Biosystematica ISSN: 0973-7871(online)

An Annotated Checklist of Indian (: ) with Ecological and Morphological Characteristics

DUNSTON P. A MBROSE, S. SIVARAMA KRISHNAN AND V. J EBASINGH

Entomology Research Unit, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Palayankottai 627 002, Tamil Nadu.

Corresponding author: [email protected]

ABSTRACT - Thirty-nine species of peiratine assassin bugs under nine genera with their taxonomical status, Indian and worldwide distribution and their diagnostic ecological and morphological characters are given. The genus Ectomocoris Mayr is the most abundant group with 21 species followed by the genus Peirates Serville with five species. The diagnostic ecological and morphological characteristics features discussed in this review include microhabitats and habitats, the curvature of rostrum, presence or absence of tibial pads and nature of wings. The morphological characters are correlated to the ecological characteristics and behavioural and biological functions. KEY WORDS - Reduviidae, Peiratinae, Assassin Bugs, Checklist, Ecology, Morphology, India.

Introduction predators in situations, where a variety of pests occur. Thus, reduviid bugs are important mortality factors Reduviidae is the largest family of predaceous land and should be conserved and augmented for their Heteroptera, globally comprising of 6250 species and utilization in biocontrol programmes (Ambrose 1987a & subspecies in 913 genera and 25 subfamilies (Maldonado, b, 1988, 1991, 1996a & b, 1999, 2000 and 2003; Schaefer, 1990). Among them 342 species under 31 genera belong 1988). However, information on their biosystematics is to the subfamily Peiratinae. Distant (1902b) in his fauna inadequate and it is strongly felt that one should know of British India described 31 species under 6 genera. not only what reduviids are but also its relatives. Such Reduviids are abundant, occur worldwide and are knowledge will broaden and deepen our understanding voracious predators. Hence, they are referred to as of the species, especially those with morphs and “assassin bugs”. Being larger than many other ecotypes, a prerequisite for their effective utilization as predaceous land bugs and encompassing in their biological control agents in Integrated Pest Management development a greater range of size, reduviid bugs programmes. This paper reviews information available consume not only more prey than they need to satiate on the taxonomic status, microhabitats, habitats, themselves but also a wide array of prey. Because they diagnostic morphological characteristics of peiratine are polyphagous assassin bugs may not be useful as assassin bugs from Indian faunal limits and their relation predators on specific pests, but they are valuable

