Crusader Bug
S1, Adult Male, dorsal
Ellura
Crusader Bug
S6, 4th Instar, dorsal
 
                      
Crusader Bug (Mictis profana)Class: Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta)
Order: True Bugs (Hemiptera)
Family: Leaf Footed Bug (Coreoidea, Coreidae)     iNaturalist Observation
Species: Crusader Bug (Mictis profana)
This Photo:     🔍S5, 3rd Instar, dorsal🔎

Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli & Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

General Species Information:
Found on Ellura (in the Murray Mallee, SA), the Adelaide Hills and elsewhere
4th Instar was ~8mm, 5th instar ~13mm, adult female ~18mm.
A dark grey/black bug with orange stripes on its back & antennae. Nymphs also have orange stripes on their legs. The common name of course comes from the Orange Pattern on the back of the adults. Adult males have very large spines on their rear tibias (legs); these are missing on females.
We are estimating the instar stage based on the colour of the wing buds (more orange=older); along with views on-line of other instar patterns.
The nymphs have 2 raised orange patches on their abdomen which are scent glands; emitting a fowl scent as a defence mechanism. We've never smelt it though.
Notice in the 5th instar the hind wing buds are quite clear in profile view.

Copyright © 2011-2024 Brett & Marie Smith. All Rights Reserved. Photographed 07-May-2011
This species is an Australian Native Species, not listed in the SA Murray Mallee Survey of 2010.