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Coleotichus sp.
Stink bug pale green in base color varying to yellow or brown. The dot patterns on the back vary also from six marks to almost none at all. This series illustrates the range of varieties from one location. I wonder if sexual dimorphism can explain some of this variation.
These occur on an acacia tree in a city park with remnant native habitat.
Other Coleotichus sp. Coleotichus costatus in Brisbane http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_... Coleotichus sp from Canberra http://www.flickr.com/photos/25401497@N0... (While Donald has never made an error, I believe Scutelleridae sp. refers to the family and not the genus taxon.) Coleotichus costatus in Perth http://www.flickr.com/photos/uberinphoto... Coleotichus unicolor http://www.flickr.com/photos/29697818@N0... http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&s... And from Hawaii; Coleotichus blackburniae http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyanea_gw/6...
Spotted on Feb 10, 2012
Submitted on Feb 10, 2012
2 Comments
The small triangular plate on the back of bugs is called a scutellum. In this species, the scutellum is enlarged and totally covers both pairs of wings. Therefore they are called shield backed bugs and can be mistaken for beetles
lovely series martin!