The wart-like chorion of Edessa bifida (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

There is the suspicion that the stink bug Edessa bifida invades cotton fields in Southern parts of North America. To assist in the early detection of the bug, the morphology of deposited eggs of E. bifida is described using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The study revealed a surface pattern not yet seen in the Pentatomidae. The almost spherical eggs are deposited in batches and fastened both to one another and to the plant surface by secretions in all likelihood produced by the female. The egg surface is characterized by pentagons and hexagons formed by slender ridges. The lumen of these polygons shows 1 to 4 circular elevations of variable size and a flat upper face. In contrast to the ridges the elevations are relatively conspicuous. They are reminiscent of tiny warts and therefore the chorion of E. bifida is referred to as 'wart-like chorion'. Twenty-eight to 31 short aero-micropylar processes are mounted in a circumferential row at the anterior pole of the eggs. The discussion focuses on the variability of the chorion in the stink bugs.