details

Description

Adult Description: The adult Coridromius chenopoderis can vary in color ranging from light tan or brown to black with brown markings. The head color ranges from dark brown to orange/brown. Possible phenotypic variations may show dark brown lateral stripes on the dorsal side or a large dark brown spot on the dorsal side.

Larva Description:

Host Plant: Coridromius chenopoderis has the widest range of host plants from the genus Coridromius. It hosts at least 17 plant species in the Chenopodiaceae (chenopods). Which are flowering plants such as spinach, beets, goosefoot, or mangel-wurzel.

Ecological Threat

Coridromius chenopoderis presents an ecological threat in that their food source is a wide variety of plants (phytophagous).

Biology

Little is known about the genus Coridromius with new species being described, and established species such as chenopoderis being re-described. Coridromius chenopoderis mate via traumatic insemination. This process involves the male stabbing the female with sexual organs to inseminate in the body cavity. Evolution of the body cavity and sexual organs have amended this process to improve risk associated from female death and infection.

History

Coridromius chenopoderis is known to have traveled from Australia to North America recently, but little is known of its biology because it is a recent introduction.

Native Origin

Australia

Current Location

U.S. Habitat: grassy fields

U.S. Present: Coridromius chenopoderis is found in the southern United States from Florida, Texas, California and as far south as Mexico.

Resembles

Coridromius chenopoderis is almost indistinguishable from other species of the genus Coridromius. Three species that look similar are: monotocopsis, pilbarensis, and variegatus. In this group C. chenopoderis has the most variation in color and size. However, C. chenopoderis is the smallest.

References

SEARCH Online

Google Search: Coridromius chenopoderis
Google Images: Coridromius chenopoderis
NatureServe Explorer: Coridromius chenopoderis
Bugwood Network Images: Coridromius chenopoderis

References

Tatarnic, Nikolai J. 2008. Revision of the Plant Bug Genus Coridromius Signoret (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 315 New York.

Tatarnic, Nikolai J., 2009. Dampierella and Goodeniaphila: two new genera and three new species of Halticini from Australia, with a species key to the Halticini of Australia (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae. Zootaxa 21(5): 43-60.

Internet Sources

http://bugguide.net
http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Coridromius