Australasian green shield bug - Glaucias amyoti

By N A Martin (2010, revised 2018)

Caption:

Classification

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hemiptera

Family

Pentatomidae

Scientific name

Glaucias amyoti (Dalla 1851)

Common names

Australasian green shield bug, New Zealand vegetable bug

Synonyms

Rhaphigaster amyoti Dallas, 1851

Nezara amyoti (Dallas, 1851)

Zangis amyoti (Dallas, 1851)

Zangis stali Schouteden, 1906

Biostatus and distribution

This native shield bug is found throughout the North Island of New Zealand and Nelson and Marlborough on the South Island. It is also present in Australia, East Timor, Indonesia (West Timor), Palau and Papaua New Guinea. It occurs on host plants, a variety of trees and shrubs, in city gardens and parks as well as in native ecosystems.

Conservation status: Widespread, not threatened.

Life stages and annual cycle

Australasian green shield bugs overwinter as adults that hide among tree and shrub leaves, but may be seen basking in the sun. Adults gather in suitable overwintering sites and on plants for breeding. They are probably attracted to each other by an aggregation pheromone (volatile chemical). Breeding usually occurs on plants with berries or fruit/seed heads. There are several generations per year. The overwintering adult females start laying eggs late spring. Each female lays several batches of eggs over several weeks, perhaps up to 8 weeks. This results in nymphs of all sizes being present at the same time. The resulting adults may mate and lay eggs until early autumn. Sometime during late summer the adult females cease laying eggs. This change is probably induced by a change in day length and perhaps by a combination of day length and temperature.

Eggs are laid in a cluster of up to 14, one for each ovariole. The eggs are tan coloured, but can be much paler. Just before egg hatch a dark T-shaped structure, the egg burster, develops at the top of the eggs and can sometimes be seen between the eye spots of the nymphs. The egg burster assists with pushing the top of the egg and is left attached to the egg shell.

Nymphs hatch from the eggs. First instar nymphs are like small, black, wingless adults and like other shield bugs, (Pentatomidae), the first instar nymphs cluster on and around the egg shells and do not feed. There are five nymphal stages, each is called an instar. Nymphs go from one stage to the next by moulting (changing their skin). During moulting, the skin on the dorsal side splits and the next stage pulls itself out of the old skin. As the insects progress through the nymphal stages, their colour changes from black to mostly green. In the later instars, the colour may vary from green to a dark colour. The 1st instar nymphs are almost circular, black with a pair of small white patches on the abdomen. It has black legs and black antennae. The 2nd instar nymph is similar in appearance, though the head is longer and the pair of white spots on the abdomen turn yellow as the nymph grows. The 2nd instar also pale areas on the lateral margins of the abdomen and the rostrum is very long, extending beyond the end of the abdomen, but as the nymph grows the rostrum extends less.

Third instar nymph are more variable in colour. The head and thorax may be black or have paler brown areas, lateral margins of the thorax may have extensive pale areas or be black. The abdomen may be black, brown or green, but has a pair of yellow spots and black around the scent glands, The 4th and 5th instar nymphs tend to be green coloured, though some have a dark head and thorax. Small wing buds can be seen on fourth instar nymphs. They are larger and more obvious on fifth instar nymphs. Adults emerge from fifth instar nymphs. Most egg laying ceases in late summer, but unhatched eggs and early instar nymphs have been seen in early May in Auckland.

Walking and flying

The nymphs and adults have three pairs of legs. The adults have two pairs of wings, the front pair is modified as a cover over the hind wings. Part of the forewing is coloured green, while the rest is membranous.

Feeding

Like other Hemiptera, the Australasian green shield bug has piercing and sucking mouth parts. The long stylets, special shaped rods, are held in the rostrum. When it wishes to feed the bug moves the tip of the rostrum to a berry or other suitable part of the plant. The stylets are then gradually pushed into the plant. The stylets form two tubes, one through which saliva is injected into the plant and a second through which plants juices are sucked up into the insect. Feeding of the Australasian green shield bug has not been studied, but it probably can use its saliva to digest the tissues of the plant.

