
Community identification
Two-spotted Stink Bug
Perillus bioculatus
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Pentatomidae
- Size
- 8.5 to 11.5 mm
Natural Habitat
Fields, gardens, and meadows where potato beetles are prevalent
Diet & Feeding
Predatory; primarily feeds on the larvae and eggs of the Colorado potato beetle
Behavior Patterns
Diurnal predator that uses its proboscis to pierce prey; undergoes incomplete metamorphosis with five nymphal instars
Risks & Benefits
Highly beneficial to agriculture as a biological control agent for potato beetle infestations; poses no risk to humans