Mictis profana (Crusader Bug)

Mictis profana (Crusader Bug)Mating Nymph

The species Mictis profana, belonging to the group of insects known as “true bugs” is identified by the pale yellow cross on the hemelytra.

Unlike the elytron (sheath, cover), elytra (plural), is the modified, hardened forewing of beetles (genus Coleoptera), that serves as the protective wing-cases for the hindwings underneath.

The hemelytron (plural hemelytra), in insects refer to the forewing with both membranous and hardened portions. Whilst a few “true bugs” (Hemiptera) are similar to beetles with elytron, other “true bugs” have forewings called hemelytra.

Mictis profana can be found feeding on a range of plants, such as wattles, eucalypts, citrus and garden plants. Pictured on this page are Mictis profana on the flowering plant Parrot Pea (Crotalaria cunninghamii).

Many insect species go through a larval form, where they develop into mature adults by shedding their skins (moulting/ecdysis) at regular intervals/cycles. The larval stage between each moult is called an “instar”.

Some insects, as in this Mictis profana, have about 5 instars – “developmental stage”. In the final moult, they emerge as an adult (in the adult form).

They have a life span of about 3.5 months, with their life cycle from egg to adult completed in approximately 38 days.

They are an insect with a wide distribution across Australia, Indonesia and the Indo-Pacific region.

Following is a male Mictis profana on the leaf of a Parrot Pea (Crotalaria cunninghamii). The male is identified from the larger, thicker back legs.

A Coreid (from the family Coreidae), and one of the leaf-footed bugs, the Crusader Bug (Mictis profana) other common names include Citrus Crusader Bug and Holy Cross Bug.

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• Scientific classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Subphylum: Hexapoda
• Class: Insecta
• Informal: Pterygotes
• Order: Hemiptera
• Suborder: Heteroptera
• Infraorder: Pentatomomorpha
• Superfamily: Coreoidea
• Family: Coreidae
• Subfamily: Coreinae
• Tribe: Mictini
• Genus: Mictis
• Species: Mictis profana

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Mictis profana (Crusader Bug)Mating Nymph

HeteropteraHeteroptera Index Hyocephalus aprugnus Ippatha australiensis Leptocoris Mictis profana (Crusader Bug) Reduviidae Assassin Bugs

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub