Head to head
Green Shield Bug vs Stink Bug
Green Shield Bug
VS Stink Bug
The green shield bug is a stink bug: it belongs to the family Pentatomidae, which is called the shield bugs in Britain and the stink bugs in North America.
| Green Shield Bug | Stink Bug | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Palomena prasina | Pentatomidae (a family of several thousand species) |
| Relationship | A member of the stink bug family | The family that includes the green shield bug |
| Shape | A flat, shield-shaped body about 1.2 cm long, with a triangular plate between the wings | A broad, flattened, shield-shaped body outline, which gives the family its alternate name, shield bug |
| Colour | Bright green in summer, turning dull bronze-brown in autumn | Varies across the many species in the family |
| Defence | Gives off a foul-smelling liquid from glands on its body if it is disturbed | Releases a strong, unpleasant odour from glands on its abdomen when disturbed or crushed |
| Diet | Sap from plants such as hazel, bramble, and nettle, sucked through a needle-like beak | Plant sap, fruit, and seeds, with several species considered significant agricultural pests |
| Winter | Spends the winter as an adult in leaf litter, under bark, or in sheltered corners | The invasive brown marmorated stink bug gathers in large groups inside homes and buildings each autumn |
| Range and status | Gardens, hedgerows, and woodland edges across Europe and parts of western Asia, and Not Evaluated globally | Nearly worldwide, on every continent except Antarctica, and Least Concern |
Green Shield Bug vs Stink Bug: common questions
Is a shield bug the same as a stink bug?
Yes, the family Pentatomidae is called shield bugs in Britain and stink bugs in North America.
Why does the green shield bug change colour?
It is bright green in summer, which blends with leaves, and turns bronze-brown in autumn, which helps it to hide in leaf litter over winter.
Why do stink bugs smell?
They release a strong, unpleasant odour from glands on the abdomen when disturbed, a defence that gives the family its name.