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Black alpine shield bug - Hypsithocus hudsonae Bergroth, 1927

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(Native to New Zealand; Central Otago only)

ADULT: Main diagnostic characters

[Hypsithocus hudsonae]. SIZE: 7-9 mm.COLOUR: Dark brown to black, often with paler narrow outline. WINGS short, not reaching tip of abdomen. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0 Image
Hypsithocus hudsonae. SIZE: 7-9 mm.COLOUR: Dark brown to black, often with paler narrow outline. WINGS short, not reaching tip of abdomen. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0
JUGA (lateral lobes of head) much longer than tylus (middle lobe), nearly or fully enclosing it in front. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0 Image
JUGA (lateral lobes of head) much longer than tylus (middle lobe), nearly or fully enclosing it in front. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0
[Hypsithocus hudsonae]. ANTENNAE: Segments 2 about as long as segment 3. PRONOTUM (dorsal plate of fore thorax): Fore corners extended in front on each side of head. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0 Image
Hypsithocus hudsonae. ANTENNAE: Segments 2 about as long as segment 3. PRONOTUM (dorsal plate of fore thorax): Fore corners extended in front on each side of head. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0

NYMPH: Main diagnostic characters

Immature stink bugs or nymphs moult through five stages (instars) before becoming adults; the fifth stage or last instar nymph is shown below.

[Hypsithocus hudsonae] last instar nymph. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0 Image
Hypsithocus hudsonae last instar nymph. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0

BODY LENGTH: About 7 mm. COLOUR: Dark brown nearly black; anterior corners of thorax extended towards eyes; thorax and wing pads with narrow pale brown outline; antennae dark brown to black, with segment 3 and base of segment 4 of paler brown.