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Sweet potato bug, Physomerus grossipes

on 20th March 2022

The sweet potato bug, Physomerus grossipes, is a Hemipteran.  It is a true bug in the Coreidae family: the leaf-footed bug. It is native to South-East Asia and often sucks sap from plants in the Leguminosae (e.g. Clitoria ternatea, the butterfly pea) and Convolvulaceae (e.g. Ipomoea, morning glory and sweet potato) families. The plants may wilt or have reduced growth.  Plant viruses may also be introduced by the bugs.

The bugs are about 2 cm long, oval-shaped and with segmented antennae. The hind tibias are enlarged.

Eggs are laid on the underside of leaves and the females usually guard the eggs and nymphs against predation by ants and parasitisation by wasps.

 

Photo 1 by Soh Kam Yung. Upper Seletar Reservoir Park. 13 March 2022. An adult bug resting on a leaf (hairy Clidemia?)

 

Photo 2 by Soh Kam Yung. Upper Seletar Reservoir Park. 13 March 2022. Side view of the sweet potato bug.

Photos are on iNaturalist [ https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/108496527 ]

Article by Teo Lee Wei

References:

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

LW Teo

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