Harlequin Stink Bug ( Murgantia histrionica ) | |
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IDENTIFICATION | |
Identification: | Murgantia histrionica (Hahn, 1834) |
Common Name: | Harlequin Stink Bug |
Life Stage: | A |
PHYLOGENY | |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Superorder: | Paraneoptera |
Order: | Hemiptera |
Suborder: | Heteroptera |
Family: | Pentatomidae |
Subfamily: | Pentatominae |
Tribe: | Pentatomini |
Genus: | Murgantia |
Taxon Code: | HET00347 |
LOCATION DETAILS | |
Location | |
Black Diamond Mines Regional Pre, 5175 Somersville Rd., Antioch | |
County: | Contra Costa County |
ECI Site#: | CAEBB40001 |
Park/Forest: | Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve |
RECOGNITION | |
Brightly patterned, distinctive; the amount of black varies considerably. | |
Body Length | |
7.5-11.5 mm | |
BIOLOGY | |
Host | |
Hosts: Primarily Brassicaceae (horseradish, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, mustard, Brussels sprouts, turnip, kohlrabi, radish); may also attack tomato, potato, eggplant, okra, bean, asparagus, beet, weeds, fruit trees and field crops. | |
Active Period | |
Mostly: April through October. | |
Development | |
Eggs look like white barrels with two black hoops around; adults overwinter. The life cycle takes 50-80 days. | |
Range | |
Native to Mexico and Central America. Invasive in our area (first detected in TX, 1864) and now widely established across the US (ME-SD to FL-CA) but rarely found north of PA-CO; the northern limits of the established range fluctuate markedly depending on winter severity; migrates northward during spring and summer. | |
HABITAT | |
CREDITS | |
Photographer Jared Heifetz | |
REFERENCES | |
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