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With more than 886 species in ∼137 genera, Ectrichodiinae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) are the largest animal clade of millipede predators. Recent phylogenetic studies have created a framework for our understanding of ectrichodiine evolutionary history, but no fossil species have been described. EctrichodiellaFracker and Bruner, 1924, belongs to the earliest diverging lineage of Ectrichodiinae, and a better understanding of the morphology and biodiversity of this genus may provide insights into the early evolution of the subfamily. The genus is composed of two described species, Ectrichodiella minima (Valdés, 1910) and Ectrichodiella rafaeli (Gil-Santana and Coletto-Silva, 2005) from Cuba and Brazil, respectively. Here, four new species of Ectrichodiella are described, with three representing extant taxa known only from French Guiana (E. caballina, n. sp., E. nouraguensis, n. sp., and E. obscura, n. sp.), while the fourth is based on a Miocene Dominican amber fossil (Ectrichodiella electrina, n. sp.). Diagnoses, descriptions, habitus and detailed morphological images, an identification key, and a distribution map are provided. A cladistic analysis based on 45 morphological characters that includes the fossil species corroborates the monophyly of Ectrichodiella, but the relationship of the fossil species to the five extant species remains ambiguous. Nevertheless, this phylogenetic placement makes Ectrichodiella electrina, a valuable fossil calibration for future divergence dating analyses, despite its relatively young age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subfamily Phimophorinae includes ~113 species of cryptic assassin bugs found in the Neotropics and Paleotropics. Presumably due to its small size, cryptic coloration, and occurrence in the remote Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM), Porcelloderes impenetrabilis Rédei, 2012 (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Phimophorinae), was only recently described as the first representative of this subfamily from mainland Africa. Previous morphology-based phylogenetic research on Phimophorinae (then known as Physoderinae or Epiroderinae) recovered Porcelloderes as sister taxon to the remaining epiroderine-lineage of Phimophorinae. Recent fieldwork in Tanzania has resulted in 241 additional specimens of Porcelloderes from 3 EAM) ranges. We used molecular and morphological analyses for these 241 specimens to (i) determine their species identity, (ii) test the phylogenetic position of Porcelloderes within Phimophorinae, and (iii) determine if divergence within Porcelloderes coincides with periods of climate-driven forest fragmentation in the EAM. Specimens from the Kimboza and Nguru Mountains likely represent P. impenetrabilis , but we here describe Porcelloderes harles , n. sp. from the Udzungwa Mountains. Our molecular phylogeny shows Porcelloderes nested within the epiroderine-lineage of Phimophorinae and as sister taxon to a Madagascar clade. We estimate that the epiroderine-lineage diverged from other Phimophorinae ~44 MYA. The divergence estimates for the 2 Porcelloderes species is ~15 MYA, consistent with proposed dates for other EAM assassin bugs and a period of forest fragmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though the phylogenetic signal of loci on sex chromosomes can differ from those on autosomes, chromosomal-level genome assemblies for nonvertebrates are still relatively scarce and conservation of chromosomal gene content across deep phylogenetic scales has therefore remained largely unexplored. We here assemble a uniquely large and diverse set of samples (17 anchored hybrid enrichment, 24 RNA-seq, and 70 whole-genome sequencing samples of variable depth) for the medically important assassin bugs (Reduvioidea). We assess the performance of genes based on multiple features (e.g. nucleotide vs. amino acid, nuclear vs. mitochondrial, and autosomal vs. X chromosomal) and employ different methods (concatenation and coalescence analyses) to reconstruct the unresolved phylogeny of this diverse (∼7,000 spp.) and old (>180 Ma) group. Our results show that genes on the X chromosome are more likely to have discordant phylogenies than those on autosomes. We find that the X chromosome conflict is driven by high gene substitution rates that impact the accuracy of phylogenetic inference. However, gene tree clustering showed strong conflict even after discounting variable third codon positions. Alternative topologies were not particularly enriched for sex chromosome loci, but spread across the genome. We conclude that binning genes to autosomal or sex chromosomes may result in a more accurate picture of the complex evolutionary history of a clade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triatominae are the largest radiation of haematophagous species within the true bugs (Hemiptera) and the sole vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas, the causative agent of Chagas disease, a neglected human disease that affects millions. We used a combined ultraconserved element (UCE) and ribosomal dataset from ethanol‐preserved and pinned specimens in a museomics approach to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships among triatomines, including taxa of four of the five tribes with substantial representation of the Old World fauna. We conclude that: (i) Triatominae are monophyletic and Opisthacidius Berg is their predatory sister taxon; (ii) the three large genera (Rhodnius Stål, Triatoma Laporte and Panstrongylus Berg) are not monophyletic; (iii) Triatomini fall into nine well‐supported clades, only two of which are identical in composition