Platymeris rhadamanthus

Platymeris rhadamanthus
Platymeris rhadamanthus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Reduviidae
Genus: Platymeris
Species: P. rhadamanthus
Binomial name
Platymeris rhadamanthus

Platymeris rhadamanthus, the red spot assassin bug, is a species of true bugs belonging to the family Reduviidae. [1]

Description

Platymeris rhadamanthus can reach a length of about 3.8–4 centimetres (1.5–1.6 in). The basic color of the body is black. The coloration of the spots on the hemelytra are orange or red, legs are covered with short hair and femurs are crossed by a red band. The both color forms have same morphological characters including the morphology of male and female genitalia.[2] This venomous nocturnal predator has needle-like mouth parts designed for sucking juices out other insects. It has a painful sting, like that of a hornet sting. It feeds on small invertebrates, but mainly on the rhinoceros beetles.[3]

Distribution and habitat

This species can be found in Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Republic of South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zanzibar.[1] It prefers open areas with small participation of tree vegetation.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Biolib
  2. 1 2 Chłond, Dominik; Bugaj-Nawrocka, Agnieszka (2014). "Model of potential distribution of Platymeris rhadamanthus Gerstaecker, 1873 with redescription of species". Zoological Studies. 53 (3). doi:10.1186/1810-522X-53-8.
  3. ↑ Vanderplank, F. L.The assassin bug, Platymerus rhadamanthus Gerst (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), a useful predator of the rhinoceros beetles Oryctes boas (P.) and Oryctes monoceros (Oliv.)


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