Spined Soldier Bug Benefits Plants

Scientific Name: Podisus Maculiventris.

Nickname: Spined Soldier Bug

Appearance/Size:

Size differs by species. Most commonly about 1/2 inch in length, and 1/3 of an inch wide. Adult spined soldier bugs are brownish, about the size of your fingernail and have a prominent spine on each “shoulder.”

Prefered Habitat:

Eggs hatch better in consistently warm temps, optium around 73F. They like areas with prey, normally around potatoes, tomatoes, sweet corn, cole crops, beans, eggplant, cucurbits, asparagus, apples, and onions.

Reproduction:

Eggs are deposited in masses of 15-70, and range in color from cream-colored to black. Hatching in 4-7 days, depending on temperature. Females lay up to 500 eggs and live up to 125 days. Development to adult takes 25-30 days.

Eat:

Both nympHs and adults feed on caterpillars and the larvae of beetles. Diamondback moth, corn earworm, beet armyworm, fall armyworm, cabbage looper, imported cabbageworm, And the velvetbean caterpillar.

Release Rates:

About 25 eggs per 100 square feet. Side Notes: This species may be confused with common plant feeding stink bugs. The spined soldier bug has more acute spines on the edge of the pronotum. Do not confuse them with stink bugs!