Stink Bug vs Red Assassin Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Stink Bug Red Assassin Bug
Scientific Name Chinavia hilaris Rhynocoris iracundus
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Pentatomidae Reduviidae
Size 13-19 mm 12-18 mm
Habitat Farmland Grasslands
Diet Fruit Feeders Herbivores
Regions North America Europe, western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

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.

💡

Did You Know?

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

Red Assassin Bug

A striking red and black assassin bug common in European meadows and grasslands. It is a generalist predator that hunts among flowers and vegetation. The bright red coloration serves as a warning to potential predators.

💡

Did You Know?

It hunts by ambush among wildflowers, using its raptorial forelegs to snatch visiting pollinators and other flower-visiting insects.