MORPHOMETRICAL STUDY OF THE STINK BUG Apodiphus amygdali (GERMAR) (HEMIPTERA: PENTATOMIDAE) IN IRAQ

Abstract

The morphological characteristics in association with dimensions of all the stages of A. amygdali were studied during season 2007. The egg is barrel in shape, bright green in colour when freshly lay, usually deposited in masses which contain 14 eggs each. The average body lengths and widths of each of the five nymphal instars were: (2.80, 2.22); (4.36, 3.22); (6.10, 3.94); (10.38, 6.01) and (12.40, 7.04) mm, respectively. The adult measurements were: (14.48) mm long and (7.60) mm wide for male and (16.48) mm long and (8.32) mm wide for female, the first nymphal instar characterized by shiny orange, the rest instars are grey, while the adult is red to reddish bronze and gray to black.