| Sphedanolestes cingulatus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sphedanolestes cingulatus. Dorsal view | |
 | |
| Side view | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Family: | Reduviidae |
| Genus: | Sphedanolestes |
| Species: | S. cingulatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Sphedanolestes cingulatus (Fieber, 1864) | |
Sphedanolestes cingulatus is a species of assassin bug belonging to the family Reduviidae, in the subfamily Harpactorinae. [1] [2]
The species name cingulatus is derived from Latin and means "girded", referring to the color pattern of the legs.
Sphedanolestes cingulatus is an endemic Italian species, present in Italian mainland and in Sicily. [3] [4] It is rare in northern Italy, more common in southern Italy and Sicily. [5] [6]
These bugs are predominantly found in herbaceous layers.
Sphedanolestes cingulatus can reach a length of about 10–12 millimetres (0.39–0.47 in). These large and powerfully built bugs are almost completely black. The connexivum (the edge of the abdomen) is black with red stripes. Sphedanolestes cingulatus has strong femurs (thighs).
An easy distinctive character of S. cingulatus in respect of Rhynocoris species, Sphedanolestes annulatus and Sphedanolestes sanguineus is the femora with three red and three black rings. [6]
These assassin bugs are predators of other invertebrates that are waiting for the pass, usually on the leaves of the shrubs or on the flowers. [6] They hunt at night. [7]
Hemiptera or true bugs are an order of insects comprising over 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, 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 sucking mouthparts. The name "true bugs" is often limited to the suborder Heteroptera. Many insects commonly known as "bugs", especially in American English, belong to other orders; for example, the lovebug is a fly and the May bug and ladybug are beetles.
The Reduviidae are a large cosmopolitan family of the order Hemiptera. 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 nonpredatory Reduviidae are some blood-sucking ectoparasites in the subfamily Triatominae. 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. Large specimens should be handled with caution, if at all, because they sometimes defend themselves with a very painful stab from the proboscis.
Pyrrhocoridae is a family of insects with more than 300 species world-wide. Many are red coloured and are known as red bugs and some species are called cotton stainers because their feeding activities leave an indelible yellow-brownish stain on cotton crops. A common species in parts of Europe is the firebug, and its genus name Pyrrhocoris and the family name are derived from the Greek roots for fire "pyrrho-" and bug "coris". Members of this family are often confused with, but can be quickly separated from, Lygaeidae by the lack of ocelli on the top of the head.
The western conifer seed bug, sometimes abbreviated as WCSB, is a species of true bug (Hemiptera) in the family Coreidae. It is native to North America west of the Rocky Mountains but has in recent times expanded its range to eastern North America, to include Nova Scotia, Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, and has become an accidental introduced species in parts of Europe.
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.
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.
Barce is a genus of thread-legged bugs in the family Reduviidae. There are about six described species in Barce.
Sphedanolestes is a large genus of assassin bugs in the family (Reduviidae), subfamily Harpactorinae. There are more than 190 described species, which are found in southern Europe, Africa and Asia.
Brontostoma is a neotropical genus of assassin bugs in the family Reduviidae. About 20 species have been described. These species are brightly colored with reds and oranges, and like all members of the Ectrichodiinae, specialize on millipede prey.
Spilostethus pandurus is a species of "seed bugs" belonging to the family Lygaeidae, subfamily Lygaeinae.
Rhynocoris iracundus is an assassin and thread-legged bug belonging to the family Reduviidae, subfamily Harpactorinae. The species was first described by Nikolaus Poda von Neuhaus in 1761.
LopodytesRondani 1867 is a genus in the family Reduviidae, the assassin bugs. Members of the genus have been unofficially assigned the common name Grass Assassin bugs, but generally this name remains meaningful only to naturalists, because these insects have been too well camouflaged to raise robust public awareness.
Dysdercus cingulatus is a species of true bug in the family Pyrrhocoridae, commonly known as the red cotton stainer. It is a serious pest of cotton crops, the adults and older nymphs feeding on the emerging bolls and the cotton seeds as they mature, transmitting cotton-staining fungi as they do so.
Acholla multispinosa is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae. It is found in North America.
Acholla is a genus of assassin bugs in the family Reduviidae. There are at least three described species in Acholla, found in North America.
Microtomus is a genus of assassin bugs in the family Reduviidae. There are about 10 described species in Microtomus.
Rhynocoris leucospilus is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae. It is found in Europe and Northern Asia and North America.
Nagusta goedelii is a species of assassin bugs in the family Reduviidae.
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.
Data related to Sphedanolestes cingulatus at Wikispecies
Media related to Sphedanolestes cingulatus at Wikimedia Commons