Talk:Drab stinkbug

Did you know nomination

The following is an archived discussion of the DYK nomination of the article below. Please do not modify this page. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as this nomination's talk page, the article's talk page or Wikipedia talk:Did you know), unless there is consensus to re-open the discussion at this page. You can locate your hook here. No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was: promoted by Zzz plant (talk) 17:00, 12 February 2026 (UTC)

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Drab stinkbug

• ... that drab stinkbugs (pictured) use fungus to protect their eggs from parasitic wasps?

• Sources: "Fungi coat the eggs of stinkbugs, creating a shield that protects the embryos from parasitic wasps, researchers report today in Science."
  "As the stinkbugs lay their eggs, the scientists saw the females using the tip of their back legs to scratch its fungus-filled hindleg organs. They then smeared the egg with the fungus, which grew to cover the eggs within a few days... it's believed the fungus provides a physical barrier that prevents the wasps from laying."

• • Reviewed: Template:Did you know nominations/Vera, or Faith

Moved to mainspace by Tryptofish (talk). Number of QPQs required: 1. Nominator has 9 past nominations.

Tryptofish (talk) 22:05, 8 February 2026 (UTC).

• Bit of a mean name. New enough, long enough, thorough QPQ. Fascinating hook (ymmv), supported by source and in the article. Image works at 100px (possibly better than at full size).
  Before passing though, other notes. The final sentence of the lead, including the quote, should also appear in the body to allow the lead to be a summary. While reading, also noticed "Japan, Korea, China, and Hong Kong". This is a bit of an odd list, but that aside, checking both sources neither seems to mention Hong Kong? As a final note, the Fungal defense subsection could do with a mention of how common/effective this is, as the existence of a Parasitism by wasps section suggests it can't be universally effective. CMD (talk) 14:01, 11 February 2026 (UTC)

  Thanks so much, CMD, for the review (and yeah, it's mean to call something both drab and stinky, but how wonderful for a hooky hook!). I've made this edit, , so that the sentence with the quote in the lead is now also reflected in the main text. About Hong Kong, this source, , says on page 23: "7. Megymenum gracilicorne Dallas, 1851... China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea." So I think that covers it. Now as for your point about how the defense against wasps cannot possibly be 100% effective, that had never occurred to me, but of course, you have got to be right, or there would be no wasps. Based on where this source, , says that in the experiments, wasps parasitized "only 10% of the fungi-covered eggs", I added this: . I also made this edit, , to indicate that the defense only happens when the eggs are covered by fungus, in case sometimes the eggs aren't covered. I hope that addresses the points you raised. Thanks again. --Tryptofish (talk) 22:07, 11 February 2026 (UTC)

  Thanks, I was looking at page 9 "M. gracilicorne DALLAS (China, Japan, lectotype, 8 specimens, BMNH, MNHN, NKUM)", where it only has China and Japan. Other changes also helpful. CMD (talk) 02:37, 12 February 2026 (UTC)