There are more than 40 species of shield bug in Britain, several species are common in gardens and are part of the biodiversity they support. The name shield bug is due to the shield-like shape of the adult insects when seen from above. All true bugs have sucking mouth parts and most shieldbugs feed on plant

Sap is a fluid that circulates through a plant's vascular system, in a similar way to blood moving through our veins. Phloem sap carries the sugars produced in the leaves by photosynthesis down to roots and other storage organs, as well as carrying minerals and hormones. Xylem sap is watery and transports nutrients absorbed by the roots upwards to the rest of the plant. Some plants leak sap from wounds or pruning cuts, and this is known as bleeding.

Green shield bug 

• Adult green shield bug (Palomena prasina) are broad, flattened and green with a strongly contrasting blackish brown darker area at the rear end, where the hind wings cross
• The adult insects are about 10mm (about 3/8in) long and are often seen basking in the sun in late summer on a wide variety of plants
• This insect is native to Britain and is of widespread occurrence, especially in southern England
• Nymphs of the native green shield bug have a rounded shape and are pale green, with some black markings during the earlier instars
• It overwinters as adults, which usually turn brown. These are sometimes found in buildings 

Southern green shield bug

• In 2003 the southern green shield bug (Nezara viridula) was found breeding for the first time in the London area
• This arrival from mainland Europe is up to 12 mm (about ½ in) long, making it slightly larger than the green shield bug
• The adults are uniformly green and lack a dark area at the rear end of the body
• The nymphs of southern green shield bugs are green or black with many white, yellow or pinkish-red circular markings on their upper surface
• This species can cause damage to some vegetables, especially runner and French bean pods, but it remains to be seen whether it will become established to the extent that it becomes a problem in Britain
• Whilst this bug can be a problem in other parts of the world, the evidence so far in mainland Britain is that the southern green shield bug does not become numerous until late summer or early autumn, by which time beans are coming to the end of their cropping period and so little damage is caused
• Similar to the green shieldbug this species also overwinters as adults, which usually turn brown. These are sometimes found in buildings 

• The native green shield bug is harmless, it is part of the biodiversity a healthy garden can support and control measures are not required
• The southern green shield bug has not yet become numerous enough to cause damage to crop plants. Large numbers have only been seen from August onwards when crop damage is likely to be insignificant and therefore control is unlikely to be necessary 

• Sometimes mistaken for beetles, shield bugs belong to a different group of insects, the Hemiptera or true bugs, these all have sucking mouthparts
• Green shield feed by sucking sap from a wide range of plants but the native green shield bug causes no noticeable damage to cultivated plants, even when numerous
• Both types of green shield bug overwinter as adults but before seeking sheltered places they are often seen in late summer and autumn sitting on plant foliage in the sun. They often turn brown when overwintering
• They are also active in early summer when they lay small clusters of eggs on the undersides of leaves
• The nymphs have a rounded body shape and gradually take on the adult appearance as they develop
• In recent years the green shield bug has become more abundant and widespread in Britain
• The introduced southern green shield bug has become established, and is likely to become more widespread, at least in southern England
• There are about 30 other species of shield bugs, which are brown or yellowish green with reddish markings. Some of these can also be found in gardens, none of these will damage garden plants
• Some more information on British shield bugs can be found at the British Bugs website