WHY MAINTAIN AN INSECT COLLECTION?
When asked what motivated this author to start an insect collection, my answer is I wanted to know more! For example, there were two insects in my home garden that had me puzzled, as their appearances were very similar. One was the nymph stage of the Milkweed Assassin bug, typically seen alone as adults (i.e., a solitary insect) in the garden, and the other was the immature stage of the Leaf-footed Bug, often seen in family groups or clusters, ranging in size from 12 nymphs to 30 or more. The nymphs of these two insects can be easily confused. I now know that one is a good bug” (i.e., Zelus longipes or the Milkweed Assassin Bug) and the other is considered a bad bug” (i.e., Leptoglossus phyllopus or the Eastern Leaf-footed Bug)! I have learned that the Milkweed Assassin Bug should be left alone. As its name implies, the Milkweed Assassin Bug is a beneficial insect that can help control harmful insects. However, the Leaf-footed Bug may require some management as it is capable of causing
