Carl W. Schaefer

Biology and Descriptions of Nymphal and Adult Jadera choprai (Hemiptera: Rhopalidae)

Abstract The biology of nymphs and adults of the Neotropical scentless bug Jadera choprai Göllner-Scheiding feeding on mature seeds of the balloon vine, Cardiospermum halicacabum (L.) (Sapindaceae), was studied in the laboratory. Most nymphs (>75%) successfully reached adulthood when feeding on this food. Nymphs reared individually had lower mortality (14.0%) and shorter developmental times (35.7 d) than did bugs reared in groups (23.3% and 39.9 d). All adult females oviposited when fed on seeds of balloon vine. Mean adult longevity was 86.0 d for males and 47.7 for females. Mean fecundity was ≈147 eggs per female, and ≈85% of the eggs hatched. Fresh body weight of females increased significantly during the first week of adult life; males, however, lost weight significantly during this period. Females lost weight during their second week posteclosion, but they regained the weight subsequently. However, males did not. Nymphs and adults (macropterous and brachypterous forms) of J. choprai are described and illustrated, as are their setal patterns.

Broad-Headed Bugs (Alydidae)

The broad-headed bugs (Alydidae) are divided into two subfamilies, Alydinae and Micrelytrinae, each divided into two tribes, Daclerini and Alydini, and Micrelytrini and Leptocorisini, respectively. The family has 53 genera and about 250 species; in the Neotropics, there are 21 genera. Alydids are small (8–20 mm), slender, with a triangular head; nymphs of alydines mimic ants, the adults of some Micrelytrini also mimic ants. The most studied species in the Neotropics is the alydine Neomegalotomus parvus (Westwood), usually associated with legumes, and may be a pest on soybean. Other common genera include Hyalymenus Amyot & Serville, Stenocoris Burmeister, Cydamus Stal, and Trachelium Herrich-Schaffer. Studies on taxonomy and bioecology on alydids of the Neotropics are needed.

A New Species of Leptoglossus (Hemiptera: Coreidae: Coreinae: Anisoscelini) from Brazil

Abstract Leptoglossus katiae Schaefer and Packauskas, n. sp., is described from northeastern Brazil. It belongs in the L. cinctus species group and is most similar to Leptoglossus cinctus (Herrich-Schaeffer), L. crassicornis (Dallas), and L. fasciatus (Westwood). It can be distinguished from these species, and from most other Leptoglossus species, by its small size (10.5–12.3 mm) and long rostrum (reaching onto the sixth abdominal sternum), as well as by other characters. Sexual dimorphism of the hind tibia and femur is discussed briefly.

Catalog of the Coreidae, or Leaf-Footed Bugs, of the New World, Fort Hays Studies, Fourth Series, Number 5

The Coreidae is among the largest family of terrestrial Heteroptera, although the taxonomy is still at the generic and species level. Still, they are difÞcult to identify, and this catalog (along with Packauskas 1994) introduces them to a wider audience and makes it easier to Þnd out about and identify them. Until this catalog was published, no good lists or compendia of these New World species had been published for more than a century. This catalog covers an estimated 1,000 New World species of Coreidae, in 165 genera, contained in three subfamilies: Coreinae (12 tribes and three genera of uncertain status), Meropachyinae (three tribes), and Pseudophloeinae (one tribe). The references cited were published into 2008. The subfamily, tribe, genus, and species are arranged alphabetically. If keys are available, they are listed with each tribe or genus reference. The country of each species is given (sometimes “Brazil” becomes “Brasil,” the Portuguese spelling). It would have been useful to print the family, tribe, and genus at the top of each page. The book opens ßat, and (wonderfully!) there are wide margins on either side of the printing for comments and additions. Of the three subfamilies, the most primitive is probably the Pseudophloeinae (this catalog), distributed worldwide. The next most derived subfamily is the Meropachyinae, occurring only in the New World (mostly in the Neotropics). Of the Coreinae, 10 of the 12 tribes occur only in the New World (also mostly in the tropics); two tribes occur in both the New and Old World, but the genera in these two regions differs. Of the 31 Coreinae tribes, 19 occur only in the Old World. These numbers contrast with those of the Old World. In the Palearctic, there are only 84 genera and 300 species of Coreidae (Dolling 2006), using a broad deÞnition of the Palearctic (Aukema and Rieger 1995). However, these numbers do not include the Paleotropics, from which far more new species and genera (and possibly even tribes) might be described; sadly, very few scientists study coreids in this region. Nineteen of the tribes are only in the Old World (Palearctic) and 10 only in the New World. Thus, there are more higher categories in the Old World and greater variation in Pseudophloeinae (including two tribes); it could be that the Coreidae originally arrived in the New World from the Old World and did so a long time ago, because nearly all the genera in both regions are different. A few species have apparently gone fromtheNewto theOldWorld,but these species are recent; I know of none that have gone the other way recently. In particular, two very recent species, Leptoglossus gonagra(F.) andLeptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann (Fent and Kment 2011, Werner 2011), are established throughout Europe and beyond, and they have become pests. In Australia, there are 43 genera and 83 species in the Coreidae;of thesecoreids, 26generaand59species(and one tribe) are endemic (Cassis and Gross 2002). The catalog can be obtained for US

