Chlorochroa saucia

(Say, 1832)

Conchuela stink bug

Chlorochroa saucia is a of in the Pentatomidae, commonly known as the conchuela stink bug. reach approximately 9 mm in length. The species is distributed across North America and has been documented as a pest of developing grain in sorghum , where it feeds on kernels using . It is also known to occur on alfalfa, corn, cotton, peppers, tomatoes, and various fruits, with mesquite serving as a common weed . The species has been observed as prey of the predatory Astata unicolor.

97706540 Chlorochroa saucia by scaup. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Chlorochroa saucia: /kloʊˈrɒkroʊə ˈsaʊʃiə/

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Identification

Distinguished from other Chlorochroa by the orange-red bands along the lateral margins of the and wings, and the orange-red spot at the base of the wings. Differs from Chlorochroa sayi and C. uhleri in coloration and markings. Distinguished from the southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula) by the presence of the orange-red marginal bands rather than uniform green coloration. Differs from the redbanded stink bug (Piezodorus guildinii) by having the orange-red band on the lateral margins rather than across the top of the junction between thorax and .

Images

Habitat

Found in agricultural fields including sorghum, alfalfa, corn, cotton, and vegetable crops. Occurs in areas where mesquite and other plants are present. The Coastal Bend region of Texas represents a documented occurrence area.

Distribution

North America, with documented presence in the United States including the Coastal Bend region of Texas.

Diet

Feeds on developing grain kernels in sorghum using . Also feeds on alfalfa, corn, cotton, peppers, tomatoes, and various fruits. Mesquite serves as a common weed plant.

Host Associations

Sorghum bicolor - pestFeeds on developing grain kernels
Medicago sativa - occurs on alfalfa
Zea mays - occurs on corn
Gossypium - occurs on cotton
Capsicum - occurs on peppers
Solanum lycopersicum - occurs on tomatoes
Prosopis - mesquite is common weed plant

Ecological Role

Herbivore and agricultural pest. Documented as prey for the predatory Astata unicolor, which paralyzes late-instar nymphs and to provision nests for offspring.

Human Relevance

Agricultural pest of grain sorghum, causing damage to developing kernels that reduces grain weight, size, and quality. Feeding damage can facilitate fungal of kernels. Treatment threshold in grain sorghum is an average of four or more per grain during flowering, milk, or soft dough stages; threshold increases to 16 or more per head once grain reaches hard dough stage. Controlled with various and labeled for management in sorghum.

Similar Taxa

Chlorochroa sayiSimilar size and general ; distinguished by C. saucia's orange-red lateral bands and spot at wing base versus different coloration patterns in C. sayi
Chlorochroa uhleriSimilar size and general ; distinguished by C. saucia's orange-red lateral bands versus different coloration in C. uhleri
Chlorochroa ligataNote: C. saucia was previously treated as a synonym or variant of C. ligata in some literature; current treats them as distinct with C. saucia having more variable coloration including purplish pink and reddish brown forms
Nezara viridulaSimilar shield shape and agricultural pest status; distinguished by C. saucia's orange-red lateral bands versus uniform bright green coloration of southern green stink bug
Piezodorus guildiniiSimilar size and presence of red banding; distinguished by C. saucia's orange-red bands on lateral margins versus redbanded stink bug's band across top of - junction

More Details

Taxonomic Note

The has been treated in some literature under the name Chlorochroa ligata, but current recognizes C. saucia as a distinct species with more variable coloration including forms that are purplish pink or reddish brown in addition to the more typical olive, gray, or green forms.

Predation Record

Documented as prey of Astata unicolor (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), a soil-nesting predatory that paralyzes stink bugs to provision nests for its larvae. In observational studies, C. saucia represented one of multiple preyed upon by this wasp.