From left to right: Jadera nymph, gravid female, and lucky male.
This grove of golden rain trees serves dinner for thousands of golden rain tree bugs.
Golden rain tree, Koelreuteria paniculata, is a beautiful ornamental tree widely planted in landscapes throughout North America. It withstands a variety of growing conditions and soil types. Its ornamental value comes from large clusters of bright yellow flowers displayed from summer into fall. In autumn the flowers produce interesting bunches of showy, papery seedpods. The seedpods are reddish-purple when developing and turn brown as they mature. Several dark brown seeds are produced within each pod. Legions of seeds rain to earth beneath the golden rain tree in autumn.
Our southern and gulf-coast states are home to several native plants belonging to the golden rain tree family of plants, the Sapindaceae, commonly called soapberries. A striking insect called the red-shouldered bug or golden rain tree bug has evolved to use the seeds of soapberries as food. Golden rain tree bug is a “true” bug identified by its sucking mouthparts, young that are called nymphs, and half-leathery, half-membranous front wings. Jadera belongs to the clan of true bugs known as scentless plant bugs or Rhopalidae. We met other rhopalids in previous episodes including boxelder bugs and curious Niesthrea lousianica, the eater of mallows.
Whether its scaling a rain tree, dashing across the earth, or having a dinner date with others, red-shouldered bugs are in their glory on warm autumn days.
The introduction of golden rain tree to our country provided an excellent opportunity for the red-shouldered bug to try Asian cuisine. Golden rain tree is now one of the favored foods of this bug throughout our country. This summer was one of record warmth throughout the region and rain trees, including those on the campus of the University of Maryland, produced seeds by the bazillions. As I passed a golden rain tree last week, I observed dozens of red and black bugs milling about on the ground, scrambling up trees, and basking on sidewalks. While hordes of bugs are a source of delight for me, so many bugs in one place unnerved some students who quickly moved away.
Nymphs of the golden rain tree bug suck nutrients from seeds within papery pods.
While the weather remains warm, these beautiful red and black insects will mate, lay eggs, and feed on the bounty of the rain tree. Using their beaks, nymphs and adults pierce the tough seed coat and probe the nutritious meat of the seed. Digestive enzymes pumped into the seed break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Once liquefied, these nutrients are sucked up the beak and into the gut of the bug where they are converted to proteins used for growth and reproduction, or broken down to supply the energy for all the running about and mating that occupies the time of these bugs. Adult golden rain tree bugs use this rich source of food to fatten-up in preparation for winter.
The rain tree surprise begins when the weather finally turns cold and the bugs seek shelter. In the wild, shelter might be a fallen log, a pile of branches and leaves, or a rocky outcropping. In their new urban home, winter shelter for the golden rain tree bug might be an instructional building, a nearby dormitory, or maybe a home. If you have a golden rain tree in your yard, this exotic plant may hold one more surprise as summer winds down and fall approaches.
Sometimes the simplest tasks, like transporting a soapberry, get complicated when you’re a bug.
References
We thank members of the Pick Entomology Lab for providing the inspiration for this Bug of the Week.