Reduviidae

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Reduviidae
Temporal range: Cenomanian–Recent
Assassin bug (Rhynocoris iracundus) with bee (Apis ssp) prey.jpg
Assassin bug ( Rhynocoris iracundus ) with bee prey
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Infraorder: Cimicomorpha
Family: Reduviidae
Latreille, 1807
Subfamilies

Bactrodinae
Centrocnemidinae
Cetherinae
Chryxinae
Ectrichodiinae
Elasmodeminae
Emesinae
Microtominae (=Hammacerinae)
Harpactorinae
Holoptilinae
Manangocorinae
Peiratinae
Phimophorinae
Phymatinae
Physoderinae
Pseudocetherinae
Reduviinae
Saicinae
Salyavatinae
Sphaeridopinae
Stenopodainae
Triatominae
Tribelocephalinae
Vesciinae
Visayanocorinae

Contents

The Reduviidae is a large cosmopolitan family of the suborder Heteroptera of the order Hemiptera (true bugs). Among the Hemiptera and together with the Nabidae almost all species are terrestrial ambush predators; most other predatory Hemiptera are aquatic. The main examples of non-predatory Reduviidae are some blood-sucking ectoparasites in the subfamily Triatominae, with a few species from South America noted for their ability to transmit Chagas disease. Though spectacular exceptions are known, most members of the family are fairly easily recognizable: they have a relatively narrow neck, sturdy build, and formidable curved proboscis (sometimes called a rostrum). Large specimens should be handled with caution, if at all, because they sometimes defend themselves with a very painful stab from the proboscis.

Taxonomy

The family members are almost all predatory, except for a few blood-sucking species, some of which are important as disease vectors. About 7000 species have been described, in more than 20 recognized subfamilies, making it one of the largest families in the Hemiptera. [1]

The name Reduviidae is derived from the type genus, Reduvius . That name, in turn, comes from the Latin reduvia , meaning "hangnail" or "remnant". Possibly this name was inspired by the lateral flanges on the abdomen of many species.

Common genera include:

While members of most subfamilies have no common names other than assassin bugs, some subfamilies have their own common names such as:

Morphology

A Zelus nymph from the Southeastern United States Zelus bug nymph.jpg
A Zelus nymph from the Southeastern United States

Adult insects range from roughly 12 to 36 mm (0.47 to 1.42 in), depending on the species. [5] They most commonly have an elongated head with a distinct narrowed 'neck', long legs, and prominent, segmented, tubular mouthparts, most commonly called the proboscis, but some authors use the term "rostrum". Most species are bright in colour with hues of brown, black, red, or orange.

Nymph, found in Nepal Nymph of Reduviidae, found in Nepal.jpg
Nymph, found in Nepal

The most distinctive feature of the family is that the tip of the proboscis fits into a ridged groove in the prosternum, where it can be used to produce sound by stridulation. [6] Sound is made by rasping the proboscis against ridges in this groove or stridulitrum (stridulatory organ). These sounds are often used to discourage predators. When harassed, many species can deliver a painful stab with the proboscis, injecting venom or digestive juices. The effects can be intensely painful and the injection from some species may be medically significant.

Feeding

Orange assassin bug (Gminatus australis) feeding on a beetle Gminatus australis with Beetle.jpg
Orange assassin bug ( Gminatus australis ) feeding on a beetle
A reduviid camouflaged with debris, Australia Reduviidae camouflaged with debris.jpg
A reduviid camouflaged with debris, Australia
Rhynocoris - predatory flower assassin bug from South Africa, may bite when carelessly handled, painful aftereffects often persist for months Reduviidae Rhinocoris - Flower assassin bug 1197.jpg
Rhynocoris – predatory flower assassin bug from South Africa, may bite when carelessly handled, painful aftereffects often persist for months

Predatory Reduviidae use the long rostrum to inject a lethal saliva that liquefies the insides of the prey, which are then sucked out. The saliva contains enzymes that digest the tissues they swallow. This process is generally referred to as extraoral digestion. [8] The saliva is commonly effective at killing prey substantially larger than the bug itself.

