J. E. McPherson

Parasinea, a New Genus of Assassin Bug, with Description of a New Species from Colombia (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae)

ABSTRACT We here erect a new genus, Parasinea, to accommodate the type species, P. colombiensis, n. sp. and P. coronata (Stål), currently placed in Sinea. This genus is closely related to Sinea but can be distinguished easily by the spoon-shaped pygophore and the highly reduced parameres. Males of P. colombiensis can be distinguished from those of P. coronata by differences in the abdominal shape and genitalia (the female of P. colombiensis is unknown). Illustrations of the male genitalia, photographs of the dorsal habitus of both species, and distributional records of the two species are provided.

Life History and Laboratory Rearing of Mecidea minor (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), with Descriptions of Immature Stages

The life history of the stink bug Mecidea minor Ruckes (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) was studied in the southern half of New Mexico from January 2005 to December 2007, and the egg and nymphal instars are described. This species was active year-round, occurring on various species of grasses but primarily on Lehmann lovegrass, Eragrostis lehmanniana Nees; grama grasses (Bouteloua spp.); Bermuda grass, Cynodon dactylon (L.); and tobosagrass, Pleuraphis mutica Buckley. Adults and late instars (fourth and Þfth) were present during winter. The appearance and abundance of the eggs, nymphs, and adults during the year suggest this species is bivoltine with the possibility of a partial third generation. Instars can be distinguished by differences in morphological features, including body size and presence and relative development of wing pads.

Life History and Laboratory Rearing of Sinea diadema (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) with Descriptions of Immature Stages

Abstract The life history of the assassin bug Sinea diadema (F.) was studied in southern Illinois from February 2001 to November 2002, and the immature stages were described. The bug also was reared under controlled laboratory conditions. This bivoltine species occurs in herbaceous fields, often in association with leaves and stems of Solidago missouriensis Nuttall, and preys primarily on small bugs and beetles. It apparently overwinters as eggs. Nymphs emerged in mid-April and were found until mid-September. Adults were found from the third week of May until early October. The bug was reared in the laboratory on larval beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), at 26 ± 3.0°C under a 16:8 (L:D) h photoperiod. The incubation period averaged 13.87 d; eyespots appeared in ≈7 d. The five stadia averaged 9.59, 7.80, 8.95, 11.80, and 12.97 d, respectively. Instars can be distinguished by differences in several anatomical features, including body length and width and progressive development of size, number, and pattern of spines.

Life History and Laboratory Rearing of Narnia femorata (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Coreidae) with Descriptions of Immature Stages

ABSTRACT Narnia femorata Stål (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Coreidae) is a leaffooted bug commonly found on Opuntia and Ferocactus cacti (Cactaceae) in southern New Mexico. Although general information has been published on the biology of this species, detailed studies are limited, particularly in America north of Mexico. Therefore, we conducted a study of this bugs life history in southern New Mexico from August 2010 to May 2012, reared the bug in the laboratory, and described the immature stages. Six prickly pear cactus plants, Opuntia phaeacantha Engelmann, and four barrel cactus plants, Ferocactus wislizeni (Engelmann) Britton & Rose, were examined weekly to record numbers of the various life stages, adult sex ratios, and behavioral activities. Adults of this apparently bivoltine species overwintered in plant debris at the bases of their host plants. They emerged in late February to deposit eggs in rows along the underside of cactus spines. Nymphs were found from late February through late December. Nymphs of the first generation were most abundant April through June on and around developing flowers of O. phaeacantha. Those of the second generation were most abundant during August and September on maturing fruit of O. phaeacantha and developing flowers and maturing fruit of F. wislizeni. The bug also was reared from egg to adult under controlled laboratory conditions on fruit and pads of O. phaeacantha at 25 ± 0.01 °C under a photoperiod of 14:10 (L:D) h. The incubation period averaged 12.70 d. The five stadia averaged 3.84, 11.00, 12.12, 17.06, and 22.94 d, respectively. Instars can be distinguished readily by differences in several morphological features in addition to body size and coloration.

