What's it look like?

This is a green bug about 20mm long can be very difficult to see on green leaves. Spined citrus bugs are often confused with green vegetable bugs because they look so similar. The difference is the spiky "horns" that the spined citrus bug has near its head. The small nymphs are black with yellow or orange then change to green as they get older.

Often you'll detect their evidence when you eat the fruit of your citrus. Dry patches on the flesh is a sign that they've been feeding on the fruit, or it can even be left with gum and browning of the area. Fruit can fall prematurely also.

What it attacks

As the name suggests, the spined citrus bug attacks most citrus trees. They are sap suckers and feed on the fruits, even a few bugs can have a huge effect on your harvest.

What to do before it arrives

Splash plants with diluted soapy water as this can sometimes deter the insect from laying eggs. This only has limited effect.

What to do if you already have problems

The best treatment is hand removal.

Encourage preditory insects by having water and flowers nearby.

For further information:

Insect Management
Information on how to manage light brown apple moth, aphids, mealybugs, flatids, spined citrus bug, thrips, katydids and snails. ... Spined Citrus bug can cause fruit drop in both immature mandarins and lemons and tissue browning in lemons ... Research has shown Spined Citrus bug is effectively controlled at 30 ml ...
http://www.sardi.sa.gov.au/pages/horticulture/citrus/hort_citp_gr....htm:sectID=285&tempID=97

Juvenile spined citrus bug - Bibrorulus bibax
Spined citrus bug - Bibrorulus bibax - pest insect photography and images
http://www.graphicscience.com.au/Gallery/Insect%20Pests/PestsPic15.htm

Spined Citrus Bug - Biprorulus bibax
Bugs that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia. ... The adult Spined Citrus Bug is green in colour, with a sharp black spine at each side ... its shoulder. The Spined Citrus Bug feeds on the fruits of citrus trees ...
http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_stinkbugs/SpinedCitrusBugs.htm

Green Harvest - Spined Citrus Bug Introduction
... Next. SPINED CITRUS BUG. The adult spined citrus bug has projecting horns on either side of ...
http://www.greenharvest.com.au/pestcontrol2/spined_citrus_bug_intro.html

Spined citrus bug
Spined citrus bug is a major pest of lemons: ... The adult spined citrus bug (SCB) is 1520 mm long with a pair of prominent spines on each shoulder ...
http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au/reader/cit-spined.htm

Citrus in the home garden - Common insect pests
A short description of several pests and the damage they cause to citrus in the home garden, together with a brief description of control measures to take. ... The adult spined citrus bug Biprorulus bibax is a 15-20 mm long, green shield bug with two ... The adult spined citrus bug lays her eggs on the leaves and ...
http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/business/7320.html