Tessaratoma javanica (Thunberg)

Taxonomic position

Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea: Tessaratomidae: Tessaratominae: Tessaratomini

Common names

Litchi bug, lychee giant stink bug

Habitat / Crop(s) damaged

Commonly found on Michelia champaca in southern India. Known to be a pest of apple, pear, litchi, etc.

It is a pest of litchi in some parts of northern India. Both adults and nymph feed mostly on tender plant parts such as growing buds, leaf petioles, fruit stalks and tender branches. Serious infestation results in drying of growing buds, tender shoots and ultimately fruit drop.

Tessaratoma papillosa, a related species, is a pest of litchi in China and is also distributed in India.

Pest status

Minor, occasionally serious.

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