Poecilocapsus nigriger
This record describes Poecilocapsus nigriger (species). Recorded family: Miridae. Recorded order: Hemiptera.
Identification and Appearance
Note by J.T. Botz: Van Duzee wrote of P. nigriger in supposed contrast to P. lineatus : ...The cuneus has a large central black spot. I don't see a consistent difference in the size of the cuneal spot in BG entries of P. lineatus versus P. nigriger , which leaves me at a loss for good characters. Note by M.A. Quinn: possible character to separate these spp., scutellum of P. lineatus has black upper corners, whereas the scutellum of P. nigriger is nearly all yellow. J.T. Botz (8/19/2024): Good point, Mike, and I also just noticed that P. lineatus has black lines at the lateral edges of the pronotum, while this area is uniformly greenish yellow (or yellowish green) in P. nigriger .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
- Suborder
- Heteroptera
- Superfamily
- Miroidea
- Family
- Miridae (Plant Bugs)
- Subfamily
- Mirinae
- Tribe
- Mirini
- Genus
- Poecilocapsus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
s.CA, FL; Mexico , AZ (BG & iNat data)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Poecilocapsus nigriger (Stål 1862)
About True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hemiptera, the group containing Poecilocapsus nigriger. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hemiptera (true bugs) includes over 80,000 described species across cicadas, aphids, leafhoppers, shield bugs, and bed bugs. Aphids alone cost global agriculture an estimated $2.5 billion annually in crop losses.
Ecological role of the group
Many Hemiptera are essential food sources for birds and predatory insects. Cicadas provide massive nutrient pulses during emergence events - a single Brood X emergence can involve trillions of individuals across 15 states.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) caused $37 million in apple crop losses in a single year in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region. Bed bug infestations in the U.S. increased by 500% between 2001-2010, costing the hotel industry hundreds of millions annually.
Recorded sources for this group: USDA, EPA, University research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Poecilocapsus nigriger (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by WonGun Kim; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , v belov , jbotz
Frequently Asked Questions About Poecilocapsus nigriger
What is Poecilocapsus nigriger?
Poecilocapsus nigriger is a species in the family Miridae, within the order Hemiptera.
How do you identify Poecilocapsus nigriger?
Note by J.T. Botz: Van Duzee wrote of P. nigriger in supposed contrast to P. lineatus : ...The cuneus has a large central black spot. I don't see a consistent difference in the size of the cuneal spot in BG entries of P. lineatus versus P. nigriger , which leaves me at a loss for good characters. Note by M.A. Quinn: possible character to separate these spp., scutellum of P. lineatus has black upper corners, whereas the scutellum of P. nigriger is nearly all yellow. J.T. Botz (8/19/2024): Good point, Mike, and I also just noticed that P. lineatus has black lines at the lateral edges of the pronotum, while this area is uniformly greenish yellow (or yellowish green) in P. nigriger .
Where is Poecilocapsus nigriger found?
Range: s.CA, FL; Mexico , AZ (BG & iNat data)