Southern Green Stink Bug

Description:

Adults are approximately a centimeter long, bright green and shield-shaped. They differ from the similar N. hilaris species by the shape of their scent gland openings, which are short and wide in N. viridula, and narrow and long in N. hilaris.[1] Several distinct morphs can be distinguished by the pattern of their exoskeleton coloration. The back can be completely green in one morph, the other has three parallel white spots on the scutellum, and the third has white front margins on the head and the thorax

Habitat:

Nezara viridula is a cosmopolitan species, living in tropical and subtropical regions of Americas, Africa, Asia, Australasia and Europe between 45 degrees north and 45 degrees south. Its exact origin is unknown, but it is believed to have originated from the Ethiopia region of East Africa, from where it has spread around the world thanks to its strong flight and human trade routes

Notes:

It is a highly polyphagous herbivore, able to feed on plants from over 30 families, both monocots and dicots. It has a preference for legumes, preferring to feed on plants that are fruiting or forming pods. The most important factor limiting the population in temperate zone is winter cold. Mortality of overwintering individuals is between 30 and 80%, and the population cannot survive in areas where the average mid-winter temperature is below 5ºC. Females are more likely to survive the winter than males, as are larger individuals and those that develop reddish-brown coloration. In recent decades, the species seems to be expanding its range towards the north, possibly because of global warming. The animal's ability to survive the winter also depends on the timely onset of diapause.