Adult Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti, (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) from above. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 3BU]

Underside of an adult Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). The rostrum, which is used for feeding, is at rest and being held along the midline between the legs. It has a darkly pigmented tip. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 3BV]

A pair of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) mating. Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Nicholas A. Martin. [Image: 1ZW6]

A mating pair of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) showing how they are attached. Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Nicholas A. Martin. [Image: 2KKL]

A cluster of 14 eggs of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) laid on the underside of a leaf of Coprosma repens. Creator: DSIR photographers. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 3BX]

Close up of eggs of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) laid on the underside of a leaf of Coprosma repens. Creator: DSIR photographers. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 3BY]

Eggs of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on the upper side of a leaf of Pseudopanax lessonii, note the dark eye spots in the eggs. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15KT]

Eggs of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on the underside of a leaf of Pittosporum crassifolium, note the dark eye spots in the fertile eggs. Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15KW]

Hatched eggs of the Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on the underside of a leaf of Pittosporum crassifolium, where the ‘lid’ has gone, the egg burster, a dark T-shaped structure, can be seen. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15KM]

First instar nymphs of the Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) just hatched from eggs. Younger eggs nearby. Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Nicholas A. Martin. [Image: 2KKK]

First instar nymphs of the Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on the underside of a leaf of Pittosporum crassifolium, and clustered around their egg shells. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15L0]

Second instar nymph of the Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on the underside of a leaf of Pittosporum crassifolium, with egg shells and moulted skin. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15KZ]

A second instar nymph of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) feeding on a berry. Creator: DSIR photographers. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 3C0]

A second instar nymph of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on the underside of a leaf of Pittosporum crassifolium, note the rostrum extending beyond the end of the abdomen. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15KN]

A moulted skin of a shield bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) nymph on the underside of a leaf of Pittosporum crassifolium. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15KP]

Two second instar nymphs of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on Coprosma repens. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15KX]

Side view of second instar nymphs of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), note the stylets curving round to enter the rostrum. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15L3]

A second instar nymph of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) beside an egg batch. Creator: DSIR photographers. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 3C1]

Two third instar nymphs of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) feeding on Coprosma berries. Note the black dorsal abdominal glands. Creator: DSIR photographers. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 3C2]

Third and fourth instar nymphs of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Creator: DSIR photographers. © Landcare Research. [Image: 3C4]

Dark form of a fifth instar nymph of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) feeding on Coprosma berries; note the prominent wing buds. Creator: DSIR photographers. © Landcare Research. [Image: 3C5]

Nymph of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), with tan coloured pronotum and lateral white marks on abdominal segments. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 293J]

Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), nymph of with a pale head and pale areas on its thorax. Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Nicholas A. Martin. [Image: 293M]

Recognition

Distinguishing green shield bugs,

Several shield bugs look similar to the Australasian green shield bug. The commonest is the green vegetable bug, Nezara viridula (Linnaeus 1758). It is a similar size to the Australasian green shield bug, but the adults have three white spots in a line between the wing insertions. Adults of the green potato bug, Cuspicona simplex Walker 1867, are smaller and have pointed ‘shoulders’. Nymphs of the green vegetable bug are differently patterned (see photographs), while the nymphs of the green potato bug start off grey and then become green.

Distinguishing shield bugs on Pittosporum trees

The Australasian green shield bug and the Pittosporum shield bug, Monteithiella humeralis (Walker 1868) may both be found on the same Pittosporum tree. Adults are easy to distinguish, Australasian green shield bugs are green whereas Pittosporum shield bugs are smaller and brown. The other life stages can be more difficult to tell apart.

Eggs of the two species are of similar size, but differ in colour. The eggs of the Australasian green shield bug are tan coloured, but may be paler, even off-white. The freshly laid eggs of the Pittosporum shield bug are pale green and turn white. In New Zealand the first instar (stage) nymphs of both species appear similar, black. They sit on their egg shells or stay close so enabling them to be identified by the colour of the eggs.

Second instar nymphs of both species are also similar. Later instars of the pittosporum shield bug are black or dark brown with paler brown areas. Australasian green shield bug 3rd, 4th, and 5th instar nymphs may be green, though some have a dark head and thorax, and the abdomen is much paler.

Dorsal (top) view of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae); Note the absence of any white spots in a line. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 3BU]

Adult (left) and late instar nymphs of Green vegetable bug, Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). The green vegetable bug is a pest of vegetable, flower and nut crops. Creator: Bruce Given. © Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. [Image: 3C9]

Adult green potato bug, Cuspicona simplex (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Creator: DSIR photographers. © Landcare Research. [Image: 3C8]

Two late instar nymphs of green potato bug, Cuspicona simplex; (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) note the uniform green colour and the white ring on the antennae. Creator: DSIR photographers. © Landcare Research. [Image: 3C7]

Adult Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), on a leaf. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 3BW]

Adult pittosporum shield bug, Monteithiella humeralis (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15KF]

A cluster of 14 white eggs of Pittosporum shield bug, Monteithiella humeralis (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) laid on the underside of a leaf of Pittosporum crassifolium (Pittosporaceae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15KJ]

First instar nymphs of the Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on the underside of a leaf of Pittosporum crassifolium, clustered around their egg shells. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15L0]

Newly hatched nymphs of pittosporum shield bug, Monteithiella humeralis (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) sitting by their eggshells on the upper side of a leaf of Pittosporum crassifolium (Pittosporaceae). Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Nicholas A. Martin. [Image: 15KK]

Second instar nymph of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on a leaf of Pittosporum crassifolium (Pittosporaceae), note the white lateral areas on the lateral margin of the first abdominal segment (white arrow) Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15KQ]

A second instar nymph of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) beside an egg batch. Creator: DSIR photographers. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 3C1]

Third and fourth instar nymphs of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Creator: DSIR photographers. © Landcare Research. [Image: 3C4]

Green form of a fifth instar nymph of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti; note the prominent wing buds. Creator: DSIR photographers. © Landcare Research. [Image: 3C3]

Fourth instar nymph of the Pittosporum shield bug, Monteithiella humeralis (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae); note the small wing buds. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15KG]

Fifth instar nymph of Pittosporum shield bug, Monteithiella humeralis (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae); note the large wing buds extending onto the abdomen and the white band on the antennae. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15KH]

Natural enemies

Eggs of the Australasian green shield bug may be parasitised by two species of tiny wasp belonging to the family Platygasteridae. Trissolcus oenone, a native wasp, parasitises several native shield bugs. Another egg parasitoid, Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston 1858), was released into New Zealand in 1949 for control of green vegetable bug, Nezara viridula (L.). It also parasitises eggs of other shield bugs including Australasian green shield bug. When this wide host range was discovered in the 1960s, it was regarded as beneficial, because at that time protection of crops was regarded as more important than protecting native insects. Eggs parasitised by T. basalis turn black.

In 2010 Stephen Thorpe discovered in New Zealand a braconid wasp parasite of the green vegetable bug, Nezara viridula. The parasitoid, Aridelus rufotestaceus Tobias, 1986 (Braconidae) is known to parasitize nymphs of green vegetable bug. In laboratory experiments in Italy, nymphs of several sizes and adults were parasitised. In 2016, it was reared from Australasian green shield bug nymphs. The female wasps lay eggs in nymphs and may be adults. When the parasite larva is fully grown, it emerges from the nymph and spins a white cocoon in which it pupates. The adult cuts the cap of the cocoon and climbs out.

Eggs of the Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on the underside of a leaf of Pittosporum crassifolium, the eggs with a dark ring are parasitized by a wasp of the Native shield-bug egg parasitoid, Trissolcus oenone (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae). Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2947]

An adult Native shield-bug egg parasitoid, Trissolcus oenone (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae) after emergence and eggs of the Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2949]

An adult Native shield-bug egg parasitoid, Trissolcus oenone (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae) after emergence and eggs of the Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): note the egg with the hole made in its top. Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 294A]

An adult Native shield-bug egg parasitoid, Trissolcus oenone (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae) on top of the eggs after emergence and eggs of the Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): note the egg of a wasp coming out of the egg in which it has cut a hole. Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 294J]

