Swan plant seed bug Arocatus rusticus

Photo of Swan plant seed bug (Arocatus rusticus)

(c) leafveiled, some rights reserved (CC BY)

OrderTrue Bugs, Hoppers, Aphids, and allies (Hemiptera)
FamilySeed Bugs (Lygaeidae)
GenusArocatus (Arocatus)

This Australian and New Zealand seed bug has become intimately specialized — it uses its piercing proboscis to extract nutrition directly from seeds, targeting the swan plant as its primary host. Despite this narrow ecological niche, the species has successfully colonized two continents, making it a significant agricultural concern wherever its host plant grows. It's a masterclass in specialization: one bug, one plant, massive impact.

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