to previously recognized groups; and (iv) the Old World clade is deeply nested within Triatomini. Ancestral character state reconstructions of specific character traits provide insights into the evolutionary history of Triatominae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ambush bugs of the genus Phymata Latreille, 1802 (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Phymatinae) are some of the most recognizable assassin bugs found in North America. Despite their charismatic morphology and ubiquity, the taxonomy of the Nearctic fauna has not been reviewed in more than half a century. Many species are challenging to identify due to their striking intraspecific variation and sexual dimorphism and only subtle interspecific differences. Considering this difficult taxonomy and that recent molecular phylogenetic studies have demonstrated para- or polyphyly among currently recognized species-level taxa, reclassification is required. Ambush bugs of the Nearctic erosa species group are herein revised. Eleven previously recognized species are redescribed: Phymata americana Melin, 1931; Phymata arctostaphylae Van Duzee, 1914; Phymata borica Evans, 1931; Phymata fasciata (Gray, 1832); Phymata granulosa Handlirsch, 1897; Phymata luteomarginata Kormilev, 1957; Phymata pacifica Evans, 1931; Phymata pennsylvanica Handlirsch, 1897; Phymata rossi Evans, 1931; Phymata saileri Kormilev, 1957; and Phymata salicis Cockerell, 1900. Five subspecies are elevated to species rank and redescribed: Phymata mystica Evans, 1931 stat. restit.; Phymata metcalfi Evans, 1931 stat. restit.; Phymata mexicana Melin, 1931 stat. nov.; Phymata obscura Kormilev, 1957 stat. nov.; and Phymata stanfordi Evans, 1931 stat. nov. One new species from southern California is described: Phymata paraborica sp. nov. Phymata americana coloradensis Melin, 1931 syn. nov., Phymata pacifica hainesi Kormilev, 1962 syn. nov., Phymata granulosa chiriquiensis Melin, 1931 syn. nov., and Phymata granulosa evansi Kormilev, 1962 syn nov. are each synonymized with their respective nominate subspecies. Phymata fasciata panamensis Kormilev, 1962 syn. nov. is synonymized with Phymata mexicana Melin, 1931. Phymata granulosa texasana Kormilev, 1957 syn. nov., is synonymized with Phymata rossi. An illustrated key to ambush bugs of the United States and Canada, detailed diagnoses, habitus images, and distribution maps are provided for all 17 Nearctic erosa species group taxa. Furthermore, we incorporate citizen science observations of ambush bugs from an iNaturalist. org project with traditional specimen-based data to expand our knowledge of species-level variation and distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ambush bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Phymatinae) are sit‐and‐wait predators of flower‐visiting insects including pollinators. Broad species distribution ranges, intraspecific polymorphism, sexual dimorphism and subtle interspecific differences all contribute to making species delimitation especially difficult in this group, which is used as a model in the study of interactions between sexual dimorphism and sexual selection. Species boundaries among Nearctic ambush bugs in the common and frequently collected erosa species group (11 species, nine subspecies) have therefore remained unclear, resulting in a complex and poorly justified taxonomy. Recent molecular phylogenetic research suggested that several widespread Nearctic species are para‐ or polyphyletic. We here build on this research, integrating geometric morphometrics, molecular species delimitation approaches and host plant association data to provide a comprehensive dataset with respect to both taxon and character sampling with the goal of teasing apart evolutionary lineages of Nearctic Phymata Latreille. Although molecular‐based species delimitation analyses suggested a variety of species hypotheses, probably as a result of striking discordance between mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal genes, the combination of these with geometric morphometric data enabled us to confidently delimit several of these problematic taxa. In addition, geometric morphometric analysis of pronotal shape revealed undocumented morphological patterns that appear to be useful in the diagnosis of many of the surveyed taxa. The results from this study provide an objective foundation for the much‐needed taxonomic revision of the most ubiquitous ambush bugs in North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rarely collected, Collartidini (4 genera, 14 species) are a tribe of Emesinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae), the thread legged assassin bugs, that have retained a number of plesiomorphic features within Emesinae. The group has long been believed to be restricted to equatorial Africa, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka, with more recent additions from the Canary Islands, Sudan, Israel, and Taiwan, and a fossil species from Baltic amber. The discovery of two undescribed species from Thailand and Malaysia (Borneo) has created the need for a reassessment of genera within Collartidini. We analysed a morphological matrix of 25 characters and 11 ingroup species that represents the four collartidine genera, finding that while Collartida Villiers, 1949 is recovered as monophyletic, Collarhamphus Putshkov & Popov, 1995 and Stenorhamphus Elkins, 1962 render Mangabea Villiers, 1970 paraphyletic. We here synonymise the fossil genus Collarhamphus and extant genera Mangabea and Stenorhamphus, provide a revised diagnosis and description of Stenorhamphus, and describe Stenorhamphus segerak, new species and S. phuphan, new species, from Malaysia (Sarawak) and Thailand, respectively. Lateral and dorsal habitus images as well as images of diagnostic characters are provided. A map showing the known distribution of Stenorhamphus spp. is provided, in addition to images highlighting diagnostic genus and species level characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evolution of sexual dimorphism in animals has long been of interest to scientists, but relatively few studies have reconstructed evolutionary patterns of extreme sexual dimorphism at a phylogenetic scale, especially in insects. Millipede assassin bugs ( Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Ectrichodiinae; 736 spp.) and their sister taxon, Tribelocephalinae (150 spp.), exhibit sexual dimorphism that ranges from limited to extreme, a phenomenon apparently modulated by female morphology. Here, we reconstruct the first phylogeny for the subfamilies Ectrichodiinae and Tribelocephalinae with comprehensive generic representation (152 taxa in 72 genera) using morphological and molecular data (six gene regions). The combined phylogenetic results indicate that Tribelocephalinae are paraphyletic with respect to Ectrichodiinae, and that Ectrichodiinae themselves are polyphyletic. Based on these results, we synonymize Tribelocephalinae with Ectrichodiinae syn.n., describe three new tribes ( Ectrichodiini trib.n., Tribelocodiini trib.n., and Abelocephalini trib.n.) and two new subtribes ( Opistoplatyina subtrib.n. and Tribelocephalina subtrib.n.), and revise Tribelocephalini sensu n. Ancestral state reconstruction of sexual dimorphism reconstructed limited sexual dimorphism in the ancestor of Ectrichodiinae sensu n. with at least seven evolutionary transitions to extreme sexual dimorphism within the clade. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sticky trap predation, the use of adhesive substances to trap and capture prey, is an intriguing yet poorly studied predatory strategy. Unique among known sticky trap predators, assassin bugs (Reduviidae) have evolved both exogenous and endogenous sticky trap predatory mechanisms: some trap their prey with sticky plant resins, some scavenge insects entrapped by sticky plant trichomes and others self-produce sticky secretions. The evolution of these different strategies in assassin bugs is poorly understood due to the lack of comprehensive phylogenies. We reconstruct a phylogeny of Reduviidae (141 taxa; > 5000 bp) focusing on the Harpactorinae and Bactrodinae that engage in sticky trap predation. Ancestral state reconstruction, and temporal and geographical divergence analyses show that sticky trap predation techniques in assassin bugs evolved at least seven times independently since the late Cretaceous: use of sticky plant trichomes evolved as many as four times, resin-use twice independently and once as a transition from trichome use, and 'self-stickiness' once. Exogenous and endogenous sticky traps first appeared in the Neotropics, with the two exogenous mechanisms (resin and trichome use) subsequently evolving independently in the Old World. This study illustrates, for the first time, the complex evolutionary pattern of sticky trap predation within assassin bugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For at least the past 80 my, Madagascar, a major biodiversity hotspot, has been isolated from all other landmasses. This long-term isolation, along with geologic and climatic factors within Madagascar and throughout the Indian Ocean, has undoubtedly influenced the evolution of the island’s biota. However, few systematic analyses incorporating modern divergence dating and biogeographic analyses have focused on Madagascan insects. The diverse Madagascan millipede assassin bugs (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Ectrichodiinae) offer an opportunity to contribute to a limited body of insect-related research that explores Madagascar’s historical biogeography. A molecular dataset (COI mtDNA and 18S, 28S D2 and D3–D5 rDNAs) for 56 taxa (39 ingroup) and a combined morphological (145 characters) and molecular dataset for 110 taxa (93 ingroup) are analyzed with maximum likelihood (ML) and parsimony approaches. Based on the molecular ML phylogeny, divergence times were estimated using fossil and secondary calibrations and biogeographic analyses performed using DIVA, DEC, and DEC + j models to determine the role and patterns of vicariance and dispersal in the origin of Madagascan Ectrichodiinae. Results indicate that Ectrichodiinae in Madagascar do not form a monophyletic group, different clades are closely related to Afrotropical and Oriental lineages, and have colonized the island via transoceanic dispersal at least twice from the Oriental region and once from the Afrotropical region in the last ∼68 my. Additionally, the DEC + j and DIVA models infer a single out-of-Madagascar dispersal event to the Afrotropical region. Oceanic and geologic factors that may have facilitated dispersal between these three regions are discussed. Results of the combined analyses are used to explore character support for Madagascan taxa and inform taxonomic diagnoses. Our results are congruent with the small but growing body of biogeographic research supporting Cenozoic transoceanic dispersal for Madagascan invertebrates to and from Oriental and Afrotropical regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Madagascar is one of the world's most recognized biodiversity hotspots and has a diverse assassin bug (Reduviidae) fauna that is still incompletely known, especially for the Ectrichodiinae, or millipede assassin bugs. Ectrichodiinae are a speciose (673 described species, 118 genera), worldwide group of assassin bugs that is most diverse in the Old and New World tropics, but so far only six