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Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

stink bug

Pentatomidae

Stink bug (Photo: S.A. Marshall, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph)
Click to enlarge.

Beginner

Scientific Name
The most common species of predatory stink bug found in apple orchards is Podisus maculiventris Say (spined soldier bug)

Identification

The Pentatomidae, or stink bugs, are large (1–2 cm) oval or elliptical-shaped insects that have a well developed shield and an odoriferous gland, the secretion of which repels other predators.

Eggs:
  • Barrel-shaped eggs (1 mm) are laid in masses of up to 20.
  • Eggs of spined soldier bug have a characteristic circle of small spines at the top end.
  • Deposited on underside of leaves.

Nymphs:

  • First instar nymphs are red with dark brown to black areas.
  • In later instars the abdominal segments are orange with black borders, and yellow, angular spots.

Adults:

  • Light, pinkish-brown when newly emerged, but later become darker brown with reddish marks on the corium (wing) and they have a pointed thoracic shield.
  • They seldom fly but tend to walk around on the trunks and branches of plant hosts.

Interaction With Host
Pentatomids are both phytophagous and predaceous, attacking a wide range of generally slow moving prey.  Adults and nymphs use their proboscis or beak to harpoon prey and suck out their contents.  They will feed on all life stages of suitable prey.  Plant feeding also occurs, and moisture and secondary nutrients are probably obtained in this manner.

Often Confused With
Plant-feeding stinkbugs – the proboscis or beak of predatory species, which are used to harpoon and hold prey, are usually shorter and thicker than plant in feedings species  

Period of Activity
Adults overwinter under debris on the soil surface and become active in late April to early May. Podisus maculiventris occurs in low numbers in fruit orchards, and there are probably two generations per year.

Insects Attacked
Over 90 species of insects have been reported as suitable prey of P. maculiventris.  Known prey in apple orchards includes aphids, phytophagous mites and larvae of caterpillar.

Monitoring and Management
All life stages, particularly eggs, may be observed during routine monitoring activities.

Advanced

Scientific Name
The most common species of predatory stink bug found in apple orchards is Podisus maculiventris Say (spined soldier bug)

Identification
The Pentatomidae, or stink bugs, are large (1–2 cm) oval or elliptical-shaped insects that have a well developed scutellum or shield and an odoriferous gland, the secretion of which repels other predators. This gland is located on the 3rd thoracic segment in adults and dorsally in the 3rd–5th abdominal segments in nymphs.  

Eggs:

  • Barrel-shaped eggs (1mm) are laid in masses of up to 20.
  • Eggs of spined soldier bug have a characteristic circle of small spines at the top end.
  • Deposited on underside of leaves.

Nymphs:

  • First instar nymphs are red with dark brown to black areas.
  • In later instars the abdominal segments are orange with black borders, and yellow, angular spots may occur on the pro- and mesothorax.

Adults:

  • Light, pinkish-brown when newly emerged, but later become darker brown with reddish marks on the corium (thickened portion of the forwing), have pointed angles on the thoracic shield, and a median longitudinal stripe dorsally.  
  • They seldom fly but tend to walk around on the trunks and branches of plant hosts.

Often Confused With
Plant-feeding stinkbugs – the proboscis or beak of predatory species, which are used to harpoon and hold prey, are usually shorter and thicker than plant in feedings species 

Interaction With Host
Pentatomids are both phytophagous and predaceous, attacking a wide range of generally slow moving prey. Generally, first instar nymphs do not feed, and both nymphs and adults are cannibalistic.  Spined soldier bug is the commonest species of Podisus in North America and occurs throughout Canada and the U.S. It is found on fruit trees and other agricultural crops, on cover crops and ornamentals, and on forest trees.  

Adults and nymphs use their proboscis or beak to harpoon prey and suck out their contents.  They will feed on all life stages of suitable prey.  Plant feeding also occurs, and moisture and secondary nutrients are probably obtained in this manner.

Period of Activity
Adults overwinter under debris on the soil surface and become active in late April to early May. Individual males and females mate several times, and the pre-oviposition period lasts 3–10 days. Eggs are deposited singly or in groups of 18–20, and each female lays about 300 eggs in an oviposition period of about 40 days. The incubation period is 4–8 days, and egg development does not occur below 15°C. Longevity of males and females averages about 75 days and 126 days, respectively.  Podisus maculiventris occurs in low numbers in fruit orchards, and there are probably two generations per year.

Insects Attacked
Over 90 species of insects have been reported as suitable prey of P. maculiventris, the largest number occurring in the Lepidoptera. Known prey in apple orchards consists of aphids, phytophagous mites and larvae of Lepidoptera. Adult P. maculiventris may feed on larvae of the spotted tentiform leafminer, Phyllonorycter blancardella (Fabr.), by inserting their proboscis through the wall of the mine.

Monitoring and Management
All life stages, particularly eggs, may be observed during routine monitoring activities.