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Identifying an insect #768786

Asked August 23, 2021, 4:53 PM EDT

Hello, I am trying to identify this insect. Do you know what it is? Thanks! Erin

Jackson County Oregon

Expert Response

It appears to be in the insect order Orthoptera, which includes insects with long legs enabling them to jump and stiff wings that fold against their body. That order includes crickets, katydids and grasshoppers, which your insect appears to be. This website has pictures of similar grasshoppers:  https://wildcolumbia.org/wildlife-guide/insects-of-northwest-oregon/grasshoppers-crickets-and-katydids/

The Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/hort/landscape/common/landscape-grasshopper has additional information about grasshoppers as landscape pests.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied August 24, 2021, 6:19 PM EDT
I believe this to be an incorrect assessment. The head and thorax shapes are not consistent with insects in the Orthoptera genus and the back legs are not built or oriented in the same way as those of insects in said genus. The insect does not use its back legs to jump. 

Do you have any other guesses?

Thanks!
Erin


On Aug 24, 2021, at 3:19 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied August 24, 2021, 6:54 PM EDT

It's an assassin bug (Order Hemiptera, Family Reduviidae). Assassin bugs all have a relatively short beak, which you can see in the photos. 

It looks like Zelus renardii - despite its common name - the leafhopper assassin bug, it is a generalist predator.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied August 25, 2021, 11:26 AM EDT
Thank you! Much appreciated. 


On Aug 25, 2021, at 8:26 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied August 25, 2021, 1:01 PM EDT

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