genera and 10 species have been described from Madagascar. Based on examination of 1981 ectrichodiine specimens mostly from the California Academy of Sciences, as well as a few other collections, dramatic undescribed species-level diversity is revealed. The island's Ectrichodiinae fauna is taxonomically revised with the description of three new genera ( Marojejycoris, Tanindrazanus, and Toliarus) and 63 new species: Gibbosella andasibe, Gibbosella betampona, Gibbosella brunalvus, Gibbosella conisimilis, Gibbosella fulva, Gibbosella mantella, Gibbosella megafrons, Gibbosella nitida, Gibbosella notoconica, Gibbosella pallidacorium, Gibbosella pallidalata, Gibbosella planiscutum, Gibbosella quadocris, Gibbosella vangocris, Glymmatophora (Glymmatophora) carolae, Marojejycoris auranticorium, Marojejycoris brevifrons, Marojejycoris francais, Marojejycoris notadichroa, Marojejycoris ranomafana, Tanindrazanus amboasaricus, Tanindrazanus andohahela, Tanindrazanus anjozorobeus, Tanindrazanus antananarivo, Tanindrazanus bemaraha, Tanindrazanus brunneus, Tanindrazanus hannajagodae, Tanindrazanus harinhali, Tanindrazanus irwini, Tanindrazanus joffrevillus, Tanindrazanus kathrynae, Tanindrazanus mahafaly, Tanindrazanus marginatus, Tanindrazanus marojejy, Tanindrazanus nigripes, Tanindrazanus notatus, Tanindrazanus simulans, Tanindrazanus tenebricus, Tanindrazanus varicolor, Tanindrazanus vohiparara, Toliarus karinae, Toliarus trichrous, Toxopus ambohitantely, Toxopus ampitavananima, Toxopus antsiranana, Toxopus basalis, Toxopus brucei, Toxopus farafangana, Toxopus fisheri, Toxopus griswoldi, Toxopus insignis, Toxopus italaviana, Toxopus melobrunneus, Toxopus miandritsara, Toxopus namoroka, Toxopus pallidus, Toxopus parkeri, Toxopus simulans, Toxopus steineri, Toxopus tibialis, Toxopus toamasina, Toxopus toliara, and Toxopus vazimba. Toxopus Bergroth, 1905, is redescribed, with the first description of males in the genus, and Cleptria signoretii Reuter, 1887, is transferred to Toxopus. Gibbosella Chłond, 2010, is also redescribed and includes description of males for the first time. Gibbosella elongata Chłond, 2010, Glymmatophora crassipes Horváth, 1914, and Maraenaspis bidens (Reuter), 1887, are redescribed, with the first description of males for each species. Habitus images, documentation of male and female genitalic features, identification keys, and distribution maps are provided. Males and females are associated based on morphology, geographic information, and, when available, molecular data. The newly discovered species diversity constitutes a sixfold increase over the previously documented millipede assassin bug fauna in Madagascar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much research and discussion have focused on the effects of key innovations on lineage diversification, whereas little has been done to investigate their role in morphological evolution using phylogenetic approaches. Here we present the first comprehensive molecular phylogeny of the Harpactorini ( Insecta: Reduviidae), the largest assassin bug tribe, sampling 229 terminal taxa and using five gene segments (28 S D2, D3- D5, 16 S, COI, and Deformed). Employing comparative phylogenetic methods, we demonstrate the correlation of a putative key innovation, the sticky trap predation strategy, with accelerated rates of morphological evolution of the predatory fore leg in assassin bugs. We show that bugs exhibiting sticky trap predation have evolved more slender and longer fore femora than non-sticky bugs. Using phylogenetically independent contrast analyses, we document correlated evolution between femoral thickness and length. We argue that the novel sticky trap predation strategy may allow sticky bugs to alleviate functional constraints on the fore femur and thus to attain a higher rate of evolution than other Harpactorini or Reduviidae. We discuss the possibility that sticky bugs represent a case of adaptive radiation. We also test historical supra-generic groups within the Harpactorini, and show that most of them are not monophyletic. We confirm the paraphyly of Harpactorini with respect to Rhaphidosomini. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zhang, G. and Weirauch, C. 2011. Sticky predators: a comparative study of sticky glands in harpactorine assassin bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Reduviidae). - Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 00: 1-10. For more than 50 years, specialized dermal glands that secrete sticky substances and specialized setae have been known from the legs of New World assassin bugs in the genus Zelus Fabricius (Reduviidae: Harpactorinae). The gland secretions and specialized 'sundew setae' are involved in enhancing predation success. We here refer to this predation strategy as 'sticky trap predation' and the specialized dermal glands as 'sticky glands'. To determine how widespread sticky trap predation is among Reduviidae, we investigated taxonomic distribution of sticky glands and sundew setae using compound light microscopical and scanning electron microscopical techniques and sampling 67 species of Reduviidae that represent 50 genera of Harpactorini. We found sticky glands in 12 genera of Harpactorini and thus show that sticky trap predation is much more widespread than previously suspected. The sticky glands vary in shape, size and density, but are always located in a dorsolateral position on the fore tibia. Sundew setae are present in all taxa with sticky glands with the exception of Heza that instead possesses unique lamellate setae. The sticky trap predation taxa are restricted to the New World, suggesting a New World origin of this unique predation strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assassin