Genus Harmostes

Classification · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Scentless plant bug - Harmostes reflexulus

So who's Whitey? A newly molted Harmostes reflexulus, maybe? - Harmostes

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)

Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)

Family Rhopalidae (Scentless Plant Bugs)

Genus Harmostes

Numbers

Nearctica.com and Arnett, p. 257, (1)list 7 North American species.

Size

7-9.5 mm

Identification

Medium-sized bugs, just under 1 cm. Rather flat. Hind femora enlarged, and with spines ventrally.

Range

Much of North America. H. refluxulus and fraterculus are widespread in east. H. angustatus, refluxulus, and hyalinus reported from Arizona.

Habitat

Fields with flowers

Season

Spring-fall. May-frost (H. reflexulus, North Carolina)

Food

Found on flowers, esp. Asteraceae

Life Cycle

Overwinters as adult. Active in summer.

Remarks

The name Harmostes is associated with Greek history, but I cannot find the exact context. Possibly a harmostes was a Spartan ruler.

Print References

Arnett, p. 257, describes H. reflexulus, illustrates: fig 20.25 (1)

Slater, p. 67, fig. 109--H. reflexulus (2)

Brimley, p. 65 (3)

Internet References

Works Cited

1.	American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico By Ross H. Arnett

2.	How to Know the True Bugs By Slater, James A., and Baranowski, Richard M.

3.	Insects of North Carolina By C.S. Brimley

Contributed by Cotinis on 3 June, 2004 - 5:34pm
Additional contributions by Boris Bueche
Last updated 3 May, 2007 - 5:34am

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