Flat green bugs on tomatos

tattianna

Over the past couple of days I've noticed some flat green bugs on my tomatoes (grown outside) I've done a little research and I think they could be Green Stink Bugs. I've only seen them on 1 particular tomato.

Are they good bugs or bad?

Is the friut still ok to eat?  

nutcutlet

lots of flat green things about, how about a picture

bigolob

Sounds like greenfly?? Could it be that simple? If so, spray with NON systemic insecticide.

nutcutlet

just looked up green stink bug and it's a sheild bug. Different scale altogether. a pic would tell us for sure

waterbutts

Are they a sort of shield shape and quite a size? If so, there are dozens of different insects called shield bugs. They all have a favourite host plant but will take a stab (literally) at anything if they are desperate.

They aren't what you would call bad because they are usually only found singly and one bug can't really do a lot of damage. They usually make the part of the plant they have   sucked the sap from look a bit deformed.

Yes, the tomatoes are fine to eat.

tattianna

Here are a couple of photos of the bugs to help with identification. Thank you

 

 

BobTheGardener

Shield bugs - almost certainly the common green (Palomena prasina), at their 5th larval stage (known as the 5th instar.)  Fascinating creatures:

http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/bugs.html

 

nutcutlet

that's a nice site Bob, I've bookmarked it

Dovefromabove

We like shield bugs - sight of one in the garden causes great excitement 

I've bookmarked that site too and sent it to OH 

tattianna

Ok thank you...they can stay then 

Fairygirl

Great site Bob! When she was little, oldest daughter used to love holding the little green shield bugs we get here . Now I know why it took her so long to walk home from school.