bugs are one of the most successful clades of predatory animals based on their species numbers (~6,800 spp.) and wide distribution in terrestrial ecosystems. Various novel prey capture strategies and remarkable prey specializations contribute to their appeal as a model to study evolutionary pathways involved in predation. Here, we reconstruct the most comprehensive reduviid phylogeny (178 taxa, 18 subfamilies) to date based on molecular data (5 markers). This phylogeny tests current hypotheses on reduviid relationships emphasizing the polyphyletic Reduviinae and the blood-feeding, disease- vectoring Triatominae, and allows us, for the first time in assassin bugs, to reconstruct ancestral states of prey associations and microhabitats. Using a fossil-calibrated molecular tree, we estimated divergence times for key events in the evolutionary history of Reduviidae. Our results indicate that the polyphyletic Reduviinae fall into 11-14 separate clades. Triatominae are paraphyletic with respect to the reduviine genus Opisthacidius in the maximum likelihood analyses; this result is in contrast to prior hypotheses that found Triatominae to be monophyletic or polyphyletic and may be due to the more comprehensive taxon and character sampling in this study. The evolution of blood-feeding may thus have occurred once or twice independently among predatory assassin bugs. All prey specialists evolved from generalist ancestors, with multiple evolutionary origins of termite and ant specializations. A bark-associated life style on tree trunks is ancestral for most of the lineages of Higher Reduviidae; living on foliage has evolved at least six times independently. Reduviidae originated in the Middle Jurassic (178 Ma), but significant lineage diversification only began in the Late Cretaceous (97 Ma). The integration of molecular phylogenetics with fossil and life history data as presented in this paper provides insights into the evolutionary history of reduviids and clears the way for in-depth evolutionary hypothesis testing in one of the most speciose clades of predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ectrichodiinae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), the millipede assassin bugs, are a speciose group (>660 species) of assassin bugs that appear to be specialist predators on Diplopoda, or millipedes. Apparently capable of coping with the noxious defensive compounds produced by many millipedes, Ectrichodiinae are engaged in a predator-prey relationship with millipedes realized only by few other arthropods. Unfortunately, feeding behaviors of Ectrichodiinae are inadequately documented, rendering this exciting phenomenon largely inaccessible. We here present a literature review on ectrichodiine prey selection and feeding behaviors, with supplemental original observations on Rhiginia cinctiventris (Stål, 1872) in Costa Rica. Thirteen species in 12 genera have been observed to feed on millipedes. The majority of diplopod prey species were reported from the orders Spirostreptida and Spirobolida, whereas Polydesmida are rarely attacked. Ectrichodiinae insert their stylets at the millipede's intersegmental membranes on the ventral and ventro-lateral trunk area or between the head and collum. Communal predation was observed among conspecific nymphs, among groups of nymphs with a conspecific adult, and more rarely among adults. Immature ectrichodiines were rarely observed to engage in solitary predation. Observations on R. cinctiventris indicate that this species preys on spirobolid and polydesmid millipedes and are in agreement with behaviors described for other Ectrichodiinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Madagascar endemic assassin bugs Bekilya Villiers and Hovacoris Villiers were described from macropterous male specimens with striking colour patterns, and are currently monotypic. Mutillocoris Villiers, with two species from Madagascar, was based on brachypterous female specimens that resemble female mutillid wasps. To investigate the validity of the three genera, recently collected specimens from Madagascar were studied with both morphological and molecular techniques. Morphology alone appeared to be of limited value for associating males with females, and immature stages with adults, because of drastic differences between the sexes and the life stages. However, the use of morphology in conjunction with molecular data resolved these associations and showed that species of Mutillocoris represent females of Bekilya and Hovacoris, which we transfer accordingly to these two genera and refer to them as the Bekilya group. The type species of Mutillocoris belongs in Bekilya, resulting in the synonymy of these two genera ( Mutillocoris). The Bekilya group is diagnosed and several new species are described: Bekilya mahafalya, Bekilya tenebra, Bekilya tuleara, Hovacoris bicolornotum, Hovacoris melanoceps and Hovacoris rufiventris A total of ten species are recognized within the Bekilya group. The monophyly of Bekilya, Hovacoris and the Bekilya group is confirmed by morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new genus and species of Reduviidae, Tribelocodia ashei gen.n., sp.n, are described from French Guyana. The relationships of Tribelocodia are analyzed within the context of a morphology-based cladistic analysis of Reduviidae. The new genus is placed within the clade Ectrichodiinae+Tribelocephalinae and shows a bizarre combination of characters thought synapomorphic for either Ectrichodiinae or Tribelocephalinae. The analyses support Tribelocodia as the sister taxon to the enigmatic African Xenocaucini within Tribelocephalinae. Tribelocodia ashei, therefore, represents the first Neotropical species of