Ethiopian Lygaeidae Iv: A New Predatory Lygaeid From Africa With a Discussion of Its Biology and Morphology (Hemiptera: Heteroptera)

Abstract

THANKS to the work of Hoffman (1932), Putshkov (1956) and Sweet (1960), as well as to numerous less extensive observations, it is today generally accepted that the majority of Lygaeidae are phytophagous and that m6st of them feed upon seeds. The above cited authors all survey the literature exhaustively and we need not summarise existing evidence here. It should be noted, however, that so far as we know all the members of the largest subfamily, the Rhyparochrominael are seed feeders with one important exception: several genera of the Cleradini (sensu Stiil, 1874) are known to suck habitually the blood of vertebrate animals including man (see Lent, 1939). Vertebrate blood-feeding appears to be the normal condition in the above group, as we have obtained masses of clotted blood from additional genera not yet reported in the literature as blood suckers.There are published records of other Rhyparochrominae occasionally preying upon insect hosts, but the existing records are either very doubtful or based upon casual observations rather than conclusive evidence that the Rhyparochromines can actually sustain themselves and complete development upon a strictly animal diet (see, for example, Thomas, 1954Thomas, , 1955. Therefore the case discussed in this paper seems particularly important as the first unquestionable case of a zoophagous Rhyparochromine known, other than the haematophagous Cleradini. Miealdus nidulus sp. n.Head, pronotum, scutellum, apex of corium and entire venter, with exception of white posterior lobe of metapleuron, dull reddish-brown ; posterior lobe of metapleuron, corium and clavus white ; most of wing mesad of cubital vein and all of membrane transparent, hyaline ; appendages nearly uniformly pale testaceous, usually lightly suffused with brownish a t bases of tibiae and apices of femora ; third antennal segment dark except a t extreme basal area, strongly contrasting with pale proximal and distal segments, basal segment narrowly dark at base; greater part of body surface possessing a pruinose bloom ; pronotum and scutellum with a few short scattered inconspicuous setae, those on head more thickly placed and conspicuous ; vertex with numerous closely spaced punctures ; pronotum and scutellum with prominent regular, widely separated pound punctures, those on corium confined to area laterad of radius and as two definite rows along claval suture, clavus with a closely set row of punctures adjacent to claval suture and a second row of well separated punctures located centrally.Eyes large and prominent, occupying most of lateral surface of head, in contact with anterolateral pronotal angles but not stalked or greatly produced, tylus reaching midway to apex of 1 Slater (1957) maintained that Megalonotinae should replace Rhyparochrominae as the correct name for this taxon. This was baaed upon the belief that Rhyparochromus Curtis was a junior homonym of Rhyparochrmw Hahn. Curtis' genus appears not to have been independently described as believed by China (1943) and Rhyparochrominae therefore can be use...

Feeding habits of some Rhyparochrominae (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae) with particular reference to the value of natural foods

“…Although approximately two-thirds of the total weight is added in the last two larval instars (as has also been shown by Anderson, 1961, for Anthocorids), the percentage daily increase in weight was highest in the second larval instar (the 'Since this paper was submitted for publication, Slater and Carayon (1963) have described a predatory Lygaeid from West Africa feeding on larvae in nests of Ploceid birds. In their experiments, the larvae went through complete development on a diet of coleopterous larvae, thus providing the first instance known of a zoophagous Rhyparochroniine, other than those genera of Cleradini that suck the blood of vertebrate animals.…”

Venoms of Heteropteran Insects: A Treasure Trove of Diverse Pharmacological Toolkits

“…Predaceous cimicomorphans and pentatomomorphans use their venoms primarily for immobilising, killing, and liquefying invertebrate prey. A key effect of venoms is rapid paralysis, which has been reported after envenomation by members of the Reduviidae [ 6 , 9 , 35 , 140 ], asopine Pentatomidae [ 141 ], predaceous Miridae [ 85 ], and predaceous Lygaeidae [ 142 ], and which may be much more widespread. The insecticidal activities of two reduviine assassin bug venoms have been quantified as LD 50 values of (dry weight of venom) 2 mg/kg ( H. innesi venom injected into larvae of the fly Sarcophaga argyrostoma ) [ 9 ] or 10.25 mg/kg ( P. rhadamanthus venom injected into the cockroach P. americana ) [ 6 ].…”

The histology of the labial glands of some Delphacidae (Hemiptera: Homoptera)

“…A distinction between the labial and maxillary glands of the Hemiptera was made long ago by Bordas (1905). Although much less is known of the maxillary glands, they have been reported from aquatic and terrestrial groups of Heteroptera and may well be of general occurrence in that suborder (Parsons, 1958;Linder, 1956;Slater & Carayon, 1963). Bugnion & Popoff (1908-10) reported maxillary glands in Fulgoru maculutu, but they do not otherwise seem to have been described in the Homoptera and are not discussed further here.…”