The Life-history of Tectacoris lineola, F., and its Connection with Internal Boll Rots in Queensland

Abstract

1. A general account is given of the habits and distribution of Tectacoris lineola, together with a description of the adult, and some remarks on the influence of weather conditions on mating.2. The eggs and the different instars are described, and the period of time occupied by each is given.3. The connection between Tectacoris lineola and boll rot incidence is established.4. A table is given illustrating the comparative effect of boll rots and bollworm damage in the past season (1924–1925) on the Cotton Research Farm.5. The effect of bug punctures on cotton seed and its infection with Fusarium moniliforme are briefly discussed.

Quantifying the benefits and costs of parental care in assassin bugs

“…An understanding of the costs and benefits of care in these species is fundamental in understanding the evolution of male parental care (Clutton-Brock, 1991). Parental care in assassin bugs has been suggested to decrease access to the eggs by parasitic wasps (Ballard & Holdaway, 1926;Odhiambo, 1959), but this observation has never been tested quantitatively. Moreover, there has been no quantification of costs paid by parental individuals, either in maternal or paternal-caring species of assassin bugs.…”

Mechanisms of Color Production in a Highly Variable Shield-Back Stinkbug, Tectocoris diopthalmus (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae), and Why It Matters

“…For example, cuticular melanization can be upset by high temperatures in many taxa including Lepidoptera [64], Drosophila flies [26], and other Heteroptera [25]. This can help explain population differences, with high ambient temperatures suppressing the patches in tropical populations [34], and depending on the window of susceptibility, can also be contributing to intrapopulation variation, via seasonal or daily fluctuations in temperature [33].…”

“…Both pattern elements are highly variable; the base color varies from a saturated red to very pale orange, while the iridescent patches range in hue from violet to green, and range in size from almost covering the dorsal surface to being entirely absent (figure 1). The species is sexually dichromatic, with males more likely to have large iridescent patches and deeper red coloration [33]. There are broad latitudinal [34] and seasonal [33] patterns in variation, as well as variation between individuals in one population at a given time.…”

“…The species is sexually dichromatic, with males more likely to have large iridescent patches and deeper red coloration [33]. There are broad latitudinal [34] and seasonal [33] patterns in variation, as well as variation between individuals in one population at a given time. The use of iridescence in aposematic patterns is somewhat surprising, because the hue shifts with viewing angle introduce even further variability to the pattern (but see [35] and [36] for other potential cases of iridescent aposematic signals).…”

Is the hibiscus harlequin bug aposematic? The importance of testing multiple predators

“…The hibiscus harlequin bug, Tectocoris diophthalmus (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae), is a large, brightly colored member of the Australian jewel bug fauna and has emerged as a useful study system for questions of behavioral ecology (Ballard and Holdaway 1926;Wilson et al 1983;Hoese et al 2006;Fabricant et al 2013) and chemical signaling (Schaefer 1972;Smith 1978;Knight et al 1985;Staddon et al 1987). The bug features iridescent blue patches on a bright orange background, and adults have an enlarged scutellum covering their entire dorsal surface ( Fig.…”