LIBRARY

HEMIPTERA 285
corium veined and the membrane with two to four cells and many veins. Forelegs
short, stout, raptorial; femora thick; tibia; and tarsi modified to grasp and
hold prey, even rarely pincer-like; tarsi two-segmented, small or absent. Middle
and hind legs normal; tarsi two-segmented. Abdomen of male modified, segment
VI enlarged; VII hidden by VIII which forms a genital plate.
A small family of bugs which feed upon many kinds of insects and destroy
honeybees and other beneficial insects as well as destructive ones. There are
about 150 species, living mostly in tropical America and Asia, with some
Palrearctic and Nearctic forms. There are but two important genera: Phymata
Latr. and Macrocephalus Swederus. Phymata is represented in southern
Europe by two species, P. crassipes Fab., 8 mm. long, and P. monstrosa Fab.,
6 mm. long. In North America Van Duzee (1917) lists 14 species. P. erosa
(Linn.) is most widely distributed and has a number of varietal forms occurring
in various parts of the country. Macrocephalus has also six North American
species widely distributed, apparently Neotropical in origin.
Family REDUVIIDJE 1 (Latreille 1807) (Red'u-vi'i-dre. from the Latin 7eduvia,
a hangnail, a remnant, fragment). German, Raubwanzen. Assassin Bugs,
Kissing Bugs,2 Reduviid Bugs.
Small to large, robust or elongated, somewhat flattened, smooth, hairy
or spiny, active or sluggish, predacious bugs, Which commonly occur on the
ground, in flowers, and on various types of plants where they await or hunt
living prey. Head narrow, longer than broad, pointed anteriorly, often with
neck, free. Antennre filiform, apical segments often very fine and frequently
broken off; four- or five-segmented. Eyes well developed; near middle or at
base of head. Two ocelli present or absent; situated behind the eyes. Rostrum
short, curved, three-segmented or rarely with an extra basal segment;
pointed, and with the tip resting in a furrow between the fore coxre. This
furrow or sulcus is regularly transversely striated, and, together with the rostrum,
which moves at right angles across them. the strire form a stridulating
mechanism. Pro thorax prominent, smooth, ridged, spined, or sharply angular;
pronotum often with transverse depression dividing it into two lobes. Wings
well developed, abbreviated, or absent. Hemelytra with corium and clavus,
without cuneus; membrane well developed with two or three large basal cells
or areoles. Legs normal, hairy or spiny. Forelegs somewhat raptorial. Tarsi
one-, two-, or three-segmented, with claws and without arolia. Thoracic ventral
glands absent. Abdomen often wide and concave along the dorsum SO
that the wings, which are often narrower than the body, fit closely into the
furrow.
This large family exhibits a remarkable variety in form, coloration, and
habits. The color varies from black, brown, and gray in combination with
1 Latreille established this family under the name REDUVINI in 1807. The proper form
REDUVIIDlE was first formed by Stephens in 1829.
• The name "kissing bug" arises from newspaper accounts in 1899 concerning one of these
bUgs which pierced the lip of a lady.