Categories

Stink/Shield Bug from Knoxville, TN
January 7, 2010
Hello,
I found this little insect crawling across the ground at the Knoxville Zoo, Knoxville, TN, during our summer vacation this past August. I believe it is a stink or shield bug, but I haven’t been able to find photos of any species with the same crisp pink trim and overall pale color of this bug. Could you help?
GinnyGray
Knoxville, TN

Tree Stink Bug

Hi GinnyGray,
We have decided to allot a bit more time than usual to provide you with a response, and that means sifting through numerous pages on BugGuide.  We have decided that we will just being indicating possibilities and then make a guess as to the actual identity.  There are some similarities to Euschistus inflatus, notably the pink edges, but that species seems to be limited to Utah according to BugGuide.  We wonder if perhaps it might just be a light, possibly recently metamorphosed Brown Stink Bug, Euschistus servus.  According to BugGuide:  “Body is oval with the underside being slightly concave and the abdomen narrow. Entire dorsal side grayish yellow with dark brownish-gray punctures becoming denser at the edges of the pronotum. The last two antennal segments (fourth and fifth) are darker in colour. The ventral surface usually has a pinkish tinge. Cheeks large passing the clypeus in length and more pointed. The humeral angles of the pronotum are rounded.“  We will post your letter to see if anyone writes in with suggestions, and we will also contact Eric Eaton for his opinion.

Tree Stink Bug

Thank you so much for your prompt response!  I examined photos of brown stink bugs before submitting, but I failed to find many photos of adults or nymphs with such a distinct pink pattern.  The paleness of the wing membrane also seems atypical for an adult, so I also suspected that it may simply have recently metamorphosed. Hopefully, you guys will unearth a more definite ID.
Thanks again!

Eric Eaton provides identification
Hi, Daniel:
This is indeed a stink bug, a recently-molted adult in the genus Brochymena.  The wing membrane has yet to attain any pigmentation, and remains soft.  It will eventually darken and stiffen.
Eric

0   I like This

Related Posts

• 
  (07/16/2009)
  Florida Predatory Stink Bug
• 
  (12/17/2009)
  Tree Stink Bug
• 
  (12/17/2009)
  Another Tree Stink Bug
• 
  (12/31/2009)
  Tree Stink Bug