Genus Macrocephalus

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Range · Works Cited

Ambush Bug - Macrocephalus sp. - Macrocephalus cimicoides

Macrocephalus dorannae? - Macrocephalus dorannae

Macrocephalus dorannae ? - Macrocephalus

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 Phymatinae (Ambush Bugs)

Tribe Macrocephalini

Genus Macrocephalus

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

re-described by Kormilev (1951)

Macrocephalus prehensilis = Lophoscutus prehensilis

Explanation of Names

Macrocephalus Swederus 1787

Numbers

7 spp. in our area

Identification

Scutellum teardrop-shaped, almost reaches tip of abdomen(1). Species of Macrocephalus possess a distinct raised scutellar callus whereas those in Lophoscutus only have a midlongitudinal carina.

The Macrocephalus found in the United States fall into three groups based on the scutellar callus. Those with a spear-shaped callus include cimicoides Swederus, notatus (Westwood) and manicatus (Fabricius). Those with a arrow-shaped callus include dorannae Evans and barberi Evans. M. arizonicus Cockerell has the callus reduced to a single median carinae with raised reticulate lines though it is unclear how exactly this differs from that of Lophoscutus.

Range

Most spp. in sw. US, 1 sp. in the east: M. cimicoides (NC-FL-TX-CA); related Lophoscutus prehensilis (NC-FL to KS-TX)(1)

Works Cited

1.	How to Know the True Bugs Slater, James A., and Baranowski, Richard M. 1978. Wm. C. Brown Company.

Contributed by Cotinis on 16 June, 2006 - 12:11pm
Additional contributions by Mike Quinn, drswanny, v belov, metrioptera
Last updated 5 September, 2019 - 12:19am

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