Explanation of Names
Author of genus is
Stål, 1862.
Jalysus is a place-name (a city in Rhodes) and/or a Greco-Roman mythological name (Internet searches).
Identification
Medium-sized brownish stilt bug found on flowers and other vegetation. One of the most commonly-encountered genera in its family. Sure identification requires close examination of characters visible only under high magnification
(1). Several characteristics of the genus:
medium-sized (9 mm)
head without projecting
tylus
fourth segment of antenna longer than head
abdomen impunctate (not marked by punctures) underneath
groove (sulcus) between front (or all?)
coxae (innermost segments of legs)
spine projects from its thoracic scent gland
scent gland channel (on projecting spine) with groove running along one side, not twisted
Some images showing these characters:
Season
May-September (Minnesota)
Food
Found on flowers, so presumably take nectar--also possibly predatory (see family account). Known to feed on moth eggs, such as those of the tobacco budworm,
Heliothis virescens, and other sphinx moths (
Univ. Kentucky,
North Carolina State University).
Internet References
North Carolina State University Entomology lists two species from that state, with number collected: spinosus (258), wickhami (246)
Contributed by
Cotinis on 18 April, 2007 - 11:44am
Last updated 15 November, 2007 - 3:10am
