Hawthorn Shieldbug vs Scentless Plant Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Hawthorn Shieldbug Scentless Plant Bug
Scientific Name Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale Jadera haematoloma
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Acanthosomatidae Rhopalidae
Size 13-17 mm 10-14 mm
Habitat Underground Woodlands
Diet Fruit Feeders Seed Feeders
Regions Europe Southern United States, Central America, South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Hawthorn Shieldbug

A large green-and-red shieldbug common on hawthorn trees across Europe. It produces a strong, pungent smell from thoracic scent glands when handled.

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Did You Know?

Its red-tipped abdomen peeking out from under the green wings gives it the memorable alternative name 'red-rumped shieldbug.'

Scentless Plant Bug

A red-eyed black and red bug that forms enormous aggregations on golden rain trees and other soapberry family plants. Despite its common name, it belongs to the scentless plant bug family. It is completely harmless to humans and structures.

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Did You Know?

Populations feeding on different host plants have evolved different beak lengths matched to seed size, providing a textbook example of rapid natural selection.