Sphaerocoris annulus, common names Picasso bug or Zulu hud bug (Zulu: "iCikwa"), is a species of shield-backed bugs of the family Scutelleridae.[1]
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| Species: | S. annulus
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| Sphaerocoris annulus (Fabricius, 1775)
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Description
editSphaerocoris annulus can reach a length of about 15 millimetres (0.59 in).[2][3] The basic color is green, with eleven ring-shaped spots on the scutellum. The colors and the design of these bugs represent a warning to predators. They also emit a noxious odour when disturbed. Main host plants are Gossypium species (Malvaceae), Coffea arabica (Rubiaceae), Citrus species (Rutaceae) and Vernonia amygdalina (Asteraceae).[4] This species reproduces at the beginning of the dry season (November–December). Eggs are laid on the underside of leaves, and nymphs will spend a majority of their time in flowers feeding. Once they molt into adults, however, their feeding becomes more generalized. The full development lasts 56 days.[5][6] Sphaerocoris annulus nymphs are a creamy-white color with black stripes and dots, and gain their colorful spots when they reach maturity. [2]
Distribution
editThis species is present in tropical and subtropical Africa (Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Zambia[3] and Zimbabwe).
References
edit- ^ Organism Names
- ^ a b wernereslin (2021-01-15). "Nature's calling - Picasso bug". Southlands Sun. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
- ^ a b van der Heyden, T. (2017): A recent record of Sphaerocoris annulus (FABRICIUS, 1775) in Zambia (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Scutelleridae). - Heteropteron, 49: 23-25. [1]
- ^ Le monde des insectes
- ^ Mbondji, P. M.; Pluot-Sigwalt, D. Biological data on Sphaerocoris annulus (F.) in Cameroon (Heteroptera, Scutelleridae) Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France 2000 Vol. 105 No. 1 pp. 23-30 ISSN 0151-0517
- ^ "Picasso Bug". Project Noah. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
External links
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Media related to Sphaerocoris annulus at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Sphaerocoris annulus at Wikispecies
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