Stilt Bug

Description:

Jalysus species on a cultivated native aster in my garden. Length is circa 7-9 mm. I don't see these very often, and they are a bit hard to identify to genus, even. (Another shot of this one, not posted, shows the distinctive groove associated with the scent gland on the side of the thorax indicating this genus--see BugGuide for details of the character, if interested.) There are supposed to be two species in my area, J. spinosus and J. J. wickhami, and they are likely not separable from photographs--one needs some detailed microscopy.