Knowledgebase

What is this bug ? #775820

Asked October 19, 2021, 2:07 PM EDT

What is this black bug with orange spots on its back? The attached photos show two of them sucking on a bee on my celosia plants at my house in eastern Tennessee. Is it a good bug or bad bug? Could it be a Florida Predatory Stink Bug? Thanks ! Carolyn

St. Mary's County Maryland

Expert Response

This looks like a Florida Predatory Stink Bug. Despite their name, it is a native insect that can occur in Maryland, which is currently about as far north as they range. Here is more information https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/view/9665

https://bugguide.net/node/view/2716

The species preys on other insects (often as a group, so more may be around) and should not harm the plants. It is considered beneficial because most of its prey consists of plant-damaging bugs, beetles, and caterpillars. 

Marian

Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied October 20, 2021, 8:47 AM EDT

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