| Latin Name | Observation date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Picromerus lewisi | January 11 2025 | Buket Alue Puteh, Aceh, Indonesia |
Picromerus lewisi is a species of insect that is very interesting, especially for us as nature lovers and insect observers, insects are part of a group that is often referred to as stink bugs or pentatomids because of their ability to emit a very distinctive unpleasant odor when they feel threatened, although the insect is not as popular as some other insect species, Picromerus lewisi has various interesting characteristics that make it an important subject in entomological research.
if you are interested in seeing them directly and actually you can find them anywhere and are very lucky if you live in Asia because these insects are very numerous in Asia and especially Indonesia, as far as my experience in the world of insects, Picromerus lewisi is often seen in fertile environments such as fields, coffee plantations, forests and areas with dense vegetation where they easily hunt other insects as prey, Picromerus lewisi plays an important role in the ecosystem as a natural controller of pest insect populations.
Picromerus lewisi insect
Morphologically, Picromerus lewisi insects have a shield-shaped body with a length of about 10 millimeters, their body color varies from dark brown to a slight mixture of olive green, their bodies are also decorated with fine patterns which give them effective camouflage abilities in their natural environment. one of the characteristics of the Picromerus lewisi insect is the presence of short spines on the front of its wings which may be a means of self-defense. The lower part of the body to the feet is bright brown, while the antennae are equipped with a dark brown color and this adds to the uniqueness of the insect.
as a predator Picromerus lewisi shows aggressive hunting behavior, they usually prey on caterpillars, larvae and several other species of small insects which often damage plants, but this insect also has a negative side, I observed Picromerus lewisi in a coffee plantation and the fact that I have found is liquid what they emit can damage the coffee cherries and result in crop failure, I found them in a group of blackened (rotten) coffee cherries and Picromerus lewisi was around the coffee cherries.
This is a rotten coffee fruit that is around an insect, I assume that this rot occurs because of the liquid released by the Picromerus lewisi insect and this is based on a brief observation that I made that there were no signs of other insects, but research Next it is really necessary to confirm the correctness of my assumptions.
one other aspect that supports my assumption is that the Picromerus lewisi insect has the ability to secrete chemical compounds from its intestinal glands which function as a medium for their self-defense, well in this case it is very likely that the Picromerus lewisi insect releases this fluid because of a threat and without meaning to affected by coffee berries, so it can be understood that they have a positive role and also have a negative effect on the plants where they are located, so even though they are very important, controlling their population is also very important.
for those of you who love the world of insects and nature observers, Picromerus lewisi is a perfect example of how small creatures can have a big impact on ecosystems, in-depth study of their behavior, life cycles and ecological interactions not only provides insight into biodiversity, but also opens up opportunities for Innovative solutions in agriculture and environmental conservation, by continuing to explore information and in-depth knowledge about Picromerus lewisi insects, it is hoped that humans can utilize their potential optimally while still protecting fragile ecosystems.
I have collected photos of the Picromerus lewisi insect from several sides and I hope this post can help you to get to know the Picromerus lewisi insect more closely, have a good weekend & have fun. ☺️
| Camera used | smartphone |
|---|---|
| Lens | - |
| Photography | Picromerus lewisi |
| Location | Buket Alue Puteh |
| Photographer | @lightofhope |
| Link to original | community |
|---|---|
| Link | https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/258220363 |
| Latitude Longitude | Map | |
|---|---|---|
| =5.080479 | =97.46383 | https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=5.0804793232&mlon=97.4638302997 |
