Harpactorinae Explained

The Harpactorinae are a large subfamily of the Reduviidae (assassin bugs). About 300 genera and 2,000 species worldwide have been described.^[1] Some of the species of the genera Zelus, Pselliopus, Sinea, and Apiomerus are of interest as biological pest control agents.^[2]

Tribes and genera

The genera of six tribes include:

Apiomerini

New World resin bugs: auth. Amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843

• Agriocleptus Stål, 1866
• Agriocoris Stål, 1866
• Amauroclopius Stål, 1868
• Apiomerus Hahn, 1831
• Beharus Fabricius, 1803
• Calliclopius Stål, 1868
• Foucartus Berenger, 2006
• Heniartes Spinola, 1840
• Manicocoris Fabricius, 1787
• Micrauchenus Amyot & Servile, 1843
• Ponerobia Amyot & Serville, 1843
• Sphodrolestes Stål, 1866

Diaspidiini

African resin bugs: auth. Miller, 1959

• Cleontes Stål, 1874
• Diaspidius Westwood, 1837
• Rodhainiella Schouteden, 1913

Dicrotelini

Asia, Australia; auth. Stål, 1859. Approximately 13 genera including:

• type genus - Dicrotelus Erichson, 1842

Ectinoderini

Oriental resin bugs: auth. Stål, 1859

• Amulius Stål, 1866
• Ectinoderus Westwood, 1845

Harpactorini

A partial list of genera in this tribe includes:

• Acholla Stål, 1862
• Arilus Hahn, 1831
• Atrachelus Amyot and Serville, 1843
• Castolus Stål, 1858
• Camptibia Cai, 2003
• Coranus Curtis, 1833
• Doldina Stål, 1859
• Euagoras Burmeister, 1835
• Eulyes Amyot & Serville, 1843
• Fitchia Stål, 1859
• Harpactor Laporte, 1833
• Harpactorella - monotypic Harpactorella frederici Wygodzinsky, 1946
• Heza Amyot and Serville, 1843
• Irantha Stål, 1861
• Liangcoris Zhao, Cai & Ren, 2007
• Nagusta Stål, 1859
• Pahabengkakia Miller, 1941
• Pselliopus Bergroth, 1905
• Repipta Stål, 1859
• Rhynocoris Hahn, 1834
• Rocconota Stål, 1859
• Sinea Amyot and Serville, 1843
• Sphedanolestes Stål
• Sycanus Amyot and Serville, 1843
• Zelus Fabricius, 1802
• Zostus Stål, 1874

Rhaphidosomatini

(synonym: Rhaphidosomini Distant, 1904)

• Hoffmannocoris China, 1940
• Leptodema De Carlini, 1892
• Rhaphidosoma Amyot & Serville, 1843
• Vibertiola Horvath, 1909 - southern Europe, NW Africa

Other Tribes

Tegeini (sometimes placed as subfamily Tegeinae)

• Phonolibes Stål, 1854 - SE Africa
• Tegea (insect) Stål, 1863 - Australia

Notes and References

1. Web site: Iocoris nodulifemoralis, a new genus and new species of Harpactorinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) from China. . Ping Zhao, Zhaohui Luo & Wanzhi Cai . Zootaxa: 10 Jun 2009.
2. Web site: Biological control in pest management system of plants. Weirauch, C .