Subspecies Phymata americana coloradensis

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Identification · Range · Print References · Works Cited

What the bejeebers is it? - Phymata americana

Probable jagged ambush bug consuming bee - Phymata americana

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)

Genus Phymata (Jagged Ambush Bugs)

Species americana (Phymata americana)

Subspecies coloradensis (Phymata americana coloradensis)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Phymata americana coloradensis Melin 1930, Phymata pennsylvanica coloradensis Evans 1931; synonymyzed with Ph. a. americana in (1)

Size

9-12 mm

Identification

The portion of Kormilev's key (1960) for separating three of the subspecies of P. americana is provided here:

a. Bigger (9 to 12 mm); carinae of pronotum generally elevated on top forming rooflike ridge, or provided with a tubercle. americana coloradensis Melin, 1930 (U.S.A. W and SW. Mexico)

Smaller (7.5 to 10 mm); carinae of pronotum simple, neither forming a rooflike ridge, nor provided with a tubercle. b.

b. Bigger (8 to 10 mm); ocellar processes high, slender, sometimes ramificated, almost without granulation; lateral notch of pronotum wider and deeper. americana Melin s. str. (U.S.A. E. and SE, Canada, Mexico).

Smaller (7.5 to 8 mm); ocellar processes low and granulated; lateral notch of pronotum smaller and shallow. americana metcalfi Evans 1931 (U.S.A. NW).

Range

Western half of the United States.

Print References

Kormilev, N. A. 1960. Revision of Phymatinae (Hemiptera, Phymatidae). The Philippine Journal of Science, 89: 287-489.

Works Cited

1.	Taxonomic revision of the Nearctic erosa species group of Phymata Latreille, 1802 (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Phymatinae) Masonick P., Weirauch C. 2020. Can. J. Arthropod Identification 41: 90 pp.

Contributed by drswanny on 30 October, 2011 - 4:51pm
Additional contributions by v belov
Last updated 30 April, 2021 - 6:14pm

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