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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.
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.
BAYLISS, J. (2008): PICASSO Bug - Mt. Mabu, Mozambique. - Available from:
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:
http://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/357668-Sphaerocoris-annulus. (Accessed: 19.05.2017).
LINNAVUORI, R. E. (1986): Notes on the Hemipterous fauna of Somalia and Ethiopia. – Monitore Zoologico Italiano,
Supplemento 21 (6), 109-127.
MBONDJI MBONDJI, P. & PLUOT-SIGWALT, D. (2000): Données biologiques sur Sphaerocoris annulus (F.) au
Cameroun (Heteroptera, Scutelleridae). – Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France 105 (1), 23-30.
POUTOULI, W., SILVIE, P. & ABERLENC, H.-P. (2011): Hétéroptères phytophages et prédateurs d’Afrique de l’Ouest. -
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.)
