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Predatory Stink Bugs - Subfamily Asopinae

Family Pentatomidae

This page contains pictures and information about Predatory Stink Bugs that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.

 
 
Most of the stink bug species are plant suckers, however bugs in this subfamily are predators. Both adult and nymphs (except 1st instars) prey on other slow moving soft-skinned insects, such as caterpillar and beetle larvae. Their rostrum (the mouth parts) is directed away from the head and the first segment is robust and thick. This is an adaptation to their predatory habit. 
 
We found three species of predatory stink bugs and listed as follow.
 
 
Glossy Shield Bug
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Cermatulus nasalis, 2nd instars body length 5mm, adult body length 20mm
This is a Predatory Stink Bug. Although most stink bugs are plant feeders, this bugs is predator on soft-body insects, including caterpillars. Their eggs are laid in group of 50 or more which are black in colour with short white spines around the rim. Young instars are bright red in colour. Later instars are dark red and brown. More information and pictures please click here. 
 
 
Spined Predatory Shield Bug
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Oechalia schellenbergii, body length 15mm
The first picture taken in Brisbane Botanic Garden on early winter. It was on a leaf with leaf-mining pattern. It seemed that the bug was looking for the leaf-mining insect. The second picture shows the bug feeding with piercing-sucking mouthparts on leaf beetle larvae. More information and pictures please click on here.
 
 
Predatory Shield bug
 
Amyotea hamata, body length 12mm
The bug is orange- yellow, with black marks on the upper and lower surfaces of the body. We took those pictures after the bug flied and landed on the Lantana leaf in Wishart. This bug is a predatory bug.
 
Reference:
1. Insects of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University Press, 2nd Edition 1991, pp 509.
2. Stink Bugs of Australia - FaunaKeys,  Australian Museum online 2003.
3. Asopinae - Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Commonwealth of Australia 2005.
4. Genera of Pentatomidae - The University of Queensland Insect Collection, 2004
 

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Last updated: May 19, 2005.