Giant shield bug
Newly hatched nymphs of this giant shield bug are bright red, a warning colour they lose as they mature into golden green, well camouflaged adults.
| Where | Secondary forest and garden shrubs |
|---|---|
| Size | 23 to 30 mm body length |
| When | January to December |
The Giant shield bug is a large, flat bodied stink bug with golden green to green adults, while newly hatched nymphs are bright red, fading through orange to green as they grow.
It feeds on Dillenia suffruticosa and has also been found on Syzygium polyanthum, and like other Tessaratomidae it can release a strong smelling defensive spray when disturbed.
Traits
Habitat
Woodland
Colour
Green, Red, Orange
Active
Day
To people
Not known to bother people directly, though it releases a strong smelling spray if handled or disturbed.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Is smaller, about 24 to 28 mm long, and duller green brown rather than the golden green of the Giant shield bug.
Questions
Is the Giant shield bug dangerous to people?
Not known to bother people directly, though it releases a strong smelling spray if handled or disturbed.
When can you see the Giant shield bug?
The Giant shield bug can be seen from January to December, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by Ong Jyh Seng, CC BY‑SA 4.0, iNaturalist Licence
The plate on this page is shared under the same licence as its source, CC BY-SA.
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True bugs›Tessaratomidae›Pycanum
Last updated 2026-09-27. Every entry is checked against published sources.