Dictyotus caenosus
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Dictyotus caenosus, commonly known as the brown shield bug, is an Australian species of stink bug that has been introduced into New Zealand and New Caledonia. Adults are between 8-10mm in length, predominantly brown, with a yellow connexivum interrupted by black bars (on the sides of the abdomen). Eggs are around 0.9mm in height and diameter, pale yellowish-green when first deposited, but which subsequently take on a lemon yellow colour, and finally pink closer to hatching.
The life cycle of Dictyotus caenosus is similar to other Pentatomidae. Adults mate in spring and late summer and lay eggs in early summer. Clusters of around 18 eggs are laid on leaves or at the base of plants. Initially, eggs are a pale yellow colour, but as development progresses, the eggs eventually darken and show the eye spots and egg burster on the nymph. Nymphs all hatch from the eggs around the same time and remain near the egg mass until moulting to the second nymph stage or 'instar'. Moulting results in the nymph shedding its outer exoskeleton, which it leaves behind on its host plant. The nymphs progress through five instars before a final moult to adult. Adults are capable... Wikipedia →
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Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Shield Bug sighting in Melbourne on a given day, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 703rd most-seen of the 875 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Shield Bug in Melbourne on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
4th of 4
Of the 4 cities where we can rate Brown Shield Bug sightings, Melbourne ranks 4th at under 5%. The best odds are in Auckland (New Zealand, about 10%), Perth (Australia, under 5%) and Sydney (Australia, under 5%).
Same family: Pentatomidae
The closest relatives of the Brown Shield Bug that you can see in Melbourne (family Pentatomidae, Stink Bugs) are Southern Green Stink Bug (about 10%) and Schellenberg's Soldier Bug (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Brown Shield Bug is recorded against all the insects logged in Melbourne (8 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