Eggs of the Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on the underside of a leaf of Coprosma repens, the dark coloured eggs are parasitized by a wasp, the Green vegetable bug egg parasitoid, Trissolcus basalis (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae). Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 293Y]

An adult Green vegetable bug egg parasitoid, Trissolcus basalis (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae) after emergence and eggs of the Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) from which the wasps are emerging. Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2941]

An adult Green vegetable bug egg parasitoid, Trissolcus basalis (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae) after emergence from an egg of the Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2942]

Cocoon of shield-bug nymphal parasitoid Aridelus rufotestaceus (Braconidae) made by the larva after emergence from a nymph of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 293N]

Cocoon of shield-bug nymphal parasitoid Aridelus rufotestaceus (Braconidae) that had parasitised a nymph of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Note the opening in one end made by the adult wasp. Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 293T]

Adult shield-bug nymphal parasitoid Aridelus rufotestaceus (Braconidae) that had parasitised a nymph of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): top view of wasp. Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 293Q]

Adult shield-bug nymphal parasitoid Aridelus rufotestaceus (Braconidae) that had parasitised a nymph of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): underside of wasp. Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 293P]

Table: Natural enemies of Australasian green shield bug, *Glaucias amyoti* (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), from Plant-SyNZ database (10 December 2016). The reliability index shows the quality of evidence for the host association (0-10, 10=high quality).
Scientific Name	Common Name	Classification	Enemy Type	Reliability Index	Biostatus
Aridelus rufotestaceus Tobias, 1986	Shield-bug nymphal parasitoid (Wasp)	Hymenoptera: Braconidae	parasitoid	10	adventive
Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston, 1858)	Green vegetable bug egg parasitoid (Wasp)	Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae	parasitoid	10	adventive
Trissolcus oenone (Dodd, 1913)	Native shield-bug egg parasitoid (Wasp)	Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae	parasitoid	10	native

Host plants

Host plants of the Australasian green shield bug include a variety of native and naturalised trees and shrubs. Adults and juveniles feed by inserting a stylet into the plant and sucking plant sap and berries. Sometimes they may also be predaceous.

Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), nymph of with a pale head on a leaf of Shrubby haloragis, Haloragis erecta (Haloragaceae). Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 293L]

Second instar nymph of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on a leaf of Pittosporum crassifolium (Pittosporaceae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15KR]

First instar nymph of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on egg shells on a leaf of Pittosporum crassifolium (Pittosporaceae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15KU]

Fifth instar nymph of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on the underside of a leaf of Pittosporum eugenoides (Pittosporaceae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15KV]

Second instar nymph of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on leaf of Pseudopanax lessonii (Araliaceae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15L5]

Third instar nymph of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 1ZW0]

Second instar nymph of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on Haloragis erecta (Haloragaceae) . Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 1ZW1]

Fifth instar nymph of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on Coprosma robusta (Rubiaceae). Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 1ZW5]

