Hosts or Prey
Medium to large insects especially caterpillars and larvae of beetles
Identification
Adults are pale brown to grayish or tan, shield-shaped, and about 2/5 inch (10 mm) long. Adult stink bugs are distinguished from other insects by the large triangle shape with a rounded rear end (scutellum) that occurs on top and covers the third segment of the thorax and front portion of the abdomen.
Unlike plant-feeding stink bugs it resembles, the front outer margins of the prothorax (the bug's "shoulders") are sharply pointed, hence the name spined soldier bug. Adults also have a dark line on the membranous tip of each forewing.
Adults and nymphs can be observed sucking and feeding on prey using their tubular mouthparts, which they can extend forward in front of the body. This differs from plant-feeding stink bugs where the mouthparts point downward when feeding. Both plant-feeding and predaceous stink bugs can fold their mouthparts backward underneath the body. See Stink Bugs to distinguish some common species.
The barrel-shaped eggs occur in clusters of about 1 to 3 dozen or more. Eggs are about 1/25 inch (1 mm) in diameter. They are blackish to cream colored and have a ring of spines around the top margin.
First, second, and fourth instars (nymphs) are oval to round with a black head and thorax and a mostly red abdomen. Third instars are black, brown, orange, red, and whitish. Fifth instars are black, cream-colored, and tan with orangish or red markings or both. The first instar is about 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) long. The last instar is about 3/8 inch (9 mm) long. Wing pads (developing wings) are apparent in the last 2 instars.
Life Cycle
Stink bugs develop through 3 life stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Eggs hatch about 1 week after being laid. Nymphs develop through 5 increasingly larger instars. First instars remain clustered together by the egg shells from which they hatched and feed little or not at all. Later instars become active. Nymph development lasts about 3 weeks during warm weather. Adults live 2 to 3 months during which each mated female can lay several hundred eggs if prey is abundant.
In mild-winter locations spined soldier bugs can be active throughout the year. Where winters are cold, overwintering is as adults in protected places, such as crevices of bark and in organic litter or other debris on the ground. Egg to adult development time is about 1 month during the growing season. There are several generations per year.
Habitat
Spined soldier bugs can occur on virtually any crop, garden, landscape, or wildland plant. They have been recorded feeding on over 100 species of pest insects. Spined soldier bugs primarily prey on caterpillars and soft-bodied larvae of beetles and sawflies. They will feed on virtually any medium to large insect within reach including plant-feeding stink bugs and other true bugs (Heteroptera). They commonly prey on larvae and nymphs, but will also feed on insect adults, eggs, and pupae. Adults and nymphs also innocuously suck plant juices for nutrition, especially when insect prey is scarce.
To improve biological control
- Control ants because they attack natural enemies.
- Grow flowering insectary plants to provide nectar and pollen to feed adult natural enemies.
- Reduce dustiness that disrupts the activities of natural enemies (e.g., periodically hose off small plants).
- Avoid the application of broad-spectrum, persistent insecticides for all pests because they are toxic to natural enemies.
See Protecting Natural Enemies and Pollinators for more information.
Species
At least 50 species of stink bugs occur in California. Most are plant feeders and some of these are pests that resemble the spined soldier bug. Brochymena, Perillus, and Podisus species stink bugs are predaceous. For example, rough stink bugs (Brochymena species) and twospotted stink bug (Perillus bioculatus) are other common predators.
Spined soldier bug is believed to be an important predator in the biological control of certain pests of field crops including alfalfa, beans, cole crops, cotton, potato, soybean, and tomato. It may be commercially available and has been released in large numbers for caterpillar control in greenhouses.
More Information
- Common Name: Spined Soldier Bug - Scientific Name: Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Insecta: Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), University of Florida
- Podisus maculiventris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Spined Soldier Bug, Cornell University
- Species Podisus maculiventris - Spined Soldier Bug, BugGuide, Iowa State University
- Spined Soldier Bug, Podisus maculiventris Say (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Asopinae), Encyclopedia of Entomology
Scientific classification:
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Hemiptera
- Suborder: Heteroptera
- Family: Pentatomidae
