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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Unique-headed Bugs (Enicocephalidae) » Systelloderes
Photo#15169
tiny insect - Systelloderes - male
Copyright © 2005 tom murray

tiny insect - Systelloderes - Male
Woburn, Massachusetts, USA
April 16, 2005
It's the same size as a small springtail, and was under a rock with springtails. I can't figure out what classification this goes under.

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tiny insect - Systelloderes - male tiny insect - Systelloderes
Contributed by tom murray on 18 April, 2005 - 9:56pm
Last updated 26 August, 2006 - 8:55am

Moved to Systelloderes
Moved from Unique-headed Bugs. Looking at the key in Slater (1), this appears to be Systelloderes, as already mentioned by Eric Eaton. See guide page for genus.
… Cotinis, 26 August, 2006 - 8:55am

Male webspinner (Embioptera)
Hello Guys,
Tony is right on this one, this is a male (because it is fully winged) Embioptera or Webspinner
Only three families are present in North America: Anisembiidae (2 species), Teratembiidae (4 species) and Oligotomidae (3 species).
All of these occur in the southern United States and most have fairly restricted ranges. Characteristics for the order are some of the following: Antennae slender, filiform; Mouthparts mandibulate, prognathous; Tarsi 3-segmented (basal segment of front tarsi enlarged, bearing silk glands); Hind femur enlarged, adapted for running backward; Wings present only in adult males, highly flexible, smoky in color; Cerci 1-2 segmented; asymmetrical in males
Greetings,
Gerard Pennards
… Gerard Pennards, 19 April, 2005 - 1:50pm

 
Beauty of Entomology!
Yes, I agree with Eric!
In my enthousiasm I really thought this is a Embioptera, also because I have once seen a picture of a male Embioptera which looks remarkedly alike with this Bug, also its front legs which are swollen. But after reexamination I also go along with Hemiptera!
The head and thorax seem to be broader within Embioptera!
It shows the beauty of Entomology, where you can learn something interesting every day! :-))))
Greetings,
Gerard Pennards
… Gerard Pennards, 20 April, 2005 - 4:40am

 
Unique-Headed bug
Actually, Paul is correct, this is a true bug, albeit one rarely seen, in the family Eniocephalidae. They are so bizarre that many entomologists think they represent an entire suborder in the Hemiptera. The species here may be Systelloderes biceps, which ranges from New England to FL, west to UT and AZ. Nice work, Tom!
… Eric R. Eaton, 19 April, 2005 - 8:29pm

 
Phew!
I thought I had lost it. :-)

Paul

http://www.diptera.info
… Paul Beuk, 20 April, 2005 - 12:12am

A webspinner?
Just a hunch...it may be worth exploring...
… Tony DiTerlizzi, 19 April, 2005 - 8:30am

True bug
From what I can see of it, it has all the makings of a true bug (Heteroptera), small as it may be.

Paul

http://www.diptera.info
… Paul Beuk, 19 April, 2005 - 2:55am

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