Insect
Four-humped Stink Bug
Brochymena quadripustulataAlso known as Rough Stink Bug
Masters of bark camouflage, four-humped stink bugs blend seamlessly against rough tree trunks where they spend daylight hours pressed flat against lichens and crevices. While most stink bugs feed exclusively on plant sap, this arboreal species is facultatively predatory, using its piercing rostrum to feed on caterpillars, beetle larvae, and plant tissue alike. Adults overwinter under loose bark or leaf litter, emerging in warm spring weather to mate on deciduous tree branches.
CamouflagedArborealOmnivorous
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPlant sap, Lepidopteran caterpillars, Beetle larvae
Predators
- Woodpeckers
- Treefrogs
- Parasitoid Wasps
ThreatsBroad-spectrum pesticide use and severe forest clearing
HabitatsDeciduous and mixed woodlands, orchards, parks, and suburban gardens
Life span9–12 months
Classification
- OrderHemiptera
- FamilyPentatomidae
- GenusBrochymena
- SpeciesBrochymena quadripustulata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Spotting Technique: Scan the sunlit, furrowed bark of mature oaks, pines, and fruit trees at eye level.
- Handling Precaution: Avoid squeezing or disturbing them, as they release a pungent, lingering defensive scent.
Look-alike (c) Kimberly, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kimberly · cc-by
Ecological Counterpart (c) Bill Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Matt Pelikan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Pelikan · cc-by
Family Member no rights reserved, uploaded by Michael Mulqueen · cc0
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