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Please ID black true bug #805676

Asked August 10, 2022, 6:18 PM EDT

I'm seeing a lot of these black shiny bugs on my rhubarb and sorrel leaves in my garden (is it coincidence that both of those leaves are high in oxalic acid)? I think it is a true bug, not a beetle but after hours of searching I can't find any image that looks like a black shiny bug with a prominent red spot on the back, or even any bug that looks similar. Given how many there are, I'd like to know if it's a good guy or a bad guy. The leaves have some small holes but there's no extensive damage that I can see several days after spotting them. I captured one in a bug box that is a 1" cube and will attached a couple photos. I live in the 97355 area code just south of Lebanon, OR.

Linn County Oregon

Expert Response

I think I just got my answer from a friend. It's the nymph stage of the bordered plant bug (Largus californicus?) I found a good article here:  https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=11001

The Question Asker Replied August 10, 2022, 6:48 PM EDT
I greatly appreciate you including the ruler in your photo!

You are looking at the nymphs of a bordered plant bug, in the genus Largus. Although these insects can probe and scar fruit or seed pods, in most cases, they require no treatment or control measures.

This post from our colleagues in California provides more details:
https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=11001
Gail Langellotto, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) Replied August 16, 2022, 7:37 PM EDT

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