Southern green stink bug
Southern green stink bugs turn from green to reddish brown before winter for camouflage, then switch back to green before mating resumes in spring.
| Where | Farmland, vegetable gardens, orchards |
|---|---|
| Size | 11.5 to 16.5 mm long |
| When | June to November |
It is a shield-shaped bug that is plain green in summer, with three small pale spots at the base of the scutellum and green antennae with narrow red bands.
Before winter, it changes colour to reddish brown, likely for camouflage and warmth during diapause, then turns green again once mating starts.
Traits
Habitat
Farmland
Colour
Green, Brown
Active
Day
To people
Crop pest; sucks sap from fruit and vegetables.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Green shieldbug is entirely green with no pale spots at the base of the scutellum, and it does not turn reddish brown for winter.
Questions
Is the Southern green stink bug dangerous to people?
Crop pest; sucks sap from fruit and vegetables.
When can you see the Southern green stink bug?
The Southern green stink bug can be seen from June to November, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by 0959kedi, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons Licence
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Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.