The Green Stink Bug, scientifically known as Chinavia halaris, is a prevalent insect found throughout eastern North America, spanning from Quebec to Florida and even across to the Pacific Coast. They are known for their peculiar, yet recognizable, green shield-like shape and the distinctive foul odor they produce when threatened or crushed. These seemingly harmless insects are not only a nuisance to homeowners but can also be detrimental to various crops and plants, highlighting their significance to both agriculture and ecosystems.
Early spring marks the active period for Green Stink Bugs as they feed on a range of plants, including native and ornamental trees, shrubs, vines, weeds, and soybean. Although they typically prefer wild plant hosts, these bugs often migrate to agricultural fields, such as soybean, causing potential damage to crops. The presence of Green Stink Bugs should not be taken lightly due to their potential negative impact on food crops and ornamental plant life.
What Is a Green Stink Bug
Scientific Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Hemiptera
- Family: Pentatomidae
- Genus: Chinavia
- Species: Chinavia hilaris (formerly Acrosternum hilare)
Description
The Green Stink Bug is a member of the insect family Pentatomidae. It is also known as Chinavia hilaris. This bug is known for its bright green color and shield-like shape.
These insects are found on various plants, including trees, shrubs, and soybeans. Researchers have found that they prefer wild plants. When such plants mature, the green stink bugs may move to cultivated plants like soybeans.
Physical Characteristics
- Size: Adult green stink bugs grow to be about 12 to 15 mm long.
- Shape: Their body has a shield-like shape, which gives them their distinct appearance.
- Color: They are bright green, with some variations having a brownish shade.
- Wings: The folded wings form an X pattern on their back, which is a characteristic feature.
- Mouthparts: These bugs have piercing mouthparts used for sucking juices from plant tissues.
Green stink bugs are often mistaken for the Southern Green Stink Bug, Nezara viridula. However, the two can be distinguished by the length of their ventral ostiolar canal. The Green Stink Bug has a longer canal that extends well beyond the middle of its supporting plate, while the Southern Green Stink Bug’s canal is shorter.
These bugs are known for their offensive odor, which they release when they feel threatened or are handled. The foul smell is their natural defense mechanism against predators.
Life Cycle and Behavior
Eggs and Nymphs
Green stink bugs begin their life cycle as eggs, which are often laid in clusters of 20-50 on plant surfaces1. These eggs are:
- One of the largest stink bug eggs
- Pure white with numerous tiny nubs at the crown
- Smooth eggshell surface
Upon hatching, nymphs emerge in five stages called instars2. Each stage has unique characteristics:
- Early instars: Small, round, and often black or dark-colored
- Later instars: Closer to adult in shape and coloration
Adults and Mating
Adult green stink bugs are:
- Shield-shaped
- Bright green to dull brown
- 1/2 to 3/4 inch in length and about 1/2 inch wide3
Mating typically occurs in the spring and summer. Males attract females using vibrational signals generated by rubbing their wings against their abdomen4.
Molting Process
The molting process is essential for nymphs to transition through the instar stages. Factors affecting molting include:
- Temperature5: Warmer conditions often speed up molting rates
- Food availability: Abundant food supply supports successful molts
Comparison Table – Instar Stages vs. Molting
Instar Stage | Transition | Duration |
---|---|---|
1st to 2nd | Molting | Short |
2nd to 3rd | Molting | Moderate |
3rd to 4th | Molting | Longer |
4th to 5th | Molting | Longest |
Feeding and Diet
Plants and Fruits
The Green Stink Bug, also known as Chinavia halaris, is a shield-shaped pest known for its offensive odor and feeding habits. This bug feeds on various plants and fruits, causing damage to crops.
- Fruits: Green Stink Bugs have a strong preference for certain fruits, including apples, oranges, peaches, and tomatoes. These pests can cause “catfacing” on peaches due to their feeding, leaving them scarred and deformed.
- Plants: Apart from fruits, Green Stink Bugs also feed on other plants like soybeans and eggplants. Their feeding can cause economic damage to crops as they can affect the yield and quality of the produce.
Seeds and Stems
The Green Stink Bug not only damages fruits and plants, but also targets seeds and stems.
- Seeds: Nuts, cherry pits, and other seeds are also part of the Green Stink Bug’s diet. The bug’s feeding on these parts of the plant can hinder seed development.
- Stems: Another target of this pest is the stems of the plants, such as beans and other crops. By maintaining a wider diet, Green Stink Bugs contribute to troublesome crop and garden damage.
Pest Management and Control
Biological Control
Green stink bugs are a pest that can cause damage to plants. One way to control them is by encouraging the presence of their natural enemies, such as predatory stink bugs.
- Some predatory stink bugs eat other pests like caterpillars, aphids, and larvae
- Spined soldier bugs and anchor bugs are examples of beneficial predatory stink bugs
Encouraging natural predators can be achieved by planting plants that attract them, such as:
- Sunflowers
- Goldenrods
- Marigolds
Another biological control method is the use of pheromones, which can be released to attract and trap green stink bugs.
Chemical Control
Green stink bugs can also be managed using chemical controls. One option is using neem oil, a natural insecticide derived from the neem tree. Some benefits and drawbacks of using neem oil include:
Pros:
- Eco-friendly
- Non-toxic to humans and pets
Cons:
- Might affect beneficial insects
- Needs repeated applications
Other chemical pesticides are available but should be used as a last resort, due to potential harm to the environment and beneficial organisms.
Physical Removal
Physical removal of green stink bugs can help reduce their populations, especially in smaller infestations. One common method is vacuuming.
