Prickly Pear Bug (Chelinidea vittiger) Uhler, 1863 |
Synonyms: Chelinidea tabulata; Cactus coreid, cactus bug |
Chelinidea vittiger occurs in the central and southern United States (from southern Idaho and Illinois to California, Texas, and Florida), and in Mexico. Its range coincides with the distribution of the prickly pear cacti (Opuntia spp.), its host plant; introduced to Australia. The adults are 10-15 mm long; yellow stripe on the head; yellow pronotum with a black bar; the antennae, legs, and hemelytra are dark brown to blackish. C. vittiger lays eggs on the underside of Opuntia spp. spines.