Lyramorpha | |
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Lyramorpha sp. nymph | |
Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hemiptera |
Suborder: | Heteroptera |
Infraorder: | Pentatomomorpha |
Superfamily: | Pentatomoidea |
Family: | Tessaratomidae |
Subfamily: | Oncomerinae |
Genus: |
Lyramorpha Westwood, 1837 |
Lyramorpha is a genus of stink bugs in the family Tessaratomidae, subfamily Oncomerinae. It is known from Australia and New Guinea. [1] [2] [3]
As oncomerine insects, the life cycle of Lyramorpha consists of the three stages of egg, nymph and adult. Eggs are barrel-shaped and are laid in groups of 40–42. From these hatch first- instar nymphs, which are soft, semi-globular in shape and slow-moving. Intermediate stage nymphs are extremely flattened in shape, allowing them to lie flat against leaves with the vulnerable legs under the body. Nymphs also have a pair of scent glands on top of their bodies, from which they produce a pungent liquid if disturbed. [4]
According to the original genus description, Lyramorpha adults have a very depressed body with an elongate and tapering abdomen. The head is small. The antennae are slender and 4-segmented. The rostrum extends to the bases of the midlegs. The thorax is depressed with the posterior margin produced a little above the scutellum. The scutellum is elongate and triangular with an acute tip, and in the middle is a raised longitudinal costa. The mesosternum is extended anteriorly into a small keel between the anterior legs. The ventral side of the abdomen is extended anteriorly into a sharp spine underneath the metasternum and mesosternum. The posterior end is produced into two diverging teeth. [5]
In at least two species, L. rosea and L. parens, the first and second instars are chequered red and black, changing to a uniform red in later instars. [6]
Both adults and the later instars of nymphs have a pair of points at the posterior end of the body, which can be seen in photographs. [1] [6]
Lyramorpha are active during the day ( diurnal) and live on plants, from which they suck the sap. [7] The two Australian species, L. rosea and L. parens, feed exclusively on plants in the family Sapindaceae. [6]
Older nymphs of L. parens are gregarious, feeding in groups and travelling as groups to new feeding sites. While travelling, they may occur on non-host plants. [6]
Females of some species in this genus are known to care for their offspring. Lyramorpha rosea broods eggs in clutches of up to 42, and there is one record of a L. parens brooding 40 eggs. [4]
Lyramorpha parens continues brooding its offspring until at least the second nymphal instar. [6] Another Lyramorpha species, possibly L. maculifer, has been observed brooding first-instar [8] and second-instar nymphs. [9]
The species in genus Lyramorpha are: [1] [10]
Lyramorpha | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Lyramorpha sp. nymph | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hemiptera |
Suborder: | Heteroptera |
Infraorder: | Pentatomomorpha |
Superfamily: | Pentatomoidea |
Family: | Tessaratomidae |
Subfamily: | Oncomerinae |
Genus: |
Lyramorpha Westwood, 1837 |
Lyramorpha is a genus of stink bugs in the family Tessaratomidae, subfamily Oncomerinae. It is known from Australia and New Guinea. [1] [2] [3]
As oncomerine insects, the life cycle of Lyramorpha consists of the three stages of egg, nymph and adult. Eggs are barrel-shaped and are laid in groups of 40–42. From these hatch first- instar nymphs, which are soft, semi-globular in shape and slow-moving. Intermediate stage nymphs are extremely flattened in shape, allowing them to lie flat against leaves with the vulnerable legs under the body. Nymphs also have a pair of scent glands on top of their bodies, from which they produce a pungent liquid if disturbed. [4]
According to the original genus description, Lyramorpha adults have a very depressed body with an elongate and tapering abdomen. The head is small. The antennae are slender and 4-segmented. The rostrum extends to the bases of the midlegs. The thorax is depressed with the posterior margin produced a little above the scutellum. The scutellum is elongate and triangular with an acute tip, and in the middle is a raised longitudinal costa. The mesosternum is extended anteriorly into a small keel between the anterior legs. The ventral side of the abdomen is extended anteriorly into a sharp spine underneath the metasternum and mesosternum. The posterior end is produced into two diverging teeth. [5]
In at least two species, L. rosea and L. parens, the first and second instars are chequered red and black, changing to a uniform red in later instars. [6]
Both adults and the later instars of nymphs have a pair of points at the posterior end of the body, which can be seen in photographs. [1] [6]
Lyramorpha are active during the day ( diurnal) and live on plants, from which they suck the sap. [7] The two Australian species, L. rosea and L. parens, feed exclusively on plants in the family Sapindaceae. [6]
Older nymphs of L. parens are gregarious, feeding in groups and travelling as groups to new feeding sites. While travelling, they may occur on non-host plants. [6]
Females of some species in this genus are known to care for their offspring. Lyramorpha rosea broods eggs in clutches of up to 42, and there is one record of a L. parens brooding 40 eggs. [4]
Lyramorpha parens continues brooding its offspring until at least the second nymphal instar. [6] Another Lyramorpha species, possibly L. maculifer, has been observed brooding first-instar [8] and second-instar nymphs. [9]
The species in genus Lyramorpha are: [1] [10]