Species Rhynocoris ventralis

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Remarks · See Also · Works Cited

Painful Mystery Bug - Rhynocoris ventralis

Assassin: Rhynocoris sp.? - Rhynocoris ventralis

Rhynocoris ventralis americanus? - Rhynocoris ventralis

Flower Assassin Bug - Rhynocoris ventralis

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

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

Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)

Infraorder Cimicomorpha

Family Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)

Subfamily Harpactorinae

Tribe Harpactorini

Genus Rhynocoris

Species ventralis (Rhynocoris ventralis)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Reduvius ventralis Say 1832, Harpactor americanus Bergroth 1897

Explanation of Names

Rhynocoris ventralis (Say 1832)

Numbers

4 subspecies with 3 isolated to the west coast

Size

10-15 mm

Identification

For separation from Apiomerus, see the genus page. R. ventralis is easily separated from R. leucospilus by range (latter a Palearctic species known in NA only from Sitka, Alaska) and by the red or testaceous coloration of the hemelytra (completely black in R. leucospilus).

Range

BC-MB in Canada(1); transcontinental in the United States

Remarks

The four subspecies were included by Henry & Froeschner(2) but listed as synonyms in(3), with no explanation in either case. In most instances, the subspecies are easy to separate and little gradation seems to occur. Still, the unresolved nature of this complex necessitates caution in the identification of these insects beyond species level.

See Also

Apiomerus

Works Cited

1.	Checklist of the Hemiptera of Canada and Alaska Maw, H.E.L., R.G. Foottit, K.G.A. Hamilton and G.G.E. Scudder. 2000. NRC Research Press.

2.	Catalog of the Heteroptera, or True Bugs of Canada and the Continental United States Thomas J. Henry, Richard C. Froeschner. 1988. Brill Academic Publishers.

3.	Systematic catalogue of the Reduviidae of the world (Insecta: Heteroptera) Maldonado Capriles J. 1990. University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, x+694 pp.

Contributed by Eric R. Eaton on 21 March, 2006 - 3:30pm
Additional contributions by drswanny, v belov, metrioptera
Last updated 13 March, 2015 - 6:36pm

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