banded rhopalid (lat. Stictopleurus punctatonervosus)

banded rhopalid
banded rhopalid

Description

Stictopleurus punctatonervosus can reach a length of 6.5–9 millimetres (0.26–0.35 in). These bugs have a regularly punctuated pronotum, a banded connexivum and a rounded tip of the scutellum. The body is grey-brown to black, while the abdomen is often greenish. It can be distinguished from the closely related S. abutilon by the presence of two half-circle marks on the anterior margin of pronotum (as opposed to full circles in S. abutilon).

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banded rhopalid

Biology

Adults can be found all year. In southern Europe two generations per year are likely formed. Females lay their eggs in the spring. New generation is complete by August. The species overwinters as imago and can be observed after hibernation from the end of April until the middle or the end of October. These bugs feed on various Asteraceae species.

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banded rhopalid

Distribution

This species is widespread in most of Europe and east to Siberia and Central Asia. It prefers dry and warm grassland habitats and it is often found on meadows, wasteland or roadsides.

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banded rhopalid

Bibliography

Zoologische Staatssammlung München: Bestimmungsschlüssel der Familie Rhopalidae AMYOT & SERVILLE, 1843, Unterfamilie Rhopalinae AMYOT & SERVILLE, 1843 (Glasflügelwanzen) aus Bayern. Ekkehard Wachmann, Albert Melber, Jürgen Deckert: Wanzen Band 3: Aradidae, Lygaeidae, Piesmatidae, Berytidae, Pyrrhocoridae, Alydidae, Coreidae, Rhopalidae, Stenocephalidae, Goecke & Evers, Keltern 2007, ISBN 978-3-937783-29-1: S. 246–248

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This is not intended to be a dry lexicon. Personal stories and sensitive articles form the framework for our pictures: „Dance of love — our exclusive interview“ Lisa and Linus, two large dragonflies, share their personal mating experiences, often described as a dance, shedding light on the associated challenges and misunderstandings.

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Dance of love — our exclusive interview