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Genus Phymata - Jagged Ambush Bugs

Jagged Ambush Bug feeding on Bumblebee - Phymata

Possibly immature wheel bug or assassin bug? - Phymata

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

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

Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)

Family Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)

Subfamily Phymatinae (Ambush Bugs)

Genus Phymata (Jagged Ambush Bugs)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Phymata Latreille, 1802

Explanation of Names

From Greek phyma, phymato, meaning a tumor or swelling (1).

Numbers

17 species in North America listed nearctica.com (2)

Size

circa 8-10 mm

Identification

Small armor-plated predators, typically found in flowers. Scutellum triangular and shorter than pronotum, anterior tarsi small but distinct (3) (4).

Range

much of North America

Habitat

typically found on flowers in open or semi-open habitats

Food

Predatory on small insects and other arthropods.

Remarks

See informative forum discussion here

See Also

Ambush Bugs subfamily page

Print References

Arnett, American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico, p. 264 (3)

Borror, entry for phyma, phymato (1)

Slater, How to Know the True Bugs, pp. 118-119, figs. 218-215 (4)

Internet References

live and pinned adult images of 2 species (Insects of Cedar Creek, U. of Minnesota)

Works Cited

1.	Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms By Donald J. Borror

2.	Nearctica: Nomina Insecta Nearctica

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

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

Contributed by Tony DiTerlizzi on 14 July, 2004 - 7:36pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Hannah Nendick-Mason, Robin McLeod, v belov, Harsi S. Parker
Last updated 1 November, 2009 - 11:11pm

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