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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Assassin Bugs (Reduviidae) » Microtominae » Microtomus » Microtomus purcis

Species Microtomus purcis

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Remarks · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Microtomus? - Microtomus purcis Assassin Bug - Microtomus purcis Microtomus purcis - - Microtomus purcis True Bug - Microtomus purcis Microtomus purcis Microtomus purcis Microtomus purcis Microtomus purcis (Drury) - Microtomus purcis
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 Microtominae
Genus Microtomus
Species purcis (Microtomus purcis)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Orig. Comb: Cimex purcis Drury, 1782
Syn: Hammatocercus purcis (Drury)
Numbers
2 spp. n. of Mex. (1)
Size
body length: 22-30mm (2)
Identification
Distinctive within range--a large assassin bug patterned boldly in black-and-white. Abdominal connexivum is red. The second segment of the antenna is annulated--diagnostic for the genus, apparently (1):
  
Immature and adults:
Range
TX-FL-VA-CO (1) (2)
Habitat
Found under bark (2)
Remarks
Beneficial predator of insects but can inflict painful bite on humans.
Type Locality: VA (1)
See Also
- restricted to Texas; has black hind femora
Microtomus luctuosus (Stål)
Det. M. A. Quinn, 2010
Print References
Henry and Froeschner, p. 640 (1)
Slater and Baranowski, p. 121, fig. 219--Hammatocercus purcis (2)
Internet References
Texas A & M University - adult image
Conservation Commission of Missouri - Amazing Assassins by Eric R. Eaton
www.forestryimages.org - photo of adult with prey
Works Cited
1.Catalog of the Heteroptera, or True Bugs of Canada and the Continental United States
By Thomas J. Henry, Richard C. Froeschner
2.How to Know the True Bugs
By Slater, James A., and Baranowski, Richard M.
Contributed by Eric R. Eaton on 5 June, 2006 - 5:39pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Hannah Nendick-Mason, Mike Quinn, Maury Heiman
Last updated 26 May, 2011 - 4:30am

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