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Green vegetable bug - Nezara viridula (Linnaeus, 1758)

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(Present in New Zealand, introduced)
[Nezara viridula]. SIZE: 12-17 mm (average 15 mm). COLOUR: Mostly green, sometimes with yellow, orange or brownish hue. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0 Image
Nezara viridula. SIZE: 12-17 mm (average 15 mm). COLOUR: Mostly green, sometimes with yellow, orange or brownish hue. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0
[Nezara viridula]. HUMERI (pronotum hind corners) rounded, not extended laterally, nearly in line with sides of abdomen. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0 Image
Nezara viridula. HUMERI (pronotum hind corners) rounded, not extended laterally, nearly in line with sides of abdomen. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0
[Nezara viridula]. SCUTELLUM (triangular shield) with 3 small yellowish spots along base and a small dark pit at each corner. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0 Image
Nezara viridula. SCUTELLUM (triangular shield) with 3 small yellowish spots along base and a small dark pit at each corner. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0
MESOSTERNAL CARINA (midline ridge underneath thorax between mid and hind legs) weakly developed. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0 Image
MESOSTERNAL CARINA (midline ridge underneath thorax between mid and hind legs) weakly developed. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0
Brown colour form of [Nezara viridula] (less frequently seen). © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0 Image
Brown colour form of Nezara viridula (less frequently seen). © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0

NYMPH: Main diagnostic characters

Immature stink bugs or nymphs moult through five stages (instars) before becoming adults; the fifth stage or last instar nymph is showned below.

[Nezara viridula] last instar nymph. Image
Nezara viridula last instar nymph.

BODY LENGTH: About 11 mm. COLOUR: Greenish; sides of thorax, wing pads, abdomen with pink outline; abdomen with white spots in two rows, one on each side of pink and black tranverse plates near midline; legs greenish with ‘feet’ black (tibiae often pinkish); segments 1-2 of antennae greenish (often pinkish), segments 3-4 black.