University of Alberta Museums Search

SeasonalityThis species is active between June and August, though they do overwinter as adults and can emerge mid-April (De Clercq 2000). IdentificationThis species is dark-brown in colour with subtle dull-yellow mottling. The pronotum has concave margins, as in P. maculiventris, but the lateral projections are much broader and less spiny. A ventral spine present on the 2nd sternite of the abdomen is pronounced but is not elongate. The wings have a distinct dark spot on their membranous region easily distinguishing this species from P. placidus. This species is of medium size in comparison to other Podisus species; length between 8 and 10 mm (Blatchley 1926: McPherson 1982).

Common NameSpined Soldier Bug SeasonalityAdults are active from April to October (De Clercq 2000); a single specimen in the Strickland Museum was collected in November. IdentificationThis species is brown in colour and lacks the obvious dull-yellow mottling apparent in P. placidus. The "spined soldier bug" lends itself to the characteristics of its pronotum. The pronotum has very concave margins with narrow, smooth sided projections on either side that resemble spines. There is a ventral spine on abdominal sternite II that projects anteriorly and reaches between the hind coxa. This characteristic isolates this species from P. brevispinus. Also, the membrane of the wings has a dark spot unlike P. placidus. Adults are of a larger size in comparison to the other Podisus species; length 11-13.5 mm (Blatchley 1926; McPherson 1982).

SeasonalityAdults appear in mid-April and are abundant until late-August, but can be found as late as October (Evans 1983; Oetting and Yonke 1971). IdentificationThis species is lighter in coloration in comparison to other Podisus species. The dull-yellow mottling of the cuticle is much more prominent. The shape is somewhat quadrangular with the posterior of the dorsum nearly triangular shaped. The pronotal margins are straight-sided with broad, rounded projections on either side. This characteristic sets it apart from other Podisus species, as well as Apateticus bracteatus since these species generally have concave pronotal margins. The connexivum are nearly concealed under the hemelytra and the portions that are exposed have black spots along the margins of each abdominal segment. This is a relatively small species with a length of 7.5 to 9 mm (Blatchley 1926).