Species Podisus maculiventris - Spined Soldier Bug (original) (raw)

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)

Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)

Infraorder Pentatomomorpha

Superfamily Pentatomoidea

Family Pentatomidae (Stink Bugs)

Subfamily Asopinae (Predatory Stink Bugs)

Genus Podisus

Species maculiventris (Spined Soldier Bug)

Explanation of Names

Podisus maculiventris (Say 1832)

maculiventris = 'spotted belly' (refers to ventral pattern in female)

Identification

Pale brown to tan. Shield shaped with prominent "shoulders"

Black streak on wing membrane + spined humeri are diagnostic

Range

across NA, most common in the east - Map (1)(2)

Habitat

Crops including potatoes, tomatoes, sweet corn, cole crops, beans, eggplant, cucurbits, asparagus, apples, and onions

Food

Wide variety of insects(1); known to eat Mexican bean beetles, European corn borers, diamondback moths, corn earworms, beet armyworms, fall armyworms, cabbage loopers, imported cabbageworms, Colorado potato beetles, velvetbean caterpillars and flea beetles(3)

Hemimetabolous Insects:

Coleoptera (adults):

Lepidoptera (adults):

Larvae (incl. Lep, Hym, & Coleo):

Hymenoptera (adults):

Unknown:

Remarks

available commercially as biocontrol agent against a wide array of agriculturally significant pests(4)

See Also

Euschistus, but note spotted legs

Internet References

Featured Creatures - Richman & Mead (2001-2010)(3)

Works Cited