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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Pentatomomorpha » Pentatomoidea » Stink Bugs (Pentatomidae) » Pentatominae » Carpocorini » Oebalus » Rice Stink Bug (Oebalus pugnax)

Species Oebalus pugnax - Rice Stink Bug

Classification · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Food · Life Cycle · Works Cited

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

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

Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)

Infraorder Pentatomomorpha

Superfamily Pentatomoidea

Family Pentatomidae (Stink Bugs)

Subfamily Pentatominae

Tribe Carpocorini

Genus Oebalus

Species pugnax (Rice Stink Bug)

Explanation of Names

Oebalus pugnax (Fabricius 1775)

pugnax = 'fighter'

Size

8-12 mm(1)

Identification

Prominent spines, projecting forward, are distinctive in adult.

Early instars are mostly pinkish with transverse black spots on abdomen; later instars have pale body with pink and black spots.

Range

e. US to AZ (ME-FL to MN-AZ) to Brazil; W. Indies(2)(3)(BG data)

Food

grasses (including wheat, rice, corn, and other crops); may attack caterpillars(1)

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.(4)

Works Cited

1.	The Pentatomoidea (Hemiptera) of Northeastern North America J.E. McPherson. 1982. Southern Illinois University Press.

2.	Catalog of the Heteroptera, or True Bugs of Canada and the Continental United States Thomas J. Henry, Richard C. Froeschner. 1988. Brill Academic Publishers.

3.	Pentatomidae (Heteroptera) of Honduras: a checklist with description of a new ochlerine genus Arismendi N., Thomas D.B. 2003. Insecta Mundi 17: 219-236.

4.	A Field Guide to Common Texas Insects Bastiaan M. Drees, John A. Jackman. 1998. Gulf Publishing.

Contributed by Lynette Elliott on 21 April, 2005 - 6:01am
Additional contributions by cotinis, Hannah Nendick-Mason, Mike Quinn, v belov
Last updated 17 June, 2017 - 1:08pm

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