208 Invasive Stink Bugs and Related Species (Pentatomoidea)
B. picta, 114 citations for B. cruciferarum, and 125 citations for B. hilaris. Although B. picta was used
more commonly in the older literature, B. hilaris and B. cruciferarum still are used today, despite the fact
that B. hilaris is the proper scientific name (Figure 3.2).
The common names used for Bagrada hilaris also are varied (and sometimes confusing). It has been
known as the “mustard bug” (Janisch 1931), the “mustard painted bug” (Gupta and Gupta 1970, Verma
1980), the “colorful bug” (Singh and Gandhi 2012), and the “caper bug” (Sozzi and Vicente 2006). It also
has been called the “harlequin bug” (Hill 1975, 2008; Sánchez-Peña 2014), which is the common name
reserved for the harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica (Hahn) (McPherson and McPherson 2000). Most
often, B. hilaris is labelled the painted bug, a name that describes the beautiful “painted-like” coloration
of the insect that likely resulted in the species name “pictus” (= painted) by Fabricius (1775). More
recently, the insect has been called the “bagrada bug” (Halbert and Eger 2010, Palumbo and Natwick
2010, Perring et al. 2013, Reed et al. 2013b). This common name comes from the genus Bagrada, which
will add confusion if the insect is ever moved to another genus. For this reason, we support the use of
“painted bug” for B. hilaris.
3.2.2 Identification and Comparison with Other Stink Bugs
Bagrada hilaris with its red, black, orange, and white markings easily is distinguished from most
other pentatomids. In North America, it may be confused with Murgantia histrionica (see Chapter 6).
Because both species are pests of cruciferous vegetables, this distinction is important. The most obvious
difference between adults of the two species is size: the painted bug is much smaller (4–6 mm) than the
harlequin bug (8–11.5 mm) (Derjanschi and Péricart 2005, McPherson 1982, respectively) (Figures 3.1A
and 3.3). In addition, there are several morphological and color differences between species. The heads
of both species are strongly declivent (sloped downward). However, each head is distinctly different
(Figure 3.3). B. hilaris has a much narrower head anterior to its eyes, which are strongly pedunculate;
its juga are strongly reflexed at the tip and meet beyond the tylus. M. histrionica has a broader head
anterior to its eyes, which are more rounded; its juga are not strongly reflexed at the tip and are shorter,
not meeting beyond the tylus. Although overall colors are similar (and variability does exist), there are a
few distinct patterns that often distinguish the species. The scutellum of M. histrionica has an orange or
red mediolongitudinal stripe bisected with a short transverse stripe of similar color, giving it a crosslike
appearance. The scutellum of B. hilaris has a similar longitudinal stripe, but it lacks a transverse stripe
(no cross). Further, the pronotum of M. histrionica often has a pair of well-developed orange or red spots,
lacking or greatly reduced in B. hilaris.
0102030405060701900-1920 1921-1940 1941-1960 1961-19801981-2000 2000-2015Total # articlesYearResearch papers/reportsB. picta
B. cruciferarum
B. hilarisFIGURE 3.2 Citations for the painted bug broken down by species (Bagrada cruciferarum, B. hilaris, and B. picta), 1900
through 2015. (Courtesy of Thomas M. Perring).