Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Chinavia frequently is still referred to as a subgenus of
Acrosternum, see (
2005 comment by D. Rider)
"The genus name Acrosternum should be restricted to a handful of Old World, small, pale green species that live in dry arid areas. The larger, brighter green species that live in both the Old and New Worlds should actually go by the generic name Chinavia. David Rider, 1 May, 2005
Identification
Large green bugs. The shape of the stink gland pore is short and broad in Nezara viridula but long and curved in Chinavia:
scent gland channel extends more than half-way to edge of metapleuron
(shorter, more rounded in
Nezara)
(3)
scutellum has pale dot in each basal corner; antennomeres 3 & 4 blackish, and color is restricted to apical half of segments;
connexivia usually with conspicuous dark dot on apical margin of each segment; side of pronotum straight or slightly convex in anterior half; second abdominal sternite has pointed medial spine; ventral scent gland pore long and curved
Additional distinguishing characters
here
C. hilaris | C. pensylvanica | C. marginata
Key to eastern spp. adapted from
(4):
body elongate oval; head more elongate,
juga equaling
tylus; anterolateral pronotal margin straight or nearly so; beak reaching at least middle coxae ... ...
hilaris
body broadly oval; head short, broad, juga slightly longer than tylus; anterolateral pronotal margin strongly arcuate; beak not surpassing middle coxae ... ... pensylvanica
Antennal color can help to separate marginata and hilaris in the eastern US, but this character seems to be less reliable west of Texas (see notes on
C. marginata identification section ).
Range
most of the world; in our area
(5):
C. hilaris throughout NA
C. pensylvanica e. NA, esp. se. US
C. marginata FL, TX-CA
Food
Feeds on juices from leaves, fruit, flowers of a wide variety of plants (36 families recorded worldwide, 23 families for our 3 spp.)
(6)Life Cycle
Keg-shaped eggs are attached to the underside of leaves in double rows of twelve or more. One generation per year in north, two in south.
Hatchlings - 1st and 2nd instars
3rd instar
4th instar
5th instar
This is our best interpretation of BG images based upon
Herb Pilcher's images. It is not clear how to tell
Chinavia species apart.