Mecidea

Mecidea species are distinguished from other Pentatomidae by their narrow, elongate body form, which contrasts with the broad, shield-shaped bodies typical of most stink bugs. Within the genus, species are differentiated by size (M. major is notably larger than M. minor) and subtle morphological characters. Nymphal instars can be distinguished by body size and the presence and relative development of wing pads; first instars are small and tend to cluster.

Xeric and semiarid grasslands; elevations of approximately 1200-1250 m in studied populations. Found primarily on grasses including Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana), grama grasses (Bouteloua spp.), and tobosagrass (Pleuraphis mutica).

New World distribution ranging from Minnesota, southern Illinois, and Missouri west to Arizona and south to Mexico; recorded from Florida (possibly adventitious). The genus is the only member of tribe Mecideini native to the Americas.

Year-round activity including winter months. Bivoltine with possibility of a partial third generation. Eggs collected January through November; adults and late instars (fourth and fifth) present during winter and capable of overwintering.

Phytophagous; grass specialist. Documented feeding on Lehmann lovegrass, grama grasses, tobosagrass, Bermuda grass, and various other grasses. Some records of feeding on Asteraceae including Senecio and Baccharis neglecta.

• Eragrostis lehmanniana - primary hostLehmann lovegrass; primary host in southern New Mexico studies
• Bouteloua spp. - primary hostgrama grasses including B. curtipendula, B. eriopoda, B. gracilis
• Pleuraphis mutica - primary hosttobosagrass
• Cynodon dactylon - hostBermuda grass
• Muhlenbergia porteri - hostbush muhly
• Sporobolus flexuosus - hostmesa dropseed
• Aristida purpurea - hostWright's threeawn
• Senecio - hostAsteraceae
• Baccharis neglecta - hostAsteraceae

Five nymphal instars. First instar is non-feeding and tends to cluster. Eggs laid in regular alternating double rows of 3-14 eggs (mean 9.6) on undersides of leaves, flowers, and maturing heads of host grasses. Eggs glued to one another and substrate; yellowish white when deposited, cream-colored after 1-3 days, light brown at maturity; eyespots visible in 4-5 days. Adults, fourth and fifth instars overwinter. Spring and summer generations with summer generation reaching adulthood in fall.

First instars are non-feeding and exhibit clustering behavior. Older individuals (adults, fourth and fifth instars) successfully overwinter and produce younger instars found in January. Year-round activity pattern unusual among temperate Pentatomidae.

Primary consumer in grassland ecosystems; phytophagous specialist on native and introduced grasses.

• Other Pentatomidae generaMecidea distinguished by narrow, elongate body form versus broad shield shape of typical stink bugs
• Other Mecideini generaMecidea is the only New World genus in tribe Mecideini; other genera in this tribe are Old World

• Pentatomidae
• grass-feeding
• xeric grasslands
• year-round activity
• New World
• Mecideini
• bivoltine
• overwintering adults

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Life history of Mecidea major with descriptions of nymphal instars (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Pentatomidae)
• Life History and Laboratory Rearing of Mecidea minor (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), with Descriptions of Immature Stages
• Figure 2 from: Bundy CS, McPherson JE (2018) Life history of Mecidea major with descriptions of nymphal instars (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Pentatomidae). In: Wheeler Jr AG (Ed.) A Festschrift Recognizing Thomas J. Henry for a Lifetime of Contributions to Heteropteran Systematics. ZooKeys 796: 335-346. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.796.21325
• Figure 1 from: Bundy CS, McPherson JE (2018) Life history of Mecidea major with descriptions of nymphal instars (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Pentatomidae). In: Wheeler Jr AG (Ed.) A Festschrift Recognizing Thomas J. Henry for a Lifetime of Contributions to Heteropteran Systematics. ZooKeys 796: 335-346. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.796.21325
• Figures 6-9 from: Bundy CS, McPherson JE (2018) Life history of Mecidea major with descriptions of nymphal instars (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Pentatomidae). In: Wheeler Jr AG (Ed.) A Festschrift Recognizing Thomas J. Henry for a Lifetime of Contributions to Heteropteran Systematics. ZooKeys 796: 335-346. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.796.21325
• Figures 3-5 from: Bundy CS, McPherson JE (2018) Life history of Mecidea major with descriptions of nymphal instars (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Pentatomidae). In: Wheeler Jr AG (Ed.) A Festschrift Recognizing Thomas J. Henry for a Lifetime of Contributions to Heteropteran Systematics. ZooKeys 796: 335-346. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.796.21325
• Describe the morphology and mitochondrial genome of Mecidea indica Dallas, 1851 (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae), with its phylogenetic position.