COMMON NAME
Small Brown Bean Bug
Order

Suborder

Family

Genus

Species

Alias
Hemiptera

Heteroptera

Alydidae



Melanacanthus scutellaris

pod sucker

Description

This bug is similar to the large brown bean bug but smaller and thinner. They have a small spike on each shoulder, with pale cream stripes along their bodies and the males have a cream patch just below the shoulders. The nymphs mimic ants.

Adult size: 10-12 mm

Out and about

Most active in summer. They are native to Australia, mainly on the east coast in temperate and subtropical areas. They are also found in China and Oceania.

Reproduction and Life cycle

Eggs are 1mm long, shiny and olive green in colour and laid singly or in clusters of 5-6 on the underside of leaves. The nymphs go through 5 stages. The life cycle from egg to adult is around 25 days.

To deter

To control

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

Plants to repel

Plants to attract

Predators

Parasitic wasp (kill the eggs) Tachinid flies (lay eggs on larger nymphs and adults) Assassin bugs / Birds / Spiders
Why they are a Pest
These are pod suckers and do the same damage as the large brown bean bug, causing developing fruit to dry out and deform. They mainly attack legumes.
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