Diet

• Adults and nymphs: Predatory, feeding primarily on the larvae and other immature stages of insects.

• They use their piercing-sucking mouthparts to stab prey and consume its liquefied internal contents.

• Stiretrus species are important predators of caterpillars and beetle larvae, including several agricultural pest species.

Range

• Stiretrus is a New World genus of predatory stink bugs, with species occurring throughout North, Central and South America.

• Around Zihua, Stiretrus would likely be considered occasional to locally common where suitable vegetation and abundant insect prey are present.

Habitat

• Stiretrus species occur in woodland, tropical dry forest, scrub, fields, agricultural areas and other habitats with abundant vegetation.

• They are generally found on plants where they can search for or ambush insect prey.

• Around Zihua, suitable habitat includes tropical deciduous forest, thorn scrub, forest edges, gardens, agricultural fields and roadside vegetation.

Size

• Stiretrus species are medium-sized stink bugs, with adults generally around 7–12 mm long, depending on the species.

• They have a broad, shield-shaped body and an unusually large scutellum, which covers much of the abdomen and gives them a distinctive appearance.

• Colouration can be highly variable, including metallic blue, blue-black, red, orange, cream and reddish-brown markings.