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 (NYMPH)

SOUTHERN GREEN SHIELDBUG Nezara viridula (NYMPHS)

SOUTHERN GREEN SHIELDBUG Nezara viridula (NYMPH)

SOUTHERN GREEN SHIELDBUG Nezara viridula (NYMPHS)

SOUTHERN GREEN SHIELDBUG Nezara viridula (NYMPH)

SOUTHERN GREEN SHIELDBUG Nezara viridula (NYMPH)

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. Part of the life-history has been shown. 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. Although the adults are similar in colour to Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina, close examination of the shape will reveal several significant differences. Note the three small white spots immediately behind the pronotum of the adult Southern Green Shieldbug. An adult form with pale margins, photographed in Portugal, is shown in several of the photographs