Hairy shieldbug - Plant Pests

Hairy shieldbug, this purple-brown and greenish shield bug is 10 to 14 mm in size and belongs to the family of shield bugs.

Also known as:
Sloe bug

recognize hairy shieldbug — Hairy shieldbug, photo: Tomasz Górny - CC BY-SA 3.0

Hairy shieldbug (Dolycoris baccarum). This 10 to 14 mm bug belongs to the family shield bugs (Pentatomidae). The purple-brown and greenish shield bug is covered with hairs. The antennae have three white bands. Hairy shieldbugs are found throughout the year: in winter, the shield bug takes on an even dull brown hue. The shield bug overwinters as an adult and emerges in the spring.
In spring, the shield bugs mate and the females lay eggs. By the end of summer, the new generation of adults will appear. Nymphs feed on many plants of the rose family (Rosaceae) and sunflower family (Asteraceae), common toadflax (Linaria vulgaris) and white nettle (Lamium album). The shield bug feed on plant sap, preferably from flowers and fruits which can cause deformities. Berries from berry-bearing shrubs and plants are on the menu, especially honeysuckle and raspberries. Despite the common name sloe bug, neither the larvae nor the adults feed on Sloe (Prunus spinosa). However, hairy shieldbugs are also found on strawberries and tomatoes. In fruit growing, the hairy shieldbug can cause damage to ripening fruit. This bug actually has no natural enemies.
Hairy shieldbugs are widespread in most of Europe and Central Asia.

Where to find

Common along forest edges, vegetable plots, gardens and parks

Control

recognize eggs and nymps hairy shieldbug — Nymphs hairy shieldbug just emerging from eggs on tomato leaf, photo: Marlou Hesseling – Jansen

The hairy shieldbugs are easy to spot and remove by hand. Also beware of groups of eggs on the leaf, sometimes with the nymphs (almost adult insect) next to them. Cut the leaf and place the leaf with the hairy shieldbugs in a place where they can do no harm.

Prevention

Does not apply.