Classification: | Phylum: Arthropoda | Class: Insecta | Order: Hemiptera | Family: Pentatomidae | Genus: Banasa |

This bug including its nymph was found on the Sea Holly (Acanthus ebracteatus), which grows in mangrove area. In December 2011, a set of 14 eggs that might belong to this bug was spotted under the leaf of a Sea Holly at the same area where the bugs were seen. In some instances, the bug was referred to as Banasa dimidiata and its identification key was described by Hoffman in 2005 [1].

The appearance of this bug was quite similar to another bug in the same genus, Banasa calva. For now, I was not able to find any publication that described this bug in this part of the world. Most information available from this genus was from America. The genus Banasa is one of the most diverse in the family Pentatomidae, with about 80 known species [2].

Reference:

[1] Hoffman RL. The Virginia species of Banasa, three decades later (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). Banisteria 2005;25:41-44.

[2] Garbelotto TA, Bianchi FM, Campos LA, Grazia J. Contributions to the knowledge of Banasa Stal (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Pentatomidae): Banasa chaca Thomas. Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 2011;55(3):451-453.