Phymatinae

Phymatinae
Phymata sp.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hemiptera
Family:	Reduviidae
Subfamily:	Phymatinae Laporte, 1832
Tribes
Carcinocorini Macrocephalini Phymatini Themonocorini

Insects in the subfamily Phymatinae are commonly called ambush bugs after their habit of lying in wait for prey relying on their superb camouflage. Armed with raptorial forelegs, ambush bugs routinely capture prey ten or more times their own size. They form a subgroup within the assassin bugs.

Description

Phymata pennsylvanica

Ambush bug nymph

Phymatinae are 5–12 mm (0.20–0.47 in) long. In Phymata, the scutellum is triangular and shorter than the pronotum. In Macrocephalus, the scutellum is narrow and rounded and extends to the tip of the abdomen.^[1]

Phymatinae normally have a large fore femur and clubbed antennae. The forewing membranes sometimes lack distinct cells.^[2]

The antennae have four segments. There are two ocelli. The beak has three segments. The tarsi also have three segments. The rear half of the abdomen expands beyond the edges of the wings.^[3]

Taxonomy

The subfamily Phymatinae was often given family-level status and this classification is still used in some textbooks. Based on cladistic analyses, however, ambush bugs (Phymatinae) are part of the family Reduviidae (assassin bugs).

Etymology

The name Phymatinae is derived from the Greek phymata meaning "swollen", which presumably refers to the enlarged abdomen and femora.^[4]

Taxonomy

Phymatinae from the monograph of A. Handlirsch

The Phymatinae contain these species:^[5]

• Lophoscutus Kormilev, 1951
  • Lophoscutus affinis Guérin-Méneville, 1838
  • Lophoscutus prehensilis Fabricius, 1803
• Macrocephalus Swederus, 1787
  • Macrocephalus arizonicus Cockerell, 1900
  • Macrocephalus barberi Evans, 1931
  • Macrocephalus cimicoides Swederus, 1787
  • Macrocephalus dorannae Evans, 1931
  • Macrocephalus gracilis Handlirsch, 1897
  • Macrocephalus manicatus Fabricius, 1803
  • Macrocephalus notatus Westwood, 1841
  • Macrocephalus similis Kormilev, 1972
  • Macrocephalus uhleri Handlirsch, 1898
• Phymata Latreille, 1802
  • Phymata albopicta Handlirsch, 1897
  • Phymata americana Melin, 1930
  • Phymata arctostaphylae Van Duzee, 1914
  • Phymata borica Evans, 1931
  • Phymata crassipes Fabricius, 1775
  • Phymata fasciata Gray, 1832
  • Phymata granulosa Handlirsch, 1897
  • Phymata luteomarginata Kormilev, 1957
  • Phymata luxa Evans, 1931
  • Phymata maculata Kormilev, 1957
  • Phymata noualhieri Handlirsch, 1897
  • Phymata pacifica Evans, 1931
  • Phymata pallida Kormilev, 1957
  • Phymata pennsylvanica Handlirsch, 1897
  • Phymata rossi Evans, 1931
  • Phymata saileri Kormilev, 1957
  • Phymata salicis Cockerell, 1900
  • Phymata vicina Handlirsch, 1897

References

1. Ross H. Arnett (2000). American insects: a handbook of the insects of America north of Mexico. CRC Press. ISBN 978-0-8493-0212-1. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
2. "Phymatidae". University of California, Riverside.
3. "Phymatid". University of Florida.
4. Phyma at dictionary.com.
5. "Phymatinae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.

• Christiane Weirauch & James B. Munro (2009). "Molecular phylogeny of the assassin bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), based on mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal genes". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 53 (1): 287–299. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.05.039. PMID 19531379.
• K.K. Naturhistorisches Hofmuseum (Vienna; Austria) (1897). Annalen des K.K. Naturhistorischen Hofmuseums. Alfred Hölder. Retrieved 31 March 2011.