Cyptocephala antiguensis
(Westwood, 1837)
Antigua Stink Bug
Cyptocephala antiguensis is a small (5.5–7.8 mm body length) with variable coloration ranging from light tan to rich green, often marked with ivory, reddish-, and black patterns. The exhibits geographic variation in male genitalic structure: western show uneven lobes, while eastern populations have more evenly sized lobes. It is distinguished from by slightly swollen female base plates and parameres that completely cover -like structures in males. The species has an extensive Neotropical distribution spanning the southern United States through northern South America.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Cyptocephala antiguensis: //ˌsɪptoʊˈsɛfələ ænˈtɪɡwənsɪs//
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Identification
Distinguished from Cyptocephala elegans by the absence of raised . Within C. antiguensis, western (California to western Panama) have lobes of markedly unequal width, while eastern populations (Puerto Rico through South America) have more evenly sized lobes; intermediate forms occur in Florida, Cuba, and Hispaniola. The combination of slightly swollen base plates in females and completely covering parameres in males separates this from other Cyptocephala.
Images
Distribution
Southern California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida in the United States; Mexico; Central America; Caribbean (including Puerto Rico, Lesser Antilles, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola); northern South America extending to northern Peru in the Andes
Similar Taxa
- Cyptocephala elegansShares male genitalic trait of covering -like structures, but differs in having raised (absent in C. antiguensis)
More Details
Geographic Variation
Male genitalic varies clinally across the range. Western form (uneven lobes) occurs in Florida, Cuba, and Jamaica alongside intermediate forms. The taxonomic significance of this variation remains unresolved.
Taxonomic History
Described as Pentatoma antiguensis by Westwood in 1837, transferred to Cyptocephala by Rolston and McDonald in 1984. Multiple synonymizations reflect historical confusion with related .