Have you ever spotted neat clusters of tiny, barrel-shaped pellets on a tree trunk or the underside of leaves? These formations are not random bits of debris—they are the eggs of the Lychee Stink Bug (Tessaratoma papillosa), a significant pest for fruit orchards, particularly lychee and longan trees.
Meet the Culprit: The Lychee Stink Bug

Belonging to the family Tessaratomidae, the adult lychee stink bug is a sizable insect, measuring about 25–30 mm (1 inch) in length. It has a shield-shaped, yellow-brown body with a distinctive white, waxy coating on its abdomen. While they might look unassuming, both the adults and their nymphs (juveniles) are destructive sap-feeders.
The Life Cycle: From Egg to Infestation

Egg Stage: The female lays eggs in compact clusters of 10–40, often on the underside of leaves or on bark. These eggs resemble small, round, pale green to light brown pellets, arranged in orderly rows.

Nymph & Adult Stage: After hatching, the nymphs undergo several molts. Throughout all life stages, they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract sap from young shoots, flower panicles, and developing fruit.