Hawthorn Shield Bug (Stinkbug) from England
Thought you might like my pictures of a Hawthorn Shield Bug (or is it a Birch Shield Bug?) taken in my garden near Liverpool, England. I see from your pages they are called stinkbugs in the US, although this one didn’t stink, even when my curious eight year old dropped it (oops).
Sharron
Hi Sharron,
We also call the bugs in the family Pentatomidae Shield Bugs, but Stink Bugs is a more commonly used common name. We don’t recognize your species, but we are thrilled to have it as an example.
¶ Posted 24 November 2005 § ‡ ° What is this bug?
What kind of bug is this?
(Found in eastern, TN.)
Despite its common name, the Florida Predatory Stinkbug, Euthyrhynchus floridanus, also known as the Halloween Bug, ranges further north than the Sunshine State. According to BugGuide: “Predatory on other insects, including caterpillars, beetle. Nymphs, and to some extent, adults, are gregarious, and may attack large prey in groups.”
¶ Posted 05 November 2005 § ‡ ° Some type of shield bug?
We have some type of Shield Bug (we think), and were wondering if you could help us identify it, an maybe pass along any information on it. We live in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California (Between San Jose and Santa Cruz), it is a forrested area, Redwoods, Douglas Firs, and some oak. It is a true bug with 8 legs, and as I said we think it is a type of shield bug. My 5 year old daughter has twice captured this bug, and has named him (?) Harold. Any information you could pass along would be great, she loves bugs and we hope to encourage this passion.
Thanks,
Alissa and Rowan
PS. Are you familiar with the Video "A Day With Bugs"? If so could you suggest any other similar insect videos for children, we watch this one at least once a day. Thanks Again.
Hi Alissa and Rowan,
You are correct. This is a Shield Bug, Family Pentatomidae. This is actually a Brochymena, one of the predatory Stink Bugs. It is well camouflaged for blending in with tree bark. They are found in orchards, woods and isolated trees. They feed on caterpillars and other soft bodied insects.
We are not familiar with the video you mentioned, but personally we love Microcosmos.
¶ Posted 25 October 2005 § ‡ ° Stink Bug?
Hello,
I was wondering if you could help me identify this little guy. I found him when I was mowing the lawn, having a snack of the caterpillars seen in the second image (Gypsy Moth?). He looked intriguing, so I knocked him off and took him up to the porch for a better look. My first guess is some form of stink bug, since it ejected some kind of liquid from its abdomen when perturbed, and the description seems to match the letter from ‘April’ on the Stink Bug page. I haven’t been able to find any pictures similar in coloring on your website, so I elected to ask the master. Any idea? He was about a half inch long, iridescent green body with red highlights. Found in North Florida.
-Alex
Hi Alex,
We agree this is a Predatory Stink Bug, and we turned to Eric Eaton for assistance. Here is his response: “Yes, nymph of predatory stinkbug, something floridanus:-) Hey, I have to leave a LITTLE work for you” So a Google search gave us this site which has information on your insect, which we believe to be Alcaeorrhynchus grandis. There is a link to another page with the Florida Predatory Stink Bug, Euthyrhynchus floridanus, an easily confused species in early stages.
¶ Posted 30 August 2005 § ‡ ° one for your eastern collection
Hi from Nova Scotia, Canada. Love the site and very informative for my photography. Shot this guy up in tree eating what appears to be a swallowtail caterpillar. Good to see other people who like the insects in their areas..
Chris Fralic
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Hi Chris,
The identification of immature specimens is often very difficult. We checked with Eric Eaton who echoed that: “I dont know. Good luck finding anyone who can ID nymphs! That could either be a pentatomid or an above-ground burrower bug in the genus Sehirus. Best I can do. ” Some species in the Family Pentatomidae, the Stink Bugs or Shield Bugs, are predatory. Appears you have one of those.
¶ Posted 24 July 2005 § ‡ ° a nicer cabbage bug
Hi Mr. Bug Man,
Here is a "nicer" picture of what looks like a harlequin cabbage bug on your web site. You are welcome to use this if you care to. This one has been relaxing outside my house in Northern New Mexico for a few days on a tall weed. I think it’s charming, but then I’m not a gardener!
Thanks for the image.
¶ Posted 21 July 2005 § ‡ ° While trying to pull out ivy and invasive crawling grasses from around our squash plants, we stumbled upon this Spendor in the Grass: Two Green Stinkbugs embracing. We hurried indoors for the camera and had a difficult time relocting them, but they were very cooperative for the camera.
Ed. Note Update: (12/03/2005)
stink bugs identified!
Greetings Bugman, I am browsing your site and enjoying the information and beautiful photos. Thanks for doing a great service to the public. From my recent work in agricultural entomology, I instantly recognized some of the little stinkers on your site, so I thought I’d point them out. Green Stinkbugs: Splendor in the Grass (07/16/2005) This looks like the red-shouldered stink bug, Thyanta custator. It is fairly common but not as harmful as some other stink bugs like the southern green. It should not be confused with a similar invasive South American species, Piezodorus guildinii, which has a two-toned black and orange or black and white stripe.
Take care,
Heather Spaulding
¶ Posted 02 July 2005 § ‡ ° What is this ?
Hi,
Noticed this guy crawling outside my window. Could you tell me what it is? I live in Nova Scotia Canada.
Hi John and Tracey,
Your Stink Bug,Menecles insertus, photos are perhaps the most intriguingly beautiful ones we have seen. They are truly works of art.
¶ Posted 10 June 2005 § ‡ ° 
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