Largus californicus, our love bugs

By 6 commentsCategory: Sierra Foothills, WildlifeTags: ,

Bordered Plant Bug, Largus californicus

These true bugs, those with sucking mouth parts, live in the Sierras of California, especially in areas with lots of pine trees. These are striking looking fellows, with neon colored borders.  They seem to like the patio or at least that’s where we see them most.  We call them love bugs.

 

Largus californicus Bordered Plant Bug

Largus californicus Bordered Plant Bugs

Home for these bugs is the U.S.A., they’re found throughout the country. They don’t seem to damage any plants, in fact, I’ve never seen one on a plant and in this area they’re called love bugs, because when they first appear in May, it’s mating season.

 

Bordered Plant Bug largus nymph stage

Bordered Plant Bug largus nymph stage

There no need to spray pesticides on these affectionate pairs,…if these little guys bother you, a spray with the hose will shoo them away without chemicals.  They do feed on  plants (flowers, leaves, and fruit) from a range of varieties, with a preference for Lupines. There are certainly plenty of lupine here.

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6 comments

  1. Shan -

    We have these in Utah too- they call them Box Elder bugs for some reason…maybe after the county someone first saw them in? Either way, they remind me of camping in the Sierra Nevada’s as a kid! We’d camp at a camp ground called Rock Creek and I have such fond memories of swimming and camping there and then going into North Fork for icecream!

    • Sue Langley -

      Huh! Interesting… I looked up box elder bugs and they look so similar….the box elder bugs have more of an orange ‘X’ on them. I have a Box Elder tree, so I’ll have to watch for the ‘Xs’. I’m so glad you’ve been able to vacation in the Sierras…sounds like you’ve been right in my neighborhood! We just went up to Whiskey Fall, which is a little past Rock Creek. So Beautiful!

  2. country mouse -

    I have these also – I asked the Gardening with natives forum and they IDed them – I didn’t know the bug I saw was the nymph stage of largus succinctus. it doesn’t seem to damage any of my plants either, and is interesting to look at. So much to learn in a garden!

  3. Joybird -

    Hello,

    We see alot of the bordered plant bug here in California and they have become a real pest in our garden. They seem to have been attracted by a strawberry patch. As the infestation progressed last year they were beginning to attack all of our crops but mainly strawberries and tomatoes.

    This year I have tried and tried to be proactive and destroy larvae or eggs but they just started hatching here in the sierra foothills and we have nymphs all over the strawberries. UGH! I manually remove and destroy them as they are serious pests.

    Just wanted to share my varied experience here based on the others.

    Thanks.

  4. Laurie -

    My kids for some reason called them pumpkin bugs.

    • Amanda -

      We have always called them pumpkin bugs as well. I think because of the orange? I’ve never noticed them in my greenhouse, or in any of my plants along the front side of the house…. however on the backside where it’s predominantly oak & pine, they are prevalent in the early summer.

      To the lady who used to camp at Rock Springs, all of that area has unfortunately changed drastically as of 2 years ago when a bad fire started there at Rock Springs campground and went all the way up to Mammoth Pool Reservoir. It’s so very sad. I still cry every time we drive through it. It was called the French Fire.

      Glad I found this site!

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