Panamanian Giant Ground Beetle vs Stink Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Panamanian Giant Ground Beetle Stink Bug
Scientific Name Calosoma granulatum Chinavia hilaris
Order Coleoptera Hemiptera
Family Carabidae Pentatomidae
Size 20-28 mm 13-19 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Predators Fruit Feeders
Regions South America (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay) North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Panamanian Giant Ground Beetle

A large South American caterpillar hunter with coarsely sculptured dark elytra and metallic reflections. It is an important predator of armyworm caterpillars in agricultural areas.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the most important natural enemies of the fall armyworm in South American soybean and maize fields, where a single beetle can eat dozens of caterpillars per night.

Stink Bug

A bright green shield bug common across North America, formerly known as Acrosternum hilare. It has narrow orange-yellow borders along the body margins. It is a pest of soybeans, cotton, and various fruit crops.

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Did You Know?

It was recently reclassified from the genus Acrosternum to Chinavia based on molecular studies, causing much confusion among pest management professionals.