Mating stink bugs
We found these two stink bugs on the lilac bush in the front yard. They were very focused on the task, and stayed coupled the whole time they were being handled and photographed.
I tried to get a side view, but they were big enough that it was hard to get them completely in focus with the macro lens.
The female (the one on the right) pretty much took the lead as they moved around, dragging the male wherever she intended to go. He certainly didn’t seem to slow her down much.
If the Bug Guide pictures are to be believed, these two look like either Podisus brevispinus (not too likely), which is actually a predatory species, or brown stink bugs (genus Euschistus)(much more likely). I’m very surprised to find that there *are* any predatory species of stink bugs, and even more surprised that they are practically indistinguishable from non-predatory stinkbugs in a different genus. I thought that they all fed entirely on plant juices. If these are the predatory species, that certainly explains why they were hanging out on the lilac blossoms - flowers are great places to nab other insects when they come by for some nectar. And, of course, if they are one of the much more numerous non-predatory species, they were hanging out there because the bush itself is a good meal.
They were still coupled after I released them, so I expect that we didn’t actually interfere with anything.
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