Podisus maculiventris, the spined soldier bug, is a medium-sized predatory shield bug common in North America. It has prominent spines on each "shoulder" and preys on a wide variety of arthropods, particularly the larval forms of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. As a generalist predator of many agricultural pests, P. maculiventris is generally considered a beneficial insect in gardens and crop fields.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Spined Soldier Bug being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Podisus brevispinus
- Podisus nigrispinus
- Podisus congrex
- Podisus placidus
- Podisus serieventris
- Supputius cincticeps
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hemiptera
- Family
- Pentatomidae
- Genus
- Podisus
- Species
- Podisus maculiventris
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