Southern green stink bug

Nezara viridula

1. Identification

• Common name: Southern green stink bug
• Scientific name: Nezara viridula L.
• Order: Hemiptera
• Family: Pentatomidae

2. Pest description

• Adults 12–15 mm, shield-shaped body and uniform green colouring.
• Nymphs with variable colouring, changing from reddish-black to green.
• Antennae with dark bands on the last segments.
• Piercing-sucking mouthparts, feeding on plant tissues.
• Highly mobile species, with a tendency to aggregate on sensitive crops.

3. Main hosts

• Tomato.
• Bean.
• Pepper.
• Soybean.
• Maize.
• Various fruit trees.
• Wild plants that act as a reservoir.

4. Symptoms and damage

• Punctures on fruits, leaves and stems.
• Whitish or yellowish spots at the feeding sites.
• Deformations and hardening of the fruits.
• Premature drop of young fruits.
• Transmission of opportunistic microorganisms through the punctures.
• Significant damage to vegetable and field crops.

5. Biological cycle

• Several generations per year in hot climates.
• Eggs laid in clusters on the underside of the leaves.
• Nymphs develop through 5 instars.
• Adults active during spring, summer and autumn.
• Overwintering in natural shelters or human structures.

6. Monitoring

• Direct observation of adults, nymphs and egg masses.
• Checking for typical damage on fruits and leaves.
• Intensive monitoring on vegetable crops during the summer.
• Recording of aggregations on wild plants near the crops.
• Assessment of attack intensity to determine the need for intervention.

7. Management measures

• Cultural: removal of wild host plants, elimination of crop residues and management of the surrounding vegetation.
• Biological: promotion of natural parasitoids such as Trissolcus basalis and conservation of generalist predators.
• Integrated protection: regular monitoring, interventions only when justified, judicious use of authorised insecticides and integration of cultural practices to reduce population pressure.

Bibliographic references

• EPPO Global Database – Nezara viridula.
• CABI Invasive Species Compendium – N. viridula.
• Panizzi, A. R. et al. (2000). Biology and ecology of stink bugs in agricultural systems.
• McPherson, J. E. et al. (1982). Life history and distribution of Nezara viridula.