| Green Shield Bug (Palomena prasina (Linnaeus, 1761)) |
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Scientific name: Palomena prasina (Linnaeus, 1761) Common name: Green Shield Bug French name: Punaise verte, Punaise verte des bois Order: Heteroptera Family: Pentatomidae Wingspan : 12 to 14 mm. Biotope: Various habitats, deciduous woodlands, bushes, bramble bushes, orchards, grasslands. Geographic area: All Europe. Observation period : April to October. One single brood per year. |
The Green Shield Bug has a rather flat body. It is smooth and marked with black spots. It is a green colour, except the tip of the membranous wings, in spring. The adult overwinters and turns to reddish brown in autumn. The antennae have 5 segments. The second and the third one are the same length. The fourth and the fifth ones are reddish. The eggs are green and laid in group on the underside of the vegetation. The Green Shield Bug feeds on plant sap and on berries. This is a harmless insect, but it can release a nasty smell when it feels threatened. Palomena viridissima is very similar though less frequent. The 3rd segment of Palomena viridissima's antennae is one third shorter than the second segment. It has a marginally convex forward edge of the pronotum. |
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The kitchen's wall is not an appropriate place to lay eggs. I have removed the eggs after the photo session. I found that they were strongly stuck against the wallpaper. It seems to me that the 3rd segment of the antenna is the same length than the 2nd one, that's why I think this is Palomena viridissima. |
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Here is a more suitable place for the Green Shield Bug's eggs. |
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I was picking my wild strawberries when I found this juvenile Green Shield Bug. I have picked one less strawberry on this day. |
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This juvenile shield bug is at its third instar. It has three moults to undergo before becoming an adult. |
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Mating. |
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These Green Shield Bugs, observed in autumn on a cherry tree leaf, are preparing to winter. The fall of the last dead leaves is imminent, and they will soon be down on the ground. I have read that these Green Shield Bugs change of colour during winter. I have personally never observed this. |
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This close-up view enables a good observation of the antennae articles of Palomena prasina. The first article, close to the head, is very short. The second and the third article are the same length. I am basing the species identification on this key. The fourth and the fifth articles, which end the antenna, are reddish. You can also see the two small eyespots located on the upper side of the head. |
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The larvae of Palomena prasina become adults after undergoing five moults. I think that this larva is at the fourth instar. It has two moults to undergo before becoming an adult. I am puzzled by the articles of the antennae. The last two segments are red like on adults, but the second and third articles of the adult antennae seem to be merged in a single one here. |
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I think that this larva is at the fifth instar. It has only one moult to undergo before becoming an adult. |
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You can see the membranous wings on this picture. |
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The eggs, initially pale green, become blackish grey before the young shieldbugs hatch out. |
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The young Green Shield Bugs are black and brown at their first development stage, just after hatching out. |
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Close-up view on other newborns. |
André Bon March 2019