Lyramorpha
| Lyramorpha | |
|---|---|
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| 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]
Description and life cycle[edit]
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]
Behaviour and diet[edit]
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]
Maternal care[edit]
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]
Species[edit]
The species in genus Lyramorpha are:[1][10]
- Lyramorpha ambigua Horváth, 1900
- Lyramorpha basalis Horváth, 1900
- Lyramorpha breddini Horváth, 1900
- Lyramorpha brongersmai Blöte, 1952
- Lyramorpha diluta Stål, 1863
- Lyramorpha edulis Blöte, 1952
- Lyramorpha horvathi Blöte, 1952
- Lyramorpha impar Horváth, 1900
- Lyramorpha maculifer Tryon, 1892
- Lyramorpha parens Breddin, 1900
- Lyramorpha perelegans Vollenhoven, 1868
- Lyramorpha persimilis Horváth, 1900
- Lyramorpha picta Distant, 1893
- Lyramorpha plagifer Blöte, 1952
- Lyramorpha rosea Westwood, 1837
- Lyramorpha soror Breddin, 1900
- Lyramorpha vollenhoveni Stål, 1867
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Lyramorpha Westwood, 1837". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
- ^ "Australian Faunal Directory". biodiversity.org.au. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
- ^ "ITIS - Report: Lyramorpha". www.itis.gov. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
- ^ a b Monteith, G. B. (2006). "Maternal care in Australian oncomerine shield bugs (Insecta, Heteroptera, Tessaratomidae)" (PDF). Denisia. 19: 1135–1152.
- ^ Hope, F. W.; Westwood, J. O. (1837). A catalogue of Hemiptera in the collection of the Rev. F. W. Hope ... with short Latin descriptions of the new species. London: Printed by J. C. Bridgewater. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.12424.
- ^ a b c d e Monteith, G. B. (2011). "Maternal care, food plants and distribution of Australian Oncomerinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Tessaratomidae)". The Australian Entomologist. 38 (1): 37–48.
- ^ "Australian Faunal Directory". biodiversity.org.au. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
- ^ "giant shield bug". Project Noah. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
- ^ "giant shield bug". Project Noah. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
- ^ "Lyramorpha". www.heteroptera.fr. Retrieved 2022-10-26.