September 3rd, 2006
teenaged stink bug
Last Tuesday, while walking through the fields checking leaves for insects, I found the above Stink bug nymph resting on a willow leaf (click on images for larger view). As Stink bugs go, it was quite large — perhaps about 2/3 the size of my thumbnail. It belongs to the genus Brochymena, which is sometimes referred to as a Tree Stink bug. If you remember, on August 24, I wrote about another Stink bug nymph found while we were out on a walk around the farm. That one belonged to another genus, but as mentioned in that post, the bug was wingless and had what I described as an I Ching trigram marking on the upper side of its abdomen. As you can see, the above insect is similarly marked. Stink bug nymphs frequently have that type of marking. As an adult (see example below), it will have wings and that part of the abdomen will no longer be visible. I think we can describe the above stage of Stink bug as being a little like a human teenager. It’s getting quite big and looks a lot like an adult, but isn’t quite there yet. This Stink bug will mature and overwinter as an adult, lay eggs in the spring, and then die sometime later in the summer.
Brochymena Stink bugs are considerably larger than most of the other species in the family Pentatomidae. They are distinguished by their wide, flat bodies which are a dull gray or brownish gray. The head is also wide and flat compared to many other Stink bug species. They are predatory and feed on caterpillars and other insects found in trees. Their coloring makes them very camouflaged against tree bark. Most that I’ve found have either been on trees or on weathered lumber such as barn siding. At this time of the year, I often find them prowling around on birch and willow leaves as in the above case.
Tags: Brochymena sp., Stinkbug
September 3rd, 2006 at 5:28 pm
Our stinkbugs aren’t nearly so festive, Bev. The markings on that one are really handsome.
I’ve seen a lot of them this year and I haven’t taken the time from the flies and wasps and bees to look more closely. Next year!
September 3rd, 2006 at 7:45 pm
Wayne – I think these are very handsome insects — actually, one of my favourites.
It’s interesting how each year seems to have it’s own theme. This year seems to be the Monarch caterpillars, the spiders, and perhaps just some of everything for me. Other years, I’ve been more focussed on bees, wasps, hornets and flies. Not sure what this autumn will be about.
September 5th, 2006 at 1:14 pm
Bev, your teenaged stinkbugs are gorgeous little beings, and what colour and pattern they have. The ones here wee not nearly as much fun to look at.
Mine was a year of dragonflies and damsel flies, and it was thoroughly enjoyable.
September 5th, 2006 at 2:55 pm
Cate – We get a quite a few of the plain varieties of stinkbugs as well — dull brown ones. The ones I really like are the big green ones with golden edging. I’ll be sure to post some photos of them sometime soon. I often find them in roadside vegetation in early September, especially up in Lanark, so you may see some yet. This seemed to be a good year for dragon and damselflies as I also saw many here at the farm and in many places where I hike.
September 7th, 2006 at 8:19 pm
I might think stinkbugs were nice, if I hadn’t been nailed in the eye by one when I was a kid. I was watching one of those giant green ones crawling on a tree branch above my head, and I’m guessing he excreted his little smelly toxin and it landed right in my eye; I was blind in that eye for a day and a half! Since then, I can’t say as I like stinkbugs very much at all. Still–your bugs are very nice-looking.
September 9th, 2006 at 12:40 am
I have enjoyed your site so much and I see we have the same interests.I have a huge stonecrop plant,blooms late,a great gathering place for bees right now.I make an almost daily trip to the beaverpond and can’t count the colourful dragonflies.Thanks for sharing a part of your life.
September 9th, 2006 at 1:48 am
Delia – Ouch! That sounds pretty painful. I don’t think I’d want drops of that going into my eye either!
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Kaye – Glad you’re enjoying the blog – and yes, sounds like we probably like a lot of the same things!