Table: Host plants of the Australasian green shield bug, *Glaucias amyoti* (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) from Plant-SyNZ databa se (8 July 2018). The reliability score shows the quality of evidence for the host association (1-10, 10=high).
Common Name(s)	Scientific Name	Family	Reliability Index	Biostatus
Mangrove, Mānawa	Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. subsp. australasica (Walp.) J.Everett	Acanthaceae	10	indigenous, non-endemic
	Coprosma ×cunninghamii Hook.f.	Rubiaceae	10	endemic
Tree coprosma, Mamangi, Māmāngi	Coprosma arborea Kirk	Rubiaceae	10	endemic
Shining karamu, Kākaramū, Kākarangū, Karamū, Kāramuramu, Karangū, Patutiketike	Coprosma lucida J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.	Rubiaceae	10	endemic
	Coprosma macrocarpa Cheeseman subsp. minor A.P.Druce ex R.O.Gardner & Heads (2003)	Rubiaceae	10	endemic
Coastal Coprosma, Taupata	Coprosma repens A.Rich.	Rubiaceae	10	endemic
Glossy karamu, Kākaramū, Kākarangū, Karamū, Kāramuramu, Karangū	Coprosma robusta Raoul	Rubiaceae	10	endemic
Cabbage tree, Giant dracena, Grass palm, Palm lily, Sago palm, Ti, Kāuka, Kiokio, Kōuka, Tī, Tī awe, Ti kōuka, Tī para, Tī pua, Tī rākau, Whanake	Cordyline australis (G.Forst.) Endl.	Asparagaceae	9	endemic
Broadleaf, Huariki (fruit), Kāpuka, Māihīhi, Pāpāuma, Paraparauma, Tapatapauma	Griselinia littoralis Raoul	Griseliniaceae	10	endemic
Akakōpuka, Akapuka, Puka, Pukatea	Griselinia lucida G.Forst.	Griseliniaceae	10	endemic
Shrubby haloragis, Toatoa	Haloragis erecta (Banks ex Murray) Oken	Haloragaceae	9	endemic
Ivy, English ivy	Hedera helix L.	Araliaceae	9	naturalised
Chinese privet, Small-leaf privet	Ligustrum sinense Lour.	Oleaceae	10	naturalised
Australian ngaio, Boobialla, Tasmanian ngaio	Myoporum insulare R.Br.	Scrophulariaceae	10	naturalised
Ngaio	Myoporum laetum G.Forst.	Scrophulariaceae	10	endemic
Black maire, Maire, Maire raunui, Pau	Nestegis cunninghamii (Hook.f.) L.A.S.Johnson	Oleaceae	9	endemic
New Zealand passion flower, New Zealand passionfruit, Aka, Akakaikū, Akakōhia, Akakūkū, Akatororaro, Kāhia, Kōhia, Kūpapa, Pōhue, Pōpōhue, Kaimanu	Passiflora tetrandra Banks ex DC.	Passifloraceae	10	endemic
Ahikōmau, Hine-kaikōmako, Kahikōmako, Kaikōmako	Pennantia corymbosa J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.	Pennantiaceae	10	endemic
Kaikaro, Karo, Kīhihi	Pittosporum crassifolium Banks & Sol. ex A.Cunn.	Pittosporaceae	10	endemic
Lemonwood, Kīhihi, Tarata	Pittosporum eugenioides A.Cunn.	Pittosporaceae	10	endemic
Black matipo, Kaikaro, Kōhūhū, Kohukohu, Koihu, Kōwhiwhi, Māpauriki, Pōhiri, Pōwhiri, Rautāwhiri, Tāwhiri	Pittosporum tenuifolium Sol. ex Gaertn.	Pittosporaceae	10	endemic
Golden tainui, Gum-digger's soap, Kūmarahou, Kūmararaunui, Pāpapa	Pomaderris kumeraho A.Cunn.	Rhamnaceae	10	endemic
Coastal five finger, Houmāpara, Houpara, Houparapara, Kokotai, Oho, Parapara, Whauwhau	Pseudopanax lessonii (DC.) K. Koch	Araliaceae	10	endemic
Cattley guava, Cherry purple guava, Purple guava, Strawberry guava	Psidium cattleyanum Sabine	Myrtaceae	10	naturalised
	Raukaua simplex (G.Forst.) A.D.Mitch., Frodin & Heads var. sinclairii (Hook.f.) A.D.Mitch., Frodin & Heads	Araliaceae	10	endemic
Seven-finger, Kohi, Kotētē, Patate, Patatē, Patē, Patētē	Schefflera digitata J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.	Araliaceae	10	endemic
Bullibul, Bullibulli, Large kangaroo apple, Pōpopo, Poroporo, Poroporotanguru	Solanum laciniatum Aiton	Solanaceae	10	indigenous, non-endemic
Flannel leaf, Kerosene plant, Tobacco weed, Wild tobacco tree, Woolly nightshade	Solanum mauritianum Scop.	Solanaceae	10	naturalised
European linden	Tilia ×europaea L.	Malvaceae	10	cultivated
Hebe, Shrub speedwell, Veronica, Speedwell, Koromiko	Veronica sp.	Plantaginaceae	6	endemic
New Zealand oak, Kauere, Pūriri	Vitex lucens Kirk	Labiatae	10	endemic

Prey/hosts

Although Australasian green shield bugs are primarily vegetarian they occasionally feed on other insects.

