Scutelleridae

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For jewel beetles, see Buprestidae.

Jewel bugs
The shield bug, Scutiphora pedicellata, on a leaf.
Scutiphora pedicellata, a jewel bug from Australia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Infraorder: Pentatomomorpha
Superfamily: Pentatomoidea
Family: Scutelleridae
Leach, 1815
Subfamilies

Scutelleridae is a

stink bugs, they may also produce an offensive odour when disturbed. There are around 450 species worldwide.[2]

Description

Jewel bugs are small to medium-sized oval-shaped bugs with a body length averaging at 5 to 20 mm (0.20 to 0.79 in).[3] They can easily be distinguished from stink bugs (Pentatomidae) because the shield-like enlarged last section of their thorax (known as the scutellum, Latin for "little shield") completely covers the abdomen and the wings.[4]

Despite their resemblance to beetles, jewel bugs are

forewings. As such, jewel bugs have four membranous wings underneath the scutellum in contrast to two in beetles.[6] The scutellum in jewel bugs also does not have a division in the middle and thus does not 'split open' when they take flight like in beetles.[7]

The heads of jewel bugs are triangular and the antennae have three to five segments.[8] Like all heteropterans, jewel bugs are characterized by a segmented beak-like mouthpart (known as the rostrum).[2] During feeding, jewel bugs inject proteolytic enzymes in their saliva into plants, digesting plant matter into a liquid form which they then suck up.[9] The tarsus has three segments (tarsomeres).[6]

  • Shield-backed bug (Graptocoris aulicus) nymph, Uganda
    Shield-backed bug (Graptocoris aulicus) nymph, Uganda
  • Chrysocoris sp. from India, perched on some leaves.
    Chrysocoris sp., an iridescent green jewel bug from India.
  • Eucorysses grandis from Japan, crawling up on a wall.
    A brilliant orange, red, and black giant jewel stink bug Eucorysses grandis, from Japan. The pattern and coloration of this species can often vary from pale cream to deep red.

Colours

Though some species are quite drab,[10] the most conspicuous jewel bugs are often brilliantly colored, exhibiting a wide range of iridescent metallic hues that change with the view angle.[6] The colors are the result of a combination of factors. Some species like Chrysocoris stockerus and Scutellera nobilis display colors from multiple thin layers of pigmented chitin. The colors often change or become duller when the specimens are dried, due to the topmost chitinous layer becoming opaque and obscuring the colors of the bottom layer. The colors can be restored by moistening the surfaces with water.[11]

Iridescence (or goniochromism) in jewel bugs like Poecilocoris lewisi are the result of structural coloration. Instead of pigments, the colors are caused by the interference, diffraction, or scattering of light by numerous tiny structures.[citation needed]

In Poecilocoris lewisi, multiple tiny conical protuberances around 900

Mie scattering).[11]

In other species like the African shield bug (Calidea panaethiopica), the dorsal cuticle is dotted with tiny regularly spaced hemispherical cavities. The depressions act like Bragg mirrors. When light hits the pitted surface, it gives off multiple reflections resulting in the distinctive two tone yellow-blue iridescence.[12]

The colors and patterns on jewel bugs can vary significantly between instars and even within adults of a species.[13]

Jewel bugs are also known to

tortoise beetle Chiridopsis suffriani.[14]

Ecology and life cycle

All jewel bugs feed on

plants (phytophagous). The eggs are laid in compact clusters.[15] They may be round or barrel-shaped with a lid or a cap at the top (known as the operculum). They also contain a ring of small protuberances near the cap called micropylar processes. They permit the passage of sperm into the egg for fertilization and enable gaseous exchange from within the egg and the outside world for the embryos. The eggs are white or cream colored when freshly laid but can change color as the embryo matures.[16] When hatching, the prolarva (the advanced embryo) exit the egg by opening the lid through peristaltic movements and with the help of a T-shaped internal structure in the egg (known as the egg burster).[16][17]

Like all hemipterans, jewel bugs undergo incomplete metamorphosis (hemimetaboly) and do not possess larval and pupal stages. Instead the adults develop from several stages (instars) of nymphs (usually five) through successive moltings (ecdysis). Nymphs resemble the adults except for size and the absence of wings. They can be of different coloration or patterns from adults.[15]

Some species are known to exhibit parental care of eggs and nymphs. Notable examples of which are Cantao parentum,[18] Pachycoris klugii,[19] Pachycoris stalii,[20] Pachycoris torridus, and Tectocoris diophthalmus.[13][21]

Reproduction

Tectocoris, Psacasta, Odontoscelis, and Irochrotus), males possess special unicellular glands in the abdomen known as the androconia (singular: androconium). They release sex pheromones when ruptured.[6]

Females possess a

spermatozoa until they can be released to fertilize eggs.[17]

Male jewel bugs of the genus Hotea possess an unusually large, spiky, and heavily sclerotized genitalia. They are used in a mating practice known as traumatic insemination, a result of evolutionary sexual conflict. Male Hotea bugs tear through the female reproductive ducts to deposit sperm, inflicting substantial damage to the female in the process.[23]

