Harvey County Parks

2 weeks ago

CRITTER OF THE WEEK:
Green Stink Bug
Chinavia halaris
The green stink bug is a sleek and brightly colored insect. They are also called green soldier bugs, and their appearance changes as they molt. Named for their color and the smell they can produce, this insect has a large scent gland beneath its thorax. When disturbed, they discharge a foul smelling liquid. Green stink bugs can be found throughout the state of Kansas and in most of the United States. They are the most common type of stink bug in North America. Habitat includes woodland areas, cultivated fields, orchards and gardens. Adults are shield shaped, about 15mm and have fully developed wings. Many adult individuals have a thin yellow border around their head and pronotum (plate-like structure that covers the thorax of some insects). They have six legs and long antennae that are divided into segments. Early instars (developmental period between molts) are round, red, black and white. They later become more colorful, and look more like adults after every molt. They feed on plants, seeds, and fruits. Both adults and nymphs have needle-like mouth parts capable of piercing plant matter. To eat, the green stink bug injects digestive enzymes into their food. The enzymes liquefy the item so they can eat it. This causes damage to the fruit or seed. Older green stink bugs prefer developing seed and fruit, so they are considered pests. Extremely polyphagous (able to feed on various kinds of food), they will eat vegetables, soybean, cotton, tobacco, flowering dogwood, and many other plants. Some of their favorite items are black cherry, elderberry, peaches, nectarines, and grapes. Green stink bugs become active in the spring when temperatures warm. You might see them in May, but it is much more common to see them in June. After mating females lay their eggs on the underside of a host plant’s leaf. They are barrel shaped, and usually laid in rows of twelve or more. At first, they are yellow/green but later turn pink. Eggs hatch in about seven days. These insects undergo an incomplete metamorphosis, which means that immatures resemble the adults. They go through five instar stages. Development from egg to adult takes about thirty five days, but depends on temperature. In warm weather, an adult may live for two months. When temperatures drop, young stink bugs will hibernate in leaf litter or under tree bark and emerge the next spring. In Kansas, the green stink bug has one generation per year. In the southern range they have two generations. Birds, amphibians, reptiles and other insects all eat green stink bugs. The individual pictured here was found on July 12 at the Harvey County Osage Nature Trails, on a blackberry plant.CRITTER OF THE WEEK:
Green Stink Bug
Chinavia halaris
The green stink bug is a sleek and brightly colored insect. They are also called green soldier bugs, and their appearance changes as they molt. Named for their color and the smell they can produce, this insect has a large scent gland beneath its thorax. When disturbed, they discharge a foul smelling liquid. Green stink bugs can be found throughout the state of Kansas and in most of the United States. They are the most common type of stink bug in North America. Habitat includes woodland areas, cultivated fields, orchards and gardens. Adults are shield shaped, about 15mm and have fully developed wings. Many adult individuals have a thin yellow border around their head and pronotum (plate-like structure that covers the thorax of some insects). They have six legs and long antennae that are divided into segments. Early instars (developmental period between molts) are round, red, black and white. They later become more colorful, and look more like adults after every molt. They feed on plants, seeds, and fruits. Both adults and nymphs have needle-like mouth parts capable of piercing plant matter. To eat, the green stink bug injects digestive enzymes into their food. The enzymes liquefy the item so they can eat it. This causes damage to the fruit or seed. Older green stink bugs prefer developing seed and fruit, so they are considered pests. Extremely polyphagous (able to feed on various kinds of food), they will eat vegetables, soybean, cotton, tobacco, flowering dogwood, and many other plants. Some of their favorite items are black cherry, elderberry, peaches, nectarines, and grapes. Green stink bugs become active in the spring when temperatures warm. You might see them in May, but it is much more common to see them in June. After mating females lay their eggs on the underside of a host plant’s leaf. They are barrel shaped, and usually laid in rows of twelve or more. At first, they are yellow/green but later turn pink. Eggs hatch in about seven days. These insects undergo an incomplete metamorphosis, which means that immatures resemble the adults. They go through five instar stages. Development from egg to adult takes about thirty five days, but depends on temperature. In warm weather, an adult may live for two months. When temperatures drop, young stink bugs will hibernate in leaf litter or under tree bark and emerge the next spring. In Kansas, the green stink bug has one generation per year. In the southern range they have two generations. Birds, amphibians, reptiles and other insects all eat green stink bugs. The individual pictured here was found on July 12 at the Harvey County Osage Nature Trails, on a blackberry plant. ... See moreSee less