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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 » Strachiini » Murgantia » Harlequin Bug (Murgantia histrionica)

Species Murgantia histrionica - Harlequin Bug

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited
Harlequin beetle ?? - Murgantia histrionica Harlequin Bugs - Murgantia histrionica Harlequin Bug - Murgantia histrionica Just for Fun - Murgantia histrionica Murgantia histrionica - Harlequin Bug - Murgantia histrionica Harlequin Bug nymph? - Murgantia histrionica Harlequin Bug Nymph from Milkweed Murgantia histrionica)? - Murgantia histrionica Harlequin Bug {Murgantia histrionica} - Murgantia histrionica - male - female
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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