Topic: Pentatomidae (Sheils Bugs) - are they a pest???

[Lost-The-Plot]

Can anyone tell me if I need to worry about these bugs? We have a few in our garden and I caught one laying eggs on a tomato leaf - which I destroyed to be on the safe side but I'd hate to kill anything that might have a hearty appitite for aphids  ???

[Biscombe]

Do you mean shield Bugs?

[Lost-The-Plot]

Yes. Sorry about the typo!javascript:replaceText('%20:P',%20document.forms.postmodify.message);

[Robert_Brenchley]

They eat plant matter, but the native ones aren't regarded as a pest.

[Eristic]

If the shield bug is native any damage to crops will be minimal but if it is the illegal immigrant Nezara viridula they can do significant damage and I believe they are a contributing cause to the recent severe blight attacks on tomato crops.

Photo left shows damage to runner beans. Right shows nymphal stages of Southern green shield bug.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've had the severe blight, but not the bugs. I think it was the weather last year myself.