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Pittosporum shield bug - Monteithiella humeralis (Walker, 1868)

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(Present in New Zealand, introduced)

ADULT: Main diagnostic characters

[Monteithiella humeralis]. SIZE: 8-10 mm. COLOUR: Chocolate brown, with a distinctive pale band along sides of pronotum (dorsal plate of fore thorax). © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0 Image
Monteithiella humeralis. SIZE: 8-10 mm. COLOUR: Chocolate brown, with a distinctive pale band along sides of pronotum (dorsal plate of fore thorax). © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0
JUGA (lateral lobes of head) about as long as tylus (middle lobe), not enclosing it in front. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0 Image
JUGA (lateral lobes of head) about as long as tylus (middle lobe), not enclosing it in front. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0
[Monteithiella humeralis]. PRONOTUM (dorsal plate of fore thorax) with a distinctive pale band along sides. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0 Image
Monteithiella humeralis. PRONOTUM (dorsal plate of fore thorax) with a distinctive pale band along sides. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0
[Monteithiella humeralis] ventral view. ABDOMEN UNDERSIDE with scattered dark spots of various sizes. © MWLR | CC BY-NC 4.0 Image
Monteithiella humeralis ventral view. ABDOMEN UNDERSIDE with scattered dark spots of various sizes. © 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.

[Monteithiella humeralis] last instar nymph. © Derivative of photo by T. Holmes, Plant & Food Research, New Zealand, sourced from NZAC factsheet series Image
Monteithiella humeralis last instar nymph. © Derivative of photo by T. Holmes, Plant & Food Research, New Zealand, sourced from NZAC factsheet series

BODY LENGTH: About 7 mm. COLOUR: Mostly dark yellowish brown to chocolate brown; abdomen with two conpicuous yellow spots, one near inner side of each wing pad; segments of antennae often narrowly pale near tip. Note: Freshly moulted individuals may have a purple tinge.