Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Pentatomomorpha » Pentatomoidea » Shield-backed Bugs (Scutelleridae) » Pachycorinae » Sphyrocoris » Sphyrocoris obliquus
Photo#120062
Mystery Thunderbird Bug !?? - Sphyrocoris obliquus
Copyright © 2007 Ann Kallal

Mystery Thunderbird Bug !?? - Sphyrocoris obliquus
Juno Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, USA
October 10, 2006
Size: less than 1/2 inch
This very, very small insect was crawling near my pool in early October, 2006. One can't help but NOTICE that distinct "Thunderbird" design on its back. I have searched through website after website of insects and cannot identify this one. Help!?!?! I live in Florida about a block inland from the Ocean. Thanks!

Images of this individual: tag all
Mystery Thunderbird Bug !?? - Sphyrocoris obliquus Mystery Thunderbird Bug !?? - Sphyrocoris obliquus
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Ann Kallal on 20 June, 2007 - 5:07pm
Last updated 20 December, 2012 - 11:20am

Moved
Moved from Shield-backed Bugs.
… john and jane balaban, 17 November, 2008 - 5:15pm login or register to post comments

opinion of Joe Eger:
"Probably Sphyrocoris obliquus (Germar)" (i failed to notice he'd seen it before :)
… v belov, 17 November, 2008 - 11:02am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from True Bugs.
… Boris Büche, 12 July, 2007 - 7:28am login or register to post comments

Shield bug.
This is an adult shield bug in the family Scutellaridae (sometimes lumped with stink bugs in the Pentatomidae). I have no idea what species this is. Florida gets a ridiculous number of exotic species coming into the state also, so it wouldn't surprise me if it is from some other country. You might contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and see if someone there recognizes it....
… Eric R. Eaton, 20 June, 2007 - 5:31pm login or register to post comments

 
Shield Bug, family Scutellaridae
Eric: I sent my inquiry to the Florida Dept of Agriculture as suggested and here are the responses:

Dear Ms. Kallal:

Thank you for the very nice photo of the stink bug. I forwarded your link to Dr. Joe Eger, the specialist for stink bugs. Here is his reply. It is in the family Scutelleridae, the shield bugs. These are plant feeders. The Florida species are not serious pests.

Susan Halbert
Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Eger, Joe [mailto:jeeger@dow.com]
Sent: 27 June, 2007 6:40 PM
To: Halbert, Susan
Subject: RE: Bug ID ?

Susan, there is a small chance that this thing could be Homaemus proteus, but I'm almost certain that it is Sphyrocoris obliquus (Germar).
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Halbert, Susan [mailto:halbers@doacs.state.fl.us]
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 12:07 PM
To: Eger, Joe
Cc: Dixon, Wayne
Subject: FW: Bug ID ?

Joe:

Wayne Dixon has asked me to identify the insect in this photo taken by a Florida homeowner. Do you recognize it?

Thanks, Susan
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Dixon, Wayne
Sent: 27 June, 2007 8:02 AM
To: Halbert, Susan
Subject: FW: Bug ID ?

Susan: please reply as best possible. The link provided is good and secure. Copy your response to me. Thanks. Wayne

-----------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Wayne N. Dixon, Chief
Bureau of Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology
and Program Manager
Florida Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey
… Ann Kallal, 28 June, 2007 - 11:30am login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact