What are green shield bugs?

These bugs are sap-sucking insects that can be found on a wide range of plants. The adults, when viewed from above, have a distinctive shield-like shape. There are more than 30 species of shield bug in Britain, most are brown in colour, whilst these two species are green in the adult stage. 

Symptoms

The name shield bug is due to the shield-like shape of the adult insects when seen from above. See below for distinctive features of the native green shield bug and the Southern green shield bug.

Green shield bug (native)

• When fully grown the common green shield bug (Palomena prasina) is a broad, flattened, green insect with a strongly contrasting blackish brown darker area at the rear end, where the hind wings cross
• The adult insects are about 10mm (about 3/8in) long and are often seen basking in the sun in late summer on a wide variety of plants
• This insect is native to Britain and is of widespread occurrence, especially in southern England
• Nymphs of the native green shield bug have a rounded shape and are pale green, with some black markings during the earlier instars

Southern green shield bug

• In 2003, another species of shield bug, the southern green shield bug (Nezara viridula) was found breeding for the first time in the London area
• This arrival from elsewhere in Europe is up to 12 mm (about ½ in) long, making it slightly larger than the native green shield bug
• The adults are uniformly green and lack a dark area at the rear end of the body
• Immature southern green shield bugs are green or black with many white, yellow or pinkish-red circular markings on their upper surface
• This species can cause damage to some vegetables, especially runner and French bean pods, but it remains to be seen whether it will become established to the extent that it becomes a pest
• Whilst this bug can be a problem in other parts of the world, the evidence so far in mainland Britain is that the southern green shield bug does not become numerous until late summer or early autumn, by which time beans are coming to the end of their cropping period and so little damage is caused
• In 2018 this species was numerous in south east England and was the sixth most frequent enquiry to the RHS entomologists

Control

• The native common green shield bug is harmless and control measures are not required
• The southern green shield bug has not yet become numerous enough to cause damage to crop plants. Large numbers have only been seen from August onwards when crop damage is likely to be insignificant and therefore control is unlikely to be necessary 

Biology

• Sometimes mistaken for beetles, shield bugs belong to a different group of insects, the Hemiptera or true bugs, these all have sucking mouthparts
• Green shield feed by sucking sap from a wide range of plants but the native green shield bug causes no noticeable damage to cultivated plants, even when numerous
• Both types of green shield bug overwinter as adults but before seeking sheltered places they are often seen in late summer and autumn sitting on plant foliage in the sun. They often turn brown when overwintering
• They are also active in early summer when they lay small clusters of eggs on the undersides of leaves
• The nymphs have a rounded body shape and gradually take on the adult appearance as they develop
• In recent years the native green shield bug has become more abundant and widespread in Britain
• The non-native southern green shield bug has become established, and is likely to become more widespread, at least in southern England
• There are about 30 other species of shield bugs, which are brown or yellowish green with reddish markings. Some of these can also be found in gardens, none of these will damage garden plants
• Some more information on British shield bugs can be found at the British Bugs website