Texas yards and fields are home to a surprising variety of stink bugs, each with its own quirks and look.
From the familiar brown stink bug to notorious pests like the rice stink bug, these shield-shaped insects are best known for that unmistakable odor they let off when bothered.
Some of the most notable stink bugs in Texas include the southern green stink bug, conchuela stink bug, harlequin bug, rice stink bug, and spined shouldered stink bug—each one causing headaches for different plants and crops across the state.
These insects go through incomplete metamorphosis; their nymphs look like smaller, wingless versions of the adults.
Stink bugs are a real problem for Texas agriculture, especially for soybeans, cotton, fruit trees, and veggies like tomatoes.
In South and East Texas, the southern green stink bug is especially destructive, while the invasive brown marmorated stink bug has been showing up in more and more parts of Texas.
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys)
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) is an invasive pest originally from China, Japan, Korea, and nearby regions. It’s made itself at home in much of the U.S. now, Texas included.
They’ve got that classic shield shape, and adults are about 15-17 mm long with a mottled, brownish-grey look.
If you’re trying to ID one, check for the white band on their fourth antennal segment.
Key Characteristics:
- Shield-shaped body
- Mottled brown appearance
- White bands on antennae
- 15-17 mm in length
Halyomorpha halys goes after a huge range of plants, which is bad news for farmers.
The BMSB feeds on fruits, veggies, and ornamental crops all over North America, and the losses can be significant.
In Texas, this invader joins the native pentatomid crowd but stands out for its appetite and lack of natural enemies.
It’s called “marmorated” because of the marbled pattern on its back.
When threatened, they release a strong, unpleasant smell—no surprise there.
They also like to sneak into homes in the fall, looking for a cozy spot to spend the winter.
Keeping them out usually means sealing up cracks, installing screens, and sometimes setting traps.
For farms, integrated pest management is the go-to, but the details depend on the crop.
Green Stink Bug (Chinavia hilaris)
The Green Stink Bug is one of the most widespread stink bugs in Texas. This bright green insect is part of the Pentatomidae family, and it used to go by Acrosternum hilare before scientists updated its name to Chinavia hilaris.
Adults are shield-shaped and measure about 13-19mm long. Their solid green color is the giveaway, sometimes with a thin yellow or orange edge on the shield.
Like other stink bugs, they give off a pretty nasty odor if disturbed or squished. That smell helps keep predators at bay.
Habitat and Distribution:
- Found throughout North America
- Widely distributed across Texas
- Common in gardens, fields, and orchards
Green stink bugs are considered pests in agriculture. Their piercing-sucking mouthparts let them feed on plant juices, and they’ll go after fruits, veggies, and ornamentals.
Feeding by these bugs can leave plants discolored, misshapen, or stunted. On fruits, their bites create hard, ugly spots that make them tough to sell.
Green Stink Bugs go through incomplete metamorphosis, starting as eggs, then nymphs, and finally adults. The young are rounder and sometimes show different colors than the adults.
Birds, spiders, and other predatory bugs help keep their numbers down. Insecticides are sometimes used if things get out of hand.
Southern Green Stink Bug (Nezara viridula)
The Southern Green Stink Bug is a regular pest in Texas farm fields. It’s a bright green, shield-shaped bug that smells awful when disturbed. Adults are usually around 13-17mm long.
These bugs are highly polyphagous—they’ll eat just about any crop. In Texas, they’re a particular pain for growers of cotton, peaches, tomatoes, and various seeds.
This stink bug damages crops by feeding on developing fruit and seeds like pecans, sorghum, and soybeans. Their feeding leaves behind discoloration, deformities, and can lower yields.
Life Cycle Stages:
- Eggs: White to yellow, barrel-shaped, laid in clusters on leaf undersides
- Nymphs: Go through several developmental stages
- Adults: Fully green shield-shaped insects
When threatened, they let off that trademark stink—nature’s way of telling predators to back off.
In Texas fields, farmers have to keep an eye out for these guys. They’re part of the broader Pentatomidae family of stink bugs that are everywhere in the state.
Their piercing-sucking mouthparts can really mess up plant tissues and sometimes even introduce disease, making them a top pest to watch for in Texas agriculture.
Brown Stink Bug (Euschistus servus)
The Brown Stink Bug is one of the most common stink bugs in Texas. Its official name is Euschistus servus, and it’s part of the Pentatomidae family.
It’s easy to spot with its shield-shaped body and brownish color. Adults are typically 10-15 mm long and kind of flat and broad.
Their color can vary from light tan to a deeper brown, and they have distinctive body punctures that give them a speckled look.
Like their relatives, they give off a strong odor if disturbed. It’s their go-to defense against predators.
Brown Stink Bugs are pests that feed on a lot of Texas crops. They use their mouthparts to suck out plant juices, which can be pretty tough on fruits, vegetables, and field crops.
They’re part of a bigger group of brown stink bugs in the Euschistus genus. Their eggs are manila-colored, not as white as green stink bug eggs.
In Texas, Brown Stink Bugs often turn up alongside other species like the conchuela stink bug and harlequin bug. Together, they can cause some real headaches for farmers across the state.
