My PhD project focuses on biocontrol: using beneficial species to manage the impacts of undesirable species.

I’m looking at Trissolcus japonicus, or the ‘samurai wasp.’ This tiny Asian wasp has been proposed for release against the brown marmorated stink bug in New Zealand (if and when the stink bug is found to have established here). My work focuses on testing the likelihood this wasp would attack New Zealand’s native and naturalised stink bug species if it were released. In order to do this, I’m rearing NZ stink bug species so I can use their eggs to test the behaviour of the wasp.

Most researchers conducting these types of tests would have to compile a short-list of stink bug species to test, based on things like their biological classification, their rarity, their economic importance, etc. But New Zealand has so few species of stink bug, I can include all potential non-target species in my tests. Here is a visual guide to New Zealand’s stink bugs.

New Zealand Stink Bugs

This is a list of the stink bugs species in New Zealand, along with an image and some general notes about their biology. I’ve been rearing all of these species with the exception of Cermatulus nasalis turbotti, a subspecies restricted to the Three Kings Islands.

Most of the information presented here comes from the fantastic series of factsheets hosted on the Landcare Research website here. These factsheets have been compiled by Nicholas Martin, a researcher at Plant & Food Research. I recommend looking at these factsheets for a more through description of their biology, and to see more images of the eggs and nymphs (younger stages). For a more in-depth review of NZ stink bugs, check out volume 35 of the Fauna of New Zealand series hosted by Landcare Research.

Hypsithocus hudsonae

Endemic | Herbivore | Feeds on: unknown

Found nowhere else in the world. Virtually nothing is known about it’s biology. I collected this species in December, 2017. This is the first time it has been reared in captivity.

Cermatulus nasalis nasalis

Native | Predator | Feeds on caterpillars | Beneficial

Found in NZ, Australia & Timor. Considered a beneficial species as it feeds on caterpillars that damage cultivated plants.

Cermatulus nasalis hudsoni

Endemic | Predator | Feeds on caterpillars | Beneficial

An endemic subspecies of C. nasalis nasalis found only in NZ.

Cermatulus nasalis turbotti

Endemic | Predator | Feeds on caterpillars

An endemic subspecies of C. nasalis nasalis, found only in NZ. Restricted to the Three Kings Islands.

Oechalia schellenbergii

Native | Predator | Feeds on caterpillars | Beneficial

Found in NZ & Australia, similar to C. nasalis nasalis in being a beneficial predator.

Dictyotus caenosis

Introduced | Herbivore | Feeds on grass seeds, sometimes fruit | Neutral

Sometimes reported as a minor pest on blackberries but usually found on English plantain and other grasses.

Monteithiella humeralis

Introduced | Herbivore | Feeds almost exclusively on Pittosporum species | Neutral

No records of pest activity, sometimes found on Coprosma species. Genus commonly misspelt as Montiethiella.

Glaucias amyoti

Native | Herbivore | Feeds mainly on Coprosma, sometimes Pittosporum | Neutral

Found in NZ & Australia, no records of pest activity. Rounded ‘shoulders’ and glossy body help to distinguish it from other green species in NZ.

Cuspicona simplex

Introduced | Herbivore | Feeds on nightshades | Pest

Feeds on the nightshade family including potatoes, tomatoes, and species in the genus Solanum such as black nightshade. Pointy ‘shoulders’ help to distinguish it.

Nezara viridula

Introduced | Herbivore | Feeds on many plants including crops | Pest

Three dots on it’s back help to distinguish it. A widespread, global pest of cultivated crops. A sporadic pest in New Zealand’s warmer areas on fruit and vegetables. Damage has declined following the introduction of a natural enemy in 1949 (Trissolcus basalis, I’ve uploaded an image of this tiny wasp to iNaturalist here).

Our tour of New Zealand stink bugs concludes. Have any questions about these critters? Feel free to ask in the comments or tweet to me @TomSaundersNZ.