Gaillardia World: True Bugs

 Bugs in the order Hemiptera are "True Bugs," distinguished from other insects by a rigid, straw-like proboscis and by a life cycle called "incomplete metamorphosis."  In other words, True Bugs hatch from eggs as "nymphs," or miniature versions of the adult forms, in contrast to insects that undergo complete metamorphosis, such as butterflies, that go from egg to larva to pupa to adult.    

Gaillardia pulchella hosted several varieties of True Bugs during the growing season of 2022.

These green bugs are members of the family Pentatomidae, called "Shield Bugs," for their armored appearance, or (much less respectfully) "Stink Bugs," for the unpleasant odor they can exude when threatened or frightened.  

This photo of a female Shield Bug shows a characteristic of insects 

in the order Hemiptera (meaning "half wings").  The upper part of 

the wings is leathery, while the bottom part is membranous.  

Note the black-tipped appendage coming down from her chin.

With it she can pierce the Gaillardia and suck up flower juice. 

Here are two Shield Bugs in action!    The clip starts with a female Shield Bug feeding on Gaillardia.   Then a male Shield Bug scuttles up the stem to join her.  He's in a hurry!     Audience alert--there's a whole lot of procreation going on.  

Green Shield Bugs on Gaillardia pulchella,

September 3, 2022.

Here is a freshly-molted Shield Bug from earlier in the season--with its colored exoskeleton not yet set:

Note the clear membranous "half-wing"

at the tail end of the wings.  

Newly-molted Shield Bug, July 17, 2022.

Here is a Small Milkweed Bug (Lygaeus kalmii).  These bugs do go to plants in the Sunflower Family (such as the Gaillardia pulchella pictured here)--though, as their name suggests, they are known for feeding on milkweeds and laying their eggs on milkweeds.

With this Hemipteran, the membranous bottom 

portion of the wings is black, with sometimes 

a white outline, as here.  This bug is a seedeater,

among other things, and perhaps that's 

why (s)he is sitting on the Gaillardia flowers 

that are going to seed, as opposed to the ones 

still blooming.  July 17, 2022.

Compared to other kinds of visitors to Gaillardia, True Bugs were few and far between.  And the ones pictured here appeared each only on a single day.