Green shield bug,
Palomena prasina
(07/2021 in Oberursel)


Little stinker in its fourth instar. Two moults remain until adulthood. It's a very common European species. You can find them from North Africa across Europe to Central Asia. It prefers to live on deciduous trees (linden, alder), bushes, nettles and thistles. I found this one below a linden tree. In German we call them Grüne Stinkwanze (green stink bug). My friends from North America have a very similar bug with that name (Chinavia hilaris). But they differ much in color in their larval stage and have a few small differences as adults. Both species are member of the Pentatomidae family, generally called shield bugs or stink bugs. They have in common that they release a pungent defensive spray when threatened, disturbed or crrrrushhhhed.💚

🏨🐜 News from the insect hotel:


Oops! Post #404! Time for a bug report! That's my bud, the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys). Since 2011, this species has been detected in Germany and comes originally from East Asia. They are also found in North and South America. Often on house walls, they sometimes get lost inside. They can't survive the winter in warm houses, so I left it free.🕊

🏨🐜 News from the insect hotel:


That's my bud, the stink bug! I thought of it as a different species, but thanks to a friendly hint I know that it's the introduced species Halyomorpha halys. Since 2011, this species has been detected in Germany and comes originally from East Asia.

It sat on my finger for about 8 minutes.☝ Then my patience was over. It has nothing to do with the little gift that made it to me.💩😂 I was hoping it would fly away, for recording.😐 It's very affectionate.😅😘 This stink bug has been with me for at least a month now. Sometimes it lands on my desk and struggles to get back up.😂 Stupid sweet little bug!❤ I'm very happy about this roommate, but I've just read that they don't survive the room temperatures in winter. Next time I see it, I free it! 🤗