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Nezara viridula
Southern Green Shieldbug
Family: Pentatomidae

A recent arrival in the UK, this large shieldbug 
differs from the much commoner Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina by the 3-5 white spots along the front edge of the scutellum and by the two dark marks at its corners. This species is uniformly green, lacking dark puncture marks, and the wing membrane is pale (but see freshly emerged P. prasina). In some individuals, the head and front margin of the pronotum is cream-coloured.

Native to Africa, but frequently imported to the UK in food produce,
it is widespread in southern Europe and has been recorded annually from sites in southern England since 2003 on various foodplants including tomato, beans, golden-rod, Lavatera, Viburnum and hollyhock. Many records are from allotments where bugs are associated with cultivated runner beans. Adults often overwinter indoors.

Adult: All year
Length 11-15 mm

see illustrated life stages chart


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Nezara viridula Southern Green Shieldbug

Adult: ©Steve Gill

Nezara viridula Southern Green Shieldbug Nezara viridula Southern Green Shieldbug
Adult: north London (September 2008) ©Tristan Bantock

Adults: north London (September 2008) ©Tristan Bantock
Nezara viridula Southern Green Shieldbug nymph Nezara viridula Southern Green Shieldbug nymph
Early instar nymphs: Cambs (June 2007) ©Keith Edkins

Mid instar nymph: ©Steve Gill

Nezara viridula Southern Green Shieldbug nymph Nezara viridula Southern Green Shieldbug nymph
Mid instar nymph: ©Steve Gill

Final instar nymph: Cambs (September 2007) ©Keith Edkins
Nezara viridula Southern Green Shieldbug nymph Nezara viridula Southern Green Shieldbug nymph
Final instar nymph: ©Steve Gill

Final instar nymph: north London (September 2008) ©Tristan Bantock