Species Niesthrea louisianica

Classification · Identification · Habitat · Food · Remarks · Internet References

probable seed bugs - Niesthrea louisianica

Plant Bug ID Request - Niesthrea louisianica

Niesthrea louisianica - Niesthrea louisianica - male - female

Scentless Plant Bug - Niesthrea louisianica

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)

Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)

Family Rhopalidae (Scentless Plant Bugs)

Genus Niesthrea

Species louisianica (Niesthrea louisianica)

Identification

Nymphs are very colorful - bright red with orange and black wing pads, orange heads, black and white freckles and spots.

Adults colors are less bright but still striking:

Habitat

Eggs are laid in masses on the undersides of leaves.

Food

Feeds on flower buds and seeds of plants in the Mallow family (Malvaceae), such as Hibiscus and Rose of Sharon.

Remarks

Used as a control of the invasive annual weed, Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti). In one 1987 study mentioned here it was found to reduce seed production by 98%.

Internet References

Adult image

Contributed by Hannah Nendick-Mason on 19 May, 2006 - 7:23am
Last updated 24 September, 2007 - 12:11pm

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