Graphosoma lineatum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Family: Pentatomidae
Genus: Graphosoma
Species:
G. lineatum
Binomial name
Graphosoma lineatum
Synonyms
  • Cimex lineatus Linnaeus, 1758

Graphosoma lineatum is a species of shield bug in the family Pentatomidae.

Description

G. lineatum can reach a length of 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in). The body is almost round, with a large shield. The basic color of the upperside of the body is orange yellow, with wide black longitudinal stripes. The pronotum has six black bands. The antennae are black. Also the sides of the abdominal segments (connexivum) are yellow with many small black spots. The legs are mostly orange, which distinguishes it from its relative, G. italicum.

Taxonomy

Graphosoma italicum had been regarded as either a subspecies, or a synonym of G. lineatum, but the validity of G. italicum was reestablished via DNA analysis, which demonstrated that the sister species to G. italicum is G. rubrolineatum, while G. lineatum is more closely related to G. semipunctatum.[1][2][3]

Subspecies

  • G. l. lineatum (Linnaeus, 1758) - nominate subspecies
  • G. l. siciliensis Lupoli, 2017[3] - endemic to Sicily. Black legged, more reddish coloured; only occurrence of the species in Europe, it actually looks close to its European relative, G. italicum.

Similar species

Distribution

G. lineatum is distributed across Northern Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia). The subspecies G. l. siciliensis occurs only in Sicily.

References

  1. ^ Ribes, J., Pagola-Carte, S. & Zabalegui, I. (2008) On some Palearctic Carpocorini (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae). Heteropterus Revista de Entomología 8(2): 155-169.
  2. ^ R. Lupoli & F. Dusoulier (2006) Les Punaises Pentatomoidea de France. Ancyrosoma ISBN 9782953666113
  3. ^ a b R. Lupoli, Graphosoma lineatum (L., 1758) and G. italicum (O.F. Müller, 1766), two valid and distinct species, probably derived from the Zanclean mediterranean transgression (Hemiptera Pentatomidae). L'Entomologiste T73 n°1 (2017) pp. 19-33.