Subject: Small round bug – South Africa
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
December 8, 2014 3:52 am
Hi, I took this photo of these insects and what looks like eggs, on an outside panel of my door. It is tiny – the whole lot measures probably just under 1cm in diameter. I took the photo on Sunday, 7 December, which is in the middle of our rainy, hot summer season. I am in Johannesburg, South Africa. It looks like they are protecting the eggs or something, but what kind of bug is that? Hope you can assist! Thanks! 🙂
Signature: Erna Pieterse
Dear Erna,
These are newly hatched Stink Bugs in the family Pentatomidae. We know they are most likely not the same species, but you can compare your image to this North American sighting of newly hatched Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs.
This is completely amazing – the picture I took today looks exactly the same. I also live in Johannesburg (Kelland), and I am wondering whether these critters are native or in need of destruction.