# what kind of insect is this?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-insect-is-this/616517>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 22, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-insect-is-this/616517 "2012-03-22T17:35:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-insect-is-this/616517/1 "2012-03-22T17:35:05Z")

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[http://home.comcast.net/~jz78817/stuff/insect.jpg](http://home.comcast.net/~jz78817/stuff/insect.jpg)

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**Author:** ![newme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e0b2c6/32.png) [@newme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newme)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-insect-is-this/616517/2 "2012-03-22T20:26:53Z")

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My best guess is some kind of [leaf-footed bug.](http://www.google.com/search?q=leaf+footed+bug&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=vI&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=rolrT6P_OYmxsgLQoqH5BQ&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CA4Q_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=675#q=leaf+footed+bug&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=ffp&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbs=simg:CAESEgkQyT6l59W_11iEAW68mQdCprQ&iact=hc&vpx=633&vpy=155&dur=2784&hovh=258&hovw=195&tx=38&ty=355&sig=105694619992133937869&ei=MoprT_SbLOyPsAK14e3oBQ&page=1&tbnh=137&tbnw=105&ved=1t:722,r:3,s:0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=200ae5c58b3b5a0a&biw=1024&bih=675)

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-insect-is-this/616517/3 "2012-03-22T20:34:14Z")

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I agree, a leaf-footed bug, but _be careful_ - there are assassin bugs that look [similar](http://kaweahoaks.com/html/assassin_bug_adult.jpg), and they can give you an _ **exceptionally** _ painful bite - I’m speaking from personal experience!

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**Author:** ![GiantRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-insect-is-this/616517/4 "2012-03-24T15:36:53Z")

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Looks like a brown marmorated stinkbug. They’ve been spreading rapidly across the country over the last few years. They don’t bite, but are annoying and tend to swarm. Here in the mid-atlantic, they have become quite a nuisance. They destroy crops, for one thing.

If you google “stinkbug” you’ll find thousands of hits.

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**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-insect-is-this/616517/5 "2012-03-24T15:52:59Z")

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> [@GiantRat](#):
>
> Looks like a brown marmorated stinkbug.

I dunno, the stinkbugs we have are broader (like a shield).

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**Author:** ![Crab\_Rangoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Crab\_Rangoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crab_Rangoon)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-insect-is-this/616517/6 "2012-03-24T17:47:04Z")

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I call them Squash Bugs - and it’s definitely not a stink bug.

Upon closer examination - going with leaf-footed bug. Squash bugs have thinner legs.