Gum Tree Shield Bugs III - Poeccilometis ellipticus

Family Pentatomidae

This page contains pictures and information about Gum Tree Shield Bugs that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.

We took those pictures at Macgregor and Wishart bushland from later winter to late summer. They look similar to the other Gum Tree Shield Bugs that we found.



Bugs in this family are known also as stink bugs and produce foul smelling defensive liquids. The antenna are yellow with dark end. The adult bugs are in shield shape with dark brown and black in colour. The scutellum, or the protective back shield, has a write tip.



Those bugs are known to suck the juice from Gum tree trunk. However, we sometimes found their adults sucking nectar on flowers.

The small hole between its legs, is the scent-gland outlet, from which the bug ejects the smelly liquid. The other holes on its abdomen are the spiracles where air enter the insect body for respiration.



There are many different species of Gum Tree Shield Bugs which look similar. Their nymph are even harder to be distinguished. We found this nymph on the same tree trunk with an adult and we assumed they are the same species.


Last instars, length 15mm

Reference:
1. Stink Bugs of Australia - FaunaKeys, Australian Museum online 2003.
2. Insect Reference Collection Database - Department of Agriculture Western Australia.