Notes surMicrauchenus lineola(Fabricius 1787), espèce termitophile et termitophage (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae, Apiomerini)

Abstract

Abstract. Notes on Micrauchenus lineola (Fabricius 1787), a termitophilous and termitophagous species (Reduviidae: Harpactorinae, Apiomerini). Unlike the other Apiomerini, which are mostly polyphagous predators, Micrauchenus lineola seems to feed exclusively on termites. Immatures of different stages have been found in galleries of a termit nest (Nasutitermes sp.) where they are apparently well tolerated by their preys. M. lineola can be distinguished from the other Apiomerini by some distinctive morphological features: -short and convex head; -right maxillary stylets strongly barbed; -absence of tarsal sulcus on the fore legs. The barbed right maxillary stylet shows some similarities with those of other termitophagous reduvids belonging to the subfamilies Salyavatinae and Sphaeridopinae.Résumé. Contrairement aux autres Apiomerini, des prédateurs souvent polyphages vivant sur des plantes diverses, Micrauchenus lineola semble se nourrir exclusivement de termites. Des immatures à différents stades ont été trouvés dans les galeries d'une termitière (Nasutitermes sp.) où ils sont apparemment bien acceptés par les termites dont ils se nourrissent. Quelques particularités morphologiques sont précisées chez l'adulte : -tête courte et convexe, -stylet maxillaire droit pourvu de longs processus lamelliformes, -absence de sillon tarsal sur les pattes antérieures. Le stylet maxillaire droit montre des similitudes avec ceux d'autres Reduviidae termitophages appartenant aux Salyavatinae et aux Sphaerodopinae.

Assassin Bugs (Reduviidae Excluding Triatominae)

“…For example, Ectrichodiinae seem to be specialized to prey on millipedes (Cachan 1952 ;Forthman and Weirauch 2012 ), several taxa are termite predators, e.g., Salyavatinae (McMahan 1983 ), and one species of Harpactorinae-Apiomerini, Micrauchenus lineola (F.) (Bérenger and Pluot-Sigwalt 2009 ); species of Holoptilinae prey on ants (Jacobson 1911 ) and certain Emesinae and Harpactorinae on spiders (Wignall and Taylor 2008 ;Jackson et al 2010 ). Additional preferences, some of them tentative, are summarized by Ambrose ( 2000 ).…”

“…12.8 ) in the Southeast Atlantic Forest in Brazil have been noticed to exude a scent similar to fl owers while being perched -with extended forelegs and waiting for prey -on top of leaves (GilSantana, personal observation). Almost all species of Apiomerini studied so far are polyphagous except Micrauchenus lineola (F.) that feeds exclusively on termites (Bérenger and Pluot-Sigwalt 2009 ). Some species, mainly of Apiomerus , have been considered for use as biological control agents (GilSantana 2002 ).…”

Resin gathering in neotropical resin bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Reduviidae): Functional and comparative morphology

“…5H). This species is known to feed on termites but apparently does not use resin in the process (Bérenger and Pluot‐Sigwalt,2009). Agriocleptes and Heniartes share a similar setal pattern (Fig.…”

“…Most behavioral and morphological observations have focused on species within Apiomerus (e.g., Barth,1963; Choe and Rust,2007), but even within that genus published evidence is often anecdotal. Besides Apiomerus , just a few natural history observations have been provided for other Apiomerini genera: Manicocoris , Stål, 1866, is known to gather resins either from bees or plants (Adis,1984; Melo et al,2005); Micrauchenus , Amyot and Serville, 1843, is known to feed on termites without using resins (Bérenger and Pluot‐Sigwalt,2009); and in Heniartes , the sticky substances on the protibia are apparently produced endogenously (Wygodzinsky,1947). In addition, Amauroclopius , Stål, 1868, Beharus , Manicocoris , and Ponerobia , Amyot and Serville, 1843, have been associated with resin‐producing trees such as Caesalpiniaceae and Burseraceae (Bérenger and Pluot‐Sigwalt,1997; Forero,2006).…”

Morphology, Ontogeny, Reproduction, and Feeding of True Bugs

“…Although many Reduviidae appear to feed on a wide variety of arthropods, they sometimes show prey preferences or even prey specializations (see summary in Hwang and Weirauch 2012 ). Some of these preferences include millipedes (Cachan 1952 ;Forthman andWeirauch 2012 ), termite predators (McMahan 1983 ), ants (Jacobson 1911 ), spiders (Wignall and Taylor 2008 ;Jackson et al 2010 ), and other reduviids (Bérenger and Pluot-Sigwalt 2009 ).…”