Polychromatism in adult Deroplax silphoides (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae) and a morphological examination of the immature stages

Abstract

Polychromatism is a very common phenomenon in several insect orders. Adults of Deroplax silphoides show color variation in their bodies. In such cases, the identification of the immature stages is challenging and misleading. The field collection of adults and immature stages was conducted on the campus of Ain Shams University during the active period of the insect in 2019. Nineteen pronotal and scutellar macular patterns in addition to fifteen patterns of abdominal sternal variation in the color variation and size of the stridulatory area in D. silphoides adult were reported for the first time. In addition, the variation was observed in the shape, size and placement of eggs masses on Dodonaea viscosa commonly called 'sticky hop bush'. The main morphological features and an identification key for the five nymphal instars of this species are also provided for the first time through this work. The proportions of antennal and rostral segments and the degree of scutellum and wing pad development provide excellent characters for distinguishing the five nymphal instars. This work forms a basis for further investigation of such diversity at the molecular level and provides an insight into this phenomenon in the fascinating insect world.