- Use a hand-held vacuum to remove bugs from plants
- Dispose of the vacuum bag or bugs in a sealed bag to prevent escape
Remember to handle green stink bugs gently, as they release an unpleasant odor when crushed or disturbed.
Bug Control Recommendation Tool
Relation to Other Stink Bug Species
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) is a related, but different species from the Green Stink Bug. They share some similarities:
- Both have a shield-like shape
- Both can cause damage to various crops
However, they also have differences:
- BMSB is brown, while Green Stink Bug is green
- BMSB can be more invasive to homes as well as agriculture
Red and Black Stink Bugs
The Red and Black Stink Bugs are another group related to the Green Stink Bug. They share the same shield-like shape, but differ in coloration:
- Red and Black Stink Bugs have distinctive red and black markings
- Green Stink Bug is solid green
Spined Soldier Bug
The Spined Soldier Bug is another stink bug species, but with a unique feature:
- It has distinctive spines on its shoulders
Unlike other stink bugs, the Spined Soldier Bug is a predatory species:
- It is beneficial to agriculture, as it preys on pest insects
Feature | Green Stink Bug | Brown Marmorated Stink Bug | Red and Black Stink Bugs | Spined Soldier Bug |
---|---|---|---|---|
Color | Green | Brown | Red and Black | Brown |
Shield-like Shape | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Agricultural Pest | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Invasive to Homes | No | Yes | No | No |
Predatory | No | No | No | Yes |
Geographical Distribution
Eastern North America
Green Stink Bugs are commonly found in Eastern North America. Their bright green color and shield shape make them easily identifiable. Here’s a list of some characteristics of Green Stink Bugs:
- Bright green color
- Shield shape
- 1/2 to 3/4 inch in length
- 1/2 inch wide
New England to Florida
From New England to Florida, these bugs are prevalent, causing damage to crops and plants in the area. Early spring activity makes them a known presence after winter months.
Below is a comparison of Green Stink Bugs in different locations:
Feature | Eastern North America | New England to Florida |
---|---|---|
Size | 1/2 – 3/4 inch | 1/2 – 3/4 inch |
Color | Bright green | Bright green |
Shape | Shield | Shield |
Active season | Early spring | Early spring |
Commonly damaged crops | Seeds, grains, nuts, fruits | Seeds, grains, nuts, fruits |
Overall, Green Stink Bugs have a large geographical distribution impacting agriculture and plant life throughout Eastern North America and from New England to Florida.
Economic Importance
The green stink bug, Chinavia hilaris, has significant economic importance, particularly in agriculture. These bugs are known to feed on a variety of plants, causing damage to crucial food crops and reducing yield.
For instance, they are known to attack cotton plants, which leads to a decrease in the quality and quantity of cotton fibers. Similarly, green stink bugs can infest elderberry and black cherry plants, causing damage to the fruit, and making it less appealing for consumption.
- Examples of affected crops:
- Cotton
- Elderberry
- Black cherry
Below is a table comparing their impact on different crops:
Crop | Impact of Green Stink Bug |
---|---|
Cotton | Reduced fiber quality, lower yield |
Elderberry | Damaged fruit, decreased market value |
Black cherry | Unappealing fruit appearance, lower yield |
In conclusion, the green stink bug causes economic harm by damaging crops and reducing their market value. Ensuring effective pest management is essential for minimizing their impact on the agricultural sector.
Footnotes
18 Comments. Leave new
These nymphs appear to be those of Scutiphora pedicellata (Kirby, 1818) (Hemiptera: Scutellaridae) – a paper on the feeding of these bugs has been written by me – see paper 249 on my website http://www.calodema.com
Best regards, Trevor
Alas, once again betrayed by beauty.
I am sorry to disagree…
I know very well this bug.
It is a Nezara viridula larva L.4.
Plenty of them in Paris, France.
I am sorry to disagree…
I know very well this bug.
It is a Nezara viridula larva L.4.
Plenty of them in Paris, France.
Thanks for your correction. The nymph of the Southern Green Stink Bug, Nezara viridula, is a much closer match than the Green Stink Bug nymph, Chinavia hilaris.
You are welcome. I have no merit. I just know two or three names of insects and the Nezara viridula larvas are the most common in my place. So I can be sure to recognize one when I see it… 😉
I found this same bug on my scarlet runner beans in Redwood City, CA.
Yeah, me too. Scarlett & other runner beans just welcomed a new resident. Los Angeles, CA.
They have devoured all my scarlet runner flowers in Seattle. I picked them all off, but they’ve stripped the vines, so…
This has been one of my favorite sites, but I lost if in one of the many changes on the FB behemoth. I was so glad to find it again.
It’s kind of exciting having Facebook fans.
What can this bug do to you I just got bit by one last night and it leafy a big red welt on my back and it hearts like hell I can’t even lay on my back
If you are in pain, we would urge you to seek medical attention from a professional. To the best of our knowledge, the Spined Green Stink Bug is not venomous, but you may have had an allergic reaction.
Found 3 today on a walk, eating tansy flower heads. Renton, Washington. From this site I am guessing I found 2 colorful nymphs and one solid green colored adult. The Southern Stink Bug has made it pretty far north. 8/2015
BugGuide does list the species in Washington.
They are on my tomato plants this summer and fall in Sacramento.
I have seen this in my garden in Novato, CA
I just photographed this bug here in Erie, PA. Late Sept. 2022.
Thanks to this web site I finally know what it is. Thanks.
Amazing not in any of my insect guides.