Podisus maculiventris

Podisus maculiventris
	Podisus maculiventris
Systematics
Partial order :	Pentatomomorpha
Superfamily :	Pentatomoidea
Family :	Stink bugs (Pentatomidae)
Subfamily :	Asopinae
Genre :	Podisus
Type :	Podisus maculiventris
Scientific name
	Podisus maculiventris
	( Say , 1832)

Podisus maculiventris is a Wanzenart from the family of stink bugs (Pentatomidae). The type of bug bears the English name Spined Soldier Bug ("thorn-occupied soldiers bug ").

features

The medium-sized, brown-spotted bugs grow up to 11 mm long. On the sides of the pronotum there is a thorn which is directed outwards (in contrast to Podisus macronatus , where it is directed forward). The light-colored connexive (part of the abdomen that is visible on the side) has black spots. The females usually grow larger than their male counterparts. On the lightly colored underside of the abdomen, there is a black spot in the rear area.

Occurrence

Podisus maculiventris is the most common zoophageous bug of the Pentatomidae family in North America . Its range extends across Mexico , the Bahamas , the West Indies , the United States and southern Canada .

Way of life

The bugs predatory feed on arthropods - especially beetle larvae and caterpillars. Their prey spectrum is broad and includes various pests . These include the Mexican bean beetle ( Epilachna varivestis ), the European corn borer ( Ostrinia nubilalis ), the diamondback moth ( Plutella xylostella ), the cotton bollworm ( Helicoverpa zea ), beet armyworm , Spodoptera frugiperda , the cabbage looper ( Trichoplusia ni ), the small cabbage white butterfly ( Pieris rapae ), Anticarsia gemmatalis and the Colorado potato beetle ( Leptinotarsa decemlineata ). For this reason, the type of bugs lends itself to being a form of biological pest control .

The clutch size of Podisus maculiventris usually consists of 17 to 70 eggs. The development of the bug includes five nymph stages. The complete development period starting with the oviposition is between 27 and 38 days.

etymology

The species name maculiventris is derived from Latin: macula = "spot" and venter = "belly" or "lower abdomen". The name refers to a corresponding external characteristic of the species.