Life history and laboratory rearing of Corimelaena incognita (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Thyreocoridae), with descriptions of immature stages.

ABSTRACT The life history of Corimelaena incognita (McAtee & Malloch) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Thyreocoridae) was studied in southern New Mexico from August 2005 through November 2007, and the immature stages were described. The bug also was reared from egg to adult under controlled laboratory conditions. Adults of this bivoltine species overwintered in leaf litter, emerged in early February, and began feeding on dried fruits of Leucophyllum frutescens (Berlandier) from the previous year, the only host plant observed for this bug; they and their offspring, collectively, fed on the current years fruit throughout the season until early December. Eggs were found from early April through late September and laid singly, usually glued beneath the bracts of developing fruits. Nymphs were found from late April through late November. This species was reared in the laboratory on fruits of L. frutescens at 25 ± 0.01°C under a photoperiod of 14:10 (L:D) h. The incubation period averaged 8.33 d. The five stadia averaged 7.27, 4.10, 4.51, 4.90, and 8.54 d, respectively. Instars can be distinguished by differences in morphological features including, among others, body size and punctation.

Unusual Ovipositional Behavior of the Stink Bug Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

ABSTRACT The stink bug Bagrada hilaris (Bermeister) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) is an Old World pest recently established in North America. Literature on the ovipositional behavior of B. hilaris is limited. As part of a study on the seasonal biology of B. hilaris in New Mexico, we included observations of the odd egg-laying behavior of this bug. Here, we describe and illustrate the phases associated with this behavior.

New Records and a Checklist of Aquatic True Bugs (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha) from Illinois

Abstract Ten species of aquatic true bugs are newly reported for Illinois. Nepomorphan faunistic studies in Illinois are reviewed briefly and a checklist of the 54 species of aquatic true bugs occurring in the state is presented.

Redescriptions of Brochymena and Parabrochymena (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), Based Primarily on Male Genitalia, with Reclassification of Three Species and Description of New World Tribe (Halyini)

Abstract In two previous articles, we reported that the male genitalia of six species of Parabrochymena and 14 species of Brochymena were distinct, particularly the shape and length of the vesica, thus supporting the establishment of Parabrochymena. Here, we present genitalic and nongenitalic information on four of the remaining five species of these two genera. Because of the results of these analyses, and in combination with similar analyses of species described earlier, we have transferred three of the four species [i.e., Parabrochymena enigmatica (Ruckes), Parabrochymena inbio Larivière, and Parabrochymena poeyi (Guérin-Méneville)] to Brochymena. Also, we have provided descriptions of Brochymena and Parabrochymena and the New World tribe (Halyini), which includes only these genera.

Comparative Laboratory Rearing of Mecidea major and M. minor (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

The stink bugs Mecidea major Sailer and M. minor Ruckes were reared from egg to adult under controlled laboratory conditions at 25 ± 0.01 °C, 79.3 ± 0.05% humidity, and a photoperiod of LD 14:10 h, on Eragrostis lehmanniana Nees. The incubation period for M. major eggs averaged 5.67 d, and the five stadia 3.54, 5.56, 4.94, 5.62, and 9.63 d, respectively. The incubation period for M. minor eggs averaged 6.00 d, and the five stadia 3.20, 6.53, 4.48, 5.56, and 8.81 d, respectively. Total developmental time averaged 34.96 and 34.58 d for M. major and M. minor, respectively, and did not differ significantly between sexes within each species. However, it did differ within females between species.

Further Information on Male Genitalia of Parabrochymena Larivière and Brochymena Amyot & Serville (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Abstract In a previous article, we reported that the male genitalia of two species of Parabrochymena and four of Brochymena were distinct, particularly the shape and length of the vesica. Here, we present genitalic information on an additional four species of Parabrochymena and 10 species of Brochymena that further supports consistent differences between the two genera.