Fig. 1

Phylogenetic context and life cycle of Murgantia histrionica. a Phylogenetic context of Murgantia. Trees are based on Misof et al. [54] and Li et al. [51]. (i) A condensed cladogram that includes some insect orders. Murgantia belongs to the order Hemiptera (colored orange) (ii) Shows a cladogram of Hemiptera, including some major suborders: Sternorrhyncha, Auchenorrhyncha and Heteroptera. Murgantia is a member of Heteroptera and the Pentatomomorpha superfamily (orange text). (iii) Murgantia’s relationship to Oncopeltus fasciatus (large milkweed bug) and Halyomorpha halys (brown marmorated stink bug). b Laboratory cage set up for Murgantia. Embryos are allowed to hatch and grow to the second instar in a small petri dish with a piece of wet cotton and kale. They are provided kale three times a week and kept in mesh cages (12 × 12 × 12 in) at 25 °C. A source of water can be provided (e.g. a wet cotton). c The life cycle of Murgantia. Our lab colony was observed to have five nymphal stages