Southern green stink bug vs Rice stink bug
These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell a southern green stink bug from a rice stink bug, and whether either one bites or stings.
Southern green stink bug
Nezara viridula
Rice stink bug
Oebalus pugnax
≠The key differences
N. viridula is typically bright green as an adult (sometimes brownish) and has a distinctly different overall color and pattern compared with the brown Oebalus pugnax.
⚖︎Side by side
| Southern green stink bug | Rice stink bug | |
|---|---|---|
| To humans | Odor nuisance | Non-toxic |
| Size | 10-18 mm long (typical adult) | 9-13 mm body length |
| Colours | Bright green, Pale yellow, Dark brown (antennae markings) | Brown, Tan, Dark brown, Cream |
| Family | Pentatomidae | Pentatomidae |
| Habitat | Agricultural fields, gardens, hedgerows and other vegetated areas; often on host plants and crop foliage | Rice fields, marshes, wet grasslands, and edges with grasses and sedges; also on sorghum, barley and wild grasses. |
| Range | Originally pantropical; now established worldwide in tropical, subtropical and many temperate regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, Australasia) | Eastern and southern United States (including U.S. rice-growing regions), south into Mexico and the Caribbean. |
| Active | Warm months and daytime; in warm climates adults can be active much of the year | Active during the growing season; most damaging in rice from heading through grain fill (summer in temperate zones). Diurnal but often hide in canopy during heat. |
| Pest? | Yes | Yes |
🔍How to spot a southern green stink bug
- Bright green, shield-shaped adult 10-18 mm long with a large triangular scutellum covering much of the back
- Antennae usually with darker bands or tipped segments; edges of pronotum or scutellum may have pale margins
- Nymphs are rounded and change from darker, spotted early instars to green in later instars
- Eggs in compact clusters on the underside of leaves
🔍How to spot a rice stink bug
- Shield-shaped, elongated pentatomid 9-13 mm long, straw-coloured to golden-brown, with pointed shoulder spines on the pronotum.
- Distinct scutellum (triangular shield) extending partway across the back; forewing veins often show darker lines.
- Found on rice panicles or grassy seedheads during heading and grain fill.
- Releases a characteristic foul odor when handled or crushed.
?Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a southern green stink bug and a rice stink bug?
N. viridula is typically bright green as an adult (sometimes brownish) and has a distinctly different overall color and pattern compared with the brown Oebalus pugnax.
Is a southern green stink bug or a rice stink bug more dangerous?
Southern green stink bug: Odor nuisance. Rice stink bug: Non-toxic. Nezara viridula does not sting or inject venom. Rice stink bugs are not dangerous to people.
Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.