Zicrona

Members of Zicrona can be distinguished from other Pentatomidae by their placement in the subfamily Asopinae, characterized by predatory mouthpart adaptations. Zicrona caerulea is notable for its metallic blue coloration, which provides a distinctive visual cue. Separation from other asopine genera requires examination of genitalic and thoracic structures; specific diagnostic characters for the genus include features of the male genitalia and abdominal sternites.

Records exist from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden (GBIF). Zicrona caerulea has been documented in Quebec, Canada, where it was rediscovered in 2017 after absence since 1933. The genus has a transcontinental distribution with species in North America (Z. americana), the Palearctic (Z. caerulea), and South Asia (Z. hisarensis, Z. murreensis).

• Hostounsky sp. nov. - PATHOGENFirst recorded infection in Z. caerulea; pathogenic relationship

• Other Asopinae genera (e.g., Picromerus, Arma)Shared subfamily characteristics including predatory morphology; Zicrona distinguished by specific genitalic and coloration features in Z. caerulea
• Other blue-colored PentatomidaeMetallic blue coloration in Z. caerulea may cause confusion with unrelated species; structural characters of Asopinae and genus-specific morphology provide separation

• Pentatomidae
• Asopinae
• predatory stink bugs
• Hemiptera
• Heteroptera
• shield bugs
• metallic coloration
• Zicrona caerulea
• blue shieldbug

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Redécouverte de la punaise Zicrona caerulea (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hemiptera : Pentatomidae) au Québec
• The first record of a hostounsky sp. nov. Infection in the blue shieldbug, Zicrona caerulea Linnaeus, 1758 (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)