Table: Prey of Australasian green shield bug, *Glaucias amyoti* (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), from Plant-SyNZ database (1 June 2015). The reliability score shows the quality of evidence for the host association (0-10, 10=high quality).
Scientific Name	Common Name	Classification	Reliability	Biostatus
Caliroa cerasi (Linnaeus, 1758)	Pear and cherry slug	Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae	10	adventive

Additional information

Why Stink bugs

Pentatomidae are often called stink bugs because when handled they emit a strong smell. The nymphs have prominent glands on the upper (dorsal) side of their abdomen, while adults have glands between the bases of their legs. The chemicals may deter predators and cause other bugs to drop to the ground, but some of the chemicals produced may also act as aggregation pheromones.

Research Project

What triggers egg development in the spring and cessation of egg production in the autumn. Australasian green shield bugs overwinter adults that hide among tree and shrub leaves, but may be seen basking in the sun. It is not known if they feed during this time. At some point in the spring they start feeding and eggs start developing in the ovaries of the females. In Auckland eggs may be found in late November. Overwintering adults could be collected and kept under different day length regimes to determine the environmental trigger for egg production.

In late summer, egg laying ceases. Is this caused by decreasing day length affecting the adults already laying eggs or those that have not started? Is the trigger a specific day length or decreasing day length?

Information sources

Cameron PJ 1989. Nezara viridula (L.), green vegetable bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). In: Cameron PJ, Hill RL, Bain J, Thomas WP ed. A. review of biological control of invertebrate pests and weeds in New Zealand 1874 to 1987, Technical Communication No. 10. Wallingford, England, UK, CAB International. Pp. 111-114.

Cumber RA 1964. The egg-parasite complex (Scelionidae: Hymenoptera) of shield bugs (Pentatomidae, Acanthosomidae: Heteroptera) in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Science 7 (4): 536-554.

Lariviere M-C, Larochelle A 2004. Heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera): catalogue. Fauna of New Zealand 50: 1-326.

Plant-SyNZ: Invertebrate herbivore-host plant association database. plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz/.

Shaw SR, Salerno G, Colazza S, Peri E. 2001. First record of Aridelus rufotestaceus Tobias (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Euphorinae) parasitizing Nezara viridula nymphs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) with observations on its immature stages and development. Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 10: 131-137.

Acknowledgements

Eric Scott for helpful suggestions.

The New Zealand Plant & Food Research Institute Limited (Plant & Food Research) for permission to use photographs.

Other images

Second instar nymph of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15L4]

First instar nymphs of Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) clustered on empty egg shells. Creator: DSIR photographers. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 3BZ]

Eggs of the Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on the underside of a leaf of Pittosporum crassifolium, the dark coloured eggs are parasitized by a wasp, probably the Native shield-bug egg parasitoid, Trissolcus oenone (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15KS]

Eggs of the Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on the underside of a leaf of Pittosporum crassifolium, the dark coloured eggs are parasitized by a wasp, probably the Native shield-bug egg parasitoid, Trissolcus oenone (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15KL]

Adult wasp, Trissolcus sp. (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae), and exit hole in egg of the Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on the underside of a leaf of Pittosporum crassifolium Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15L1]

Adult wasp, Trissolcus sp. (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae), and exit hole in egg of the Australasian green shield bug, Glaucias amyoti (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on the underside of a leaf of Pittosporum crassifolium. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 15L2]

Update history

1 August 2018, NA Martin, Host Plant list updated.

1 February 2018. NA Martin. Updated captions of photos of egg parasitoids.

1 August 2017. NA Martin. Photos of mating pair and just hatched eggs added. Host plant table updated.

12 December 2016. NA Martin. Natural Enemies Table: corrected biostatus collumn

1 June 2016. NA Martin. Annual cycle: updated and added extra photos. Recognition: rewritten and added extra photos. Natural enemies: updated, extra photos. Prey: added. Research project added.

INTERESTING INSECTS

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