Asian Stink Bug

Common name for an insect with the scientific name Acrosternum hilare, and also commonly known as Green Stink Bug and Green Soldier Bug. It belongs to the family Pentatomidae, which members are commonly known as stink bugs or shield bugs. This scientific name has been derived from the Greek words pente (πέντε) and tome (τομή), meaning ‘five’ and ‘section’ respectively, and refers to the fact that stink bugs have antennae that each are divided into five segments. Stink bugs typically have broad bodies that are either triangular or semi-elliptical in shape. To ward off predators or when harassed, they defensively produce and excrete a foul smelling liquid from their thorax glands, which are located in between the first and second pair of legs, hence their common name. Among the many different species, that vary in body colouring and markings, the most well-known types are the Brown Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys - fig.) and the Green Stink Bug, of which the latter –since it originates from Asia– is also called Asian Stink Bug. Adults are about 1.5 to 2 centimeters long and bright green in colour, with a series of whitish dots (usually three) on the front edge of the triangular-shaped scutellum, whilst nymphs are generally black in colour. In Thai, the Green Stink Bug is known as muan khiaw khao (มวนเขียวข้าว), i.e. ‘green rice bug’. However, this name is also used for the almost identical Green Vegetable Bug (Nezara viridula), and which is hard to distinguish from the Green Stink Bug (Acrosternum hilare). The only way to tell them apart is the fact that the black parts of the antennae on Acrosternum hilare are reddish on Nezara viridula, and that Nezara viridula has a pair of tiny black dots on the forward two corners of the scutellum, flanking the (usually three) whitish dots there. These two black dots, which are about the same size of the whitish dots on the front edge of the scutellum, are not clearly present on Acrosternum hilare. 回