Nezara viridula, known as the Southern Green Stinkbug, is in the Order Hemiptera, suborder Heteroptera, family Pentatomidae. They have antennae with five segments and are shield shaped. The Southern Green Stinkbug is thought to have originated from Ethiopia and is now distributed on every continent except Antarctica.
Southern green stinkbugs lay their eggs, which are white or light yellow in large clusters that appear to be rows of small barrels. They lay them on the underside of leaves of the crops or weeds they feed on. Both immature and adult stinkbugs have piercing mouthparts and feed by inserting them into plant material and injecting digestive enzymes then sucking up the liquid food. They have incomplete metamorphosis so immature stinkbugs look like small, wingless adults. They molt several times before reaching the adult stage. Immature stinkbugs vary in color from black when they are small nymphs to green when they are mature nymphs. They require 65 to 70 days to mature from eggs to adults. Adults have dark red or black eyes and black dots around the edges of their body. Their wings lay flat on their body making them hard to see. When they become disturbed, they emit an unpleasant odor to ward off predators or creatures they view as threats. Adult Southern Green Stinkbugs are green and about ½ to ¾-inch in length. They are most active and numerous during the summer months.
Southern green stinkbugs feed on both weeds and crops. Crops that they damage include cotton, legumes, pecans, pepper, and soybeans. Some weeds that they often consume are beggerweed, blackberry, and Mexican clover. When they feed on seeds or fruits with their piercing sucking mouthparts, they leave behind puncture holes that turn into hard brownish black spots. This makes the crop less appealing to consumers. Although in many cases pesticides are used to manage these pests, some farmers have chosen to use biological control and release parasitic wasps or flies to help reduce stinkbug populations.
Brandon DuRant & Nicole Gilbert
Insect Biology and Diversity (ENT / BIOSC 301)
Fall 2004
