Pest of the month - Green vegetable bug

What's it look like?

In spring look for a group of about 40 to 60 eggs stuck together in the shape of a hexagon (or close to it). Don't forget to check underneath the leaves. The nymphs look like little beetles with yellow, red orange green or black markings, depending on their age. The adults are green beetles with a triangular shape on their backs with a black dot on the corners. If you get up close and personal, you'll also notice 3 small yellow dots across it's shoulders (so to speak) along the line of the triangle.

What it attacks

Adults and nymphs are all sap suckers. They suck the lifeblood from the plant and will generally weaken the entire plant. If not treated then it can stunt growth and eventually kill the plant. They feed on young shoots as these are softer and easier to pierce, yet older insects will feed on all parts of the plant. Plants include tomato, pumpkin, beans, capsicum, potatoes, spinach, orange, peas and passionfruit. Yeah, just about everything!

Splash plants with diluted soapy water as this can sometimes deter the insect from laying eggs. Also a feed with liquid seaweed solution will toughen up new growth making it difficult for the insects to pierce.

Keep feeding with a liquid seaweed solution to toughen new growth. Pour this on the leaves as well as the roots. Otherwise just remove them by manual methods (yep, just pick 'em straight off). Make sure you've got your gloves on. Squash the eggs laid on the leaves and leave them there as a warning to others!

HortFACT - Green Vegetable Bug Life Cycle
HortFACT. Green Vegetable Bug Life Cycle. Green vegetable bug, Nezara viridula (Linnaeus) Identification. The green vegetable bug belongs to the order Hemiptera, and the word "bug" is the proper term to describe such insects.
http://www.hortnet.co.nz/publications/hortfacts/hf401017.htm

Green vegetable bug
... Classical Biocontrol. Green vegetable bug ... Green vegetable bug (GVB) is a pest of a wide range of crops and ornamental plants ...
http://www.ento.csiro.au/biocontrol/gvb.html

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Insect enjoys warmer UK climate
An insect that normally inhabits warm countries has been found living and breeding in the UK, entomologists say. ... The green vegetable bug (Nezara viridula) is similar to the UK's native green shield bug (Palomena prasina ... unlike its British cousin, the green vegetable bug has no brown markings ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3815833.stm

CSIRO European Lab - Nezara viridula (green vegetable bug)
OUR RESEARCH. Green Vegetable Bug - Nezara viridula (L.), Pentatomidae ... Green vegetable bug, Nezara viridula, a Pentatomid bug thought to be of Mediterranean or African origin, is a ...
http://www.csiro-europe.org/nezara.html

BBC - Gardening - TV and radio - 20 August 2004
... new type of shield bug or green vegetable bug (Nezera Viridula) that has been ... other pests. The green vegetable bug is similar to our native green shield bug (Palomena prasina ...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/tv_and_radio/gardeners_world/factsheet_200804.shtml

Community - Organic Pathways - Your Online Guide to Organics in Aotearoa New Zealand
... The Answer File. Green Vegetable Bug, Passion Vine Hopper ... wondering if anyone there knows any organic controls for the green vegetable bug and the passion vine leaf hopper ...
http://www.organicpathways.co.nz/AnswerFile.cfm?QuestionID=70