[John J]

While watering my okra plants this evening I realised that they had come under attack by a plague of what I believe to be Nezara viridula. Up until today they had shown no evidence of damage but now they are being systematically stripped. These creatures have appeared out of nowhere, or if they have been around I have not been aware of them. I apologise for the poor quality of the photos but the light was going and they refused to stand still.

[Alisdair]

It does indeed look like a fairly young nymph of the green vegetable bug. Apparently these have a taste for lots of different plants, from veg like your okra through to citrus. The reason they've suddenly appeared is that when they first hatch they stay tucked away in close clusters where the eggs had been laid, usually hidden on the under surface of leaves - only dispersing to feed properly after their first moult.

[David Bracey]

John, I`m not sure if the damage you are looking at is caused by a plant bugs.  Plant bugs have piercing and sucking mouthparts.  Your damage looks more like caterpillars.

[MikeHardman]

I agree David.
...or grasshoppers/katydids (I saw a big green one on citrus yesterday, perfectly camouflaged by colour)

[John J]

Still there this morning hiding under the leaves out of the sun.
Good point, David, though as there is no sign of caterpillars anywhere in the vicinity I think Mike's grasshoppers are a more likely suspect. We have an abundance of those in varying sizes and colours.