Oechalia schellenbergii

I recently found some information about Predatory Shield Bugs (Oechalia schellenbergii) and to my surprise discovered that some photos that I have taken and could not identify were in fact different development stages of this insect. It also turns out that I had photographed the eggs of this species as well. I was very happy to solve a bunch of identification problems, but I never expected them to be the same species!

Overall I think I have photographed six stages - eggs, 2nd instar, 3rd instar, 4th instar, 5th instar and adult.

Predatory Shield Bug eggs (Oechalia schellenbergii)

Predatory Shield Bug 2nd instar (Oechalia schellenbergii)

Predatory Shield Bug 3rd instar (Oechalia schellenbergii)

Predatory Shield Bug 4th instar (Oechalia schellenbergii)

Predatory Shield Bug 5th instar (Oechalia schellenbergii)

Predatory Shield Bug 5th instar (Oechalia schellenbergii)

Predatory Shield Bug 5th instar (Oechalia schellenbergii)

Predatory Shield Bug adult (Oechalia schellenbergii)

Predatory Shield Bug adult (Oechalia schellenbergi

Predatory Shield Bug adult (Oechalia schellenbergi

http://andrewallenphotography.weebly.com/