Coptosoma scutellatum
{{Short description|Species of true bug}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Plataspididae - Coptosoma scutellatum .JPG
| image_caption = Dorsal view
| image2 = Plataspididae - Coptosoma scutellatum -001.JPG
| image2_caption = Lateral view
| genus = Coptosoma
| species = scutellatum
| authority = (Geoffroy, 1785)
| synonyms =
}}
Coptosoma scutellatum, the soot sprite, is a species of true bugs belonging to the family Plataspidae, subfamily Plataspinae.[https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id72187/ Biolib]
Description
Coptosoma scutellatum can reach a size of about 4–5 mm. These small true bugs are almost spherical or trapezoidal in shape and shiny deep black, sometimes with green, blue or bronze gloss. The side edges of the abdomen are yellow. The scutellum covers the abdomen and the tarsus is bipartite.[http://insektengalerie.de/index.php?top=insektenarten&art=301&ordnung=7&fam=113&page=coptosoma-scutellatum.html Insektengalerie]
Distribution
This species can be found in most of southern Europe and it is widespread from North Africa to Siberia, China, Korea and Japan. In Europe it is missing in the British Isles.[https://www.insekten-sachsen.de/Pages/TaxonomyBrowser.aspx?id=453892 Insekten-sachsen][https://web.archive.org/web/20121017214250/http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=453892 Fauna europaea]
It is one of the four European species of Coptosoma, most of other being restricted to Asia and Ethiopia.
Habitat
Biology
They mostly feed on legumes (Coronilla species, Lathyrus species) and other leguminous plants, such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), milkvetch (Astragalus), vetch (Vicia), Sainfoin (Onobrychis), broom (Genista) or restharrows (Ononis).
The species overwinters as larvae (in third or fourth instar) and develops in May or June into the adult insect. The adults can be observed from Summer until September. The oviposition occurs in midsummer.
Bibliography
- Ekkehard Wachmann, Albert Melber, Jürgen Deckert: Wanzen. Band 4: Pentatomomorpha II: Pentatomoidea: Cydnidae, Thyreocoridae, Plataspidae, Acanthosomatidae, Scutelleridae, Pentatomidae. Goecke & Evers, Keltern 2008, {{ISBN|978-3-937783-36-9}}, S. 28.
- Kment P. (2013): Preliminary check-list of the Heteroptera of Czech Republic
- Vilimova J., 2004 - Family Plataspididae - Catalogue of the Heteroptera of the Palaearctic Region
- Ekkehard Wachmann: Wanzen beobachten – kennenlernen. Neumann-Neudamm, Melsungen 1989, {{ISBN|3-7888-0554-4}}, S. 72
- Ekkehard Wachmann:Wanzen beobachten – kennenlernen. Neumann-Neudamm, Melsungen 1989, {{ISBN|3-7888-0554-4}}.
- Frieder Sauer: Sauers Naturführer Wanzen und Zikaden nach Farbfotos erkannt. Fauna, Keltern 1996, {{ISBN|3-923010-12-5}}, S. 32.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160810163647/http://barry.exp-host.ru/%5C/gallery/show_image.php?imageid=13498 Boris Loboda Photos]
- [http://alsphotopage.com/image/show/id/8907 Alsphotopage]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q5169097}}
Category:Insects described in 1785
Category:Articles containing video clips
{{Heteroptera-stub}}