Biology:Rhynocoris tristis

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Short description: Species of true bug

Rhynocoris tristis
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Family: Reduviidae
Genus: Rhynocoris
Species:
R. tristis
Binomial name
Rhynocoris tristis
(Stål, 1855)

Rhynocoris tristis is a species of assassin bug family (Reduviidae), in the subfamily Harpactorinae. R. tristis is a polyphagous predator found in sub-Saharan Africa.[1]

Life History

R. tristis is associated with Stylosanthes guinaensis, and this association is thought to be due to the prey species attracted by flowers of S. guinaensis.[2] R. tristis is unusual in the insect world in that males provide paternal care by guarding egg masses[3] from parasitic wasps and insect predators.[1] Males will also cannibalize some of the eggs that they guard.[4] R. tristis prefers to lay its eggs on the stems of plants, in contrast to most members of the harpactorinae, which prefer to lay them on the undersides of leaves.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lisa K. Thomas; Andrea Manica (2005). "Intrasexual competition and mate choice in assassin bugs with uniparental male and female care". Animal Behaviour 69: 275–281. http://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/zoostaff/manica/ms/2005_Thomas_and_Manica_An_Behav.pdf. Retrieved 2010-01-09. 
  2. Thomas, L. K.; Manica, A. (2003). "Filial cannibalism in an assassin bug". Animal Behaviour 66: 205–210. 
  3. Christy A. Beal; Douglas W. Tallamy (2006). "A new record of amphisexual care in an insect with exclusive paternal care: Rhynocoris tristis (Heteroptera: Reduviidae)". Journal of Ethology 24 (3): 305–307. doi:10.1007/s10164-005-0190-2. 
  4. Thomas, L. K. (1994). The evolution of parental care in assassin bugs (Ph.D. thesis). University of Cambridge.

Wikidata ☰ Q7321746 entry