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

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

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
TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Pentatomomorpha » Pentatomoidea » Stink Bugs (Pentatomidae) » Predatory Stink Bugs (Asopinae) » Podisus » Spined Soldier Bug (Podisus maculiventris)

Species Podisus maculiventris - Spined Soldier Bug

Classification · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · See Also · Internet References · Works Cited
stink bug - Podisus maculiventris - male Stink bug? - Podisus maculiventris Stinkbug for ID - Podisus maculiventris Predatory Stink Bug - Podisus maculiventris - female Podisus & friend - Podisus maculiventris Brown stink bug with pale legs - Podisus maculiventris Stink Bug - Podisus maculiventris Spined soldier bug – Podisus maculiventris? - Podisus maculiventris
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 Asopinae (Predatory Stink Bugs)
Genus Podisus
Species maculiventris (Spined Soldier Bug)
Explanation of Names
Podisus maculiventris (Say 1832)
maculiventris = 'spotted belly' (refers to ventral pattern in female)
Size
8.5-13.0 mm(1)
Identification
Pale brown to tan. Shield shaped with prominent "shoulders"
Black streak on wing membrane + spined humeri are diagnostic
Range
across NA, most common in the east - Map (1)(2)
Habitat
Crops including potatoes, tomatoes, sweet corn, cole crops, beans, eggplant, cucurbits, asparagus, apples, and onions
Food
Wide variety of insects(1); known to eat Mexican bean beetles, European corn borers, diamondback moths, corn earworms, beet armyworms, fall armyworms, cabbage loopers, imported cabbageworms, Colorado potato beetles, velvetbean caterpillars and flea beetles(3)

Hemimetabolous Insects:


Coleoptera (adults):


Lepidoptera (adults):


Larvae (incl. Lep, Hym, & Coleo):


Hymenoptera (adults):


Unknown:
Life Cycle
may produce several generations in a year(1)
Remarks
available commercially as biocontrol agent against a wide array of agriculturally significant pests(4)
See Also
Euschistus, but note spotted legs
Internet References
Featured Creatures - Richman & Mead (2001-2010)(3)
Cornell U.
Purdue - O'Neil 1995
Works Cited
1.The Pentatomoidea (Hemiptera) of Northeastern North America
J.E. McPherson. 1982. Southern Illinois University Press.
2.Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
3.University of Florida: Featured Creatures
4.Annotated checklist of the Pentatomidae (Heteroptera) of Connecticut
O'Donnell J.E., Schaefer C.W. 2012. Great Lakes Entomologist 45: 220-234.
Contributed by Sean McCann on 3 November, 2008 - 2:35pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Mike Quinn, Ron M., Vox Sciurorum, Wisconsin Oecanthinancy, JohnMaxwell22, v belov
Last updated 12 August, 2023 - 1:53am

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 © 2003-2025 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