Murgantia histrionica
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Murgantia histrionica |
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| ( Hahn , 1834) |
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Murgantia histrionica is a Wanzenart from the family of stink bugs (Pentatomidae). Their English name is Harlequin Bug (literally " Harlequin bug"). Alternative names are Harlequin Cabbage Bug and Harlequin Stink Bug .
features
The bugs become 7.5–11.5 mm long. They are convex in shape with rounded corners. They have an orange-black pattern, whereby the proportion of black coloring can vary greatly. The species can be easily distinguished from other species by its pattern. As with many phytophagous bedbugs, the proboscis (rostrum) is about the same thickness as the antennae .
Occurrence
The original distribution area of Murgantia histrionica is in Central America and Mexico. In the United States , it was first detected in Texas in 1864 . It now occurs in large parts of the USA (from the east to the west coast) as well as in the south of Canada, with its population north of the Pennsylvania - Colorado line decreasing sharply due to the weather conditions in winter and being subject to fluctuations. There is evidence that the species has now reached Hawaii as well .
Way of life
Murgantia histrionica are plant suckers , i.e. That is, they have a proboscis with the help of which they can penetrate the outer skin of a plant in order to get to the plant sap. They prefer representatives from the cruciferous family (Brassicaceae). Their main forage crops include crops such as horseradish , white cabbage , cauliflower , Brussels sprouts , turnips , kohlrabi and radishes . However, the bugs also affect garden and useful plants that are not cruciferous, such as tomatoes , potatoes and asparagus . The usually massive infestation of a plant causes the leaves to wither and, in extreme cases, death of the plant. For these reasons, the bugs are considered agricultural pests , and pesticides are also used to control them.
The females usually lay 5–12 eggs on the underside of the leaves of the host plant. After hatching, the bugs go through 5–6 nymph stages . The development time from egg to imago is 42–47 days. In the south of the USA there are usually 3 generations per year, while there is only one in the climatically colder north. The bugs usually hibernate as an imago.
When threatened, the bugs, like other representatives of the subfamily Pentatominae, can excrete a defensive secretion.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f g www.bugguide.net
- ↑ a b c d www.americaninsects.net ( Memento of the original from December 20, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ a b c d e f g Natural History of Orange County, California and nearby places (School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine)
- ↑ a b NC State University, Dept. of Entomology, Biological Control Information Center
- ↑ a b c d University of Florida: Featured Creature - Murgantia histrionica
- ^ ITIS report, Murgantia histrionica (Hahn, 1834)
Web links
- University of Florida: Featured Creature - Murgantia histrionica - photos, description
- Natural History of Orange County, California and nearby places (School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine) - photos, description
- www.itis.gov - taxonomy