Ploiaria | |
---|---|
Adult Ploiaria domestica | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hemiptera |
Suborder: | Heteroptera |
Family: | Reduviidae |
Tribe: | Leistarchini |
Genus: |
Ploiaria Scopoli, 1786 |
Diversity | |
About 130 species |
Ploiaria is a cosmopolitan genus of thread-legged bugs (Emesinae). There are presently about 130 described species. [1] [2]
Ploiaria can be recognised by the head without ventral spine-like setae, the medially emarginated posterior margin of the prosternum, the posterior pronotal lobe covering only the extreme base of the mesonotum, the scutellum and metanotum lacking spines, the profemora lacking a process with several spine-like setae, and three-segmented protarsi. There is great variation in wing development between different species and within species, with macroptery (developed wings), brachyptery (reduced wings) and aptery (winglessness) all occurring in the genus. [3]
These bugs live in various habitats ranging from tropical forests to deserts and even oceanic islands (presumably reached by rafting on tree trunks). Their microhabitat range includes trees, epiphytes, leaf litter, under bark and under stones. The species P. chilensis and P. domestica are synanthropes, meaning they are associated with human habitats. [4]
Ploiaria, like other emesines, are predators. They have been recorded feeding on prey such as Phlebotomus flies, mosquitoes and planthoppers. [5]
This list contains all species of Ploiaria currently considered valid, except for a few that have been described very recently:
{{
cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires |journal=
(
help)
Ploiaria | |
---|---|
Adult Ploiaria domestica | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hemiptera |
Suborder: | Heteroptera |
Family: | Reduviidae |
Tribe: | Leistarchini |
Genus: |
Ploiaria Scopoli, 1786 |
Diversity | |
About 130 species |
Ploiaria is a cosmopolitan genus of thread-legged bugs (Emesinae). There are presently about 130 described species. [1] [2]
Ploiaria can be recognised by the head without ventral spine-like setae, the medially emarginated posterior margin of the prosternum, the posterior pronotal lobe covering only the extreme base of the mesonotum, the scutellum and metanotum lacking spines, the profemora lacking a process with several spine-like setae, and three-segmented protarsi. There is great variation in wing development between different species and within species, with macroptery (developed wings), brachyptery (reduced wings) and aptery (winglessness) all occurring in the genus. [3]
These bugs live in various habitats ranging from tropical forests to deserts and even oceanic islands (presumably reached by rafting on tree trunks). Their microhabitat range includes trees, epiphytes, leaf litter, under bark and under stones. The species P. chilensis and P. domestica are synanthropes, meaning they are associated with human habitats. [4]
Ploiaria, like other emesines, are predators. They have been recorded feeding on prey such as Phlebotomus flies, mosquitoes and planthoppers. [5]
This list contains all species of Ploiaria currently considered valid, except for a few that have been described very recently:
{{
cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires |journal=
(
help)