Cactus bug, nymph (immature), Chelinidea vittiger, subfamily Coreinae, family Coreidae.
□ This cactus bugs nymph is actually on a cactus, and some of the damage it causes (the white spots) is evident. This species is sometimes called a prickly pear cactus bug, but usually that name is reserved for a closely related species, Chelinidea tabulata, which is pictured elsewhere on this page.
Photographed by: H. Barton/hbd images. Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Arizona, USA.
Date: 12 April, 2017.
H. Barton says, “I found dozens of these 1/8-–1/4-inch insects on my cactus in Arizona.” That is about 3-6 mm.
|
Cactus bug, nymph (immature), Chelinidea vittiger, subfamily Coreinae, family Coreidae.
□ The nymph of the cactus bug can look different from one stage of development to the next. One characteristic feature of many stages is the stripe that runs down its head. The adult also has the same stripe, but it has chocolate-colored wings with light-colored veins.
Photographed by: Jacob Hourt. Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Wyoming, USA.
Date: 20 August, 2018.
|
Cactus bug, nymphs (immature), Chelinidea vittiger, subfamily Coreinae, family Coreidae.
□ The photographer found these young nymphs of cactus bugs, actually on prickly pear (nopal) cacti. When young, the nymphs may have a red or a black head and pronotum (the shield covering its thorax), and green abdomen (as shown here).
Photographed by: Steven Arnold. Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Waco, Texas, USA.
Date: 15 August, 2019.
Steven says, “I took this photo at a house I’m painting. I thought they were baby spiders, but when I zoomed in, I noticed they had six legs and two large, thick antennae.”
|
Cactus bug, nymph (immature), Chelinidea vittiger, subfamily Coreinae, family Coreidae.
□ As cactus bug nymphs get older, the abdomen typically turns dark reddish-brown, as seen here. This is one of many the photographer found. See his description below.
Photographed and identified by: Joshua Hay. Nicely done, Joshua!
Location: Manor (northeast of Austin), Texas, USA.
Date: 25 September, 2022.
Joshua says, “Found over 60 of them on my nopals (prickly pear cacti) while watering this morning. They were so dense on some leaves that I thought it was the shadow of the sunrise until the water hit them and they scattered.”
|