Oncacontias vittatus

The forest shield bug (Oncacontias vittatus) is a species of shield bugs endemic to New Zealand. Forest shield bug nymphs prefer feeding on grasses, while adults will eat a variety of New Zealand plants including "hard-leaved" plants like rimu. O. vittatus was one of the first insects from New Zealand to be described by a European scientist.^[2]

Dorsal view of Oncacontias vittatus

Illustration of Oncacontias vittatus

Oncacontias vittatus carved on Maori pare at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection at Landcare Research, Auckland

Forest shield bug
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hemiptera
Suborder:	Heteroptera
Family:	Acanthosomatidae
Subfamily:	Acanthosomatinae
Genus:	Oncacontias
Species:	O. vittatus
Binomial name
Oncacontias vittatus (Fabricius, 1781)
Synonyms[1]
Cimex vittatus Fabricius, 1781 Acanthosoma vittatum Dallas, 1851 Anubis vittatus White, 1878 Oncacontias brunneipennis Breddin, 1903

Taxonomy

Oncacontias vittatus, was first described in 1781 by Johan Christian Fabricius as Cimex vittatus.^[3] In 1851, C. vittatus was moved to the Acanthosoma genus and was renamed as Acanthosoma vittatum.^[4] In 1878, A. vittatum was moved to the Anubis genus and was renamed as Anubis vittatus.^[5] In 1903, the species was independently described again as Oncacontias brunneipennis.^[6] In 1906, Anubis vittatus was moved into the Oncacontias genus and O. brunneipennis was recognized as a synonym of O. vittatus.^[7]

Distribution/habitat

Oncacontias vittatus, is widespread throughout New Zealand and can be found from lowland to alpine altitudes. Individuals can be found on a variety of habitat types such as native and exotic forest, tussock lands and on riverbanks. O. vittatus occurs throughout the year with adults present from October to January. Adults are collected in leaf litter, moss, under logs and the base of plants. They have been found on a variety of plants including Rimu, Monterey Pine, ferns and Nothofagus trees, however, the sap-sucking nymphs have a more restricted diet being found on grasses.^[1]