The innocent ’true bugs’

The green shield bug is a pretty insect. One centimetre long and almost as wide, and it is just one of the many kinds of true bugs you can meet in the area. True bugs are insects – they have six legs and wings. And they have nothing to do with ticks. Too many people think that true bugs and ticks are the same, and so many bugs are killed for no reason. Most true bugs feed on plant sap, and don’t harm anyone. There are, however, a few predators, that suck out the insides of other insects and larvae, but they are not at all interested in humans.

True bugs can, however, sometimes prick you with their proboscis, but they are not attacking. It’s more like  having a little taste – bugs don’t really know what they are walking around on, when they land on a human. So, they might try to stick in their proboscis to find out what’s going on, but it’s never more than a little prick, then they quickly retreat - humans obviously don’t taste so good.

If you catch one of the large true bugs in your hand, then remember to wash your hands afterwards and don’t get too close to it with your nose. One of their most effective defence mechanisms is to emit an utterly disgusting stink!