Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Pentatomidae
Subfamily: Pentatominae
Tribe: Halyini
Genus: Erthesina
Species: E. fullo
Binomial name: Erthesina fullo
Common name: Yellow Spotted Stink Bug
Yellow Spotted Stink Bug (Erthesina fullo) natural distribution is from Asia including China and Japan. They are polyphagous (feed on a variety of plants). In their natural range in Asia, there is limited information recorded about their host range or impacts on plants and trees, though impacts on timber trees and horticultural crops have been noted.
Erthesina fullo is large distinctive shield-shaped stinkbug with a body that is blackish brown in colour and covered entirely with many small yellow spots. Adults are 18-23 mm long which is larger than other shield bugs currently found in NZ. The adult lay eggs on leaves in spring and summer and the juvenile stages develop through to adults before winter. Some adults overwinter under bark or in natural crevices and emerge when temperatures warm up to begin breeding. They feed by inserting their sharp mouthparts (proboscis) into stems, leaves or fruits and sucking up the plant fluids containing sugars and nutrients.
Keep an eye out for this distinctive bug. If you find any suspects call MPI on 0800 80 99 66. If possible take a photograph or even better, if you can, put a sample in your freezer
One specimen was found alive in a Temuka garden in 2014 see press report:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/63163690/Yellow-Spotted-Stink-Bug-found-in-NZ
For more images visit. http://www.padil.gov.au/pests-and-diseases/pest/main/136074/772#