The legs of some Reduviidae have areas covered in tiny hairs that aid in holding onto their prey while they feed. Others, members of the subfamily Phymatinae in particular, have forelegs that resemble those of the praying mantis, and they catch and hold their prey in a similar way to mantises.

As nymphs, some species cover and camouflage themselves effectively with debris or the remains of dead prey insects. The nymphal instars of the species Acanthaspis pedestris present one good example of this behaviour where they occur in Tamil Nadu in India. Another well-known species is Reduvius personatus , known as the masked hunter because of its habit of camouflaging itself with dust. Some species tend to feed on pests such as cockroaches or bedbugs and are accordingly popular in regions where people regard their hunting as beneficial. Reduvius personatus is an example, and some people breed them as pets and for pest control. Some assassin bug subfamilies are adapted to hunting certain types of prey; for example, the Ectrichodiinae eat millipedes, and feather-legged bugs eat ants. A spectacular example of the latter is Ptilocnemus lemur , an Australian species in which the adult attacks and eats ants, but the nymph waits until the ant bites the feathery tufts on its hind legs, upon which it whips around and pierces the ant's head with its proboscis, and proceeds to feed. [9]

Some research on the nature of the venom from certain Reduviidae is under way. The saliva of Rhynocoris marginatus showed some insecticidal activity in vitro , in tests on lepidopteran pests. The effects included reduction of food consumption, assimilation, and use. Its antiaggregation factors also affected the aggregation and mobility of haemocytes. [10]

The saliva of the species Rhynocoris marginatus (Fab.) and Catamirus brevipennis (Servile) have been studied because of their activity against human pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria (including strains of Escherichia coli , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Proteus vulgaris , and Salmonella typhimurium ) and the Gram-positive ( Streptococcus pyogenes ).

Some species are bloodsuckers rather than predators, and they are accordingly far less welcome to humans. The blood-feeding habit is thought to have evolved from species that lived in the nests of mammalian hosts. Several species are known to live among bat roosts, including Cavernicola pilosa, Triatoma dimidiata and Eratyrus mucronatus. Triatoma species and other members of the subfamily Triatominae, such as Rhodnius species, Panstrongylus megistus , and Paratriatoma hirsuta , are known as kissing bugs, because they tend to bite sleeping humans in the soft tissue around the lips and eyes. A more serious problem than their bites is the fact that several of these haematophagous Central and South American species transmit the potentially fatal trypanosomal Chagas disease, sometimes called American trypanosomiasis. This results in the death of 12,000 people a year. [11]

The Emesinae live among spider webs.

Phylogeny and evolutionary history

Arilus cristatus egg mass Assassin Bug Nest.jpg
Arilus cristatus egg mass

Current taxonomy is based on morphological characteristics. The first cladistic analysis based on molecular data (mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal DNA) was published in 2009 and called into question the monophyly of some current groups, such as the Emesinae. [12] Reduviidae are monophyletic, and the "Phymatine Complex" is consistently recovered as the sister to the higher Reduviidae, which includes 90 percent of the reduviid species diversity. [13] Reduviidae is suggested to have split from other Cimicomorphs during the Jurassic, based on molecular clock. [14] The oldest fossils of the family are from the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) aged Burmese amber, represented by nymphs [15] and the genus Paleotriatoma, belonging to the subfamily Triatominae. [16]

Example species

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hemiptera</span> Order of insects often called true bugs

Hemiptera is an order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising over 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, assassin bugs, bed bugs, and shield bugs. They range in size from 1 mm (0.04 in) to around 15 cm (6 in), and share a common arrangement of piercing-sucking mouthparts. The name "true bugs" is often limited to the suborder Heteroptera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triatominae</span> Subfamily of true bugs

The members of the Triatominae, a subfamily of the Reduviidae, are also known as conenose bugs, kissing bugs, or vampire bugs. Other local names for them used in the Americas include barbeiros, vinchucas, pitos, chipos and chinches. Most of the 130 or more species of this subfamily feed on vertebrate blood; a very small portion of species feed on invertebrates. They are mainly found and widespread in the Americas, with a few species present in Asia and Africa. These bugs usually share shelter with nesting vertebrates, from which they suck blood. In areas where Chagas disease occurs, all triatomine species are potential vectors of the Chagas disease parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, but only those species that are well adapted to living with humans are considered important vectors. Also, proteins released from their bites have been known to induce anaphylaxis in sensitive and sensitized individuals.

