Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
formerly Pitedia
Numbers
19 species in North America (
nearctica.com)
Identification
appearance varies but most species have broadly oval body, often green (may change to brownish or grayish with age), with pale whitish or yellow margin on pronotum and elytra; scutellum long & triangular, sometimes with 3 callosities (bumps) along base, and the tip usually pale or contrasting in color; membrane at apex of forewing often clear or translucent
Range
represented throughout US and southern Canada but mostly a western genus (only 4 or 5 of the 19 species occur in the east: dismalia, persimilis, saucia, senilis and possibly sayi)
Food
nymphs and adults feed on a variety of herbaceous plants, crops, and fruit trees (can become a commercial pest)
Life Cycle
Here's our best interpretation of the life cycle for Chlorochroa:
(corrections may be necessary)
eggs and hatchlings, 1st instar
2nd instar
3rd instar
Remarks
Western Species:
Chlorochroa congrua - green with white apex
Chlorochroa faceta - conspicuous scutellar median longitudinal yellow stripe
Chlorochroa granulosa - usually with a white apex, costal margin of the corium whitish
Chlorochroa ligata - gray or black in southern individuals and olive-green in northern individuals, pale orange to red apex, costal margin of the corium and connexivum pale orange to red
Chlorochroa opuntiae - deep bodied shape and a color ranging from green to purpleish black, the anterolateral margins of its pronotum thickened and reflexed
Chlorochroa sayi - three white spots and white apex
Chlorochroa uhleri - scutellum with three distinct calosites at base and a pale apex
Chlorochroa viridicata - basally green scutellum with a yellow apical half, a distinctive and rare species
From Donald Thomas (pers. comm. to =v=, 10/06/09): "Definitive species differences are in the male genitalia -- leaving 50% of all Chlorochroa to be identified by gestalt. The key species is C. ligata. It is black in the south, green in the north, and in the transitional area it is sort of purplish-green. There are some other clues, but these are not always visible in the photo. Geography helps narrow it down.
Some very rare species are here, C. opuntiae, C. lineata and C. kanei. Wish I had been there. I have never personally collected any of these three."
See Also
The bodies of Acrosternum (Chinavia) and Nezara species are more elongate, the tips of their elytra are more pointed, and they lack a conspicuous pale margin on the pronotum and elytra.
Internet References
pinned adult image of
C. persimilis (Insects of Cedar Creek, Minnesota)
occurrence of
C. dismalia in
Virginia and
North Carolina
occurrence of
C. persimilis in
Maine,
Quebec, and
Michigan
occurrence of
C. saucia, senilis in
Connecticut, and
North Carolina
cdfa.ca.gov - THE SAYI-GROUP OF CHLOROCHROA STAL (PDF)
