twice-stabbed stink bug

(Cosmopepla lintneriana)

Conservation Status
IUCN Red List

not listed

NatureServe

not listed

Minnesota

not listed

 
twice-stabbed stink bug
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: 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

Distribution Map

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

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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.

  twice-stabbed stink bug

Alfredo Colon

twice-stabbed stink bug   twice-stabbed stink bug
     
twice-stabbed stink bug   twice-stabbed stink bug
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
twice-stabbed stink bug

 

Camera

Slideshows

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

Twice-stabbed Stink Bug (Cosmopepla lintneriana)

 

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).

 

Camcorder

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.

twice-stabbed stink bug
Alfredo Colon
6/4/2021

Location: Woodbury, MN

twice-stabbed stink bug
Alfredo Colon
8/31/2019

Location: Maplewood Nature Center

twice-stabbed stink bug
Alfredo Colon
June 2018

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

twice-stabbed stink bug

Melissa Mccalley
6/17/2018

Location: Lester Prairie, MN

 
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Created: 5/6/2018

Last Updated:

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