Green shield bug
In autumn it turns from green to bronze, spends winter that colour, and goes green again in spring.
| Where | Broadleaf trees, hazel, bramble, garden shrubs |
|---|---|
| Size | 12 to 14 mm |
| When | March to October |
Disturbed, it releases a sharp-smelling fluid from a gland on its thorax. On skin the smell lasts for hours, and it deters birds just as well.
The mouth works like a needle, piercing leaf and fruit to draw sap. What it leaves on fruit is a small pit ringed with hardened tissue.
Traits
Habitat
Garden
Colour
Green, Brown
Active
Day
To people
Harmless; leaves a strong smell if handled
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Questions
Is the Green shield bug dangerous to people?
Harmless; leaves a strong smell if handled.
When can you see the Green shield bug?
The Green shield bug can be seen from March to October, by day.
Plate retouched from a museum specimen photo by Aleksi Lapakko, Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility, CC BY 4.0, GBIF Licence
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True bugs›Shield bugs›Palomena
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.