HEMIPTERA > HETEROPTERA > PENTATOMORPHA > PENTATOMOIDEA > Pentatomidae

As its common name suggests, this large (12-14mm) shieldbug has an entirely green body apart from the dark membranes at the end of the forewings. Fresh, newly emerged adults are a bright, almost emerald green colour, which changes shade during the spring and summer months, slowly darkening later in the year becoming bronze-brown prior to winter hibernation. Whilst the predominant colour is undoubtedly green, if you look carefully you'll see that they are covered in finely punctured dark marks. The much rarer and very localised Southern Green Shieldbug [Nezara viridula] is superficially similar, but can be easily distinguished by the pale rather than dark wing membranes and the presence of a row of 3-5 whitish spots across the front of the scutellum.

Palomena prasina is a common and widespread species across much of the country, with its range now extending as far north as southern Scotland. They occur in many habitats, especially in open areas such as woodland rides and clearings, parkland and gardens. Adults feed on various broadleaved trees and shrubs.

Nymphs can be found from June onwards. They go through several instars to reach adulthood with each stage producing different colour forms. When hatched they're small and round, and typically green as the adults or a light or dark reddish-purple colour, but always with a black head and pronotum. Second stage instars have a bit more shape and are usually green. During the following stages they grow their wings and start to become sexually mature. Some retain the black head and pronotum whilst others start to look more like juvenile forms of the adults apart from the wings that are not fully developed. The black and green forms typically have black markings around the connexivum and on the body. Each instar stage lasts around a week, except for the fifth and final stage that takes about two weeks.

The Pentatomidae 'family account' is linked to the Bishop's Mitre, Woundwort, Gorse, Brassica and Spiked Shieldbug thumbnail images on the Hemiptera home page.