this otherwise Paleotropical group. Implications for character evolution of Ectrichodiinae and Tribelocephalinae are discussed and the diagnosis of Tribelocephalinae is revised. Scanning electron and digital micrographs are provided for Tribelocodia ashei. The holotype of Xenocaucus mancinii China and Usinger, 1949 (Xenocaucini) and a specimen of Ectrichodiella minima (Valdes, 1910), which may represent the sister taxon to the remaining Ectrichodiinae, are illustrated using digital photography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small genus Durevius Villiers, 1962 (Reduviinae) is redescribed and two species are described as new, thus recognizing five species in the genus. Durevius is endemic to Madagascar with species found in the inland plateau and coastal lowland regions. Diagnoses for the genus and all species are developed and an identification key, habitus images, and a distribution map are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The trichome in ant-feeding Holoptilinae (Insecta: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) comprises remarkable modifications of abdominal sternites 2 and 3. It has been hypothesized that this structure plays a role in attracting and drugging ants. In the present study the trichome of 14 species of Holoptilini, comprising 11 species of Ptilocnemus Westwood and representatives of three additional genera of Holoptilini, is examined using scanning electron and light microscopy. The astoundingly diverse species-level modifications of sternites and vestiture are described and primary homology hypotheses are proposed. The trichome provides species-specific diagnostic characters within Ptilocnemus and evidence for species-groups within the genus, but also for the sistergroup relationship of Ptilocnemus and Smiliopus Bergroth. The comparative morphology establishes a framework for investigations into systematics, functional morphology, and behavioral ecology of these myrmecophagous assassin bugs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The first comprehensive cladistic analysis of Reduviidae, the assassin bugs, based on molecular data is presented and discussed in the context of a recently-published morphological analysis. Assassin bugs are essential components of ecosystems, but also important in agriculture and medicine. Sampling included 94 taxa (89 Reduviidae, 5 outgroups) in 15 subfamilies and 24 tribes of Reduviidae and is based on ∼3300 base pairs of mitochondrial (16S) and nuclear (18S, 28SD2, 28SD3-5) ribosomal DNA. Partitions of the dataset were aligned using different algorithms implemented in MAFFT and the combined dataset was analyzed using parsimony, partitioned maximum likelihood and partitioned Bayesian criteria. Clades recovered in all analyses, independent of alignment and analytical method, comprise: Cimicomorpha and Reduviidae; Hammacerinae; Harpactorinae; Apiomerini; Peiratinae; Phymatinae; Salyavatinae; Triatominae; Phymatinae+Holoptilinae; the higher Reduviidae (Reduviidae excluding Hammacerinae and the Phymatine Complex); Ectrichodiinae+Tribelocephalinae; (Triatominae+ Zelurus)+Stenopodainae. Hammacerinae are rejected as sister group to all remaining Reduviidae in all analyses, as is the monophyly of Reduviinae, Emesinae and Harpactorini. High support values for Triatominae imply that blood-feeding has evolved only once within Reduviidae. Stenopodainae and part of Reduviinae are discussed as close relatives to Triatominae. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A phylogenetic analysis for the Cimicomorpha was conducted using 92 taxa, including eight outgroups and six species of Thaumastocoridae. Density of taxon sampling allows for tests of relationships at the family level for most taxa, whereas in the Miridae denser sampling allows for doing so on the tribal level. This level of sampling also corresponds with the availability of testable published hypotheses of relationships. Morphological data for 73 characters are coded for all taxa. Approximately 3500 base pairs of DNA were sequenced for the following gene regions for 83 taxa: 16S rDNA, 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA and COI. Results are presented for analysis of morphological data, individual molecular partitions, combined molecular data, combined morphological and molecular data for 83 taxa and combined morphological and molecular data for 92 taxa. Analyses of morphological data were performed using the parsimony programsnona andpiwe: molecular and combined data were analysed using direct optimization with the programpoy. Major conclusions of the present study include recognition of the following monophyletic groups: The Geocorisae is a monophyletic group. The monophyly of the Cimicomorpha – including Thaumastocoridae – is not supported in most analyses. The Reduviidae is monophyletic, with the Phymatinae Complex being the sister-group of the remaining subfamilies. The circumscription of the Cimiciformes is altered from the prior conception of Schuh and Štys to also include the Joppeicidae, Microphysidae and Velocipedidae, as well as the recently described family Curaliidae; the monophyly of the Cimiciformes is supported in most analyses; the Cimiciformes is treated as the sister-group of the Miroidea in most analyses. The monophyly of the Cimicoidea, including Curaliidae, is supported in all analyses including molecular data, whereas Curaliidae is treated as a more basal cimiciform in all other analyses. The monophyly and placement of the Thaumastocoridae is ambiguous across the range of analyses, and the monophyly of the Miroidea sensu Schuh and Štys receives limited support in the combined analyses of morphology + molecular data. The Tingidae and Miridae