What does the soldier bed bug look like? - briefly
The soldier bed bug is a small, flattened oval insect measuring about 4–5 mm in length, with a reddish‑brown to dark brown color and no wings. Its dorsal surface is smooth, its antennae are short and segmented, and its legs are adapted for crawling on fabrics and bedding.
What does the soldier bed bug look like? - in detail
The soldier bed bug, Halyomorpha halys, is a medium‑sized true bug measuring 4.5–7 mm in length. Its dorsal surface exhibits a shield‑shaped, pentagonal outline with a broad, flattened abdomen. The coloration consists of a mottled pattern of brown to gray‑brown tones, interspersed with distinctive white‑yellowish spots on the scutellum and along the margins of the hemelytra. The antennae are segmented into five parts, each segment progressively darkening toward the tip. The legs are robust, bearing spines on the tibiae that aid in climbing vegetation.
Key morphological features include:
- Hemelytra: partially hardened forewings with a transparent distal portion; veins are visible and run parallel to the wing margin.
- Pronotum: expanded, covering part of the head; bears a pair of sharp, laterally directed projections.
- Scent glands: located on the ventral abdomen, capable of releasing a pungent odor when disturbed.
- Mouthparts: piercing‑sucking rostrum, adapted for extracting plant sap.
Nymphal stages resemble the adult but lack fully developed wings and display a brighter, more vivid coloration. Each molt adds a new segment to the antennae and increases body size by approximately 0.5 mm. The final instar attains the adult size range but retains a softer exoskeleton until sclerotization occurs after the final molt.
Sexual dimorphism is minimal; males and females differ primarily in the shape of the abdomen, with females exhibiting a broader, more rounded posterior to accommodate egg development. Eggs are barrel‑shaped, about 1 mm in length, and are deposited in clusters on the undersides of leaves.
Overall, the soldier bed bug’s combination of shield‑shaped body, mottled brown coloration with white spots, five‑segmented antennae, and partially hardened forewings provides a reliable set of characteristics for identification in the field.