Markova T.O.1*, Kanyukova E.V.2, Maslov M.V.1 2026. Group oviposition in species of the genus Urostylis Westwood, 1837 (Heteroptera: Urostylididae) // Russian Entomol. J. Vol.35. No.1: 68–74 [in English].
1 Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690022 Russia.
2 Far Eastern Federal University, Zoological Museum, Vladivostok 690091 Russia.
*Corresponding author.
Tatyana Markova: martania@mail.ru; ORCID: https://orcid. org/0000-0001-5397-4253
Elena Kanyukova: evkany@mail.ru; ORCID: https://orcid. org/0000-0002-9375-2679
Mikhail Maslov: nippon_mvm@mail.ru; ORCID: https://orcid. org/0000-0003-4193-7425
doi: 10.15298/rusentj.35.1.02
ABSTRACT. Examples of group oviposition by females of three pentatomoid species — the bugs Urostylis annulicornis Scott, 1874, U. lateralis Walker, 1867, and U. trullata Kerzhner, 1966 — in habitats favorable for development of their offspring are reported in this article for the first time. Females lay egg clutches on the inner side of the rhytidome of Mongolian oak, Quercus mongolica, and coat them with a layer of jelly-like secretion. By spring, a small colony forms under the bark where overwintered nymphs of various species become provided with abundance of food and protection. The shapes of oothecae of the three species are compared and described; the season, timing, and duration of oviposition are indicated. Joint oviposition can lead to outbreaks in the abundance of Urostylis species in some years.
KEY WORDS: true bugs, Heteroptera, Urostylididae, ootheca, nymphs, parental care, group oviposition, Primorsky Krai, Quercus mongolica.