Southern Green Stink Bug - (Nezara viridula)

Southern Green Stink Bugs may look like bright green gems, but they can be pests in warm and humid regions.

Staff Writer (5/19/2015): The Southern Green Stink Bug is a large insect that can grow to be the size of an adult's thumbnail. The body of the insect is shaped like a classic shield. They are bright green, full-bodied, plump, slow-moving and abundant in the South and far into Central America. It is a major pest to soybean farmers and as they destroy their crops. Cotton plants are also susceptible to the insect's appetite.

True to their name, Southern Green Stink Bugs can emit a noxious smelling chemical from their bodies if they feel threatened. The odor is foul enough to turn away most any predator. While this non-native insect's usual habitat is on short weedy plants, they are commonly seen on buildings and homes along door frames and high on walls. Their presence in these places is also considered a nuisance.

©2005-2017 www.InsectIdentification.org. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction Permitted. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from www.InsectIdentification.org is strictly prohibited. Material presented throughout this website is for entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for scientific research or medical advice (insect bites, etc...). Please consult licensed, degreed professionals for such information. Email corrections / Comments to InsectIdentification at Gmail dot com.

Details of the:
Southern Green Stink Bug

Category: True Bug
Common name: Southern Green Stink Bug
Scientific Name: Nezara viridula

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Hemiptera

Family: Pentatomidae

Genus: Nezara

Species: viridula

Size (Adult, Length): 14mm to 17mm (0.55in to 0.67in)

Identifying Colors: green, black

Additional Descriptors: speckled, large, slow

North American Reach (Though Not Limited To*): Alabama; Arkansas; Florida; Georgia; Kentucky; Louisiana; Mississippi; North Carolina; Oklahoma; South Carolina; Tennessee; Texas; Virginia; West Virginia; Mexico

* Keep in mind that an insect's reach is not limited by lines on a map and therefore may appear in areas/regions/states beyond those listed above.

BUGFINDER: What Kind of Bug is This...

BUGFINDER allows for a quick search of the Insect Identification database by selecting primary color, secondary color, number of legs and the territory / state in question. If only one color is present on your insect, select it again as its SECONDARY color. Remember that the more details you can offer, the better your chances of finding a match. As a rule of thumb, six legs are typical for most insects whereas spiders generally have eight legs.

Primary Color:

Secondary Color:

Number of Legs:

State / Province:

General Category: