David Element's Wildlife Web Page Bugs 24 - Southern Green Shieldbugs

David Element

Wildlife Photography and Digital Video Images

_______________________________________________________Bugs 24 - Southern Green Shieldbugs

SOUTHERN GREEN SHIELDBUG Nezara viridula (NYMPHS)

SOUTHERN GREEN SHIELDBUG Nezara viridula (NYMPH)

SOUTHERN GREEN SHIELDBUG Nezara viridula

GREEN SHIELDBUG Palomena prasina, SOUTHERN GREEN SHIELDBUG Nezara viridula (FINAL INSTAR NYMPHS AND ADULTS FOR COMPARISON)

The strikingly marked and very variable nymphs and the rather more mundane plain green adult of the Southern Green Shieldbug Nezara viridula, a recently established European import (possibly in horticultural produce) are shown to scale apart from in the final two photographs. Most of the life-history has been shown despite the fact that all of the images were captured during a six day period in late September. This species arrived too late to be included in Roger Hawkins' 'Shieldbugs of Surrey' although it was correctly predicted as a future colonist by the author - and judging by the number of adults seen the establishment over a much wider area will not take long. The bugs are shown feeding on ripe Elderberries Sambucus sp., Woody Nightshade Solanum dulcamara berries and unripe Blackberries Rubus sp.. As a matter of coincidence conveniently positioned Green Shieldbugs Palomena prasina posed alongside the newcomers to enable a direct comparison to be made. Although the adults are similar in colour close examination of the shape will reveal several significant differences. Two small breeding colonies were found in South London several hundred metres apart. Note the three small white spots immediately behind the pronotum of the adult Southern Green Shieldbug.