Tessaratomid Bug (Giant Shield Bug Nymph)
Scientific Name: Tessaratoma javanica
Order & Family: Hemiptera: Tessaratomidae
Size: 10–18mm as nymphs; adults reach 25–30mm.
Natural Habitat
Found in tropical and subtropical regions, specifically on host trees like litchi, longan, and soapberry common in South India.
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous; they pierce plant tissues and suck sap from young shoots, flowers, and developing fruits.
Behavior Patterns
Nymphs are frequently gregarious on host plants. During late April in Andhra Pradesh, they are active during the peak of the fruiting season. They exhibit hemimetabolous development (incomplete metamorphosis).
Risks & Benefits
Considered a significant agricultural pest in orchards. They possess scent glands and can spray a pungent, corrosive defensive fluid that may cause skin irritation or chemical burns if it comes into contact with human skin or eyes.
Identified on: 4/26/2026