© Prof. T.C. Narenderan Trust for Taxonomy Biosystematica, 2007, 1(1): 45-57 http://www.tcntrust.org/journal.php 45 46 DUNSTON P. AMBROSE, S. SIVARAMA KRISHNAN AND V. JEBASINGH to their ecological, behavioural and biological functions jungles, semiarid zones and adjacent agroecosystems. (Ambrose, 1980, 1996a & b, 1999, 2000, 2004a & b and Four species viz., Cleptocoris lepturoides (Wolff), 2006). Ectomocoris cordatus (Wolff), Peirates unipunctatus Livingstone and Murugan and Spilodermus Result and Discussion quadrinotatus (Fabricius) were found in Taxonomical diversity agroecosystems. Two species viz., Ectomocoris The family Reduviidae contains more subfamilies than quadriguttatus (Fabricius) and E. cordiger Stål share any other heteropteran family and their composition and tropical rainforests and semiarid zones and are also found relationship need further studies (Ambrose, 1999, 2004b in agroecosystems. Two species viz., Androclus pictus and 2006). Hence, there is an absolute need for a (Herrich- Schaeffer) and flavipes (Stål) were complete comprehensive reassessment of the subfamilies recorded from semiarid zones as well as agroecosystems. at tribes (division) and generic levels. Distant (1902b) in Peirates punctum (Fabricius) shares semiarid zones as his Fauna of British India, described 31 species belonging well as agroecosystems. Sirthenea nigripes Murugan to 6 genera of subfamily Peiratinae. In the checklist of and Livingstone was recorded only from semiarid zones. Indian assassin bugs (Ambrose, 2006) 39 species of All the above mentioned species with the exception of peiratines under 9 genera were listed. This review covers E. gangeticus & E. tuberculatum were attracted to information on their taxonomic status, ecological and light. The habitats of many light attracted species are morphological characteristics (Table 1). still unknown and it suggests the need for further study on this little known subfamily. Peiratinae is the moderately abundant reduviid subfamily, with 39 species under 9 genera when Peiratinae exhibits lesser endemism or the exclusive compared to the most abundant subfamilies presence in a particular habitat when compared to the Harpactorinae and the next abundant Reduviinae endemism of Harpactorinae and Reduviinae. For (Ambrose, 2006). Among 39 peiratine species, instance, in Harpactorinae, 49% of species is exclusively Ectomocoris dominates with 21 species (54%), followed present in tropical rainforests, 8% in scrub jungles and by Peirates with 5 species (13%); it is Lestomerus 5% in semiarid zones. In Reduviinae 32% of species is Amyot & Serville and Sirthenea Spinola represent 3 exclusively present in tropical rainforests, 10% in scrub species (8%) each, Androclus Stål and Cleptocoris Stål jungles and 5% in semiarid zones (Ambrose, 1980, with 2 species (5%) each and remaining 3 genera viz., 1987a, 1996a, 1999, 2000, 2004a and 2006; Livingstone Catamiarus Amyot & Serville, Phalantus Stål and and Ambrose, 1984). Spilodermus Stål represented by one species, each. Microhabitat Ecological diversity Majority of the peiratines, 21 species (84%) lives Ecological diversity of peiratine assassin bugs is dealt generally under boulders. However, among them species under habitats and microhabitats (Table 2). Among viz., Ectomocoris horridus (Kirby) and L. affinis live peiratines, four species (16%) were exclusively present under bark and E. tibialis, E. quadriguttatus and S. in the tropical rainforests and one species (4%) in scrub quadrinotatus live in litter. Thus, peiratines prefer jungles but no peiratine was recorded as exclusively microhabitats under boulders as observed in Reduviinae present in semiarid zones. Two species (5%) were found and Ectrichodiinae where 38% and 33% were exclusively light attracted. Four species viz., Catamiarus found under boulders, followed by microhabitats under brevipennis (Serville), Ectomocoris tibialis Distant, bark (22%). However, harpactorines prefer shrubs Ectomocoris nigrochripes Murugan and Livingstone (34%) than under boulders (10%) and salyavatines prefer and Lestomerus affinis (Serville) were found in all the litter (80%) and 20% live under boulders (Ambrose, three major ecosystems as well as in agroecosystems 1980, 1987b, 1996a and b, 1999, 2004a and 2006). and moreover they were found light attracted. Two Structural diversity species of Ectomocoris viz., E. gangeticus (Bergroth) Structural and behavioural adaptations of peiratine and E. tuberculatum Livingstone and Murugan and assassin bugs are intimately related to their ecological Lestomerus sanctus (Fabricius) were found in scrub diversity. Hence, structural diversity is discussed under

