(Insecta: Hemiptera: Lygaeidae)
Big-eyed bugs (Geocoris spp.)
Although they are very tiny, Big-eyed bugs are mighty hunters.
Both adults and nymphs eat a variety of insect eggs including those of mites, aphids, and leafhoppers.
They also stalk other insect prey including: caterpillars, spider mites, and flea beetles.
One bug can consume dozens of spider mites in a single day.
They are most commonly found on alfalfa but occur in fruit trees when abundant in the orchard cover crop.
These Big-eyed insects have oval bodies and broad heads with distinctive, wide-set, bulging eyes.
The largest population Geocoris is found in the southern United States where some of the best friends a cotton farmer can have because the kill insect pests that destroy cotton plants.
These predators are important in reducing infestations of the boll weevil, bollworms, bud- worms, and beet army worms.
They have short antennae with an enlarged tip.
The adult is dark gray or black and about 1/8 to 1/4 inch (3 to 6 mm) long, with prominent eyes.
The nymph is similar but is smaller and lacks wings.
They overwinter as adults in litter or other protected areas on the ground, all the more reason to keep leaf litter.
Adults will appear in spring, hungry and ready to mate.
Females deposit eggs, which are ribbed and pink or pale yellow, in plant tissues.
Nymphs feed on prey for several weeks before maturing. There are usually two generations each year.
Nymphs hatching from eggs develop through 5 stages before becoming winged adults.
The tiny giants are attracted to potatoes, clover and green beans.
Geocoris bullatus (Say), the large bug of the species is widely distributed in the United States and Canada, from coast to coast.
BIG-EYED BUGS are loved by gardeners and farmers.
(nymph to your right)
They live longer than most bugs, up to three to four months.
The females produce eggs for most of their life, averaging two or more eggs per day most of their adult life.
Productive little creatures to save your plants.
This special bug has dramatically high tolerance to sprayed. materials
such as insecticides.
Both the males and the females are voracious killers of harmful insects from the moment they hatch until their death several months later.
Big-Eyed Bugs and Other Beneficial Insects
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