Red-shouldered Stink Bug

Natural Habitat

Agricultural fields, gardens, and areas with herbaceous plants, often found on various crops and weeds

Diet & Feeding

Polyphagous, feeding on sap from a wide variety of plants, including many agricultural crops (e.g., soybeans, cotton, corn, small grains) and weeds. They use their piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract plant juices.

Behavior Patterns

Like other stink bugs, it undergoes incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult). Adults and nymphs feed on plants. They can be found aggregating on host plants. When disturbed, they may emit a foul-smelling liquid as a defense mechanism.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risk as an agricultural pest due to its extensive host range and feeding damage to various crops, which can lead to reduced yields and quality. There are no significant benefits to humans or the ecosystem typically associated with this species; rather, it is often considered a pest.

Identified on: 9/17/2025