Adult Female Squash Bug

Figures 3-4.  Late-stage nymph Early instar nymphs are red. Older nymphs are variable but tend to be light brown with dark mottling all over and brick-red eyes. All five instars are characterized by spines, mottling, and a dilated 3rd antennal segment. This is the only coreid nymph in eastern U.S. having the 3rd antennal segment (only) dilated.

Adults: Length 13 to 25 mm; width 5 to 7.5 mm. Color dull brown, membrane darker; connexivum spotted in some, nearly concolorous in other specimens. Pronotum with anterior part of lateral margins finely and irregularly toothed. Humeri prominent but not spined. Hind femora swollen, especially in males, and with spines underneath, tubercles above. I love these bugs - they are stately and seemingly placid, but they can explode into flight at the drop of a hat, and they can accelerate so quickly you won't see where they went. I've also seen them bumbling along, flashing their bright orange abdomen. Someday I hope to capture a picture of them flying, but that will be sheer luck, as if almost always the case with any flying insect.

	Figures 5-6. Adult male showing characteristic spur Males have a white or cream colored spur or flap on the posterodorsal corner of the side of the thorax (metepimeron) next to the abdomen. This feature is readily apparent in the field. No other known insect in eastern U.S. has such a projection. The females lack this flap but do have a whitish callus in the metapleural area.

Figure 7. Female feeding on bird droppings The prominent white spur is absent on this female specimen, although a white callus appears.

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