Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Chinavia hilare, Chinavia hilaris, Nezara hilaris, Acrosternum hilaris, Pentatoma hilaris
described in 1832 by Say, who originally placed it in genus Pentatoma
Explanation of Names
Latin for "lively, cheerful"
Numbers
one of 3 species in this genus in North America listed at
nearctica.comSize
adult body length 13-18 mm
Identification
A large, bright green stink bug. In most of eastern North America, differentiate from
A. pennsylvanicum by rather straight, not strongly arced, anterolateral pronotal margin
(1).
McPherson
(2) also differentiates the two by the following characters:
pennsylvanicum: form broadly oval; head short, broad,
juga slightly longer than
tylus; beak not longer than middle
coxae
hilare: form elongate, oval; head more elongate, juga equaling tylus; beak reaching at least to middle coxae
In genus Acrosternum (Chinavia), scent gland channel on underside of thorax extends more than half-way to edge of metapleuron:
This differentiates from
Nezara, which has a shorter, more rounded scent gland channel
(1):
Early instar nymphs are brightly colored and striped, becoming more green as they approach adulthood.
adult scutellum has pale dot in each basal corner; third and fourth antennal segments blackish, and color is restricted to apical half of segments; connexivium usually has conspicuous dark dot on apical margin of each abdominal segment; side of pronotum straight or slightly convex in anterior half; second abdominal sternite has pointed medial spine; ventral scent gland pore long and curved
Habitat
Woodlands, edges, cultivated land
Season
May-frost (North Carolina)
Food
Feeds on plant juices from leaves, fruit, flowers. Feeds on trees, herbs, many crops. Adults and older nymphs are reported to prefer developing seeds and fruit and thus may become crop pests. "Catfacing" on developing peaches and nectarines is one type of damage to which these bugs are known to contribute (feeding by other bugs causes similar results).
Life Cycle
"Keg-shaped" eggs are attached to the underside of leaves in double rows of twelve or more. One generation per year in North, two in south.
Remarks
Dr. David Rider of North Dakota State University states
here that "The genus name
Acrosternum should be restricted to a handful of Old World, small, pale green species that live in dry arid areas. The larger, brighter green species that live in both the Old and New Worlds should actually go by the generic name
Chinavia."
15 January 2007: updated page to include information from McPherson
(2). --Ethan Friedman
See Also
adult
Southern Green Stink Bug (
Nezara viridula) scutellum has black (not pale) dot in each basal corner; third and fourth antennae segments mostly reddish (not blackish) except at base; connexivium uniformly colored, with no or very tiny dark dot on apical margin of each abdominal segment; side of pronotum slightly concave (not straight or slightly convex) in anterior half; second abdominal sternite has rounded (not pointed) medial spine; ventral scent gland pore short and broad (not long and curved)
nymph of Southern Green Stink Bug varies greatly in appearance according to age (see species page for description)
Print References
Slater, p. 50, fig. 72, 73
(1)
Arnett, p. 252, fig. 20.13
(3)
Milne, p. 484, fig. 111
(5)
Swan and Papp, p. 129, fig. 125--
A. hilare (7)
McPherson, pp.86-89 plus figure on p159 illustrating different pronotal shapes of
pennsylvanicum and
hilare (2)
Rea, p. 37--adult and eggs
(9)Internet References
Insects of Cedar Creek pinned adult image (U. of Minnesota)
University of Kentucky - includes image of green nymph
