5 Surprising Lychee Stink Bug Facts

The lychee stink bug, true to its name, causes big problems for lychee orchards everywhere. Let’s join us to learn more facts about this small but mighty pest, its unique looks, behavior, and life cycle. 

Lychee stink bug
Scientific name: Lyramorpha rosea
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Tessaratomidae
Genus: Lyramorpha

Lychee stink bug description

The lychee stink bug, also known as Litchi or Lichi stink bug, is one of many stink bug species. However, this species doesn’t belong to the Pentatomidae stink bug, but the Tessaratomidae giant stink bug. It’s recognizable by its pink legs and antennae, bronze-edged thorax and wings. Underneath, its body is greenish-yellow. Its nymphs, on the other hand, have a more vibrant look with a bright red color and grey border. They have a flat body.

Lychee stink bug
An adult lychee bug

 Adult lychee stink bugs have a size of about 0.9 inches or 2.3 cm in length. The nymphs, not yet equipped with fully developed wings, are smaller. They are often found alongside the adults. These bugs tend to gather in groups, particularly during winter, on lychee and longan trees.

The insects are known for their stinky defensive mechanism, which can be released when they feel threatened or when crushed.

Habitat

Lychee stink bugs are native to Australia, inhabiting regions from Queensland through New South Wales, Victoria, to South Australia. They are often found in the wild, especially where there are native trees like the Red Ash (Alphitonia excelsa), which many stink bugs seem to enjoy.

The nymph and adult lychee stink bugs gather in one place
The nymphs and adults gather in one place

They’re often mistaken for lychee giant stink bugs

People often mix up the nymphs of lychee stink bugs with the Asian species called lychee giant stink bugs (Tessaratoma papillosa) because they look similar. They’re both flat-bodied and colorful. But they’re actually different types of bugs with their own unique traits and habitats.

The young The lychee giant stink bug in Aisa
The lychee giant stink bug nymph

The Lychee Stink Bug comes from Australia, while the Asian species live in places like southern China, Vietnam, and Thailand. The nymphs of the lychee giant stink bug also sport red coloring with a gray border. But they have a rosier hue and more patterns on their backs compared to L. rosea.

Diet

The lychee stink bug is a pest that eats lychee trees and other fruit trees. You can also find this bug on other types of trees like Soap Tree, Red Ash, Leopard Ash. While it doesn’t do serious harm to lychee trees, it does feed on their tips, flowers, and fruit. This can cause the tips to die off, flowers and fruit to fall prematurely, and make the fruit less appealing because of sticky honeydew and a black mold that grows on it. Even with pesticides, it can still damage up to 30 percent of the fruit in big orchards.

The nymphs of this stink bug species aren’t huge troublemakers, but they can bug lychee farmers and cause some damage to the fruit.

Life cycle

The female lychee stink bug lays a cluster of 42 creamy white, oval eggs on the skin of the fruit or on the underside of leaves. Unlike other stink bug species, she takes care of her eggs by resting her body on top until they hatch. During this time, the female doesn’t eat. This is pretty rare among shield bugs.

The lychee stink bug nymph

After hatching, the young nymph starts nibbling on the surface of the fruit or leaves. Then, it digs its way towards the seed or the juicy part of the fruit. This bug likes to munch on plants that belong to the Sapindaceae family. Its favorite plants include Alectryon, Atalaya, Cupaniopsis, Guioa, and of course, the lychee tree. Its nymphal stage will last for 4 – 6 weeks. The lifespan of lychee stink bugs is not specified.

Reference: Wikipedia

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Animal Facts 276

We are passionate animal enthusiasts with over a decade of experience studying animals. With a degree in zoology and conservation biology, we've contributed to various research and conservation projects. We're excited to bring you engaging content that highlights the wonders of the animal kingdom. We aim to inspire others to appreciate and protect wildlife through informative content grounded in expertise and passion. Join us as we delve into the captivating world of animals and discover the incredible stories they have to tell.

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