COMMON NAME

Podsucker bugs

Order

Suborder

Family

Genus

Species

Alias

Hemiptera

Heteroptera

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Description

So called because they pierce and suck the pods of plants e.g. beans. Pod-sucker can refer to many different species as really any bug that "sucks pods” will be a pod-sucker. Some early instars mimic ants but they do not have the definite body divisions and their rostrum is still visible. I found one that looks like an assassin bug nymph but it has a different shaped head – this group sometimes referred to as broad headed bugs. Includes green vegetable bug, red-banded shield bug, large brown bean bug, small brown bean bug, brown shield bug, leaf footed bug.

Adult size: 10-18 mm

Out and about

Reproduction and Life cycle

To deter

To control

Spray with: - garlic and chilli may help to deter them - pyrethrum - neem in the early morning or late evening

Plants to repel

Plants to attract

Predators

Parasitic wasp (kill the eggs) / Assassin bugs / Birds / Spiders / Tachinid flies (lay eggs on larger nymphs and adults)

Why they are a Pest

They attack pods when young and soft then as the pod hardens it becomes dry and deformed. They target native seed pods, beans and will also feed on the leaves and stems of plants.

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