Biosystematica, 2007, 1(1) Checklist of Indian Peiratinae 47 3 major distinguishable structures viz., rostrum, tibial pad compared to harpactorines and reduviines. However, the and wing (Table 3). presence of tibial pads only in the forelegs of two Sirthenea species is considered as a deviation Rostrum (specialization) from the direct line of tibial pad evolution The rostrum of assassin bugs are categorized into four (Livingstone and Ambrose, 1978 & 1984; Ambrose, major types viz., straight, slightly curved, curved and 1999). acutely curved (Ambrose, 1999). Thirty four species Wing (97%) of peiratine assassin bugs have uniformly acutely curved “bow” shaped rostrum (Ambrose, 1999, 2004a Seventy seven per cent of peiratine species are alate, and 2006) and only one species viz., Sirthenea bharathi 11% are brachypterous, 6% are polymorphic and another Sucheta and Chopra has moderately curved rostrum 6% are sexually dimorphic. Members of Androclus, (Sucheta and Chopra, 1998). Peirates, Phalantus, Sirthenea and Spilodermus all are alate. In L. affinis and E. vishnu male is alate and The degree of curvature of rostrum in peiratine female is micropterous (Vennison and Ambrose, 1990b; reduviids is almost similar to that of its closer subfamily Ambrose, 1999). Catamiarus brevipennis is totally Reduviinae where 89% species have acutely curved and brachypterous (Ambrose et al., 1985) whereas males 11% species have curved rostrum. The rostral diversity of E. tibialis and Ectomocoris xavierei Vennison and of Peiratinae is in sharp contrast with Harpactorinae, Ambrose exist both as alate and brachypterous whereas Stenopodainae and Salyavatinae where 83%, 97% and females only as brachypterous (Vennison and Ambrose, 100% species respectively have slightly curved rostrum 1991, Ambrose, 1999). Peiratines have less number of and none has acutely curved rostrum. But 90% of alate species (77%) when compared to harpactorines ectrichodiines have curved rostrum (Ambrose, 1987b, (98%) and reduviines (85%) (Ambrose, 1980, 1996a, 1996a and b, 1999, 2004a and 2006). 1999, 2004a, 2006; Murugan, 1988; Vennison, 1988). Tibial pad Eggs Tibial pads are adaptive structural modifications of tibiae Assassin bugs exhibit diversity not only in the shape of that aid in predation. Assassin bugs are grouped in to eggs but also in their egg laying pattern. Egg laying pattern two categories i.e., those with tibial pads or fossula of nine peiratine assassin bugs are known. They lay spongiosae and those without tibial pads in both fore- elongately or broadly oval eggs loosely without any and midtibiae or only in foretibiae (Ambrose, 1999, 2004a cementing material. But they bury their eggs deep inside and 2006). Among 35 peiratines, 33 species (94%) have the soil, an unique behaviour observed only in Peiratinae. well developed tibial pads in the fore- and midtibiae Moreover, the peiratine eggs have opercular frills that whereas two species of Sirthenea viz., S. bharathi and provide protection to micropyles and aid in micropylar S. flavipes (6%) have tibial pads only in their foretibiae respiration, especially in the buried eggs. Certain (Sucheta and Chopra, 1998; Ambrose, 1999). The level peiratines e.g. Catamiarus brevipennis have the of tibial pad development in Peiratinae is closer to tendency to glue their eggs with fresh excreta as Reduviinae where all the 79 species have tibial pads in observed in Reduviinae and Stenopodainae (Ambrose, both fore- and midtibiae. However, it is in sharp contrast 1987b, 1996a, 1999, 2004a and 2006). with the situation in Harpactorinae in both fore- and midtibiae are generally devoid of tibial pads. Thus, the subfamily Peiratinae distinguishes itself with unique ecological, morphological and behavioural The subfamily Peiratinae has attained the maximum attributes and exhibits affinities with its closer subfamily development of tibial pads, which are not only reaching like Reduviinae and distances itself from subfamilies like the entire length of the tarsomeres but also extending Stenopodainae. A thorough understanding of the beyond the tibial extremities. Though some species have biosystematics of subfamilies of Reduviidae will reveal only foretibial pads. The genus Ectomocoris and their polygenetic relationships. Peirates have the tibial combs in addition to tibial pads. The peiratines have the highest tibial pad index and they take relatively lesser time in capturing the prey when

Biosystematica, 2007, 1(1) 48 DUNSTON P. AMBROSE, S. SIVARAMA KRISHNAN AND V. JEBASINGH

Table 1. Checklist with synonyms and Distribution of Peiratine assassin bugs of India

