Minnesota Seasons - twice-stabbed stink bug

Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy


Conservation Status
IUCN Red List	not listed
NatureServe	not listed
Minnesota	not listed

Photo by Babette Kis

Description

Twice-stabbed stink bug is a small black and red stink bug.

The body is black and roughly shield-shaped (broad-shouldered).

The upper plate covering the first segment of the thorax (pronotum) is black with bright red markings, including a band from side to side, a stripe on the midline, and thin borders on the sides. The plate covering the third segment of the thorax (scutellum) is large and triangular, but it is not longer than the thickened part of the forewing, and does not reach the tip of the abdomen. It is black with two distinct red spots on the margin near the end (apex). These spots are most likely the origin of this insect’s common name twice-stabbed stink bug.

The abdomen is black with a narrow red border. Some or all of the markings on some individuals show little or no red, revealing the tan or beige base coloration. The border of the abdomen often lacks red pigmentation.

The forewings are thickened and black at the base, membraneous and clear at the tip.

The head is black. The antennae have 5 segments.

The fourth leg segment (tibia) has no spines.

Size

Total length: ⅛″ to ¼″

Similar Species

Habitat

Biology

Season

Early spring to early late fall

Behavior

Like all stink bugs, it releases a foul odor when threatened.

Life Cycle

The female lays a mass of eggs on the underside of a leaf. The eggs hatch in 1 to 2 weeks.

Adults overwinter on the ground under leaf litter. They become active when the ground warms in the spring.

Nymph Food

Adult Food

Plant juices


Distribution
		Sources 7, 24, 27, 29, 30, 82, 83. Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 6/10/2025).
6/10/2025

Occurrence
Common


Taxonomy
Order	Hemiptera (true bugs, hoppers, aphids, and allies)
Suborder	Heteroptera (true bugs)
Infraorder	Pentatomomorpha
Superfamily	Pentatomoidea (stink bugs, shield bugs, and allies)
Family	Pentatomidae (stink bugs)
Subfamily	Pentatominae
Tribe	Carpocorini
Genus	Cosmopepla

Subordinate Taxa


Synonyms
Cimex carnifex Cosmopepla bimaculata Cosmopepla carnifex Pentatoma bimaculata

Common Names
twice-stabbed stink bug two-spotted stink bug wee harlequin bug

Glossary

Pronotum

The exoskeletal plate on the upper side of the first segment of the thorax of an insect.

Scutellum

The exoskeletal plate covering the rearward (posterior) part of the middle segment of the thorax in some insects. In Coleoptera, Hemiptera, and Homoptera, the dorsal, often triangular plate behind the pronotum and between the bases of the front wings. In Diptera, the exoskeletal plate between the abdomen and the thorax.

Tibia

The fourth segment of an insect leg, after the femur and before the tarsus (foot). The fifth segment of a spider leg or palp. Plural: tibiae.


Visitor Photos

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Babette Kis

Twice-stabbed Stink Bug (Cosmopepla lintneriana)

Twice-stabbed Stink Bug (Cosmopepla lintneriana), photographed at the Barnes Prairie hedgerow, Racine Co., WI on June 9, 2021. Easily identified by its shield-shaped abdomen with two pink or reddish spots. It can be found on a variety of plants; this one is on grass growing over Solomon's seal.


Alfredo Colon


MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos

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Slideshows

Twice-stabbed Stink Bug (Cosmopepla lintneriana)
Andree Reno Sanborn

slideshow


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Other Videos

Twice-stabbed Stink Bug (Pentatomidae: Cosmopepla linteriana) on Leaf
Carl Barrentine

About

Published on Jun 5, 2010

Photographed at Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (04 June 2010).

Twice-stabbed Stink Bug (Pentatomidae: Cosmopepla linteriana) on Grassblade
Carl Barrentine

About

Published on May 26, 2010

Photographed near Fisher, Minnesota (26 May 2010).

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Visitor Sightings

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Samantha Jacobs 6/9/2005	Location: Blythe, GA

Babette Kis
6/9/2021

Location: Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI

Twice-stabbed Stink Bug (Cosmopepla lintneriana), photographed at the Barnes Prairie hedgerow, Racine Co., WI on June 9, 2021. Easily identified by its shield-shaped abdomen with two pink or reddish spots. It can be found on a variety of plants; this one is on grass growing over Solomon's seal.