Poecilocapsus lineatus
| Poecilocapsus lineatus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Heteroptera |
| Family: | Miridae |
| Genus: | Poecilocapsus |
| Species: | P. lineatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Poecilocapsus lineatus | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Poecilocapsus lineatus also known as Fourlined Plant Bug, is a species of bugs from Miridae family that are native to the United States.
Description
The species are 6.39–7.51 millimetres (0.252–0.296 in) in length to 2.52–3.57 millimetres (0.099–0.141 in) in width. The colour is blackish-yellow, with an orange-coloured head.[1] Sometimes, their bodies can be reddish-black.[2]
Ecology
The species can be found on all kinds of plants, including wild Hydrangea and various shrubs. The shrub variety for these species is diverse, it can range from forsythia to sumac. They also hunt insects, variety of which is more than 250 species! But that's not all that their diet is made out off. They also feed on different perennials, and vegetables. Sometimes they injure themselves while feeding. To cure the wound they would use their pierced-sucked mouthpart, which they use to get plant cells. They flush their wound after it, by sipping juices of those cells. Both larvae and adults feed on leaves creating the holes.[3]
Life cycle
The species live only a year. They hibernate in winter. Both sexes mate within six weeks after birth. The egg hatch and development varies. In southern Pennsylvania, for example, the eggs hatched from mid to late April, with adults being seen by late May. While in the northern part of the same state, the development was 1–3 weeks later. Same goes with Indiana, where in the city of Lafayette the development was 2–3 weeks earlier, then in Itaca, New York.[4]
Pest
The insect considers to be a pest, since the species occasionally do damage to herbaceous plants, mints, and rarely wood. The species damages plants from late spring to early summer.[5]