Hello all. I know next to nothing about gardening, but that’s still more than the person I live with, so that means the gardening is my department (fine with me, really).

Saw a number of these bugs on some sedum recently. Any idea what it is? None of the leaves appear eaten or otherwise damaged.

Do I need to take action? or shall I just leave them be?

P.S. I’m on the Canadian prairies, btw.

  • LallyLuckFarm@beehaw.orgMEnglish
    3·
    1 year ago

    I agree with @ffmike@beehaw.org, possibly Lygus lineolaris (through iNaturalist) as they seem to be one of the more common in North America.

    Doing some quick reading they’re sucking insects, not chewing. Any damage to plants will likely present as wilting or blackening around the site of the puncture and the remainder of the stem where the plant hasn’t begun to attempt to seal off the damaged tissue. If you’re not noticing damage on your plants, you could choose to continue monitoring the situation before taking any removal actions. If you notice a plant with a very large number of them it may be in your interest to spray with some mildly soapy water (Castile soap is our preference) before the plant takes too much of their attention.

    • YouNaughtyMonsters@beehaw.orgOPEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      Yep… narrowing in on the culprit (lygus bug aka western tarnished plant bug). Tracked down a local source of castile soap in case they start pissin’ me off.