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Predatory Stink Bugs - Subfamily Asopinae
- Predator and prey
- Most of the stink bug species are plant suckers, however stink bugs in subfamily Asopinae are predators. Both adult and nymphs (except 1st instars) prey on other slow moving soft-skinned insects, such as caterpillars 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.
- Those Predatory Stink Bugs are sometimes found feeding on caterpillars. If disturbed, they seldom abandons their prey but slowly walks away carrying the meal with them.
- We found three species of predatory stink bugs and listed as follow.
- Glossy Shield Bug, Predatory Shield Bug
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- Cermatulus nasalis, 1st instars 5th instars 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.
- Yellow 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. Please check this page for more information.
- Spined Predatory Shield Bug
- Oechalia schellenbergii, adult body length 15mm
- The Spined Predatory Shield Bug is mottled brown in colour. It is easily recognised by the sharp spines on either side of the shoulder. The above picture shows the bug feeding with piercing-sucking mouthparts on leaf beetle larvae. More information and pictures please click on here.
Family Pentatomidae
This page contains pictures and information about Predatory Stink Bugs that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
- 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 2008.
- 4. Plant-feeding and Other Bugs (Hemiptera) of South Australia. Heteroptera – Part I - by Gordon F. Gross, South Australian Government Printer, Adelaide, 1975, p225.
