What is this insect?

[Diane]

What is this insect? More importantly with that great big X on its back...... is it dangerous to the birds?
Its found on the Wisteria mainly or around that area.

P1010097 (640x427).jpg

[MadOzzie]

It is a Crusader Bug (mictis profana) according to "Wildlife of Greater Brisbane".

Sorry no information about effect on birds.

MadOzzie

[Diane]

Thanks, from what I can find out its a sap sucker especially of citrus trees. This would account for the decline of the mandarin tree just lately. They seem to be on the Wisteria mainly.
Brisbane? Wonder if they are all over Australia, Im in Adelaide.
Creepy looking things, very robot like!

[desertbirds]

I doubt if the birds will have a go at it . Some similar type bugs we have here are generally known as stink bugs. they usually smell bad when provoked or threatened.

[MadOzzie]

The only note in the wildlife book is that it "sucks sap from shoots and pods of leguminous plants such as wattles and cassias; minor pest of garden beans".

MadOzzie

[jusdeb]

Stink bug me thinks , only way to know for sure is to squeeze one ....go on I dare ya and yeah they really reek

[Jayburd]

we have a set of bright bright orange stink bugs that invade our poor orange tree every spring... they really chew up the leaves so I try and kill them. it does NOT smell like flowers at our house in spring!!!

[Brooksy]

We used to get similar ones on our lemon tree at Springwood in the Blue Mountains, they used to cover the tree. An old neighbor next door who was right into gardening said to be careful around them especially when mowing, if you get sprayed in the eye can cause short term blindness.

Don't know how true that is, wasn't game enough to try it.

[Craig52]

We have those bugs here in Vic too.Never been able to find a female though,they tell me the female has a big circle on it's back (there norts & crosses bugs)
OK i'm sorry

[Mr Tino]

Don't be Naughty