Emesopsis is a genus of tropical bugs (Heteroptera) from the family Reduviidae.Tadashi Ishikawa, Shûji Okajima: The assassin bug genus Emesopsis (Heteroptera, Reduviidae, Emesinae) in Thailand. In: Hug the Bug (Hrsg. Wolfgang Rabitsch). Denisia 19: 457-474. (2006). Denisia 19: 457-474. (2006). There are at least 22 described species, of which one, E. nubila, also occurs in southern Europe.
The representatives of this genus are mostly relatively small, and measure a few millimeters to about one centimeter.
They move, as is common for the bugs of the subfamily Emesinae, with their back and middle legs. The raptorial front legs serve to capture prey. With them, the prey is captured, then bitten through with the mandibles and carried away. Then it is drained, which can sometimes take half an hour. Emesopsis prey on a variety of insect groups, ranging from beetles, bugs, flies, to springtails.
Habitat and distribution
The species of the genus Emesopsis be found both in agricultural and forest ecosystems.
They occur primarily in tropical Asia (e.g. India, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan, New Guinea) and Australia (e.g. E. bunda in Queensland). Only E. nubila is pantropical, probably a consequence of the spread of global trade.
partial species list
Emesopsis aberrans (Distant, 1909) Emesopsis aemula (Horvath, 1914) Emesopsis albispinosa Ishikawa & Okajima, 2004 Emesopsis amoenus Wygodzinsky & Usinger, 1960 Emesopsis bellulus Wygodzinsky & Usinger, 1960 Emesopsis bunda Wygodzinsky, 1956 Emesopsis decoris Wygodzinsky & Usinger, 1960 Emesopsis gaius McAtee & Malloch, 1926 Emesopsis gallienus McAtee & Malloch, 1926 Emesopsis habros Wygodzinsky & Usinger, 1960 Emesopsis hadrian McAtee & Malloch, 1926 Hadrian Emesopsis imbellis (Horvath, 1914) Emesopsis infenestra Tatarnic, Wall & Cassis, 2011 Emesopsis longipilosa Ishikawa & Okajima, 2004 Emesopsis medusa (Kirkaldy, 1908) Emesopsis nero McAtee & Malloch, 1926 Emesopsis nubila Uhler, 1893 Emesopsis obsoletus McAtee & Malloch, 1926 Emesopsis pallidicoxa (Usinger, 1946) Emesopsis plagiatus Miller, 1941 Emesopsis scitulus Wygodzinsky & Usinger, 1960 Emesopsis spicatus McAtee & Malloch, 1926 Emesopsis streiti Kovac & Yang, 1995
References