Predator bugs – the term alone makes people uncomfortable. Are there actually predatory bugs in Germany? This guide is packed with helpful tips for identifying native species. Find out here what to do if predatory bugs become a nuisance in your home.
What should you know about predatory bugs in Germany?
In Germany there are around 20 species of predatory bugs, which vary from 3.5 mm to 19 mm and have different colors and body shapes. Main characteristics are a distinctive, angled trunk, a movable head and strong front legs. A predatory bug bite can be painful, but in Germany they are harmless to humans.
- Predator bugs in Germany are 3.5 mm to 19 mm in size, have a strong, forward-curving proboscis, elliptical-oval to elongated-slender bodies and different colors from red-orange with black spots to gray-brown- beige.
- Predator bugs can become a nuisance in the home and can inflict painful bites when threatened.
- Combat in the house: catch with a glass trick, drive away with intense smells, spray with soft soap solution or the organic spray Neem.
Are there predatory bugs in Germany?
There are currently 20 species of predatory bugs in Germany. More than 7,000 species inhabit a wide variety of habitats around the globe. The name refers to a predatory lifestyle. Predator bugs are always on the hunt for all kinds of insects, from tiny spider mites to powerful spiders. Against this background, native predatory bugs should be viewed as beneficial insects, because their prey pattern includes a variety of pests indoors and outdoors. Of course, the appreciation is not undimmed. As a hunting weapon, predatory bugs have a powerful proboscis on board. If predatory bugs feel threatened by a person, they will feel this proboscis painfully.
Identifying predatory bugs – tips
The dust bug camouflages itself with dust
Predator bugs in Germany vary considerably in size, coloring, body shape and occurrence. The largest Central European species called the dust bug, measuring almost 2 centimeters, is a giant compared to the 3.5 millimeter small mosquito bug. The following table provides an overview of helpful identifying characteristics of 5 common predatory bug species:
| Predator bugs Germany | dust bug | murder bug | Short-winged predatory bug | Pirate Robber Bug | mosquito bug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 15-19mm | 14-17 mm | 9-12mm | 9-12mm | 3, 5-7 mm |
| color | black to black-brown | red with pattern | gray-brown | red-black glossy | gray-brown |
| Body shape | elliptical | elongated | elongated, slim | very narrow | Mosquito-like |
| Special feature | very hairy | red-black spotted side edge | Sign with thorn | red-orange wings with black spots | very long legs |
| Activity | nocturnal | diurnal | diurnal | nocturnal | diurnal |
| Occurrences | in the house | in the garden | in the garden | in the garden, in the house | in the shade, in the apartment |
| Botanical name | Reduvius personatus | Rhynocoris iracundus | Coranus subapterus | Peirates hybridus | Empicoris vagabundus |
| Middle name | Masked Tramp | Red assassin bug | none | none | none |
In the following species portraits, read in-depth information about the appearance, when and where the predatory bugs are often found in Germany.
Dust bug (Reduvius personatus)
As the largest predatory bug in Germany, the dust bug spreads fear and terror. On its nightly hunt for flies, beetles and vermin, the impressive dust bug crashes into windows and doors when the light suddenly comes on. The second name 'Masked Tramp' refers to the larvae's ingenious camouflage behavior. After each molt, a larva loads its body with dust and thus becomes almost invisible.
- Where to find: in the house, in the attic, in the stable or tool shed, outside in tree holes, abandoned bird nests
- When to find: indoors all year round, outdoors from May to September
Assassin bug (Rhynocoris iracundus)
The assassin bug is only dangerous for other insects
The name makes the blood run cold in the veins of sensitive souls. At this point the all-clear can be given immediately. The assassin bug is primarily dangerous or even deadly for beetle larvae or butterfly caterpillars. Careless bees and sawflies are also attacked. A black and red patterned top and red, black dotted bottom make identification easier for the untrained eye. Admiring and taking photos is allowed. Touching or taking it in your hand will result in a painful bite from an assassin bug.
- Where to find: in the garden on flowers (umbel flowers), in the herb layer
- When to find: from June to September
In the following video you will see an assassin bug on the prowl in the garden:
Giftige Wanze attackiert Bienen! Gefährlich für uns?
Short-winged predatory bug (Coranus subapterus)
Compared to its counterparts, the short-winged predatory bug is out of the ordinary in some respects. Inconspicuous gray-brown color and a very slender body make it not easy to identify the species as a predatory bug. If you look closely, you can see a yellow longitudinal line on the movable head. The bug boasts a yellow thorn on its label. The predatory bug owes its name to rudimentary, short wings. Adult specimens, larvae and eggs are tough. Because the mating season only takes place in late autumn, the eggs are frost-proof.
- Where to find: in sandy, full-sun rock gardens, often under sandy thyme cushions, mullein, sagebrush
- When to find: March to November (eggs also in winter)
Pirate predator bug (Peirates hybridus)
The pirate predator bug hijacks other bugs under the cover of darkness and sucks the life out of them. As a result of global warming, the colorful predatory bug species has reached the Upper Rhine Graben. Because they overwinter as adult bugs, Peirates hybridus boldly march into buildings in the fall in search of winter quarters. The head, pronotum and legs are shiny black. The red-orange, black-spotted wings shine conspicuously towards the hobby gardener when he comes across a daytime hiding place while working in the garden.
- Where to find: on the ground in the rock garden, on the dry stone wall in full sun under stones, in the apartment in winter
- When to find: outside from June to August, inside from September
Mosquito bug (Empicoris vagabundus)
Is that a mosquito or a predatory bug? If you are looking for an answer for an informed identification, look out for the typical, arch-shaped proboscis between two ringed antennae. Another identifying feature is an upright thorn on the label. Of its six long legs, the two front legs are particularly strongly developed.
- Where to find: on deciduous and coniferous trees in shady niches
- When to find: all year round in the garden, often on arborvitae and in the house
Excursus
Chagas disease on the rise
A bite from the “Chagas bug” can be fatal
A predatory bug bite in the tropics is dangerous because Chagas disease lurks. If predatory bugs of the species Triatoma infestans sink their proboscis into human skin, this bite can transmit the parasite Trypanosoma Cruzi, the pathogen that causes the dreaded Chagas disease, to the victim. The most common symptoms of the infection are fever, abdominal pain, enlarged liver and inflammation of the heart muscle, which in the worst case can be fatal. Unfortunately, Chagas can also be transmitted from person to person, for example through blood donation. According to estimates, around 2,000 people in Germany are now infected with Chagas disease - and the trend is rising. Thomas Zoller from the German Chagas Project ELCiD draws urgent attention to this. Against this background, keeping exotic predatory bugs in the house becomes a risky undertaking.
Predator bugs in the apartment – what to do?
A predatory bug infestation in the house should not be taken lightly. Direct confrontations with some species can have painful consequences. The bite of a dust bug or pirate bug can be just as painful as a wasp sting. What to do? How to fight predatory bugs in your home without poison:
| Predator bug control | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Glass Trick | catch, release outside |
| Distribute | diffusing essential scents |
| Home remedies | Soap solution |
| Organic insecticide | Neem |
Please do not use a vacuum cleaner to combat predatory bugs in the house. Numerous species of bugs have a smelly defensive secretion on board that stays in the device for a long time. You can read additional information about the correct procedure in the next sections:
Glass Trick – This is how it works
If a bug gets inside, you can catch it with a glass and take it outside
In Germany, native predatory bugs in the house are not dangerous for people or pets. However, the vicious beasts can be a nuisance. The glass trick is helpful and animal-friendly so that the pests' radius of action shifts from indoors to outdoors. This is how it works:
- Put glass over the predatory bug
- Carefully slide a sheet of paper or thin cardboard under the glass
- Run one hand under the paper and stabilize the glass with the other hand
- Carry the predator bug outside in the jar and release it alive
It's even easier with the Snapy live insect catcher (€12.00 at Amazon), which is now standard equipment in natural households.