<i>Triatoma</i> Genus of true bugs

Triatoma is a genus of assassin bug in the subfamily Triatominae. The members of Triatoma are blood-sucking insects that can transmit serious diseases, such as Chagas disease. Their saliva may also trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, up to and including severe anaphylactic shock.

<i>Rhodnius</i> Genus of true bugs

Rhodnius is a genus of assassin bugs in the subfamily Triatominae, and is an important vector in the spread of Chagas disease. The Rhodnius species were important models for Sir Vincent Wigglesworth's studies of insect physiology, specifically growth and development.

Dipetalogaster, a genus of Triatominae, the kissing bugs, has only a single species, Dipetalogaster maxima, which is found in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. Originally the blood-sucking Dipetalogaster lived in crevices in rocks where it typically fed on lizards, but following human growth in its range it now also commonly feeds on humans and domestic animals.

Parabelminus is a genus of bugs in the subfamily Triatominae. The species of this genus could be found in Brazil, specially in Rio de Janeiro and Bahia. It is a vector of Chagas disease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belostomatidae</span> Family of true bugs

Belostomatidae is a family of freshwater hemipteran insects known as giant water bugs or colloquially as toe-biters, Indian toe-biters, electric-light bugs, alligator ticks, or alligator fleas. They are the largest insects in the order Hemiptera. There are about 170 species found in freshwater habitats worldwide, with more than 110 in the Neotropics, more than 20 in Africa, almost as many in the Nearctic, and far fewer elsewhere. These predators are typically encountered in freshwater ponds, marshes and slow-flowing streams. Most species are at least 2 cm (0.8 in) long, although smaller species, down to 0.9 cm (0.35 in), also exist. The largest are members of the genus Lethocerus, which can exceed 12 cm (4.5 in) and nearly reach the length of some of the largest beetles in the world. Giant water bugs are a popular food in parts of Asia.

<i>Reduvius personatus</i> Species of true bug

Reduvius personatus or the masked hunter is an insect belonging to the assassin bug (Reduviidae) family. The name is because its nymphs camouflage themselves with dust. The masked hunter is a predator of small arthropods, including woodlice, lacewings, earwigs, bed bugs and termites. Masked hunters do not feed on human blood, but can sting humans in self-defense when mishandled. The sting can be painful, but masked hunters do not carry Chagas disease unlike the kissing bug for which they are sometimes mistaken.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emesinae</span> Subfamily of true bugs

The Emesinae, or thread-legged bugs, are a subfamily of the Reduviidae. They are conspicuously different from the other reduviids by their very slender body form. They are stalking, predatory insects that can be collected on palm fronds, cliffs, spider webbing, or near lights at night. They walk on their mid and hind legs; the front pair is raptorial. Some groups specialize on spiders. Very little is known about emesines except that many species are found in the tropics. Pedro Wygodzinsky wrote the most recent revision of this group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phymatinae</span> Subfamily of true bugs

Insects in the subfamily Phymatinae are commonly called ambush bugs after their habit of lying in wait for prey, relying on their superb camouflage. Armed with raptorial forelegs, ambush bugs routinely capture prey ten or more times their own size. They form a subgroup within the assassin bugs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harpactorinae</span> Subfamily of true bugs

The Harpactorinae are a large subfamily of the Reduviidae. About 300 genera and 2,000 species worldwide have been described. Some of the species of the genera Zelus, Pselliopus, Sinea, and Apiomerus are of interest as biological pest control agents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holoptilinae</span> Subfamily of true bugs

The Holoptilinae are a subfamily of Reduviidae known as feather-legged bugs or ant wolves. Several members of the subfamily specialize on ants. About 16 genera are known, with about 80 species described. Species in the Holoptilini tribe possess a specialized organ called a trichome to attract ants.

