Twice Stabbed Stink Bug on Lilac.

 

Called by many other names, this insect is common throughout North America.

Also called the "Wee Harlequin Bug", this individual was one of many hundreds I found infesting the lilac plant it had settled on.  Although they were not superficially visible, it took only a cursory inspection to discover their presence.  

Stink bugs are flattened true bugs (order Hemiptera) that can secret a foul odor when threatened.    Scent glands, located on the abdomen and thorax, can release a noxious substance.  Even ingesting a stink bug can be an unpleasant experience for a predator, which explains the vibrant colours present on some species.

All true bugs are tube feeders, using piercing mouth parts to draw the fluids out of whatever their food of choice is.  Most stink bugs are herbivorous in nature and extract plant juices from leaves, stems, and other plant components.  The twice-stabbed stink bug feeds on a wide variety of plants and is found throughout most of North America.  

Adults overwinter in fallen leaf litter.  In the spring they become active and will eventually lay eggs on the underside of leaves of suitable plants.  These can be problematic to the gardener but they are not generally defined as pests.

Thanks for reading.   www.ericspix.com

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