Have you ever stumbled upon the mesmerizing beauty of jewel bugs? With their iridescent colors and intricate patterns, jewel bugs are a captivating wonder of the insect world. In this article, we’ll explore 14 different types of jewel bugs, each with its own unique characteristics and beauty. Let’s find out together!
Koa shield bug (Coleotichus blackburniae)
The Koa bug, also known as the Koa shield bug, is a Scutelleridae bug. Unlike other jewel bugs, this species doesn’t produce a stinky smell, which is why it’s called the stinkless stink bug. It has a big size and shiny, colorful outer shells. When they’re young, they’re green, but they turn red as they grow up.
You can find Koa bugs on all the main Hawaiian islands, mostly hanging out on koa trees and aalii bushes. Unfortunately, their numbers have dropped a lot on most of the islands because of two types of flies: Trichopoda pennipes and Trissolcus basalis. Trissolcus basalis goes after Koa bug eggs, while Trichopoda pennipes target adult bugs. Nowadays, you’ll mostly see Koa bugs in a few spots on the Big Island.
Picasso bug (Sphaerocoris annulus)
The Picasso bug, also known as the Zulu Hug Bug, is a type of shield-backed bug that lives in the grasslands of tropical Africa. Its name “Picasso Bug” comes from the colorful pattern on its back, resembling the abstract, cubism style of art created by Pablo Picasso.
This bug is quite small, about 15 mm in length. Its green-patterned shell is not just for looks; it serves as a warning to predators. If disturbed, it emits a strong, unpleasant odor. This jewel bug is found in various parts of Africa, including South Africa, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Malawi, Mozambique, and Nigeria.
Solenosthedium bilunatum
Solenosthedium bilunatum is the only type of jewel bug found in Europe, belonging to the subfamily Elvisurinae. This Scutelleridae bug is medium-sized, usually measuring between 12 to 16 millimeters. Its body can vary from light to reddish-brown and typically has two white or ocre spots. Although it’s often seen on almond, pistachio, and madrono trees, it’s not considered a significant threat to these crops.
This metallic-shield bug is native to the Mediterranean region, including Lebanon, North Africa, Greece, Sicily, and Croatia. It’s believed that it found its way to Belgium, Austria, and Finland through imported salad from the Mediterranean.
Corn bug (Eurygaster integriceps)
The corn bug, also known as the Sunn pest, is light brown, about 12 millimeters long, and has a wide, oval body. It has a hard covering called a scutellum that goes over its wings and abdomen. This jewel bug is a big problem for cereal crops, especially barley, wheat, and oats, in parts of the Balkans, northern Africa, and western and central Asia. It can cause a lot of damage, potentially making farmers lose a lot of money. Infestations can affect millions of hectares of crops and lead to yield losses of up to 50-90% in wheat and 20-30% in barley.
Tortoise bug (Eurygaster maura)
The tortoise bug is a type of jewel bug that’s pretty big and has a variety of colors and markings. Usually, it’s brown, but it can also be light gray or black. It can grow to be around 8 to 11 millimeters long. This bug looks a lot like another bug called Eurygaster testudinaria, but it’s a bit smaller and has smoother edges, especially on its hind end.
You can find these bugs all over Europe, as well as in many parts of Asia and North America. They like to live in grassy areas with lots of limestone. Tortoise bugs mainly eat grass and are most active from May to August, with adults coming out in July.
Eurygaster testudinaria
Eurygaster testudinaria, a shieldbug native to the Palearctic region, is relatively large, measuring 9-11 mm in length. It displays varying colors and patterns, with a distinctive tongue-like scutellum that extends to the end of its body. Unlike the slightly smaller E. maura species above, E. testudinaria features a broad longitudinal groove running down the middle of its head.
This Scutelleridae British bug is commonly found in southern Britain and Ireland, particularly in regions like Sussex, Essex, Surrey, Kent, and Hampshire. It tends to favor damp habitats, including woodlands, wetlands, and brownfield sites. These environments provide ample food for the nymphs, which feed on grasses from May to August before maturing into adults from July onward.
Green jewel bug (Lampromicra senator)
The green jewel bug belongs to the family Scutelleridae. These bugs are oval-shaped insects, typically 9-14mm in size, and often have bright colors like metallic blues and greens. It is particularly interesting because its coloration can vary greatly, ranging from metallic green to purplish blue, with orange markings on the underside and at the front of the scutellum.