S.No Name of the species and their synonyms Distribution In India In World 1 Androclus granulatus Stål 1863 1,11,18 India Pirates granulatus Walker 1873a 2 Androclus pictus (Herrich-Schaeffer) 1848 4,24,44 Africa, Dutch east, Oriental Pirates pictus Herrich-Schaeffer 1848 (Cameroon, Southern Dicraotropis pictus Mayr 1865 Mozambique (Delagoa Androclus (Dicroatropis) sculpturatus Breddin 1903 Bay), Guinea, India, (synonymy by Distant 1902b) Indonesia (Java), South Androclus pictus Distant 1902b Africa,Transvala) 3 Catamiarus brevipennis (Serville) 1831 in Maldonado, 1990 7,8,9,10,13, India Pirates (Peirates) brevipennis Serville 1831 17,20,22,30, in Maldonado, 1990 35,36,40,41, Catamiarus brevipennis Amyot & Serville 1843 43,44 Pirates (Catamiarus) brevipennis Stål 1874 Catamiarus championi Miller 1959 (synonymy by Dispons 1969) (redescribed by Kasinathan, 1983) 4 Cleptocoris atromaculatus Stål 1870b in Maldonado, 1990 1,18,23 China, India, Indonesia Pirates sinensis Walker 1873a (synonymy by Distant 1902a) (Java), Japan, Myanmar, Pirates atromaculatus Walker 1873a Philippines, Sri Lanka Pirates (Cleptocoris) atromaculatus Stål 1874 5 Cleptocoris lepturoides (Wolff) 1804a in Maldonado, 1990 4 India, Indonesia (Borneo, Reduvius lepturoides Wolff 1804a in Maldonado, 1990 Java), Myanmar,Sri Lanka Pirates lepturoides Stål 1866b Pirates (Cleptocoris) lepturoides Stål 1874 Cleptocoris lepturoides Oshanin 1910 6 Ectomocoris apimaculatus Distant 1919 # India 7 E. atrox (Stål) 1855a 8 Bhamao Island, Cambodia, Pirates atrox Stål 1855a China, India, Indonesia Peirates fuscicornis Dohrn 1860b (Borneo, Celebes, Java, E. atrox Stål 1866b Sumatra), Malaysia, Pirates diffinis Walker 1873b (synonymy by Distant 1902a) Myanmar, Palon, Pirates fuscicornis Walker 1873b Philippines, Sri Lanka Eumerus (Eumerus) atrox var. b (= Pirates fuscicornis) Stål 1874 Pirates ypsilon in Maldonado, 1990 Pirates stigmativentris Kirby 1891(synonymy by Distant 1902a) E. atrox f. parva Breddin 1901 8 E. cordatus (Wolff) 1804a in Maldonado, 1990 8,33,41, India, Sri Lanka Reduvius cordatus Wolff 1804a in Maldonado, 1990 44,45 Peirates singalensis Dohrn 1860b (synonymy by Distant 1902b) Peirates cordatus Walker 1873b Peirates singalensis Walker 1873b Eumerus (Eumerus) cordatus Stål 1874 E. cordatus Distant 1902b E. singalensis Breddin 1912