Defenses

Like

stink bugs, a vast majority of jewel bugs, both adults and nymphs, are also capable of releasing pungent defensive chemicals from glands located on the sides of the thorax.[2][7] Typical compounds exuded by jewel bugs include alcohols, aldehydes, and esters.[24]

Nymphs and adults often exhibit clustering behavior, being found in large numbers close to each other. This behavior is thought to have an evolutionary advantage. The more individuals present in an area, the stronger the odor of the chemicals released when the bugs are threatened.[18] If this fails, stink bugs will react to threat by flying away or dropping to the ground.[2]

Classification and evolution

Scutellerids were first described by the

Edward Payson Van Duzee.[28] Most authorities today regard it as a valid family group.[27]
In
Plataspididae and Parastrachiidae.[28][29] Below is the morphological unweighted tree of the superfamily Pentatomoidea after Grazia et al. (2008).[29]

      ←      
             

Urostylididae

             
             

Saileriolidae

             
             

Acanthosomatidae

             
             
             

Tessaratomidae

             

Dinidoridae

  
sensu lato
  
             

Cydnidae

             

Thaumastellidae

             

Parastrachiinae

             
             

Thyreocoridae

             

Lestoniidae

             

Phloeidae

             
             

Scutelleridae

             

Plataspididae

             

Pentatomidae

             

Canopidae

             

Megarididae

Subfamilies and genera

The family is composed of about 81

sensu lato: Elvisurinae, Eurygastrinae, Hoteinae (sometimes classified under Pachycorinae), Odontoscelinae, Odontotarsinae, Pachycorinae, Scutellerinae, and Tectocorinae.[31][32]

Elvisurinae

Auth.: Stål, 1872. Widespread distribution, with the type genus Elvisura found in southern Africa; only one species of Elvisurinae, Solenosthedium bilunatum, is found in Europe.[33]

  1. Austrotichus Gross, 1975 - monotypic A. rugosus Gross, 1975
  2. Coleotichus White, 1839
  3. Elvisura Spinola, 1837
  4. Solenosthedium Spinola, 1837
  5. Solenotichus Martin, 1897

Eurygastrinae

Auth.: Amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843

Tribe Eurygastrini Amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843
  1. Eurygaster Laporte, 1833
  2. Polyphyma Jakovlev, 1877
Tribe Psacastini Mulsant & Rey, 1865
  1. Ceratocranum Reuter, 1890
  2. Periphima Jakovlev, 1889
  3. Periphymopsis Schouteden, 1904
  4. Promecocoris Puton, 1886
  5. Psacasta Germar, 1839
  6. Xerobia Stål, 1873

Hoteinae

Auth.: Carapezza, 2008

  1. Deroplax Mayr, 1864
  2. Ellipsocoris Mayr, 1864
  3. Hotea Amyot & Serville, 1843

Odontoscelinae

Auth.: Amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843; mostly European

  1. Holonotellus Horváth, 1895
  2. Irochrotus Amyot & Serville, 1843
  3. Odontoscelis Laporte, 1833

Odontotarsinae

Auth.: Mulsant & Rey, 1865

Tribe Odontotarsini Mulsant & Rey, 1865
  1. Ahmadocoris Carapezza, 2009
  2. Alphocoris Germar, 1839
  3. Melanodema Jakovlev, 1880
  4. Odontotarsiellus Hoberlandt, 1955
  5. Odontotarsus Laporte, 1833
  6. Urothyreus Horváth, 1921
Tribe Phimoderini Fuente, 1974
  1. Euptychodera Bergroth, 1908
  2. Fokkeria Schouteden, 1904
  3. Morbora Distant, 1899
  4. Phimodera Germar, 1839
  5. Vanduzeeina Schouteden, 1904

Pachycorinae

Auth.: Amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843

  1. Acantholomidea Sailer, 1945
  2. Agonosoma Laporte, 1833
  3. Ascanius (bug) Stål, 1868
  4. Brailovskylus Eger, 2017
  5. Camirus Stål, 1862
  6. Chelycoris Bergroth, 1891
  7. Chelyschema Bergroth, 1891
  8. Coptochilus Amyot & Serville, 1843
  9. Crathis (bug) Stål, 1861
  10. Diolcus Mayr, 1864
  11. Dystus Stål, 1862
  12. Ephynes Stål, 1868
  13. Galeacius Distant, 1889
  14. Homaemus Dallas, 1851
  15. Lobothyreus Mayr, 1864
  16. Misippus Stål, 1868
  17. Nesogenes Horváth, 1921
  18. Orsilochides Kirkaldy, 1909
  19. Pachycoris Burmeister, 1835
  20. Polytes Stål, 1868
  21. Sphyrocoris Mayr, 1864
  22. Stethaulax Bergroth, 1891
  23. Symphylus Dallas, 1851
  24. Testrina Walker, 1867
  25. Tetyra Fabricius, 1803
  26. Tiridates (bug) Stål, 1868

Scutellerinae

Auth.: Leach, 1815. Selected genera:

Tectocorinae McDonald & Cassis, 1984 (monotypic)
  • Tectocoris
     Hahn, 1834

Economic significance

cotton harlequin bug (Tectocoris diophthalmus
).

Though most jewel bugs do little harm to crop plants,

stink bugs, they are collectively known as sunn pests (also spelled as senn, soun, or shüne pests) or wheat bugs.[30] The most economically important species of which are members of the genus Eurygaster
.

Eurygaster integriceps, in particular, is a very destructive pest of cereal crops in North Africa, the Balkans, and western and central Asia. Other scutellerids known under the name 'sunn pest' include members of the genus Odontotarsus, among others.[35] Methods of control for sunn pests have included biological pest control, using wasps of the family Scelionidae from the genera Trissolcus and Ooencyrtus.[citation needed]

The

cotton harlequin bug (Tectocoris diophthalmus) is also an important pest of cotton crops and Hibiscus.[34][36]

Conservation

Biological methods of pest control have sometimes backfired. A

Koa bug (Coleotichus blackburniae, a jewel bug species notable for not possessing stink glands) which has now become rare.[37]

Gallery

  • Molting (moulting) jewel bug (1)
    Molting (moulting) jewel bug (1)
  • Molting (moulting) jewel bug (2)
    Molting (moulting) jewel bug (2)
  • Molting (moulting) jewel bug (3)
    Molting (moulting) jewel bug (3)
  • Molting (moulting) jewel bug (4)
    Molting (moulting) jewel bug (4)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Scutelleridae - Jewel Bugs". Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Entomology. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-1-4020-6242-1
    .
  3. ISBN 978-1-4051-5142-9
    .
  4. ISBN 978-1-77007-061-5.[permanent dead link
    ]
  5. ^ "Scutelleridae". National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8014-2066-5
    .
  7. ^ a b "Family Scutelleridae - Shield-backed Bugs". BugGuide. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  8. ^ "Jewel bugs, Shield Backed Bugs -Family Scutelleridae". Brisbane Insects and Spiders Home Page. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  9. ^ E. Grünbacher & B. Kromp (2008). "Investigations on the occurrence of wheat bugs (Scutelleridae, Pentatomidae; Heteroptera) in organic farming of Eastern Austria" (PDF). 1st Scientific Conference within the framework of the 8th European Summer Academy on Organic Farming. Retrieved April 27, 2011. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. ^ Scott Fabricant, Mariella Herberstein & Darrell Kemp. "Mechanisms and Functions of Colour in the Hibiscus Harlequin Bug" (PDF). The Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Retrieved April 28, 2011. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. ^
    ISBN 978-981-270-783-3
    .
  12. PMID 19391778.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  13. ^
    doi:10.1653/0015-4040(2002)085[0464:dbamco]2.0.co;2
    . Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  14. ^ Hugh D.C. Heron (2009). "Polymorphism in four tortoise beetles from Queensburgh, South Africa (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae)" (PDF). Genus. 22 (1). University of Wrocław: 133–149. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  15. ^
    ISBN 978-0-7614-7266-7
    .
  16. ^
    hdl:1811/31918
    .
  17. ^
    ISSN 0006-3088
    .
  18. ^ a b "Scutelleridae: Shield-backed Bugs". Save Our Waterways Now. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  19. ISBN 978-0-674-02163-1
    .
  20. PMID 17119611.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  21. ^ David A. Rider. "Pentatomoid Species Known to Exhibit Parental Care". Department of Entomology, North Dakota State University. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  22. ISBN 978-0-412-03961-4
    .
  23. ISBN 978-0-691-12218-2
    .
  24. ISBN 978-3-540-21308-6
    .
  25. ^ "Scutelleridae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  26. ^ "Scutelleridae Leach, 1815" at the Encyclopedia of Life
  27. ^
    ISBN 978-0-643-06875-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  28. ^
    S2CID 41951432
    . Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  29. ^ a b Dimitri Forero (March 13, 2009). "Pentatomoidea". Tree of Life Web Project. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  30. ^
    ISBN 978-1-4200-4185-9
    .
  31. ^ Biolib: family of shield-backed bugs, Scutelleridae Leach, 1815 (retrieved 10 February 2024)
  32. ^ David A. Rider. "Classification". Department of Entomology, North Dakota State University. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  33. ^ Škorput, Jadranka; Martinović, Matea; van der Heyden, Torsten; Skejo, Josip (March 2020). "Solenosthedium bilunatum (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae) at the Adriatic Coast of Croatia". ResearchGate. Entomologie heute 31 (2019): 25-29. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  34. ^ a b Murray Fletcher (2007). "Plant bugs" (PDF). Primefact. 508. NSW Department of Primary Industries: 1–4. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  35. ISBN 978-0-8014-2066-5
    .
  36. ISBN 978-0-643-06758-5
    .
  37. ISBN 978-1-4051-4571-8
    .

External links

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