Cermatulus

Glossary
References
Using this Key

Cermatulus Dallas, 1851

Photo © Emma Betts, Australian Museum

Type species:

Aelia nasalis Westwood, 1837 by monotypy.

Number of Australian species:

Two.

Extralimital Distribution:

Australian Region - East Timor, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea.

Australian Distribution:

Temperate and subtropical regions New South Wales, South Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia.

Biology:

Cermatulus nasalis is an important predator of agricultural pests. Awan (1990) recorded predation behaviour on Heliothis punctiger [NOCTUIDAE] while Awan (1988) detailed development and mating behaviour.

Host(s):

Cermatulus nasalis nasalis Westwood, 1837 associated with Agrotis ipsilon Hufnagel, 1766 [NOCTUIDAE]; Asaphodes megapilata Walker, 1862 [GEOMETRIDAE]; Caliroa cerasi Linnaeus, 1758 [TENTHREDINIDAE] Pear Slug, Cherry Slug; Crambus vittellus Dbld., 1843 [PYRALIDAE]; Danaus plexippus Linnaeus, 1758 [NYMPHALIDAE]; Epiphyas postvittana Walker, 1863 [TORTRICIDAE]; Gonipterus scutellatus Gyllenhal, 1833 [CURCULIONIDAE]; Helicoverpa armigera Hubr., 1805 [NOCTUIDAE]; Melampsalta cruentata Fabricius, 1775 [CICADIDAE]; Mythimna separata Walker, 1865 [NOCTUIDAE]; Paropsis charybdis Stål, 1860 [CHRYSOMELIDAE]; Persectania aversa, Walker, 1856 [NOCTUIDAE]; Tortrix excessana Walker, 1856 [TORTRICIDAE]; Vanessa gonerilla Fabr., 1775 [NYMPHALIDAE]; Venusia verriculata R.Feld., 1875 [GEOMETRIDAE].

Diagnosis:

Colour

Dorsally numerous shades of brown from pale brown to dark brown almost black. Head dark brown with pale brown central longitudinal stripe, pronotum pale with dark brown calli, scutellum with dark brown Y-shaped area. Ventrally pale brown with dark punctations and several large dark patches.

Texture

Dorsally densely and deeply punctate, pronotum less punctate than scutellum and hemelytra. Ventrally unifomly and densely punctate.

Vestiture

Glabrous.

Structure

Body - Parallel-sided, dorsally convex. Length 6.0 mm - 11.5 mm; width 3.0 mm - 7.5 mm.

Head - Shape subtriangular, moderately dorsoventrally orientated, shorter than pronotum; jugae equal in length to clypeus, truncate and broad apically, laterally carinate; antennifer processes absent; five antennal segments, first segment shorter than distance between eyes, inserted into head below mid-height but above ventral margin of eyes; bucculae elongate (posteriorly beyond antennifers); vertex flattened; labium thickened and elongate, reaching between middle and hind coxae, first labial segment longer than bucculae; eyes not sylate, directed laterally.

Pronotum - Calli present and well developed; anterior lobe surface flat or slightly excavate; lateral margins carinate; humeral angles subangulate; anterolateral margins straight and simple; posterolateral margins straight to slightly sinuate; posterior margin sinuate.

Scutellum - Triangular, apex broadly rounded; lateral calli present as pale polished areas with adjacent deep pits ; medial callus present as polished raised area.

Thoracic sterna - Prosternum flat, not sulcate; mesosternum with raised keel; metasternum not sulcate.

External efferent system - Evaporative area greatly reduced; peritreme elongate and broad, pointed apically.

Hemelytra - Macropterous, longer than abdomen; membrane veins linear.

Legs - fore tibia sulcate.

Abdomen - Connexiva visible dorsally; laterotergites unarmed; ventrally abdominal sterna II with small rounded lump.

Remarks:

Cermatulus nasalis is commonly known as the Predatory Shield Bug.