Biosystematica, 2007, 1(1) Checklist of Indian Peiratinae 49

9 E. cordiger Stål 1866b 4,5,7,8,9,26, Guinea, India, Iran, Iraq, Sri Pirates adjunctus Walker 1873b (synonymy by Distant 1902b) 30,41,45 Lanka, United Arab Eumerus (Eumerus) cordiger Stål 1874 Emirates 10 E. cyaneus (Stål) 1863 # India Pirates cyaneus Stål 1863 Pirates cyaneus Stål 1874 11 E. elegans (Fabricius) 1803 8,18 Guinea, India, Indonesia Reduvius elegans Fabricius 1803 (Timor), Malaysia, E. elegans Stål 1868 Myanmar, Thailand Pirates inscriptus Walker 1873b (synonymy by Distant 1902b) Pirates elegans Walker 1873b Eumerus (Eumerus) elegans Stål 1874 12 E. erebus (Distant) 1904j in Maldonado, 1990 25 India, Madagascar, Pirates erebus Distant 1904j in Maldonado, 1990 Myanmar E. erebus Distant 1902b 13 E. flavomaculatus Stål 1870b in Maldonado, 1990 # China (Taiwan), India, E. flavo-maculatus Stål 1870b in Maldonado, 1990 Japan, Philippines Spilodermus arcuatus Stål 1870b in Maldonado, 1990 Pirates mutilloides & var. beta Walker 1873a (synonymy by Distant 1902a) Pirates arcuatus Walker 1873b Pirates (Spilodermus) arcuatus Stål 1874 (synonymy by Kiritshenko 1961) Eumerus (Eumerus) flavo-maculatus Stål 1874 E. flavomaculatus Lethierry & Severin 1896 Pirates yayeyamae Matsumura 1913a in Maldonado, 1990 addit (synonymy by Esaki 1926) 14 E. gangeticus (Bergroth) 1894 8,12,41 India Pirates gangeticus Bergroth 1894 E. gangeticus Lethierry & Severin 1896 15 E. horridus (Kirby) 1891 34 India, Sri Lanka Lestomerus horridus Kirby 1891 Pirates horridus Lethierry & Severin 1896 Sirthenea horrida Distant 1902a E. horridus Distant 1902b 16 E. melanopterus Distant 1919 # India 17 E. nigrochripes Murugan & Livingstone in Murugan 1998 8 India 18 E. ochropterus Stål 1866b 2,3,6,8 Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Pirates posticus Walker 1873a (synonymy by Priesner & India Alfieri 1953) Pirates ochropterus Walker 1873b Eumerus (Eumerus) flaviger Stål 1874 (synonymy by Distant 1902a) E. flaviger Lethierry & Severin1896 E. posticus Distant 1902a Eumenes (sic) flaviger Distant 1902b E. ochropterus Linnavuori 1972 19 E. picturatus Distant 1919 # India 20 E. quadriguttatus (Fabricius) 1781 4,8,16,17,29, India Reduvius quadriguttatus Fabricius 1781 36,41,4 4,46 Cimex octomaculatus Gmelin 1790 in Maldonado, 1990 (synonymy by Stål 1874) Reduvius 4- guttatus Fabricius 1803

Biosystematica, 2007, 1(1) 50 DUNSTON P. AMBROSE, S. SIVARAMA KRISHNAN AND V. JEBASINGH

E. coloratus Mayr 1865 (synonymy by Stål 1866b) E. quadriguttatus Stål 1866b (Distant, 1902b) Pirates sexmaculatus Walker 1873a (synonymy by Distant 1902a) Pirates desicus Walker 1873a (synonymy by Distant 1902a) Eumerus (Eumerus) quadriguttatus Stål 1874 21 E. quadrimaculatus (Serville) 1831 in Maldonado 1990 # Austral Africa, India, Inter- Peirates quadrimaculatus Serville 1831 in Maldonado 1990 tropical, Iraq, Somalia Peirates 3-guttatus Erichson 1842 Peirates quadrimaculatus Amyot & Serville, 1843 Peirates trifenestratus Stål 1855b E. quadrimaculatus Stål 1866b Pirates quadrimaculatus Walker 1873b Eumerus (Eumerus) quadrimaculatus Stål, 1874a Ectomocoris quadrimaculatus var.macroquadrimaculatus Hesse 1925 E. quadrimaculatus Stål 1972a in Maldonado, 1990 (nec Serville) Linnavori 1972 (synonymy in part with E.caucasicus) 22 E. simulans Distant 1919 # India 23 E. tibialis Distant 1902b 5,8,9,17,21, India (redescribed by Ambrose 1980) 28,31,32,33, (var. a. alate male b. brachypterous male & c. brachypterous 36,41,44,45 female; exhibits ecotypism, Sahayaraj, 1991) 24 E. tuberculatum Livingstone & Murugan 1988 8,20 India 25 E. vishnu Distant 1902b 4,20 India (redescribed by Vennison, 1988) (var. a. alate male & b. micropterous female; Vennison & Ambrose, 1990b) 26 E. xavierei Vennison & Ambrose 1990a 9,20,39 India (var. a. alate male b. brachypterous male & c. brachypterous female ; Vennison & Ambrose, 1991) 27 Lestomerus affinis (Serville) 1831 in Maldonado 1990 1,4,7,8,9,17, Bahamao Island, China, Lestomerus affinis Serville 1831 in Maldonado 1990 18,20,21,45 India, Indonesia (Java), Peirates affinis var. Serville 1831 in Maldonado 1990 Malaysia, Myanmar Lestomerus affinis Amyot & Serville 1843 Lestomerus piceipennis Walker 1873a (synonymy by Distant 1902a) Lestomerus diffinis Walker 1873a Pirates (Lestomerus) affinis Stål 1874 Pirates affinis Lethierry & Severin 1896 Pirates walkeri Lethierry & Severin 1896 (with P.affinis (sic) Walker) Pirates affinis var. diffinis Distant 1902a Pirates piceipennis Lethierry & Severin 1896 28 Lestomerus sanctus (Fabricius) 1787 26,33,41,44 India, Myanmar (Mandalay) Reduvius sanctus Fabricius 1787 Cimex sacer Gmelin 1790 in Maldonado, 1990 Lestomerus sanctus Walker 1873a Pirates latifer Walker 1873a (synonymy by Distant 1902a) Pirates (Lestomerus) sanctus Stål 1874 Pirates sanctus Lethierry 1891 29 Lestomerus wroughtoni Bergroth 1915 # India 30 Peirates bicolor Distant 1903 1,23 India 31 Peirates flavipes (Walker) 1873a 2,3,5,27 India

