Melanocoryphus albomaculatus

Melanocoryphus albomaculatus is a species of insect in the sub-order of true bugs, Heteroptera.

Melanocoryphus albomaculatus
Adult
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Family: Lygaeidae
Genus: Melanocoryphus
Species:
M. albomaculatus
Binomial name
Melanocoryphus albomaculatus
(Goeze, 1778)

Characteristics

Melanocoryphus albomaculatus has a black head, scutellum, antennae and legs. On the red pronotum are two hook-shaped black spots. The corium of the hemelytra (the partially hardened front wings) is red with a black round spot in the middle, while the membrane (the transparent part of the front wings) is black and in the middle has a white round spot. The connexivum (on the visible side part of the abdomen) is red with black spots. The bug reaches a body size of 7–9 mm.[1]

Distribution and habitat

This heat-loving species is very common in the Mediterranean region. Its distribution area extends in the east via Asia Minor to the Caspian Sea. In Central Europe, the species occurs only sporadically and is usually limited to so-called "heat islands". In Germany, these are located in the Upper Rhine Plain and on the Middle Rhine. The species is also present on the northern French channel coast, in the Netherlands and in Austria.

Lifestyle

The species prefers hot, dry, rocky habitats; more rarely areas with sandy soils. It is a so-called seed sucker. The main food plant of the species is the swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum hirundinaria). Other forage plants are the foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and plants from the ragwort genus (Senecio). The adults of the species hibernate.[1]

Systematics

The species Melanocoryphus albomaculatus was described by the German zoologist Johann August Ephraim Goeze in 1778.

Similar species

Notes and references

  1. "Weißpunkt-Bodenwanze" (in German). insektenbox. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
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