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Species Murgantia histrionica - Harlequin Bug

Harlequin Bug Nymph - Murgantia histrionica

My nominee for Least Colorful Harlequin Bug - Murgantia histrionica

small black and orange beetle - Murgantia histrionica

Bug on a Pole Bean - Murgantia histrionica

Bug nymphs on beans - Murgantia histrionica

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 Strachiini

Genus Murgantia

Species histrionica (Harlequin Bug)

Other Common Names

Cabbage Harlequin, Calico Bug, Fire Bug, Terrapin Back(1)

Explanation of Names

Murgantia histrionica (Hahn 1834)

Size

7.5-11.5 mm(1)(2)

Identification

Brightly patterned, distinctive, coloration variable

Range

Native to Mesoamerica, invasive in our area: e US to CA (ME-FL to SD-CA) but rarely found in the north, the northern limits of the range fluctuate markedly depending on winter severity; migrates northward during spring and summer(2)(3)

Food

hosts: primarily Brassicaceae (horseradish, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, mustard, Brussels sprouts, turnip, kohlrabi, radish); may also attack tomato, potato, eggplant, okra, bean, asparagus, beet, weeds, fruit trees and field crops(4)

Life Cycle

Eggs look like white barrels with two black hoops around; adults overwinter. The life cycle takes 50-80 days.(4)

Remarks

first detected in our area: TX 1864

Internet References

Featured Creatures - Knox (2015)(4)

Works Cited

1.	California plant pest & disease report, Vol. 25 (Jan 2008 through Dec 2009) Gaimari S., O’Donnell M., eds. 2011. California Department of Food & Agriculture, Plant Pest Diagnostics Branch. 108 pp.

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

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

4.	University of Florida: Featured Creatures

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Hannah Nendick-Mason, Beatriz Moisset, Lynette Elliott, Mike Quinn, v belov
Last updated 9 July, 2023 - 11:21am

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