Crusader Bug - Mictis profana
Family Coreidae
This page contains pictures and information about Crusader Bugs that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
- Length 25mm
- This bug is dark brown in colour and with a diagonal white cross on its back like the Crusader's shield. Its hind legs are thick and strong. On day time we find many of them feeding on plants just do not care if there are any predators. The bugs live on different kinds of shrubs and trees.
- Adult, body length 25mm
- The following pictures show the Crusader Bug nymph in different stages. All can be found on the same plants at the same time in summer. The nymphs feed on the same plant as their adults.
- 3rd instars, length 15 mm
- 4th instars, length 20mm
- 5th instars, length 25mm
- They are slow motion and the adults do fly occasionally. We saw there are some Tent Spiders web above their feeding plants and sometimes we found some Crusader Bugs get caught in the webs.
- The bugs feed on Acacia, Cassia and sometimes on citrus.
- The above two pictures show two bug with different abdomen size. The Abdomen tip is different. Their hind legs sizes are also different. We guessed one is male and the other is female, but not so sure.
- Notice its sucking mouth part and its damages to the plant. The plant tip after the bug's mouth is wilted. Also notice the small hole above its middle pair of legs. Strong smell will come out from there as a deterrent to predators.
