I do hope that the news reports of the Marmorated Stink Bugs' arrival in the UK doesn't lead to a load of folk just killing every Shield Bug they come across
It's worth keeping an old jam jar (with a few breathing holes in the lid) or something similar in the shed or greenhouse just in case a suspicious bug is found in the garden. Once the identity is verified then appropriate action can be taken. Last year I held an odd looking weevil in bug jail until I was sure it wasn't invasive. It was almost identical to a vine weevil but slightly paler so I gave it the benefit of the doubt until I could work out what it was.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Absolutely right all, ID is key before indiscriminately stinkily squishing anything! There are a lot of very similar, but otherwise harmless brown shield bugs around. More of a concern for farmers whose livelihood depends on their crops of course, but I would still be upset if it devastated my small, but carefully tended sweetcorn crop.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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