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A recent record of Sphaerocoris annulus (FABRICIUS, 1775) in Zambia (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Scutelleridae)

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A record of an adult specimen of Sphaerocoris annulus (FABRICIUS, 1775) in Zambia is reported. Additional information on the distribution and the ecology of this species is given.
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HETEROPTERON Heft 49 / 2017 23
A recent record of Sphaerocoris annulus (FABRICIUS, 1775) in Zambia
(Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Scutelleridae)
Ein rezenter Nachweis von Sphaerocoris annulus (FABRICIUS, 1775) in Sambia
(Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Scutelleridae)
TORSTEN VAN DER HEYDEN
Abstract:
A record of an adult specimen of Sphaerocoris annulus (FABRICIUS, 1775) in Zambia is reported. Additional
information on the distribution and the ecology of this species is given.
Zusammenfassung:
Es wird über einen Nachweis eines adulten Exemplars von Sphaerocoris annulus (FABRICIUS, 1775) in
Sambia berichtet. Ergänzende Informationen zur Verbreitung und Ökologie dieser Art werden gegeben.
Key words: Sphaerocoris annulus, Scutelleridae, Heteroptera, Hemiptera, distribution, ecology, Zambia.
Introduction
The genus Sphaerocoris BURMEISTER, 1835 belongs to the family Scutelleridae within the
suborder Heteroptera of the Hemiptera. Seventeen species within this genus have been described.
Sphaerocoris annulus (FABRICIUS, 1775), commonly known as Picasso Bug or Zulu Hud
Bug, is a medium-sized bug with a length of up to 15 mm. The colours and design of the
pronotum and scutellum with sinuous and transversal markings and eleven areas with black
outlines distributed in a 5-4-2 pattern serve as a warning to predators (POUTOULI et al. 2011).
S. annulus has been reported from Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana,
Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo and Zimbabwe
(LINNAVUORI 1986; MBONDJI MBONDJI & PLUOT-SIGWALT 2000; BAYLISS 2008; AGBOTON et al.
2014; BAYISA 2016; GBIF.ORG 2016; BIOLIB.CZ 2017; INATURALIST.ORG 2017). Although the
species seems to be wide-spread in tropical Africa (LINNAVUORI 1986), only little specific
information on it can be found on the internet.
S. annulus feeds on a variety of plants, e. g. Gossypium species, Hibiscus species and
Abelmoschus esculentus (Malvaceae), Coffea arabica (Rubiaceae), Citrus species (Rutaceae),
Vernonia species (Asteraceae), Albizia species (Fabaceae), Capsicum annuum and Solanum
vesbascifolium (Solanaceae), Hoslundia opposita (Lamiaceae) as well as Anacardium
occidentale (Anacardiaceae) and is considered a (minor) pest on cash crops (MBONDJI MBONDJI
& PLUOT-SIGWALT 2000; POUTOULI et al. 2011; AGBOTON et al. 2014; BAYISA 2016;
INATURALIST.ORG 2017).
The species is monovoltine and reproduces at the beginning of the dry season
(November/December). The full development takes 56 days (MBONDJI MBONDJI & PLUOT-
SIGWALT 2000; INATURALIST.ORG 2017).
New record of Sphaerocoris annulus (FABRICIUS, 1775)
On 14.05.2017, BARBARA BIGHIGNOLI was able to photograph an adult of S. annulus (Fig.
1). The specimen was found by her seven-year-old daughter GIORGIA TURINI outside their house
on a small wall fence of the porch. The observation took place in Mongu, the capital of Western
Province in Zambia, which is situated on a promontory on the eastern edge of the Barotse
Floodplain of the Zambezi River (Fig. 2).
On 18.05.2017, BARBARA BIGHIGNOLI wrote that it has rained a lot this year and that the
plain is still flooded, although it stopped raining at the beginning of April (personal
communication).
It seems that S. annulus has not been reported from Zambia yet. So the record mentioned in
24 HETEROPTERON Heft 49 / 2017
this paper might be the first one for this country.
Acknowledgements:
I would like to thank BARBARA BIGHIGNOLI (Mongu, Western Province, Zambia) for providing me with
information about the finding reported in this publication and for the photographs used to illustrate it. Very special
thanks to her daughter GIORGIA TURINI for having such a keen eye! Furthermore, I would like to thank DOMINIQUE
PLUOT-SIGWALT (Paris, France) for providing me with a helpful publication.
References:
AGBOTON, C., ONZO, A., OUESSOU, F. I., GOERGEN, G., VIDAL, S. & TAMÒ, M. (2014): Insect Fauna Associated With
Anacardium occidentale (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae) in Benin, West Africa. Journal of Insect Science 14
(229), 1-11.
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Plants in Some Growing of Ethiopia. International Journal of Research in Agricultural Sciences 3 (2), 55-59.
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/52339520@N04/5726539721/. (Accessed: 19.05.2017).
