LeptocorisLeptocoris mitellatus Leptocoris tagalicus
Leptocoris tagalicus are commonly known as the Australia Soapberry Bugs or the Red Eyes Bug. They are part of the cosmopolitan family of coreoid bugs (family Rhopalidae) that include the Lepticoris spp, that are seed-eating predators of Australian plants.
They are between 9 to 13 mm in length, and are usually purplish-red or brick red, although some obervations include ochre or dark brown. The colour variation may be a regional thing. The membrane and appendages are dark brown or black.
Current observations (on Atlas of Living Australia) have Leptocoris tagalicus across mainland Australia, with most sightings in Central Australia, and along the east coast from Queensland down through New South Wales.
They can often be mistaken for Leptocoris mitellatus, with some references alluding to Leptocoris tagalicus are usually found on plants, whilst Leptocoris mitellatus are often found on the ground.
Whilst they are considered seed-eating predators, the following photographs from Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, are of the Leptocoris tagalicus feeding on the nectar from the Needlewood (Hakea leucoptera).
The following Leptocoris tagalicus were on Monstera deliciosa plant in Gympie SE Queensland.
Check out the following for more information about some of the Leptocoris spp:
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Informal: Pterygotes
- Order: Hemiptera
- Suborder: Heteroptera
- Infraorder: Pentatomomorpha
- Superfamily: Coreoidea
- Family: Rhopalidae
- Subfamily: Serinethinae
- Genus: Leptocoris
- Species: Leptocoris tagalicus
Footnote & References
- Leptocoris Hahn, 1833, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/371523cb-5254-40bd-a6f3-61732b91a536
- Leptocoris tagalicus Burmeister, 1834, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/4560f354-1d7e-4ab6-94e5-499261ad4601
- Soapberry Bugs, Ask an Expert, Queensland Museum, https://www.qm.qld.gov.au/Explore/Find+out+about/Ask+an+Expert/Question+of+the+month/Question+Archive/Questions/2009/December+2009#:~:text=Soapberry%20bugs%20do%20not%20feed,and%20then%20pump%20in%20saliva%20.
- Soapberry Bug, Leptocoris tagalicus, Queensland Museum, https://www.qm.qld.gov.au/Explore/Find+out+about/Animals+of+Queensland/Insects/Sucking+Bugs/Common+species/Soapberry+Bug
- Scentless Plant Bugs (Rhopalidae), Bugs (Hemiptera), Save Out Waterways Now, https://sown.com.au/rhopalidae-scentless-plant-bugs/
- Leptocoris, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptocoris (last visited Oct. 29, 2022).
- Red Eyes Bug – Leptocoris tagalicus, Brisbane Insects and Spiders, https://brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_coreidbugs/RedEyesBugs.htm
- Browse Species, Soapberry Bugs of the World, Rhopalidae Serinethinae, http://www.soapberrybug.org/01_cms/details.asp?ID=2
- Leptocoris tagalicus, Soapberry Bugs of the World, Rhopalidae Serinethinae, http://www.soapberrybug.org/01_cms/details.asp?ID=110
LeptocorisLeptocoris mitellatus Leptocoris tagalicus
HemipteraIppatha australiensis Leptocoris Mictis profana (Crusader Bug) Reduviidae Assassin Bugs
InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera (True Bugs) Mango Planthopper Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Syrphidae Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub