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NATURE & GASTRONOMY

 

 

 

  Jewel Bug (Shield-backed Bug)

 

Thailand

A species of Jewel Bug, a group of insects, that are also commonly known as Shield-backed Bugs.

 

Whereas Jewel Bug refers to their often brilliant colouration, the name Shield-backed Bug derives from the enlargement of the last section of its thorax into a continuous shield over the abdomen and wings, a characteristic that oftentimes leads to misidentification, assuming them to be beetles rather than bugs.

 

  Jewel Bug (Shield-backed Bug)

 

  Jewel Bug (Shield-backed Bug)

 

Closely related to stink bugs, they are also able to produce an offensive odour when disturbed. Due to this, they are in Thai called malaeng tod, literally ‘farting bugs’.

LIST OF THAI INSECT NAMES