Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Author: Distant, 1893 (Original genus: Neosilia)
Previous genus: [/i]Crytopeltis[/i]
Numbers
North America has only one species (modestus) of Engytatus that is distributed SW North America
Identification
The smooth pronotum avoids Dicyphus and then the large eyes located near the calli show it's a species of Engytatus or Nesidocoris.
Regarding the identification of the Dicyphini Genera, I referred to "A systematic study of the subfamily Dicyphinae (Heteroptera: Miridae)" (PhD Dissertation. Oregon State University, Corvallis. University Microfilms International, Ann Arbor 1986)
(1)
The paper states that Dicyphus is distinguishable from other Genura in Dicyphini by the shape of the pronotum. The pronotum of Dicyphus is trisected as we see the photos in the two Dicyphus species having guide pages in this site. Some of the remaining Genera can be distinguishable by the shapes of head and eyes and the location of the eyes. The two genera I considered as candidates of your photo have transverse heads and large eyes located close to the pronotum.
… WonGun Kim,
Food
I think the plant where the bug is sitting is a species of Compositae. If so, this bug can be considered as E. modestus.
The record shows the hosts of N. tenuis are Nicotiana sp. (Solanaceae) and Gynandropsis sp. (Cleomaceae). But, the hosts of E. modestus include Solanum sp., Jatropha gossypifolia (Euphorbiaceae), Heterotheca grandiflora (Compositae), Merremia aegyptia (Convolvulaceae), Gynadropsis pentaphylla (Cleomaceae), Lagenaria sp. (Cucurbitaceae), and Bougainvillaea sp. (Nyctaginaceae).
… WonGun Kim,