are each monophyletic and together almost invariably form a monophyletic group. Within the Miridae, several inclusive monophyletic groups at the subfamily/tribal level are more or less consistently recognized when molecular data are included; however, the interrelationships of the subfamilies vary substantially across the range of analyses. Of the individual molecular partitions, only 18S rDNA shows significant congruence with combined analyses of morphological, combined molecular or combined morphological and molecular data. Scenarios are discussed for the evolution of the metathoracic scent-efferent system and the origin of the fossula spongiosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With more than 6600 species worldwide, Reduviidae (Insecta: Heteroptera), or assassin bugs, form the second largest and one of the most diverse groups of true bugs. The poor condition of the higher-level classification of Reduviidae is reflected by the facts that different authors recognize between 21 and 32 subfamily-level names and that Reduviidae were never subjected to a rigorous cladistic analysis using an exemplar approach. In the present study, a cladistic analysis of higher-level taxa of Reduviidae based on 162 morphological characters and 75 ingroup and outgroup species is presented. Twenty-one subfamily-level taxa of Reduviidae were examined, accounting for 28 tribes. In addition to characters previously used for diagnosis in Reduviidae, information on recently published character complexes is used in the present analysis, supplemented with new character information gathered specifically for this project. Reduviidae are supported as a monophyletic group with Pachynomidae as their sister taxon. The major results of this study are the support of a sistergroup relationship of Hammacerinae with the remaining Reduviidae, the monophyly of the Phymatine Complex, the relatively basal position of Harpactorinae within Reduviidae as well as a novel hypothesis on the relationships within this group, and the sistergroup relationship of Ectrichodiinae + Tribelocephalinae and their placement in a clade that also contains Emesinae, Saicinae, and Visayanocorinae. The analysis further supports a clade formed by paraphyletic Salyavatinae + Sphaeridopinae, renders Vesciinae non-monophyletic, and demonstrates the polyphyly of Reduviinae. Pseudocetherinae are shown to group with some Reduviinae. Triatominae are supported as a monophyletic group and are nested among additional Reduviinae and Stenopodainae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Reduviidae and some other groups of cimicomorphan Heteroptera possess a hairy attachment structure on the apex of the tibia called “fossula spongiosa”. The fossula spongiosa was never studied comparatively across Reduviidae, its fine structure and mode of function is not well documented, and attachment structures in immature stages are virtually unknown. Here, a sample of 171 species of Reduviidae representing 22 subfamilies is examined for presence–absence of the fossula spongiosa on the three pairs of legs. Representatives of 11 of the 22 subfamilies are shown to possess a fossula spongiosa. The fine structure of the fossula spongiosa is examined for a more limited sample of Reduviidae and several Pachynomidae and Nabidae. In addition, scanning micrographs for the fossula spongiosa in other Cimicomorpha are given, among them Anthocoridae, Cimicidae, Microphysidae (first record of a fossula spongiosa), and Thaumastocoridae. The fossula spongiosa in Reduviidae consists of tenent hairs (acanthae) with spatulate or tapering apices interspersed with sensory setae, both of which are embedded in a thick and flexible cuticle, underlain by a hemolymph cavity separated almost entirely from the interior of the remaining tibia by a cuticular invagination. Judging from comparison with non-reduviid Cimicomorpha, this separation of the fossula spongiosa cavity from the tibial interior may be unique to Reduviidae. A simple experiment using live specimens of Platymeris biguttata (Reduviinae) revealed a liquid on the tip of the tenent hairs that might be involved in the attachment of the fossula spongiosa by adhesion mechanisms. The nymphs of Reduviidae whose adults have a fossula spongiosa are here documented for the first time to possess pads of ventrally barbed setae instead of tenent hairs and their tibia lacks the internal cuticular invagination. The nymphal attachment structures seem to rely on increase of friction rather than the adhesion mechanism proposed to be present in the adult. Combined with the tenent setae on the third tarsomere known in some Emesinae and here documented for Saicinae, three types of hairy attachment structures occur on the legs of Reduviidae: tenent hairs (acanthae), which form the fossula spongiosa in many Reduviidae, barbed setae that substitute the fossula in the immatures, and tenent setae on the tarsus which are restricted to only a few taxa. