Poecilocoris splendidulus
Its golden green shell flashes rainbow colors in sunlight, then fades to dull blue violet once the insect dies.
| Where | Forests and shrubland from Korea to Japan |
|---|---|
| Size | 13 to 19 mm body length |
| When | April to November |
This shield-shaped jewel bug carries a golden green back broken by purplish red patches, with a metallic shine that shifts color as the viewing angle changes. Its domed, rounded outline and bright coloring make it easy to pick out among duller local shield bugs.
Adults are seen from spring into autumn on shrubs and forest edges. Unlike many shield bugs, it gives off only a faint, mild scent rather than the sharp defensive odor typical of the family, and it is sometimes bred and kept as a display insect.
Traits
Habitat
Woodland
Colour
Green, Red, Metallic
Active
Day
To people
Sometimes bred and kept as a display insect; harmless to people, with no reports of biting or stinging.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Similar golden green background colour but patterned with bold, continuous red stripes rather than the looser purplish red patches shown by this species.
Questions
Is Poecilocoris splendidulus dangerous to people?
Sometimes bred and kept as a display insect; harmless to people, with no reports of biting or stinging.
When can you see Poecilocoris splendidulus?
Poecilocoris splendidulus can be seen from April to November, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by Gabriel, CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist Licence
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True bugs›Jewel bugs›Poecilocoris
Last updated 2026-09-27. Every entry is checked against published sources.