Behaviour of the central European Acanthosomatidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea) during oviposition and parental care

Abstract

Behaviour of the central European Acanthosomatidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea) during oviposition and parental care. In: KMENT P., MALENOVSKÝ I. & KOLIBÁÈ J. (eds.): Studies in Hemiptera in honour of Pavel Lauterer and Jaroslav L.

Stehlík. Acta Musei Moraviae, Scientiae biologicae (Brno) 98(2): 433–457. – Six central European Acanthosomatidae: Acanthosomatinae species were studied with particular reference to the behaviour of females during and after oviposition.

Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale (Linnaeus, 1758), Cyphostethus tristriatus (Fabricius, 1758), and Elasmostethus interstinctus (Linnaeus, 1758) females do not exhibit maternal care. Eggs are deposited in many small batches as a strategic adaptation against predators and parasitoids.

In contrast, Elasmucha ferrugata (Fabricius, 1787), Elasmucha fieberi Jakovlev, 1864, and Elasmucha grisea (Linnaeus, 1758) do exhibit maternal care. The defensive behaviour of the Elasmucha species is almost identical.

Reactions to a potential aggressor graduate from fine to strong intensity. If the female leaves her eggs while feeding, she cannot distinguish her own eggs upon return, only the eggs of her own species.

Keywords

• Pentatomomorpha
• Acanthosomatidae
• true bugs
• Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale
• Cyphostethus tristriatus
• Elasmostethus interstinctus
• Elasmucha ferrugata
• Elasmucha fieberi
• Elasmucha grisea
• behaviour
• maternal care