Species Nezara viridula - Southern Green Stink Bug

Southern Green Shieldbug (UK)

Nezara viridula (Linnaeus 1758)

11-17 mm(1)(2)

Adult: green overall; scutellum has black dot in each basal corner; antennomeres 3 & 4 mostly reddish except at base; connexivum uniformly colored (with no or very tiny dark dot on apical margin of each abdominal segment); side of pronotum slightly concave in anterior half; second abdominal sternite has rounded medial spine; ventral scent gland pore short and broad

Nymphs undergo a remarkable change in coloration: first instars are light yellowish with red eyes and transparent legs and antennae; they stay clustered near the eggs and do not feed. Second instars have black head, legs, and antennae; the thorax is also black, with a yellow spot on each outer side. The abdomen is dark red to black with numerous white spots. Third and fourth instars differ from the second in size and an overall greenish color becoming apparent (compare). Wing pads mark the arrival at the fifth instar. The abdomen is yellowish green with red spots on the median line.[Cite:185010]

mostly CA and se. US (CA; TX-FL-VA-OK) (3)(4)(BG data)

cosmopolitan, presumably of African and/or Mediterranean origin (5);

highly polyphagous (recorded from hundreds of spp. in >30 plant families), attacking a wide variety of crop plants; especially damaging to new shoots and fruits, including those of soybeans, peas, and cotton.[Cite:185010](6)

White to yellow barrel-shaped eggs are laid in clusters attached to the undersides of leaves. Life cycle takes 65-70 days.(7) There may be four generations per year in warm climates. Overwinters as an adult.

There are five instars. Several are pictured below, along with an adult:

in se. US considered an important pest of vegetables and field & orchard crops, esp. legumes and crucifers(7)(8)

Chinavia hilaris adults have pale (not black) dot in each basal corner of scutellum, antennomeres 3 & 4 blackish (not reddish) and blackish color is restricted to apical half of segments; connexivum usually has conspicuous dark dot on apical margin of each abdominal segment; side of pronotum straight or slightly convex (not slightly concave) in anterior half; second abdominal sternite has pointed (not rounded) medial spine; ventral scent gland pore long and curved (not short and broad)

Species pages:

Rider (2009) (4)

| Squitier (1997-2010) [cite:185010] |

Bantock & Botting (2010) (2)