Rhodnius nasutus is a Chagas disease vector native to the northeast of Brazil. It belongs to the family Reduviidae and subfamily Triatominae, which are commonly known as "kissing bugs" or "assassin bugs". They are considered a highly important species concerning the infectious Chagas disease as they carry the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, that can be transmitted to the blood of mammals, including humans. This disease is an important issue in Brazil and central America due to the large number of Rhodnius species inhabiting these areas, however in recent efforts to reduce human infection, multiple variations of pesticides have dramatically reduced Triatomine populations. Therefore, the understanding and knowledge of Rhodnius nasutus greatly benefits our efforts in reducing life threatening infections.

<i>Triatoma dominicana</i> Extinct species of true bug

Triatoma dominicana is an extinct species of assassin bug in the subfamily Triatominae, the kissing bugs known from early Miocene Burdigalian stage Dominican amber deposits on the island of Hispaniola.

<i>Acanthaspis petax</i> Species of true bug

Acanthaspis petax is a species of assassin bug that preys primarily on ants, but also on a variety of small insects, such as flies, small grasshoppers and beetles. The nymphs of this species create a pile of ant carcasses on their backs for camouflage. The adults do not use camouflage and are coloured with a red and black pattern.

<i>Ptilocnemus lemur</i> Species of true bug

Ptilocnemus lemur is a species of feather-legged bug in the family Reduviidae native to Australia. Commonly known as the feather-legged assassin bug, it is a predator with a specialized gland called a trichome that it uses to attract and paralyse ants before feeding on them.

<i>Linshcosteus</i> Genus of true bugs

Linshcosteus is a genus of assassin bugs in the subfamily Triatominae. It is the only genus of Triatomines restricted to the Old World within the mostly Neotropical subfamily Triatominae and consists of six species restricted to peninsular India. Within the Triatominae, the genus is differentiated by the lack of a prosternal stridulatory furrow and a short rostrum that does not reach the prosternum. Adults feed on vertebrate blood.

Rhynocoris longifrons is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae. It is a predator of other insects and is found in Asia. Crops on which it is found feeding on pests include pigeon pea, cardamom and peanuts. The insects are potentially useful in biological control because they are more resistant to pesticides than are the pests they consume.

Rhynocoris marginatus is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae. It is a predator of other insects and is found in Asia. Crops in India on which it has been found feeding on pests include sugarcane, pigeon pea, cardamom, cotton, tea, and peanuts. The insects are potentially useful in biological control because they are more resistant to pesticides than are the pests on which they feed.

<i>Paleotriatoma</i> Extinct species of true bug

Paleotriatoma metaxytaxa is a species of fossil insect belonging to the subfamily Triatominae of the family Reduviidae. Living kissing bugs are blood-sucking insects responsible for the transmission of Chagas disease. Chagas is a parasitic disease affecting millions of people mainly in South America, Central America and Mexico.

