Rhynocoris tristis

Rhynocoris tristis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Family: Reduviidae
Subfamily: Harpactorinae
Tribe: Harpactorini
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 2 3 Lisa K. Thomas and Andrea Manica. "Intrasexual competition and mate choice in assassin bugs with uniparental male and female care" (PDF). Animal Behavious, 2005:69, 275–281.
  2. ↑ Thomas, L. K. & Manica, A. 2003. Filial cannibalism in an assassin bug. Animal Behaviour, 66, 205–210.
  3. ↑ Christy A. Beal and Douglas W. Tallamy. "A new record of amphisexual care in an insect with exclusive paternal care: Rhynocoris tristis (Heteroptera: Reduviidae)". Journal of Ethology: Volume 24, Number 3, July, 2006.
  4. ↑ Thomas, L. K. 1994. The evolution of parental care in assassin bugs. Ph.D. thesis, University of Cambridge.
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