Biosystematica, 2007, 1(1) Checklist of Indian Peiratinae 51

Lestomerus flavipes Walker 1873a Pirates flavipes Lethierry & Severin 1896 32 Peirates mundulus Stål 1874 5,42 India, Somalia, Sri Lanka 33 Peirates punctum (Fabricius) 1794 8,27 India Reduvius punctum Fabricius 1794 Pirates instabilis Walker 1873a (synonymy by Distant 1902b) Reduvius punctum Stål 1874 E. punctum Lethierry & Severin, 1896 Pirates punctum Distant 1902b 34 Peirates unipunctatus Livingstone & Murugan 1988 8 India 35 Phalantus geniculatus Stål 1863 # China, India, Japan, Lestomerus geniculatus Walker 1873b Myanmar, Russia 36 Sirthenea bharathi Sucheta & Chopra 1998 14 India 37 Sirthenea flavipes (Stål) 1855a 1,8,41,44 China (Taiwan, Amoy), flavipes Stål 1855a India, Indonesia (Java), Rasahus apicalis Signoret 1862 Japan, Philippines, Sri Rasahus cumingi Dohrn 1860b Lanka (synonymy by Distant 1902a) Sirthenea flavipes Stål 1866b (also by Villiers, 1964) Sirthenea cumingi Stål 1866c Sirthenea apicalis Stål 1866a Pirates apicalis Walker 1873a Pirates flavipes Walker 1873a Pirates cumingi Walker 1873a Pirates strigifer Walker 1873a (synonymy by Distant 1902a) Pirates basiger Walker 1873a (synonymy by Distant 1902a) Pharantus (sic.) geniculatus Matsumura 1905 (nec.Stål) (synonymy by Esaki 1926) Sirthenea flavipes var. apicalis Horvath 1909 38 Sirthenea nigripes Murugan & Livingstone 1990 19,37 India 39 Spilodermus quadrinotatus (Fabricius) 1798 8,38 India, Sri Lanka Reduvius 4-notatus Fabricius 1798 Peirates biguttatus Dohrn 1860a Peirates biguttatus Stål 1868 Spilodermus quadrinotatus Stål 1868 Pirates quadrinotatus Walker 1873a Pirates (Spilodermus) quadrinotatus Stål 1874a

Recorded from India at: 1. Assam; 2. Bengal; 3. Berhampur; 4. Bombay; 5. Bor Ghat; 6. Calcutta; 7. Chennai*; 8. Coimbatore*; 9. Courtallam*; 10. Cutch; 11. Deccan; 12. Erode*; 13. Haridwar; 14. Haryana; 15. Kangra Valley; 16. Kanjanur; 17. Kanyakumari*; 18. Khasi Hills; 19. Koraput; 20. Madurai*; 21. Malampuzha; 22. Mysore; 23. Naga Hills; 24. Nagpur; 25. Nilgris*; 26. North Bengal; 27. North India; 28. Olavakkode; 29. Pondicherry; 30. Pothigai Hills*; 31. Sabaibjans; 32. Sikkim; 33. Sind Valley; 34. Siruvani*; 35. Sivakasi*; 36. Srivilliputhur*; 37. Sunabeda; 38. Sylhet; 39. Thekkady; 40. Thiruthani*; 41. Tirunelveli*; 42. Tranquebar; 43. Trichy*; 44. Tuticorin*; 45. Walayar; 46. West Bengal. (* from Tamil Nadu) # - Data on Indian localities are not available.

