Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Coptosoma scutellatum

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Kingdom
  
Suborder
  
Superfamily
  
Pentatomoidea

Scientific name
  
Coptosoma scutellatum

Rank
  
Species

Class
  
Infraorder
  
Pentatomomorpha

Family
  
Phylum
  
Order
  
True bugs

Coptosoma scutellatum httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Similar
  
Coptosoma, True bugs, Plataspidae, Deraeocoris ruber, Cydnus aterrimus

Coptosoma scutellatum is a species of true bugs belonging to the family Plataspidae, subfamily Plataspinae.

Contents

Kugelwanze coptosoma scutellatum


Description

Coptosoma scutellatum can reach a size of about 4–5 mm. These small true bugs are almost spherical or trapezoidal shaped and shiny deep black, sometimes with green, blue or bronze gloss. The side edges of the abdomen are yellow. The scutellum covers the abdomen and the tarsus is bipartite.

Distribution

This species can be found in most of southern Europe and it is widespread from North Africa to Siberia, China, Korea and Japan. In Europe it is missing in the British Isles.

It is one of the four European species of Coptosoma, most of other being restricted to Asia and Ethiopia.

Habitat

These thermophile bugs leave in dry and warm areas with moderately dense herbaceous vegetation, in lawns, limestones, clay and sandy soils. In the Alps, it is particularly common in the valleys, but can be found in good conditions up to 1000 meters above sea level.

Biology

They mostly feed on legumes (Coronilla species, Lathyrus species) and other leguminous plants, such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), milkvetch (Astragalus), vetch (Vicia), Sainfoin (Onobrychis), broom (Genista) or restharrows (Ononis).

The species overwinters as larvae (in third or fourth instar) and develops in May or June in the adult insect. The adults can be observed from Summer until September. The oviposition occurs in midsummer.

References

Coptosoma scutellatum Wikipedia


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