Repel predator bugs
Intense smells drive numerous insects out of the house, including bold predatory bugs. Primarily, acidic and ethereal scents attack the sense of smell of bugs, which then prefer to run away. What helps against the dreaded stink beetle, the marmorated stink bug, does not go unnoticed by dust bugs and the like. The following tips have proven to be effective in combating and preventing:
- Vinegar: Rub window and door frames, surfaces in the apartment regularly or clean them with vinegar cleaner
- Lemon: Use citronella products in the house, place lemon slices studded with cloves on the windowsill
- Juniper: Lay out branches of juniper, camphor and other plants with essential ingredients
Tip
Harmless fire bugs (Pyrrhocoris apterus) and gentle stripe bugs (Graphosoma lineatum) look very similar to the red assassin bug and some harmful red beetles. So that the innocent plant suckers do not pay for this similarity with their lives, please take a close look before you initiate control measures.
Make your own home remedies – recipe and application
Home remedies are particularly effective on bedbug nymphs, i.e. baby bugs
Predator bugs give in when a tried and tested home remedy is used. Classic soft soap solution fights adult bugs, larvae and eggs without poison. The ingredients for the following recipe are on the kitchen shelf:
- Heat 1 liter of water in a kettle
- Stir in 2-3 tbsp organic soft soap
- Add a dash of spirit
- Let the solution cool and pour into a pressure sprayer
Use the home remedy as an organic insecticide against predatory bugs. In particular, spray larvae and eggs that you discover in the apartment. When looking for the larvae, please note that they are nymphs, i.e. mini-sized predatory bugs, and not maggots, like flies or beetles.
Neem versus predatory bugs in the house
If the glass catching trick proves to be too complicated and the home remedy is too harmless, neem oil comes into play. The Indian neem tree (Azadirachta indica) defends itself against pests with its main ingredient azadirachtin. Since curious researchers discovered that the active ingredient also renders bedbugs, lice and other vermin harmless, neem oil has taken a leading position worldwide as an organic insecticide. In Germany the product is available under various trade names, such as Naturen Bio-Pest-Free Neem or Insect-Free Neem from Compo.
It is important to note that insecticides based on neem oil do not have an immediate effect. Rather, the active ingredient interferes with the development of predatory bugs. In the case of larvae, further molting is stopped so that they die within a few days. Fertility problems occur in adult predatory bugs. The number of eggs laid is reduced significantly. Isolated infestations with predatory bugs cannot become a plague.
Frequently asked questions
What do predatory bugs look like?
Despite a manageable number of around 20 species, predatory bugs in Germany differ significantly. The sizes range from a tiny 3.5 mm to a massive 19 mm. Some species wear red-orange colors as a warning color, other species prefer an inconspicuous, gray-brown color. Common features are a distinctive, arch-shaped trunk, an elongated, movable head and 2 particularly strong legs at the front as predatory legs.
Is a predatory bug bite dangerous for people?
Predatory bug species certainly pose a certain potential danger to people. If predatory bugs feel threatened, they sting with their long proboscis. This can be very painful and accompanied by excruciating itching. The tropical species Triatoma infestans is really dangerous because its bite can transmit the pathogens of Chagas disease.
What should you consider when keeping predatory bugs as pets?
An escape-proof terrarium or aquarium is best suited for keeping. Recommended substrates include terrarium soil, coconut humus and a mix of peat and sand, naturally free of fertilizer residues or pesticides. Please provide plenty of hiding places, such as pieces of cork or small branches. The basic equipment for species-appropriate housing includes a drinking bowl with fresh water, because predatory bugs are thirsty swallowing woodpeckers. A temperature of 25°-30° Celsius during the day and 20° Celsius at night ensures active, he althy animals. The menu includes crickets, small cockroaches and crickets.
Which species of predatory bugs are suitable for keeping in a terrarium?
Exotic predatory bugs, which are significantly larger and more colorful than native species, are popular for keeping. The species of the genus Platymeris from Africa with a size of an impressive 40 mm are very popular. This includes the white-spotted predator bug (Platymeris biguttatus), which has two large white spots on its shiny black body. The popular predatory bug Platymeris laevicollis stands out with red spots and red-banded, black legs. The magnificent Platymeris rhadamanthus comes from the African Sahara and impresses with orange spots and red thigh bands.
Tip
A green soft bug thinks it is a predatory bug and is often used in biological pest control. The species Macrolophus caliginosus kills the dreaded whiteflies in the greenhouse. These pests often attack tomato plants and other nightshades. For this reason, specialist retailers have quickly declared the soft bugs to be predatory bugs and are offering the beneficial insects for sale.
