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True Bugs of Zihuatanejo

SUBORDER HETEROPTERA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-​True Bugs, Hoppers, Aphids, and Allies (Order Hemiptera)

-True Bugs (Suborder Heteroptera)​

-Pentatomomorph Bugs (Pentatomomorpha)

-Leaf-footed Bugs and Allies (Superfamily Coreiodea​)

-Broad-headed Bugs (Family Alydidae)​

-Subfamily Alydinae​

-Genus Burtinus

-Spot-winged Broad-headed Bug (Burtinus notatipennis)


The Burtinus bug is a genus of true bugs in the family Alydidae, commonly referred to as flat-headed bugs or sapsuckers. These bugs are primarily found in temperate regions and are known for their distinctive, somewhat flattened appearance. They usually exhibit brown to gray coloration with more subdued markings. The body is somewhat elongated and flattened. Burtinus bugs are sapsuckers, meaning they feed on the sap of plants. Using their piercing-sucking mouthparts, they puncture plant tissues and extract fluids. They typically feed on woody plants, trees, and shrubs.

Spot-winged Broad-headed Bug

Burtinus notatipennis

Diet

  • Adults and nymphs: Feed by piercing plant tissues and sucking plant sap with their slender, straw-like mouthparts.

  • The species has been specifically recorded feeding on seedlings of Euphorbia heterophylla (painted spurge).

Range

  • Burtinus notatipennis is a broad-headed bug (Alydidae) in the subfamily Alydinae and genus Burtinus.

  • It has a broad distribution extending from Mexico through Central America and northern South America.

  • It is occasionally sighted in Zihua, where the warm climate and abundance of suitable vegetation provide appropriate habitat.

Habitat

  • Found in tropical dry forest, tropical deciduous forest, scrub, agricultural areas, grasslands and disturbed vegetation.

  • Adults are generally associated with herbaceous vegetation and developing plants, where they feed on plant juices.

  • Around Zihua, look among low vegetation and open areas, particularly where Euphorbia and other herbaceous plants are growing.

  • Its relatively slender body and subdued colouration can make it easy to overlook.

Size

  • Adult length: approximately 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in).

  • Body relatively slender and elongated, typical of many alydid bugs.

  • The head is noticeably broad, giving the family its common name broad-headed bugs.

  • Colouration is generally brown to reddish-brown, with darker markings.

  • The wings have contrasting markings that give rise to the common name Spot-winged Broad-headed Bug.

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