CLOSED: Insect with gold triangle on back

Deer Park, TX

I’d say it’s close to an inch long, but maybe a tad shorter. It has broad, pointy shoulders (or whatever they’re called on an insect). The shape reminds me of a stink bug, but it didn’t seem to have long legs. It looks pretty smooth.
Friend or foe?

Thumbnail by yellow2mato Thumbnail by yellow2mato
Minot, ND

It is a stink bug (family Pentatomidae). It looks like a rice stink bug, Oebalus pugnax, but your images are not clear enough for me to be certain. It feeds primarily on grasses, including rice - https://extensionentomology.tamu.edu/insect_scientific_name/oebalus-pugnax-fabricius/.

Deer Park, TX

Quote from Flapdoodle :
It is a stink bug (family Pentatomidae). It looks like a rice stink bug, Oebalus pugnax, but your images are not clear enough for me to be certain. It feeds primarily on grasses, including rice - https://extensionentomology.tamu.edu/insect_scientific_name/oebalus-pugnax-fabricius/.


Thank you for your help. In your opinion, is it better to shoo it away, maybe with a spray from the water hose, or to kill it?

Minot, ND

Unless you see numerous individuals on plants you want to protect, You can probably just let it be.

Deer Park, TX

Quote from Flapdoodle :
Unless you see numerous individuals on plants you want to protect, You can probably just let it be.


Thank you, and I definitely appreciate you taking the time to help me.

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