This jewel bug is originally from Australia, specifically found in the states of New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia. They typically feed on plants and gather in groups during hot, dry periods, especially along creeks. They breed on the shrub Breynia oblongifolia in open forest areas and have also been observed overwintering in various hidden locations.
Shieldbacked pine seed bug (Tetyra bipunctata)
The shieldbacked pine seed bug is a type of jewel bug that eats the seeds inside pine cones, which affects the number of seeds produced. While it’s not usually found on nursery trees, it can still damage seeds meant for planting, making it a big problem for conifer nurseries. These bugs are found in North America and are most active in the early spring, usually spotted in March.
Cantao ocellatus
Cantao ocellatus is a type of shield bug found throughout Asia. It usually has a reddish or ochre color, with dark legs and bluish-black antennae. On its head, you’ll find a dark bluish-black stripe running along the center, and sometimes there are two black spots on the front margin of the pronotum. The pronotum may also have either 8 or 6 black spots, bordered in yellow, on the scutellum.
The females of these bugs lay a lot of eggs on the underside of their host plant. They then sit over them until they hatch. Some may continue to protect their nymphs by standing over and covering them after laying.
Cantao ocellatus feeds on various plants, including Broussonetia papyrifera, Macaranga, Kigelia, Bischofia javanica, Camellia sasanqua, and Mallotus. They are often found in large numbers on these trees before the rainy season. These jewel bugs are found across Papua New Guinea, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, Japan, and Zaire.
Homaemus proteus scutelleridae
These jewel bugs are usually small, measuring between about 4 to 7 mm in length. They have a rounded shape with a relatively large head. Despite their small size, these bugs stand out with their striking appearance. They have intricate markings, which come in different colors and patterns. The markings are mainly gray, black, and white, sometimes forming elegant arches along the sides of the insect’s body. Depending on how much black is in the markings, Homaemus proteus may have large black spots towards the rear or on the sides.
The species eat leaves, seeds, and stems. They are found on various plants, including grasses, flowers, and rocks.
Ladybird bug (Steganocerus multipunctatus)
The ladybird bug is a species of jewel bug originally from Sub-Saharan Africa. Belonging to the Hemiptera order, which includes true bugs, it shares a striking resemblance with ladybirds in appearance. It typically has a black body with bright orange spots, though some individuals may appear brown without spots.
This insect engages in Müllerian mimicry with two other species: the spider Paraplectana thorntoni and the Tortoise beetle Chiridopsis suffriani. Müllerian mimicry is when different species adopt similar warning colors to signal to predators that they’re not tasty or are dangerous.
These bugs are found on various indigenous plants and cultivated crops like cotton.
Mangrove jewel bug (Calliphara nobilis)
The mangrove jewel bug is also called the mangrove shield bug or mangrove stink bug. It is a type of jewel bug found in Asia, typically in mangroves across countries like the Philippines, Burma, Malaysia, China, and Borneo. It also lives in further east in Sulawesi and Flores. This bug is known for its iridescent and metallic appearance that changes depending on how you look at it.
One of the things that make this insect stand out is its multiple defense mechanisms. It has a strong chemical defense, warning coloration, and high mobile, capable of dispersing with a loud buzz when disturbed.
The mangrove shield bug primarily feeds on the leaves, fruit, and seeds of its host plants. Their larvae are exclusively found on the mangrove Excoecaria algallocha. You can find adults of this social species in large numbers on the leaves of any of its host species.
This bug is not only known for its defense mechanisms but also for its unique behavior and ecology. For example, during courtship, males engage in mating rituals by walking around the female and touching their abdomen to the plant before touching their antennae.
Chrysocoris stollii
Chrysocoris stollii is a type of jewel bug that has a striking metallic color, ranging from blue to green or purple, adorned with rounded black spots. Its underside (abdominal venter) is yellow. The bug is commonly found in mainland Southeast Asia, like Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Its range stretches up to Taiwan, Pakistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, and India.
This insect consumes various plant juices, including commercial crops such as Arecanut, Pigeon pea, Jatropha, and Pongamia
Hibiscus harlequin bug (Tectocoris diophthalmus)
The hibiscus harlequin bug is the only member of its genus, Tectocoris. This species stands out for its shiny appearance and bold colors. The adult males display a mix of blue and red or orange, while the females are mostly orange. When they’re young, called nymphs, they’re usually shiny green and purple.
This strikingly colorful insect is native to Eastern Australia, New Guinea, and a few Pacific Islands. You can find them in a variety of places, like cities, farms, and coastal areas. They eat plants from the hibiscus family (Malvaceae) and cotton, using their sharp mouthparts to suck out sap from stems.