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A survey of pretarsal structures in Reduviidae of 22 higher-level taxa and several outgroup representatives is conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy. Based on histology and SEM, pretarsal structures are described in detail for Rhodnius prolixus. Structures of the distal tarsomer, which appear to be functionally correlated with the pretarsus, are documented for the first time in Heteroptera. These comprise lateral oval sclerites, two campaniform sensilla and two marginal setae, observed in Reduviidae and other heteropteran taxa. The presence of a peg-like dorsomedian sensillum medially between the claws in Reduviidae and Nabidae is demonstrated. As a result of its structure and position, homology of this sensillum with the ‘dorsal arolium’ in other heteropteran groups is proposed. Within Reduviidae, the transformation of the peg-like dorsomedian sensillum to a campaniform sensillum, as seen in most representatives of the harpactoroid complex, is hypothesized. The first record of parempodia other than setiform within Reduviidae is noted in nymphs of Harpactorinae, which may possess lamellate parempodia. Several characters that are possibly useful for clarifying relationships among the harpactoroid groups are described and discussed. The pretarsal structures, including the unguitractor plate and the tarsal marginal setae among reduviid groups are discussed in a phylogenetic context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assassin bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae Latreille) comprise not only one of the largest radiations of predatory animals (22 subfamilies; >6,800 spp.) but also include the medically important kissing bugs (Triatominae Jeannel). Reduviidae are morphologically diverse, engage in an astounding array of predatory strategies and have evolved some of the most unique anti‐predator and stealth techniques in the animal kingdom. While significant progress has been made to reveal the evolutionary history of assassin bugs and revise their taxonomy, the non‐monophyly of the second largest assassin bug subfamily, Reduviinae Latreille, remains to be addressed. Leveraging phylogenomic data (2,291 loci) and 112 morphological characters, we performed the first data‐ and taxon‐rich (195 reduvioid taxa) combined phylogenetic analysis across Reduvioidea and reconstructed morphological diagnostic features for major lineages. We corroborated the rampant polyphyly of Reduviinae that demands substantial revisions to the subfamilial and tribal classification of assassin bugs. Our new classification for Reduviidae reduces the number of subfamilies to 19 and recognizes 40 tribes. We describe three new subfamilies to accommodate distantly related taxa previously classified as Reduviinae (Heteropinae subfam. nov., Nanokeralinae subfam. nov., and Pasirinae subfam. nov.). Triatominae sensu nov. are expanded to include closely related predatory reduviine genera. Cetherinae Jeannel, Chryxinae Champion, Pseudocetherinae Villiers, Salyavatinae Amyot & Serville and Sphaeridopinae Amyot & Serville are treated as junior synonyms of Reduviinae sensu nov. Epiroderinae Distant are synonymized with Phimophorinae Handlirsch sensu nov. and Bactrodini Stål stat. nov. are reclassified as a tribe of Harpactorinae Amyot & Serville. Psophidinae Distant is treated as a valid subfamily. This new classification represents a robust framework for future taxonomic and evolutionary research on assassin bugs.Zoobank Registration: http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2310C9AA-0D53-4EF6-9E75-C2B3A98CE096 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invertebrate generalist predators are ubiquitous and play a major role in food‐web dynamics. Molecular gut content analysis (MGCA) has become a popular means to assess prey ranges and specificity of cryptic arthropods in the absence of direct observation. While this approach has been widely used to study predation on economically important taxa (i.e., pests) in agroecosystems, it is less frequently used to study the broader trophic interactions involving generalist predators in natural communities such as the diverse and threatened coastal sage scrub communities of Southern California. Here, we employ DNA metabarcoding‐based MGCA and survey the taxonomically and ecologically diverse prey range of Phymata pacifica Evans, a generalist flower‐associated ambush bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). We detected predation on a wide array of taxa including beneficial pollinators, potential pests, and other predatory arthropods. The success of this study demonstrates the utility of MGCA in natural ecosystems and can serve as a model for future diet investigations into other cryptic and underrepresented communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disulfide-rich peptides such as defensins play diverse roles in immunity and ion channel modulation, as well as constituting the bioactive components of many animal venoms. We investigated the structure and bioactivity of U-RDTX-Pp19, a peptide previously discovered in venom of the assassin bug Pristhesancus plagipennis. Recombinant Pp19 (rPp19) was found to possess insecticidal activity when injected into Drosophila melanogaster. A bioinformatic search revealed that domains homologous to Pp19 are produced by assassin bugs and diverse other arthropods. rPp19 co-eluted with native Pp19 isolated from P. plagipennis , which we found is more abundant in hemolymph than venom. We solved the three-dimensional structure of rPp19 using 2D 1H NMR spectroscopy, finding that it adopts a disulfide-stabilized structure highly similar to known trans -defensins, with the same cystine connectivity as human α-defensin (I–VI, II–IV, and III–V). The structure of Pp19 is unique among reported structures of arthropod peptides. [Display omitted] • Recombinant expression of Pp19, a disulfide-rich peptide from assassin bug venom • The Pp19 structure was determined by solution NMR spectroscopy • Pp19 adopts a fold similar to human α-defensin with the same disulfide connectivity Walker et al. produced an insecticidal peptide from the venom of an assassin bug using bacterial expression. The structure of this peptide was determined using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Pp19 adopts a unique fold previously unknown among defensins produced by arthropods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]