We found a rough stink bug (Brochymena sp.) that has likely just broken diapause.

These rough stink bug adults show up on our trees every year around late winter and early spring. and we often find their pearly white egg clusters around this time too. We are not positive about the species identification of this individual except that it is in the Brochymena genus, probably either affinis or sulcata based on our region. The adults overwinter in tree bark and come out to lay eggs once the weather warms, so it is very likely that this individual has recently just broken diapause as it has been fairly warm this week. As we are not Hemiptera experts, we do not plan on rearing these.

Two individuals of the colony of leaf-footed bugs of the genus Leptoglossus we caught on 7/30 at Albany Hill have molted into winged adults.

- Brian

Identifying Hemiptera is a headache, especially for people who have never actually studied them like us. Here are some pictures of a colony of true bugs we found at Albany Hill on bramble (Rubus ursinus). They are definitely leaf-footed bugs (Coreidae) and are probably in the Leptoglossus genus, but the exact species we cannot determine. 

- Brian

Today we found a ton of Southern Green Stink Bugs (Nezara viridula) infesting the Ohlone Greenway at Lincoln Ave (El Cerrito, CA).

Southern Green Stink Bugs are quite common in gardens and are often considered pests. They are very much like enormous aphids! Today we found a huge colony of them around a wild growing bean plant growing in the grasses underneath passionflower (Passiflora) and among the bramble (Rubus ursinus) along the Ohlone Greenway at Lincoln Ave. in El Cerrito, CA. They were nymphs so they still look very colorful; the adults are mostly a solid green. Pest or not, we thought they still deserved a few shots!

- Brian