Citrus Stink Bug

Pentatomidae; Pentatominae; Rhynchocorini; Rhynchocoris longirostris Stål, 1871. When I am preparing photos and doing a little bit of research in preparation for Project Noah spottings, I sometimes have a problem describing some particular aspect of what is in my pictures. This is usually because I simply don't understand enough about the subject. So, it is always satisfying when I come across an article which provides the exact information that enables me to understand and therefore explain better what is going on in my pictures. In a recent spotting https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/297369120 I found myself avoiding mentioning something in my pictures because I did not understand it myself. So I would like to make amends by explaining it now. I can show the problem and explain the answer by using the three pictures (above) of Rhynchocoris longirostris . The first and last pictures were in the original spotting. The middle picture was taken 4 days ago in my backyard. So here it is. The first picture shows a group of 2nd Instar nymphs. If you look closely at these small bugs, there are two important things you will notice. Firstly, it looks like they each have a little tail sticking out at the back. Of course, we know that a bug doesn't have a tail. So what is it? Secondly, each bug has a "loop" coming out of its mouth. It very fine and hard to see in the photo, but it is there. So what is that ? When I found another 2nd Instar nymph and got a side view picture (the middle picture above) it becomes clear...up to a point. The loop coming out of its mouth must be a proboscis, like we see every day on Butterflies and Moths. So, now you must be thinking I'm "off my rocker". Surely that is obvious and why did I not understand that on day one (my earlier spotting). Well, I did understand that on day one, but what about the "tail". There is no "tail". That beak-like tube that comes out of its face and is tucked under its abdomen is a Rostrum. So now you see my problem. How can a bug have a Rostrum and a Proboscis. Its like having two mouths, it doesn't make sense. The answer lies in the last photo, the adult. You can see his Rostrum (it doesn't stick out at the back like a tail any more because his body has grown longer). So the "tail" is gone. Now the only remaining problem is the "other rostrum" or "proboscis" (the two words mean the same by the way). Why does the bug need two of them. The answer is that the 2nd Instar nymph has to carry it around like a loop for a while until it firms up. Then here comes the final solution to my headache, the nymph slips this proboscis down inside the Rostrum, now he has only one mouth. The idea behind all of this is that the heavy-duty rostrum can pierce into the surface of plants and then the delicate proboscis can suck up the juices. The correct name for this delicate proboscis is "Stylet". So now we all know that Pentatomidae have this amazing piece of apparatus to enable it to enjoy its lunch ! In case you are wondering why I would embarrass myself by admitting my ignorance of this subject in public. Its easy, I don't feel embarrassed if I don't know something. There are lots of things that I don't know. But I would be embarrassed if I had found the answer to a problem and did not share it with others. Isn't that what Project Noah is all about. Happy spotting everyone.