Shield Bug vs Southern Rock Bristletail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Shield Bug Southern Rock Bristletail
Scientific Name Palomena prasina Lepismachilis y-signata
Order Hemiptera Archaeognatha
Family Pentatomidae Machilidae
Size 12-14 mm 8-11 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Sap Feeders Detritivores
Regions Europe, Asia Mediterranean Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Shield Bug

Also called stink bugs for the foul-smelling liquid they release when disturbed. Changes color from bright green in summer to bronze-brown before overwintering.

💡

Did You Know?

Shield bugs can change color with the seasons — they produce green pigment in summer for leaf camouflage and switch to brown in autumn as leaves change.

Southern Rock Bristletail

A Mediterranean bristletail identified by a Y-shaped marking on its thorax. It lives under stones and in rock crevices.

💡

Did You Know?

The Y-shaped thoracic marking gives this species its distinctive name.