Euschistus heros

The brown stink bug was found very occasionally on privet plants. No nymphs or eggs were recovered, indicating the inability of bugs to reproduce on this plant. Laboratory attempts to raise nymphs on privet fruits failed. We suspect that, similar to other stink bug species, E. heros moves from preferred host plants, such as soybean, to privet, when soybean is harvested or when other wild and cultivated host plants are not available. Thus, privet is utilized only occasionally, more probably as shelter by E. heros. This bug is known to overwinter under dead leaves (PANIZZI & NIVA, 1994) and to accumulate lipids to pass the unfavorable season (PANIZZI & HIROSE, 1995).

Adults dark brown (summer type) with pronotum spines acute. Overwintering adults light brown (winter types) with pronotum spines more. Median body length of females 13.0 mm (n = 10), and of males 11.0 mm (n = 10). Early nymphs oval and light brown, becoming dark brown. Later instars yellowish (GRAZIA et al., 1980). Eggs yellowish.