Appearance

• The grown form of the spined soldier bug varies in coloration between light brown to tan and can be differentiated from other insects of the podisus family by the dark lines on their wingtips, which will form a single dark streak if the wingtips overlap when not in use.
  
  Like other soldier bugs of the podisus family, the spined solder has a distinctive shield-shaped carapace (shell), intimidating spurs on its "shoulders" and at the back of its head, and cruelly-pointed beaks that they use to attack and kill other insects.
  
  

Enemies

• The enemies of the spined soldier bug also happen to be a veritable rogue's gallery of a farmer's worst nightmares: the diamondback moth, the corn earworm, the beet armyworm, the Colorado potato beetle and other destructive crop-killers.
  
  The spined soldier bug is a predator and as such feeds exclusively on other insects, not crops. When released into an area, these tiny engines of death will seek out and eradicate huge numbers of pests in a short span of time.
  
  

Pest Killers

• A single spined soldier bug can destroy more than 100 fall armyworm larvae in the course of a single season. When combined with other pest-deterrent insects, the spined soldier bug has demonstrated the military-grade efficiency of its namesake in the destruction of other crop-hungry pests.
  
  By attacking the larvae of the pests, the spined soldier bug ensures that the next generation of destructive insects is severely depleted or never arrives at all.
  
  

Attack & Defense

• When attacking or feeding, the spined soldier bug uses its sharp, retractable beak as a weapon. While not dangerous to humans, in the insect world, that beak can cause massive trauma to other insects and their larvae.
  
  When being attacked, the spined soldier bug has a formidable series of defensive systems. Its strong, shield-shaped carapace can deflect incoming rear attacks, while the sharp spurs on its "shoulders" and the back of its head allow it to confront any head-on attacks with a counterattack.
  
  When startled, the spined soldier stink bug will release an extremely unpleasant chemical weapon that will overwhelm the attacker and give the spined soldier bug a chance to either flee or attack during the confusion.
  
  If it chooses to flee, the spined soldier bug has a pair of wings that allow for short, hopping flights.
  
  

Susceptibility to Pesticides

• Unfortunately, the podisus maculiventris is more susceptible even than its prey to some of the more common pesticides, especially those that use organophosphorous and carbamate. Some pesticides alone don't present a significant threat to the spined soldier bug, but can be deadly when mixed with water, as in a rainstorm or crop-watering.
  
  However, they have shown a resilience to pyrethroids and other less-common pesticides that are used as the pesticide of choice when spined soldier bugs are present.