[JohnB47]

This is really a question for next year but I had quite a few shield bugs on my toms this year. I've just read that they feed on "plant sap and leaves of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants".

So is it something I should worry about next year? My toms seem fine this year although some were chewed by, I think, caterpillars.

ta

[mumofstig]

Shield bugs don't usually do much harm, I've had a few on my raspberries this year and not noticed any damage.

[JohnB47]

Shield bugs don't usually do much harm, I've had a few on my raspberries this year and not noticed any damage.

That's good. You mentioning raspberries reminds me - a few years ago I popped a raspberry in my mouth at the allotment and it tasted bitter. Then it started wriggling. I spat it out and found I'd been eating a shield bug. So don't try eating them children. 

[gobs]

I haven't heard shield bugs being much of a problem on anything, however, there are so many kinds of them.

I never saw any on tomatoes either. What colour are they?

[sunshineband]

We have had lots of brown ones this year --they don't seem to have caused any damage to anything as far as I could see.

[JohnB47]

I haven't heard shield bugs being much of a problem on anything, however, there are so many kinds of them.

I never saw any on tomatoes either. What colour are they?

They're the green ones but didn't have that little brown mark near their rear, like some have.

[gobs]

The green ones, I know, harmless them, never have seen them on toms though. They must be spreading.