---
title: "Does anyone know what these are? They are attacking my honeydew,…"
description: "Does anyone know what these are? They are attacking my honeydew, watermelon, and bell peppers. I am using neem oil but if there is something better, please let…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/3bcXV5meLfm8sk8zq9a3Dh"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "Ally"
published: "2025-09-03T14:42:56.350495Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/l0HMh_28gvCmA673H9iOZWa0V_5BX1hrEkvnUUt_knQ/tDiMKQ8IQBq-BM3oGi2W7A.webp?size=large"
---

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# Does anyone know what these are? They are attacking my honeydew,…

_Posted by Ally on 2025-09-03_

Does anyone know what these are? They are attacking my honeydew, watermelon, and bell peppers. I am using neem oil but if there is something better, please let me know.

I did spray the netting down for any bugs and washed all my plants as well as the concrete around it.

![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/l0HMh_28gvCmA673H9iOZWa0V_5BX1hrEkvnUUt_knQ/tDiMKQ8IQBq-BM3oGi2W7A.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/l0HMh_28gvCmA673H9iOZWa0V_5BX1hrEkvnUUt_knQ/BKZ6-HhVSjKiIo4kD68YTA.webp?size=large)

## 9 comments

### Reigan commented on 2025-09-03

I have no clue but I would literally die if I saw this come out of my plants!

#### Ally replied on 2025-09-03

Thankfully they are not coming out of them but they are surrounding them. I think they taking the nutrients and making the leaves discolor.

### Ciggy commented on 2025-09-03

What about diatomaceous earth?

#### Ally replied on 2025-09-03

I haven’t tried that on anything but it may work. Thanks!

### mariam🪴 commented on 2025-09-03

they look like mites of some sort, but i’m not sure

### Waspinator commented on 2025-09-03

That's either an assassin bug or leaf footed bug nymph. It's hard to tell which one from your photos (they do look very similar at that age) but the assassin bug is a helpful garden insect while the leaf footed bug is a plant pest. If you see clusters of a bunch of them, then they're definitely leaf footeds. To get rid of them, you can crush them or brush them into soapy water. (gloves are recommended because they make a stinkbug scent when bothered.) Find and remove any egg clusters under the leaves. Neem can work on especially young leaf footed bugs, but not older ones. The most effective pesticides for these are very toxic to harmless insects and are not very food safe, so they should be avoided except in severe cases

#### Waspinator replied on 2025-09-03

To control them with natural predators, try to attract birds, various types of assassin bugs, tachinid flies, and parasitoid wasps (the flies and wasps both like nectar flowers in the dill and carrot family.) You might try praying mantises as well

#### Ally replied on 2025-09-04

Thank you! This was very helpful. I did spray them down and try to kill them. I saw some black eggs and spray them out. I’ll try to kill them next time and spray more Neem oil.

### Amy commented on 2025-09-05

What about a mix of soapy water or diatomaceous earth powder

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