Topic: Shield Bugs

[Georgie]

Hi.  I was amazed to watch the antics of the shield bugs (I think) in the garden today.  Friend or foe?

G xx

[Robert_Brenchley]

They're vegetarian,so they do some damage.I think it's pretty minor. I get them allover the plot and I've never noticed any harm.

[Georgie]

Thanks Robert.

G xx

[BAGGY]

I heard that the green ones are baddies as they are eating the native brown ones.  Or was that the other way round ???

[Georgie]

No idea, Baggy.  How's Merlin?

G xx

[tim]

RHS = "All shield bugs are generally harmless so control measures are not required."

[Georgie]

Thanks Tim.  Hate picking and squishing so that's one less job!

G xx

[Roy Bham UK]

:o You wouldn't want to play around with one as they spray an odour that smells very pungent :P

[Georgie]

Oh right, Roy, so they are what some peeps call stink bugs, are they?

G xx

[Roy Bham UK]

;D Yep! poowee! aah! My grandson loves playing with bugs and picked one of these up and it spayed him although he didn't realize until he got in my car an stunk us all out aah! :P

[Robert_Brenchley]

From a quick look at my insect book I think (I'm not certain) that the one I have is the hawthorn shieldbug, which would make sense as there are thorn hedges all around.

[moonbells]

The jury is still out here. Initially (on GQT) Pippa G said that they were harmless. But then they changed their mind and a few weeks later said the green ones (the recent import) have become a serious pest for fruit growers in Europe and specifically wine producers as they ruin the grapes when they bite the fruit. Also, since so many of them get caught up in the harvest, they are ruining the taste of the juice as they get squashed!

However there seems to be two species:
This is what the RHS says:   (http://www.rhs.org.uk/news/climatepests.asp)
"Green vegetable bugs (Nezara viridula) attack a broad range of crops, from soft fruits to potatoes and beans, damaging fruit, transmitting disease and leaving plants open to attack by other pests. They are a particular problem in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Australia, North America and Africa, and could be a significant pest if, as the evidence suggests, they become resident in the British Isles.
The green vegetable bug is similar to our native green shield bug (Palomena prasina) but is a paler green colour, narrower and longer, growing to between 11-15mm. Unlike the native green shield bug, adult green vegetable bugs have no brown markings and are uniformly green. Young green vegetable bugs have distinctive white-spotted backs, with red edging."

So yours are ok as they have the brown bums! And I now know which to squish and which not to, so thanks for the question!

moonbells

[Robert_Brenchley]

It's easy enough to see the difference from the native ones, fortunately.Mine have a very obvious brown patch; I've never seen these. Has anyone?

[mm-b]

Hi
I have green shield bugs all over the currants and rasberries.
I think they look nice and there seems to be lots of fruit so I won't be worrying.
They seem to have had babies as well.
Melanie :)

[Georgie]

How helpful, thank you so much, Moonbells.   :)

I think they are attractive too, mm-b, and now at least I can enjoy them rather than killing them.   ;D

G xx