Rhynocoris tristis explained

Rhynocoris tristis is a species of assassin bug family (Reduviidae), in the subfamily Harpactorinae. R. tristis is a polyphagous predator found in sub-Saharan Africa.[1]

Life History

R. tristis is associated with Stylosanthes guinaensis, and this association is thought to be due to the prey species attracted by flowers of S. guinaensis.[2] R. tristis is unusual in the insect world in that males provide paternal care by guarding egg masses[3] from parasitic wasps and insect predators.[1] Males will also cannibalize some of the eggs that they guard.[4] R. tristis prefers to lay its eggs on the stems of plants, in contrast to most members of the harpactorinae, which prefer to lay them on the undersides of leaves.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Intrasexual competition and mate choice in assassin bugs with uniparental male and female care . Lisa K. Thomas . Andrea Manica . amp . 2005 . Animal Behaviour . 69 . 275–281 . 2010-01-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110603231612/http://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/zoostaff/manica/ms/2005_Thomas_and_Manica_An_Behav.pdf . 2011-06-03 . dead .
  2. Thomas, L. K. . Manica, A. . amp . 2003 . Filial cannibalism in an assassin bug . Animal Behaviour . 66. 205–210.
  3. 10.1007/s10164-005-0190-2 . A new record of amphisexual care in an insect with exclusive paternal care: Rhynocoris tristis (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) . Christy A. Beal . Douglas W. Tallamy . amp . 2006 . Journal of Ethology . 24 . 3 . 305–307.
  4. Thomas, L. K. . 1994 . The evolution of parental care in assassin bugs . Ph.D. thesis . University of Cambridge.

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