BIOLIB.CZ (2017): Sphaerocoris annulus (FABRICIUS, 1775). - Available from:
http://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id1207789/. (Accessed: 19.05.2017).
GBIF.ORG (2016): Sphaerocoris annulus. - Available from: http://www.gbif.org/species/7758549. (Accessed:
19.05.2017).
INATURALIST.ORG (2017): Picasso Bug (Sphaerocoris annulus). - Available from:
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Cameroun (Heteroptera, Scutelleridae). Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France 105 (1), 23-30.
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Éditions Quæ, Versailles Cedex, 79 pp.
Address of the author:
Torsten van der Heyden, Immenweide 83, D-22523 HAMBURG, email tmvdh@web.de
HETEROPTERON Heft 49 / 2017 25
Fig. 1: Sphaerocoris annulus (FABRICIUS, 1775) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Scutelleridae), Mongu, Western Province,
Zambia, 14.05.2017.
Fig. 2: Location of the finding, Mongu, Western Province, Zambia, 01.01.2017. (Photographs: BARBARA
BIGHIGNOLI.)
... rufomarginata (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), G. acuteangularis (Hemiptera: Coreidae), Le. orbonalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Lp. occidentalis (Hemiptera: Coreidae) and Ma. sexta (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae)].The recorded native species are frequently reported as field pests on several plant species: D. volkeri (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae) damage cotton Gossypium sp. in west-Africa[59], La. villosa (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) damage vegetable crops and nowadays extends its range of action to Europe[106], Sp. annulus (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) feeds on a variety of wild and cultivated plants species in Zambia[107], T. ferruginea (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae) is a pest of cultivated plants and woody plant species in West and Central Africa[80]. They are also known as pest on eggplant So. aethiopicum Linné, 1756[1,101].Alien species damage cultivated plants not only in their native range but also in areas of introduction. ...
Article
Full-text available
Cashew, Anacardium occidentale L. (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae), is an important cash crop in Benin. However, its production is threatened by several biotic factors, especially insects. In Benin, very few studies have focused on insects and just listed species commonly found on cashew worldwide. The present investigation fills this gap by presenting an exhaustive inventory of insect species associated with this crop in the country. The survey was carried out from September 2009 to August 2010 in 22 cashew orchards (5 young and 17 mature) distributed over three major agroecological zones where cashew is most produced in the country. Insects were collected using chemical knock-down technique and visual observation followed by capture with sweep net. In addition, infested plant organs were sampled and incubated to collect emerging insects. In total, 262 insect species were recorded and identified. Among them, the wood borer Apate terebrans Pallas, the leafminer Eteoryctis gemoniella Stainton, and the mirid bugs Helopeltis schoutedeni Reuter., and Helopeltis anacardii Miller., appeared as the most important insect species attacking cashew in Benin. Beneficial insects encountered included some predators, parasitoids, and pollinators. Few vertebrate predators were also recorded on the trees. Differences in agroecological conditions or in field cleanliness did not affect the number of insect species encountered in the cashew orchards. The results of this study represent an important baseline data for the design and implementation of strategies for cashew protection in Benin.
Composition, Distribution and Economic Importance of Insect Pests of Prioritized Medicinal Plants in Some Growing of Ethiopia
  • N G Bayisa
BAYISA, N. G. (2016): Composition, Distribution and Economic Importance of Insect Pests of Prioritized Medicinal Plants in Some Growing of Ethiopia. -International Journal of Research in Agricultural Sciences 3 (2), 55-59.
Sphaerocoris annulus (FABRICIUS, 1775)-Available from: http://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon
  • Biolib Cz
BIOLIB.CZ (2017): Sphaerocoris annulus (FABRICIUS, 1775).-Available from: http://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id1207789/. (Accessed: 19.05.2017).
Sphaerocoris annulus.-Available from: http://www.gbif.org/species/7758549
  • Gbif Org
GBIF.ORG (2016): Sphaerocoris annulus.-Available from: http://www.gbif.org/species/7758549. (Accessed: 19.05.2017).
Picasso Bug (Sphaerocoris annulus)-Available from: http://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/357668-Sphaerocoris-annulus
  • Inaturalist Org
INATURALIST.ORG (2017): Picasso Bug (Sphaerocoris annulus).-Available from: http://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/357668-Sphaerocoris-annulus. (Accessed: 19.05.2017).
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AGBOTON, C., ONZO, A., OUESSOU, F. I., GOERGEN, G., VIDAL, S. & TAMÒ, M. (2014): Insect Fauna Associated With Anacardium occidentale (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae) in Benin, West Africa.-Journal of Insect Science 14 (229), 1-11.
Notes on the Hemipterous fauna of Somalia and Ethiopia.-Monitore Zoologico Italiano
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LINNAVUORI, R. E. (1986): Notes on the Hemipterous fauna of Somalia and Ethiopia. -Monitore Zoologico Italiano, Supplemento 21 (6), 109-127.