Palomena prasina
Date First/Last Recorded in the Garden: N/A Seen Regularly
Family Pentatomidae: Shield Bugs
A good sized family, with around 4700 species recorded world wide. They are mostly phytophagus (plant feeders), sporting piercing sucking mouth parts. These are the insects that Americans often refer to as Stink Bugs due to their containing certain compounds which smell strongly when they release them to put off predators. They also, according to online sources, contain cyanide compounds to deter predators.
Green Sheild Bug – Palomena prasina
One of the most common insects found in the garden and present it seems for most of the year. The species, like many bugs, has five Instars (developmental stages) before the Adult finally emerges during the last moult.
In the Garden
This species is known to feed frequently on Hazel which may explain why we get so many in the Garden. We often record them on both the Apple Tree and the Buddleia. Finding the Instars can be good fun during the summer months, some of which are shown below.
The first instar, the hatchling stage is shown in this video short we recorded on 20th July 2023
The second instar looks rather alien we feel, and like many had initially thought was a different species completely.
By the third instar they are starting to gain some of the ‘shield shape’ but still rather different to the adult.
Still looking to get images of the fourth and fifth instars, but of course they all end looking like this. Shown here soaking up the sun on a hazel leaf.
Wildlife Garden 