#kamemushi

“Found in a Tokyo school. My students were keen to identify it.”

Good evening!

Thanks for your submission to Bugs of Japan.
The bug you sent is clearly a Stink Bug (kamemushi), but there are several varieties in Japan and they are all a little bit different. Kame-mushi are a little bit special when we say “bugs” because they are actually True Bugs (hemiptera), which also includes cicadas, aphids and bedbugs, and a distinguishing feature is that they have piercing/sucking mouthparts (like a straw) in both their baby (nymph) and adult forms.

The particular Stink Bug you’ve sent appears to be a “Kimadara Kamemushi” (see comparison photos here https://ameblo.jp/murmecophaga/entry-12618123641.html ), Erthesina fullo. (English name: yellow-spotted stink bug or yellow marmorated stink bug.)  

They are found in East and Southeast Asia and eat plant juices!

Thanks for your submission and have a good summer!

“Found this cluster of insects. They were on top of what looked like a patch of silver eggs. I’m in Okinawa and they were on my patio closet door. “-CW

Good morning! Sorry for the delay, I haven’t been keeping up with this blog very often.

My best guess is - you have stink bugs! (カメムシ, Kamemushi) Their name is more respectful in Japanese- “Turtle bug”. 

Most stink bugs feed on the juices of plants, though some species eat other insects, such as caterpillars. The adults are commonly seen in cities during the late summer, and are slow-moving, but will release a bitter smell if handled or damaged– however they do not bite people or pets. 

Comparison photo on this blog: http://tokada.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-4049.html