Spined Soldier Bug (Podisus maculiventris)
The Spined Soldier Bug is a predatory stink bug found all over North America, Texas included. Unlike most stink bugs that munch on plants, this one actually helps out in the garden by hunting pests.
You can pick out this helpful bug by its pointed pronotum (shoulder area) and its unique coloring. The spined soldier bug ranges from tan to grayish-brown and has dark spots on its body.
What really sets it apart from plant-eating stink bugs is its proboscis—the first segment is shorter and thicker. The antennae sometimes have a reddish tint, too.
Key Identification Features:
- Pointed “shoulders” on pronotum
- Tan to grayish-brown coloration
- Dark spots on body
- Shorter, thicker proboscis
- Sometimes reddish antennae
The spined soldier bug is one of the better-known predatory stink bugs in North America. It’s an active hunter, feeding on a variety of garden pests.
Texas gardeners actually like having these around because they prey on all sorts of insects. They’re natural enemies of caterpillars, beetle larvae, and other soft-bodied pests.
This beneficial bug can be confused with some in the Euschistus genus, which are common plant-feeding stink bugs in Texas. Knowing how to tell them apart can help gardeners make smarter choices when it comes to pest control.
Rice Stink Bug (Oebalus pugnax)
The Rice Stink Bug is a familiar nuisance in Texas farm country. Adults are a sort of pale straw color, usually falling between 3/8 to 1/2 inch long—not exactly hard to spot if you know what you’re looking for.
They’ve got a narrower build than most stink bugs, and those little spines sticking out from their “shoulders” are a dead giveaway. The spines angle outward and a bit forward, which makes ID in the field a little easier.
Rice Stink Bugs have a yellowish-brown tone, so they blend right in with the grain crops they’re always after. Despite the name, they’re not picky—they’ll go for rice or just about any other grain if it’s available.
This pest is usually considered the most important late-season insect pest of rice in the southern U.S. Both nymphs and adults go after developing rice grains, and the damage can really add up for growers—sometimes it’s a real headache. Here’s a peek at their life cycle:
- Eggs (laid on plant leaves)
- Five nymphal stages
- Adult stage
Early-stage nymphs look pretty different from the adults, but as they molt and grow, that classic stink bug shape starts to show. With Texas’s long, warm seasons, they can crank out multiple generations per year.
Farmers have to keep a close eye on rice fields, especially when the grain’s developing. If the bugs show up in big enough numbers, targeted insecticides and regular scouting are pretty much standard operating procedure.
Red-Shouldered Stink Bug (Thyanta custator)
The Red-shouldered Stink Bug pops up all over Texas and, honestly, you’ll find it scattered across North America. It’s in the Pentatomidae family and can get close to half an inch long—so, not exactly tiny as stink bugs go.
The red or pink “shoulders” on the thorax are hard to miss, and the base color shifts with the seasons—green when it’s warm, brown when things cool off. That seasonal wardrobe change can throw you off if you’re not expecting it.
There are two subspecies: Thyanta custator accerra is just about everywhere, while Thyanta custator custator sticks mostly to the Atlantic coastal plains and sports its own quirks.
In Texas, these bugs are on the list of pests that farmers have to deal with. They’re especially notorious in sorghum fields, where they poke holes in developing seeds and suck out the sap. It’s not great for yields.
Physical Characteristics:
- Size: Around ½-inch long
- Color: Green or brown with those unmistakable red “shoulders”
- Shape: Shield-shaped, like most stink bugs
And, as you’d expect, they let off that classic stink bug odor if you bother them—nature’s way of saying “back off.” It works pretty well against birds and other would-be predators.
Farmers and gardeners in Texas keep tabs on these bugs during the growing season. If their numbers get out of hand, crop yield and quality can take a real hit.
Green Burgundy Stink Bug (Chlorochroa ligata)
The Green Burgundy Stink Bug, or Conchuela Stink Bug, is one of several stink bug species found in Texas. This distinctive insect stands out with its unique look—honestly, you can spot it pretty easily if you know what to watch for.
Chlorochroa ligata shows off a shield-shaped body, mostly green, with a bold burgundy or reddish outline tracing the edges. At about half an inch long when grown, it’s not tiny, but you probably won’t notice one unless you’re looking closely.
Unlike other stink bugs that just blend in with green, the Conchuela’s burgundy border really pops, making it way easier to recognize. The exterior’s smooth, too—not spiny or rough like a few of its Texas cousins.
They’re part of the Pentatomidae family and show up all across Texas, especially in fields and gardens. Their thing is feeding on plant juices, poking their piercing-sucking mouthparts right into leaves and stems.
The Conchuela Stink Bug lays its eggs in clusters, usually tucked away on the undersides of leaves. If you’ve ever seen little barrel-shaped eggs lined up in neat rows, that’s probably them.
Just like their relatives, they let off that classic stink bug odor if you bother or squish them—a pretty effective way to make you regret it. The scent comes from glands on their thorax, and yeah, it’s as memorable as you’d expect.
Gardeners and farmers really ought to keep an eye out for these bugs, since their feeding can mess up crops, especially fruits and seeds that are still developing.
