Green Vegetable Bug

Scientific name: Nezara viridula
  • Updated
    22/08/24
  • Read time
    2 minutes

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Nezara
    Species
    viridula
    Subfamily
    Pentatominae
    Family
    Pentatomidae
    Super Family
    Pentatomoidea
    Suborder
    Heteroptera
    Infraorder
    Pentatomomorpha
    Order
    Hemiptera
    Class
    Insecta
    Subphylum
    Uniramia
    Phylum
    Arthopoda
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    1.5 cm
Nezara viridula
Green Vegetable Bug, Nezara viridula Image: Jiri Lochman/Lochman Transparenc
© Jiri Lochman/Lochman Transparencies

Introduction

A member of the stink bug or shield bug family, the Green Vegetable Bug is an introduced insect that can be a serious pest.

Habitat

The Green Vegetable Bug lives in urban and agricultural areas.

Distribution

The Green Vegetable Bug is widespread across Australia.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Feeding and diet

The Green Vegetable Bug feeds on a wide range of plants including field crops, vegetables and garden plants. It generally pierces the fruiting parts of plants and sucks out the juices. In some plants, such as sunflowers, Green Vegetable Bugs feed at the stem below the developing flowers, making them wilt or grow malformed.

Predators

A number of strategies exist for dealing with this pest, but one of the more successful measures involves biological control. A parasitoid wasp (see Wasps) Trissolcus basalis was introduced initially in the 1930s and has proved an effective parasite of the Green Vegetable Bug.