Hairy shieldbug

Forests and Woodlands, Grasslands and Prairies, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas

Forests and Woodlands, Grasslands and Prairies, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas

For adult hairy shieldbug, pheromone or light traps may be used. As hairy shieldbug also feeds on fruits and flowers, traps baited with plant matter, such as sunflower heads or overripe fruit, can be effective.

Eggs of hairy shieldbug are typically found on the underside of leaves, often in the sheltered environment of various herbaceous plants. Nymphs, which need immediate access to food, can be seen grouped close to these eggs on the same plants, feeding on plant juices. In search of more substantial foliage or other crop plants, mature hairy shieldbug adults tend to wander farther. To observe adults, inspecting the stems, leaves, and flowers of a wide array of shrubs and broadleaf plants during the warmer months of the year is a likely strategy. These locations provide the necessary resources needed for their survival and reproduction.

The best time to find hairy shieldbug is typically during the warmer months of spring and summer when they are most active. Early morning or late afternoon when temperatures are cooler and the insects are less mobile can be ideal times for observation and capture.

Hairy shieldbug is less active in cold temperatures, so warmer days with moderate weather are more suitable for finding this creature. Dry conditions are preferable, as hairy shieldbug does not thrive in overly wet environments.