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Jadera haematoloma

An energetic species that has three different color morphs. Although typically red and black, this species may also be yellow and black or orange and black.

Jadera haematoloma (Herrich-Schaffer 1847)

Jadera haematoloma
J. haematoloma adult in Davis, California. Photo by C. Perreira.

Range: United States, Hawaii, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America to Columbia and Venezuela
Hosts: Cardiospermum corindum (Faux Persil), Cardiospermum grandiflorum (Showy Balloonvine, Showy Heartseed, or Love in a Puff), Cardiospermum halicacabum var. halicacabum (Balloon Vine or Heartseed), Cardiospermum halicacabum var. microcarpum (Balloon Vine or Love in a Puff), Koelreuteria bipinnata (Chinese Flame Tree), Koelreuteria elegans (Chinese Rain Tree), Koelreuteria paniculata (Goldenrain Tree), Sapindus mukorossi (Chinese Soapberry), Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii (Western Soapberry), Sapindus oahuensis (Hawaii Soapberry), and Serjania brachycarpa (Littlefruit Slipplejack)
Physical description: About 10 to 14 mm in length. Black dorsal side with distinctive lateral red markings along the side margin of head and pronotum (very prominent on the pronotum); eyes are red. May be orange or yellow in places that are typically red, depending on the color morph. Dark ventral side except the red abdomen and posterior segments. Legs and antennae are black. May resemble: J. diaphona (pronotum broader and longer; abdomen yellow) and J. pyrrholoma (much larger in overall size; narrower head)

Distribution

Estimated J. haematoloma distribution
J. haematoloma has been found in several states (CO, KS, MO, OK, TX, AK, MS, TN, LA, GA, FL, SC, NC, and VA), Cuba, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela but the exact locations of where it was collected are not known.

Red markers = locations of collection sites
Blue region(s) of land = inferred range
3/4 inch = 1000 miles
Click here for an interactive version of this map.

References