Subfamily Microtominae

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Remarks · Print References · Works Cited

Homalocoris? Maybe H. erythrogaster? - Homalocoris - male

Male, Homalocoris? Maybe H. erythrogaster? - Homalocoris erythrogaster - male

Assassin Bug ID Request - Microtomus purcis

Homalocoris erythrogaster? - Homalocoris erythrogaster

Possibly Microtomus luctuosus. - Microtomus purcis

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 Microtominae

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Hammacerinae Stål 1859, Hammatocerinae Stål 1862

Explanation of Names

Microtominae Schumacher 1924 (1859)

Type genus: Microtomus Illiger 1807

Numbers

19 spp. in 2 genera total

Size

7‒30 mm

Identification

The subfamily is characterized by the minute pseudosegments of the second antennomere and the eyes being placed on the posterior margin of the head with the ocelli in between the eyes. The species are generally dark with setigerous granules densely distributed about the body and pale markings on the hemelytra.

Range

New World, southern midwestern US to Argentina

Habitat

Very little is known about the life history of these insects though members of the genus Microtomus are known to occur under the bark of dead trees.

Remarks

Many current authors use the name Hammacerinae for the group even though the reversion is unjustified and incorrect.

Print References

Mexican fauna revised in (1)

Works Cited

1.	Hemiptera-Heteroptera de México V. Revisión de la subfamilia Hammacerinae (Reduviidae) H. Brailovsky. 1980. Anales del Instituto de Biología. UNAM. Serie zoología, 51(1): 113-122.

Contributed by v belov on 9 July, 2010 - 1:22am
Additional contributions by drswanny
Last updated 10 October, 2023 - 8:16pm

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