Chlorochroa Ligata, Conchuela Bug

Day 342: If I was relying entirely on my field guides, I might have misidentified this critter. However, I have BugGuide's assurance that it is a Conchuela Bug, Chlorochroa ligata, aka a whoppingly large member of the stinkbug clan. By midafternoon, the Woolly Bear of my Sept. 16 post had given over possession of this milkweed leaf to Conchuela. Was it the odor which drove the Woolly Bear away? Phermones work both ways. And surprisingly, Conchuela is still on the leaf this morning, three days later. I don't see any signs that it's been chewing, though. I'll admit I didn't check to see if it was dead or alive. If it's still out there tonight, I'll investigate more closely. Conchuelas are often found on blackberry vines at this time of year and are one of our more common stinkbugs.

Chlorochroa Ligata, Conchuela Bug

Day 2: "People who confuse entomology with etymology bug me in a way I can't describe." Today, you get both. I was curious about the origins of "Conchuela" with respect to one of the largest stinkbugs to be found in the Pacific Northwest (Chlorochroa ligata, commonly called Conchuela Bug), and have had little luck researching the etymology. However, I suspect it derives from Latin "concha" which describes to a shell or shell-like structure, here referring to a beetle's hard wing covers. Of course, those same wing covers are called "elytrae" in scientific terms, just to add to the confusion. Etymology: what is the root of that word? Entomology: what kind of critter is on that plant? Conchuelas are indiscriminate eaters, gobbling down tender deciduous material of many species of forbs, shrubs and trees. In states where cotton is produced, they are a serious pest. In the South, they are dark brown, but here in the Pacific Northwest, they are green.