Skip to main content
Today is National Trails Day!
Close

Shield Bug

Cazira verrucosa

Photo by SukanyaDatta
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

23.2249, 88.3482

Field Notes

Description:

Words fail me. Help me find words again...please ID this for me.

Habitat:

Was visiting a temple complex in Ambika Kalna, West Bengal, India that was built in 1809...well manicured lawns and a few places over run by weeds (and mongoose!) I spotted something reddish on a leaf lamina...and there was no reason why anything red should be there (like no red flowers or leaves nearby). And when I investigated...this is what I found.

Notes:

Dying to know its name...can anyone HELP!!!

Reference Links:

Real Monstrosities: Cazira verrucosa

Species ID Suggestions

Shield bug

Cazira verrucosa

Reference Link
Paul Davis
1

Comments (22)
SukanyaDatta
Looking forward to your "grotesque" ...I mean fascinating :) spotting. Hope you find it.
Tukup
Your comment on grotesque reminds me of one I found. I think I'll see if I can find the picture. It was really strange, like yours, but not so brighly colored. Thanks again for sharing.
SukanyaDatta
Thank you Tukup.It was indeed a magnificent team effort...and PN nailed it.I was fascinated by this bug...so peculiar...grotesque even but somehow extreneky fascinating.I raised a huge hue and cry didn't I? But so happy everyone chipped in.I am a total fan of PN.
Tukup
Great find Sukanya. Just reading the history of the ID. I love a challenge once in a while, but only if it ends in results. Glad you got the ID. Beautiful shot.
Michael Strydom
Congrats on the SOTD!! A Great reward for such a rewarding puzzle. Spectacular bug!! Thanks to Paul Davis for the solution.
SukanyaDatta
Teamwork wins the day. I am sure tmvdh, Michael Strydom and Paul Davis are as happy as I am. Thank you, Rangers....thank you Daniele. Thank you Sergio Monteiro, AntonioGinjaGinja
AntónioGinjaGinja
Awesome find Sukanya,congrats on the well deserved SOTD and thanks for sharing
DanielePralong
A call for help and great team effort is all you need! What a fabulous spotting Sukanya, well deserving to be Spotting of the Day: "Gibbosities, spines and excrescences? These are all technical terms used to describe the various protrusions on the body of our remarkable Spotting of the Day, a stink bug aptly named Cazira verrucosa (family Pentatomidae; subfamily Asopinae). Asopine stink bugs are predators of other insects. With thanks to Torsten van der Heyden, Michael Strydom and Paul Davis for help with identification". Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectnoah/photos/a.10150595289465603/10161269935960603/?type=3&theater&ifg=1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/1075527104261963776
Michael Strydom
Awsome news... what I great puzzle to solve. Happy to have helped
DanielePralong
Fantastic! Verrucosa indeed...! I personally don't think it's a monster, but check this out: http://www.realmonstrosities.com/2014/10/cazira-verrucosa.html Well done Paul, and thank you Sukanya for such an interesting find.
SukanyaDatta
Thank you Daniele, Thank you, tmvdh, Thank you Michael Strydom and of course, Thank you, Paul Davis.
SukanyaDatta
Daniele...usually I can be patient but this one is so odd looking I knew I couldnot wait for an IF...so I made a racket...and how wonderfully PN responded.
DanielePralong
Now that got the conversation going! Glad for you (and our community) Sukanya!
SukanyaDatta
Yes indeed...THANK YOU so much Michael Strydom...I have a few other shots...same position though.., so it won't help much. I was holding back a leaf with one hand and shooting with the other. But the moment my friend came over to help me, the insect dropped onto the weedy under growth was lost. Really appreciate the clue. Thanks a lot, again.
Michael Strydom
Hi SukanyaDatta. I have been running some body comparisons and the head, eyes and spines on the thorax margins are all indictive of Shield or Stink bugs. Even how the wing tips stick out at the back. Front leggs throw me off though, almost like back legs of leaf footed bugs. I will keep looking. hope this helps you along!
SukanyaDatta
Thanks Daniele....truly...such a strange insect...not posted anywhere else but will....Keeping fingers crossed for at least a genus level ID...I now know, courtesy tmndh that this is a true bug...no wonder its ID is bugging me so much. ☺
SukanyaDatta
Thank you tmvdh...it is a major step forward to know it is a true bug.
tmvdh
Well, it's a True Bug (Heteroptera). I haven't found out which species, yet...
DanielePralong
Words fail me too Sukanya... Have you tried the Entomology Facebook group?

Spotted for Missions

Mission
WILD Cities: Urban Biodiversity
Mission
2018 Best Wildlife Photo
Photographed
PublishedDecember 15, 2018

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies