common name: spined soldier bug
scientific name: Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Insecta: Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)
The spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris (Say), is a medium-sized predatory stink bug
which preys on a wide variety of other arthropods, especially larval forms of Lepidoptera and
Coleoptera (Mukerji and LeRoux 1965). This beneficial species is associated with several
crops in Florida, including alfalfa, celery, soybeans, cotton, and crucifers (Stoner 1930, Hayslip
et al. 1953, Whitcomb 1973, Deitz et al. 1976). This stink bug ranges over most of the United
States and into southern Canada. The Florida State Collection of Arthropods (FSCA) has
specimens from 22 Florida counties in all regions of the state.
Kirkland (1896), Stoner (1930), Esselbaugh (1949), Mukerji and LeRoux (1965), Warren and
Wallis (1971) and Richman and Whitcomb (1978) have reported on the rearing of P.
maculiventris. The temperatures and photoperiods differed markedly among these workers,
consequently the time from egg to adult varied from 27 to 38 days, with the egg stage lasting five
to nine days. The shortest time was reported for Florida specimens (Richman and Whitcomb
1978). Food consumption, prey size, and energetics of P. maculiventris were detailed by Mukerji
and LeRoux (1969a, b, c). The work by Couturier (1938) is a landmark study on the bionomics
of this bug. Records in the FSCA indicate that P. maculiventris is active all year in peninsular
Florida, but does not appear until spring in the "panhandle" counties.
Eggs: The eggs of P. maculiventris are approximately 1 mm in diameter, with long projections
around the operculum that are especially characteristic of Podisus spp. Eggs are laid 17 to 70 at
a time in loose oval masses.
eggs
1st instar: Length 1.3 to 1.5 mm; head width including eyes 0.6 mm; humeral width 0.9 mm.
The 1st instar nymph of P. maculiventris has a blackish head and thorax and reddish abdomen
with black dorsal and lateral plates.
1st instar nymphs
2nd instar: Length 2.5 to 3.0 mm; head width 0.9 mm; humeral width 1.3 mm. As in other
asopine nymphs, the 2nd instar nymph begins to feed on other insects. This species is highly
cannibalistic. The 2nd instar resembles the 1st instar.
2nd instar nymph
3rd instar: Length 3.5 to 4. 0 mm; head width 1.3 mm; humeral width 2.0 mm. The 3rd instar
nymph has a black head and thorax; the abdomen is reddish with black, orange and white
maculations. The central bar-shaped markings are white and the lateral markings orange.
3rd instar nymph
4th instar: Length approximately 6 mm; head width 1.7 mm; humeral width 3.2 mm. The
colorations and patterns of the 4th instar nymph are similar to that of the 3rd instar nymph, but
the wing pads become noticeable.
4th instar nymph
5th instar: Length 8 to 10 mm; head width 2.2 mm; humeral width 4.8 mm. The wing pads are
prominent in the 5th instar, and the head and thorax become mottled with brown. The abdominal
markings are white or tan, and black.
5th instar nymph
Adults: Male length approximately 11 mm; head width 2.3 mm; humeral width including spines
7.6 mm. The adult of P. maculiventris resembles the adult of Alcaeorrhynchus grandis (Dallas) in being a mottled brown in color, but differs in size (A. grandis adults are over 15 mm long) and in having only one spine on each humeral angle. These spines project outward, not forward as in Podisus macronatus Uhler. Each hind femur of P. maculiventris has two blackish dots at apical 3rd. See standard works on Heteroptera for other key characters.
adults
- It has been collected throughout the year in Florida, but is more common in the warmer months.
- Prey is highly variable, but caterpillars and leaf beetle larvae form the main diet, so agricultural crops
and wild hosts of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera are most likely places to find this predator.
- Specimens can be collected by hand or net and submitted for identification in alcohol-filled vials or dry in pill boxes. In general, do not collect or kill these predators; let them exert their form of natural control.
- Couturier A. 1938. Contribution a l'étude biologique de Podisus maculiventris Say, prédateur américain du doryphore. Ann. Epiph. Phytogén. (n.s.) 4: 95-165.
- Deitz LL, Van Duyn HW, Bradley Jr JR, Rabb RL, Brooks WM, Stinner RW. 1976. A Guide to the Identification and Biology of Soybean Arthropods in North Carolina. North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin 238: 1-264.
- Esselbaugh CO. 1949. Notes on the bionomics of some Midwestern Pentatomidae. Ent. Americana (n.s.) 28: 1-73.
- Hayslip NE, Genung WG, Kelsheimer EG, Wilson JW. 1953. Insects attacking cabbage and other crucifers in Florida. Agricultural Experiment Station Research Bulletin 534: 1-57.
- Kirkland AH. 1896. Predaceous Hemiptera-Heteroptera, p. 392-403. In Forbush EH, Fernald
CH (eds.). The Gypsy Moth, Porthetria dispar (Linn.). Wright and Potter Printing Co., State Printers, Boston, Mass.
- Mukerji MK, LeRoux EJ. 1965. Laboratory rearing of a Quebec strain of the pentatomid predator, Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Phytoprotection 46: 40-60.
- Mukerji MK, LeRoux EJ. 1969a. The effect of predator age on the functional response of Podisus maculiventris to the prey size of Galleria mellonella. Canadian Entomologist 101: 314-327.
- Mukerji MK, LeRoux EJ. 1969b. A quantitative study of food consumption and growth of Podisus maculiventris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Canadian Entomologist 101: 387-403.
- Mukerji MK, LeRoux EJ. 1969c. A study of energetics of Podisus maculiventris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Canadian Entomologist 101: 449-460.
- Richman DB, Whitcomb WH. 1978. Comparative life cycles of four species of predatory stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Florida Entomologist 61: 113-119.
- Stoner D. 1930. Spined soldier-bug reared on celery leaf-tyer. Florida Entomologist 14: 21-22.
- Warren LO, Wallis G. 1971. Biology of the spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Journal of the Georgia Entomological Society 6: 109-116.
- Whitcomb WH. 1973. Natural populations of entomophagous arthropods and their effects on the agroecosystem. Proceedings of the Mississippi Symposium of Biogical Control. University Press of Mississippi. p. 150-169.
Authors: David B. Richman and Frank W. Mead, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry.
Originally published as DPI Entomology Circular 216.
Photographs: Division of Plant Industry
Project Coordinator: Thomas R. Fasulo, University of Florida
Publication Number: EENY-231
Publication Date: August 2001
Copyright 2001 University of Florida
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