References

  1. ↑ Hwang, Wei Song; Weirauch, Christiane (2012-09-28). Crandall, Keith A. (ed.). "Evolutionary History of Assassin Bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Reduviidae): Insights from Divergence Dating and Ancestral State Reconstruction". PLOS ONE. 7 (9): e45523. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...745523H. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045523 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   3460966 . PMID   23029072.
  2. ↑ Aldrich, Jeffrey R.; Chauhan, Kamlesh R.; Zhang, Aijun; Zarbin, Paulo H.G. (2013). "Exocrine Secretions of Wheel Bugs (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Arilus spp.): Clarification and Chemistry". Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C. 68 (11–12): 522–526. doi: 10.1515/znc-2013-11-1211 . PMID   24601090. S2CID   30698712 . Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  3. ↑ Laiton J., Laura A.; Giraldo-Jaramillo, Marisol; Forero, Dimitri; Benavides M., Pablo (2021). "The wheel bug Arilus gallus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae): life history and description of immature stages". Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 123 (3): 551–563. doi:10.4289/0013-8797.123.3.551. S2CID   240074895.
  4. ↑ Fitzsimmons, Jay M.; Fitzsimmons, Lauren P. (2010). "Pre-copulatory behavior of the wheel bug Arilus gallus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)". Entomological News. 121 (3): 304–307. doi:10.3157/021.121.0314. S2CID   86624882 . Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  5. ↑ Stevens, Lori; Dorn, Patricia L.; Schmidt, Justin O.; Klotz, John H.; Lucero, David; Klotz, Stephen A. (1 January 2011). "Chapter 8 - Kissing Bugs. The Vectors of Chagas". Advances in Parasitology. 75: 169–192. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-385863-4.00008-3. ISBN   9780123858634. PMID   21820556.
  6. ↑ Ribes, Eva; Goula, Marta; JeremÍas, Xavier (2008). "Assassin Bugs, Kissing Bugs and Others (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)". Encyclopedia of Entomology. Springer Netherlands: 311–319. doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-6359-6_10368. ISBN   978-1-4020-6242-1 . Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  7. ↑ Weaving, Alan; Picker, Mike; Griffiths, Charles Llewellyn (2003). Field Guide to Insects of South Africa. New Holland Publishers, Ltd. ISBN   1-86872-713-0.
  8. ↑ Sahayaraj, Kitherin; Kanna, Ayyachamy Vinoth; Kumar, Subramanian Muthu (2010). "Gross Morphology of Feeding Canal, Salivary Apparatus and Digestive Enzymes of Salivary Gland of Catamirus brevipennis (Servile) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)". Journal of the Entomological Research Society. 12 (2): 37–50. Retrieved 14 December 2012. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  9. ↑ Bulbert, Matthew W; Herberstein, Marie Elisabeth; Gerasimos, Cassis (Mar 2014). "Assassin bug requires dangerous ant prey to bite first". Current Biology. 24 (6): R220–R221. Bibcode:2014CBio...24.R220B. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.02.006 . PMID   24650903. Closed Access logo transparent.svg
  10. ↑ Kitherin, Sahayaraj; Muthukumar, S. (2011). "Zootoxic effects of reduviid Rhynocoris marginatus (Fab.) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) venomous saliva on Spodoptera litura (Fab.)". Toxicon. 58 (5): 415–425. Bibcode:2011Txcn...58..415S. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2011.06.001. PMID   21787800. Closed Access logo transparent.svg
  11. ↑ "PAHO | Chagas disease".
  12. ↑ Weirauch, Christiane; Munro, James B. (October 2009). "Molecular phylogeny of the assassin bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), based on mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal genes". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 53 (1). Elsevier: 287–299. Bibcode:2009MolPE..53..287W. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.05.039. PMID   19531379. Closed Access logo transparent.svg
  13. ↑ Crandall, Keith A; Hwang, Wei Song; Weirauch, Christiane (September 28, 2012). "Evolutionary History of Assassin Bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Reduviidae): Insights from Divergence Dating and Ancestral State Reconstruction". PLOS ONE. 7 (9): e45523. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...745523H. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045523 . PMC   3460966 . PMID   23029072.
  14. ↑ Hwang, & Weirauch, C. (2012). Evolutionary history of assassin bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Reduviidae): insights from divergence dating and ancestral state reconstruction. PLOS ONE, 7(9), e45523–e45523. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0045523
  15. ↑ Wang, Bo; Xia, Fangyuan; Engel, Michael S.; Perrichot, Vincent; Shi, Gongle; Zhang, Haichun; Chen, Jun; Jarzembowski, Edmund A.; Wappler, Torsten; Rust, Jes (June 2016). "Debris-carrying camouflage among diverse lineages of Cretaceous insects". Science Advances. 2 (6): e1501918. Bibcode:2016SciA....2E1918W. doi:10.1126/sciadv.1501918. ISSN   2375-2548. PMC   4928993 . PMID   27386568.
  16. ↑ Poinar, George (January 2019). "A primitive triatomine bug, Paleotriatoma metaxytaxa gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae), in mid-Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar". Cretaceous Research. 93: 90–97. Bibcode:2019CrRes..93...90P. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2018.09.004. S2CID   134969065.
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