Catalogue of the Heteroptera of the Palaearctic Region vol. 6, Supplement

20.00 (plus postage: US

Assassin Bugs - Dunston P. Ambrose, Science Publishers, Enfield, New Hampshire, 1999, 337 pp., Price not given, ISBN 1-57808-030-4

7.00 in the United States, US

Heteroptera of economic importance

13.00 in Canada and México, and US

Biology of Parastrachia japonensis (Hemiptera: Pentatomoidea: ?-idae)

17.00 in all other countries). Checks should be made out to Fort Hays State University or you may pay by PayPal (to richpacky@ hotmail.com) to Dr. Richard Packauskas, Department of Biological Sciences, Fort Hays State University, 600 Park St., Hays, KS 67601.

Lace Bugs (Tingidae)

Catalogue of theHeteroptera of thePalaearcticRegion, vol. 6, Supplement B. Aukema, C. Rieger, and W. Rabitsch (eds.) The Netherlands Entomology Society, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 2013 (e-mail: NEV-Admin-Science@ uva.nlmailto:NEV-Admin-Science@uva.nl) xxiv 629 pages, 30 Euros, postage 9.00-18.05 Euros (18.05 Euros to the United States) ISBN/EAN: 978-90-71912-35-1 Note: the Þve earlier catalogues can be purchased at the same email address

Economic Importance of Heteroptera: A General View

THE REDUVIIDAE (“ASSASSIN BUGS”) is one of the largest and most biologically diverse families of the hemipteran suborder Heteroptera. All reduviids are predaceous (members of one subfamily, Triatominae, feed on vertebrate blood and are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes ChagasÕ disease), and most are rather general predators, as far as is known. Despite the groupÕs abundance, the bugsÕ large size, and the variety of their ecological and biological habits, reduviids have been remarkably little studied. Although the taxonomy of some regionsÕ Reduviidae is known (Holarctic, for example; but Old World tropics very poorly known), almost nothing (with few exceptions) has been published on these bugsÕ biology since ReadioÕs treatise (1927, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull. 17; North American reduviids) and the considerably more general account in N.C.E. MillerÕs misleadingly titled “The Biology of the Heteroptera” (the great majority of which is devoted to Reduviidae) (2 ed., 1971, E.W. Classey, England). The major exception is a large amount of Þne work from southern India, beginning with that of David Livingstone and continuing with the work of several of his students and that of several of theirs. This work, and much of the work from elsewhere in the world, has been summarized and analyzed in this book by Dunston Ambrose, himself a major contributor to what we know (taxonomically, biologically, and ecologically) about south-Indian Reduviidae. The 25 chapters in this book cover all aspects of Reduviidae, as the bookÕs seven sections suggest: Biosystematics, Ecology, Biology, Structure and Function, Behaviour, Economic Importance (includes “Conservation and Augmentation” and “Biological Control Potential”chapters). Phylogeny; a concluding chapter, and “Recommendations,” lists in two pages those areas of research most needing attention. The great majority of the 780 references is to work by the author, his mentors, and his students. This emphasis does not reßect bias but, rather, the fact that most of the nontaxonomic work on Reduviidae has been done (and is being done) by these people. Of speciÞc interest are several color plates of quite colorful reduviids mating or feeding on equally colorful prey. Of considerable value, in my opinion, is the 12-page list of bugs and prey species. Indeed, throughout the book data on the details of life histories and biologies are presented in tables, allowing easy comparisons among reduviid species and among habitat types. The book brings together a remarkable amount of information, and presents it in ways easy to use. Discussion of the information is a little limited, and some (myself included) will take some exception to some of the phylogenetic speculation. But the book presents the reader with a wealth of information that can be used in many ways. Not least of these ways is the potential of reduviids in biological control, a subjectonwhichDr.Ambrose isperhaps the leading authority, and a subject to which he has devoted considerable space in this book. Reduviidae is the only major group of predaceous Heteroptera whose biocontrol potential has not been closely examined. This is surprising, because the group is large (third largest in the suborder), diverse, occurs everywhere; and its members are large and presumably eat a lot (see Schaefer 1988, Biocovas 1, Madras). If this book stimulates further work on Reduviidae, it will have served a Þne purpose. If it stimulateswork on the use of these bugs in biological control, the book will have served a highly practical purpose. I recommend it therefore not only to all students of Heteroptera, but to anyone interested in learning about a neglected groupof possible biocontrol insects. Disclaimer. Emblazoned in red across the cover of this book is “Reviewed by Carl W. Schaefer.” I did review the manuscript for the publisher (indeed, I recommended to the author that he expand into this book the chapter he wrote for “Heteroptera of Economic Importance” [2000, Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press], edited by A.R. Panizzi and me). But I did not expect the fact of my fairly routine review for the publisher to be trumpeted forth in red. I mention this with becoming modesty, and in fairness. I thought the book was good then, and I think so now.