, Bill
The Question Asker Replied June 29, 2015, 11:44 AM EDT

Bill, the new photo was a little better at seeing detail, and I am fairly certain now this is a plant bug and not a beetle. And I am still going to go with my guess that this is most likely Metriorrhynchomiris dislocatus in the family Miridae. This species can be quite variable in color pattern, so the pattern may not look exactly like the bugs in some of the photos on the internet, but there are a few where it is pretty close. This species is common in woodland areas and probably feeds on a wide range of plants.

http://www.cirrusimage.com/bugs_plant_Metriorrhynchomiris_dislocatus.htm

http://bugguide.net/node/view/40755/bgimage

An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 29, 2015, 12:07 PM EDT
Thank you again, very much. You have been so helpful. Primo!

Bill
The Question Asker Replied June 30, 2015, 1:00 AM EDT

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