Identification
Prominent spines, projecting forward, are distinctive in adult.
Early stage nymphs are mostly pinkish with two transverse black spots on abdomen. Later instar nymphs have pink and black spots on pale bodies.
Range
Eastern and Central North America.
Season
Much of year in south, at least--adults overwinter.
Food
Grasses, including cultivated ones such as wheat, rice. Sometimes predatory on caterpillars.
Life Cycle
Typically overwinters as adult near the ground among grass. Adults become active in spring and females lay eggs in clusters of 10-30 in double rows on leaves or seed heads of grasses. Nymphs molt five times to become adults. There may be two to five generations per year.
(1)Print References
Drees, pp. 60-61, fig. 79
(1)
Slater, p. 56, fig. 85
(2)
Brimley, p. 62--
Solubea pugnax, lists for "whole season" in North Carolina.
(3)
Taber, p. 88, description
(4)
Swan and Papp, p. 129, fig. 127A
(5)Internet References
North Carolina State University Entomology lists two species for that state: pugnax (332 pinned), ypsilongriseus (3 pinned)
