Carpocoris purpureipennis

Carpocoris purpureipennis
Adult
Fifth instar nymph
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Family: Pentatomidae
Genus: Carpocoris
Species:
C. purpureipennis
Binomial name
Carpocoris purpureipennis
(De Geer, 1773)

Carpocoris purpureipennis is a species of shield bug of the family Pentatomidae, subfamily Pentatominae.[1]

Distribution and habitat

Ventral view of fifth instar nymph

This species can be found in most of Europe and in central Asia.[2] They live in meadows, roadsides, edges of forests and gardens.

Description

Carpocoris purpureipennis can reach a length of 11–13 millimetres (0.43–0.51 in).[3] The pronotum is wide with a regular punctuation, almost straight and slightly pointed lateral margins with blunt tips. Also the lateral edges of the scutellum are nearly straight.

The body color varies from purple or reddish-brown to yellowish. The pronotum angles are black. Moreover pronotum usually shows short longitudinal black stripes, while the scutellum may have some contrasting black spots. Antennae are black and legs are orange.[4]

This species is quite similar to, and can be easily confused with Carpocoris pudicus, C. fuscispinus, and C. mediterraneus.[4]

Ecology

Both the adult bugs and their nymphs are polyphagous. Adults mainly feed on juices of Cirsium arvense and nectar of Leucanthemum vulgare.[3]

In late May-early June these insects lay eggs on various herbaceous plants of the family of cereals (Poaceae), legumes (Fabaceae), crucifers (Brassicaceae) and composites (Asteraceae).

These bugs are considered an agricultural pest. They can damage soybean, beans, cabbage, carrots, raspberries, strawberries, potatoes, radish, wheat and apple trees.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognised:

  • Carpocoris purpureipennis purpureipennis (De Geer, 1773)
  • Carpocoris purpureipennis sexmaculatus Péneau, 1921

Bibliography

  • Rider D.A., 2004 – Family Pentatomidae – Catalogue of the Heteroptera of the Palaearctic Region

References

  1. ^ Biolib
  2. ^ Fauna europaea
  3. ^ a b Commanster Archived on 17 May 2014 (added 12 May 2024)
  4. ^ a b ROLAND LUPOLI, FRANÇOIS DUSOULIER, ASTRID CRUAUD, SANDRINE CROS-ARTEIL& JEAN-CLAUDE STREITO Morphological, biogeographical and molecular evidence of Carpocoris mediterraneus as a valid species (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Archived 8 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine