Yesterday evening, when I was browsing Facebook and other sites on my personal computer, I noticed an uncommon type of bug on the floor of my room. When I observed it closely, I found that it was a shield bug. The size is not bigger than a conventional 50 paise coin (quite rare nowadays) but it is quite different from the ants and insects that we see on a daily basis. It spurred my curiosity.
About shield bug
The shield bug belongs to the Pentatomoidea superfamily of insects of which the stink bugs and chust bugs are also a part. The shield bug is a part of Acanthosomatidae family (order - Hemiptera) and there are 54 genera in this family, comprising approximately 200 species. The Acanthosomatidae family is one of the least varied families of the Pentatomoidea superfamily. All bugs of this superfamily are characterized by their sucking mouthparts.
The scutellum or the toughened elongation of the thorax above the abdomen is quite well developed in these bugs. The shape varies from semi-elliptical to triangular and there are normally five sections of the antennae. There are two or sometimes three parts of the tarsi.
There is a gland in the thorax of the shield bug within the 1st and 2nd pair of legs which they use to emit a stinking liquid. They use this liquid as a means for protection from probable predators and also when they are treated incautiously.
The nymphs, like the adult bugs other than tinier and minus wings, have stink glands as well.
Some of these bugs feed on other insects and most of them (both adults and nymphs) make use of their sharp mouthparts for absorbing sap from plants. When these bugs create big groups, they can turn into substantial pests. The photo album link is given below.
Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1001731619859196.1073741886.672990912733270&type=3
About shield bug
The shield bug belongs to the Pentatomoidea superfamily of insects of which the stink bugs and chust bugs are also a part. The shield bug is a part of Acanthosomatidae family (order - Hemiptera) and there are 54 genera in this family, comprising approximately 200 species. The Acanthosomatidae family is one of the least varied families of the Pentatomoidea superfamily. All bugs of this superfamily are characterized by their sucking mouthparts.
The scutellum or the toughened elongation of the thorax above the abdomen is quite well developed in these bugs. The shape varies from semi-elliptical to triangular and there are normally five sections of the antennae. There are two or sometimes three parts of the tarsi.
There is a gland in the thorax of the shield bug within the 1st and 2nd pair of legs which they use to emit a stinking liquid. They use this liquid as a means for protection from probable predators and also when they are treated incautiously.
The nymphs, like the adult bugs other than tinier and minus wings, have stink glands as well.
Some of these bugs feed on other insects and most of them (both adults and nymphs) make use of their sharp mouthparts for absorbing sap from plants. When these bugs create big groups, they can turn into substantial pests. The photo album link is given below.
Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1001731619859196.1073741886.672990912733270&type=3
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