Biosystematica, 2007, 1(1) 52 DUNSTON P. AMBROSE, S. SIVARAMA KRISHNAN AND V. JEBASINGH Table 2. Ecological diversity of Peiratine assassin bugs of India.

S. No Name of the species Habitat Microhabitat 1 Androclus granulatus Stål ------2 A. pictus (Herrich-Schaeffer) - - SZ AE LA - BS - - 3 Catamiarus brevipennis (Serville) TR SJ SZ AE LA - BS CR - 4 Cleptocoris atromaculatus Stål ------5 C. lepturoides (Wolff) ---AELA- BS-- 6 Ectomocoris apimaculatus Distant ------7 E. atrox (Stål) ----LA- -- - 8 E. cordatus (Wolff) ---AELA- BS-- 9 E. cordiger Stål TR - SZ AE LA - BS - - 10 E. cyaneus (Stål) ------11 E. elegans (Fabricius) ----LA- -- - 12 E. erebus (Distant) TR ---- - BS-- 13 E. flavomaculatus Stål ------14 E. gangeticus (Bergroth) - SJ SZ AE - - BS - - 15 E. horridus (Kirby) TR ---- BKBS-- 16 E. melanopterus Distant ------17 E. nigrochripes Murugan & Livingstone TR SJ SZ AE - - BS - - 18 E. ochropterus Stål -SJ--- - BS-- 19 E. picturatus Distant ------20 E. quadriguttatus (Fabricius) TR - SZ AE LA - - - LR 21 E. quadrimaculatus (Serville) ------22 E. simulans Distant ------23 E. tibialis Distant TR SJ SZ AE LA - BS - LR 24 E. tuberculatum Livingstone & Murugan - SJ SZ AE - - BS - - 25 E. vishnu Distant TR ---- - BS-- 26 E. xavierei Vennison & Ambrose TR ---- - BS-- 27 Lestomerus affinis (Serville) TR SJ SZ AE LA BK BS - - 28 L. sanctus (Fabricius) - SJ SZ - LA - BS - - 29 L. wroughtoni Bergroth ------30 Peirates bicolor Distant ----LA- -- - 31 P. flavipes (Walker) ------32 P. mundulus Stål ------33 P. punctum (Fabricius) - - SZ AE - - BS - - 34 P. unipunctatus Livingstone & Murugan ---AELA- BS-- 35 Phalantus geniculatus Stål ------36 Sirthenea bharathi Sucheta & Chopra ------37 S. flavipes (Stål) - - SZ AE LA - BS - - 38 S. nigripes Murugan & Livingstone - - SZ - LA - BS - - 39 Spilodermus quadrinotatus (Fabricius) ---AELA- BS-LR

Habitat: AE – agroecosystem, LA – light attracted, SZ – semiarid zone, SJ – scrub jungle, TR – tropical rainforest. Microhabitat: AR – aerial, BK – bark, BS – boulders, CR – crevices, LR – litter, — unknown

Biosystematica, 2007, 1(1) Checklist of Indian Peiratinae 53 Table 3. Morphological diversity of Peiratine assassin bugs of India.

S. No Name of the species Rostrum Tibial pad Wing FM 1 Androclus granulatus Stål AC + + AL 2 A. pictus (Herrich-Schaeffer) AC + + AL 3 Catamiarus brevipennis (Serville) AC + + BR 4 Cleptocoris atromaculatus Stål AC + + AL 5 C.lepturoides (Wolff) AC + + AL 6 Ectomocoris apimaculatus Distant AC + + AL 7 E. atrox (Stål) AC + + AL 8 E. cordatus (Wolff) AC + + AL 9 E. cordiger Stål AC + + AL 10 E. cyaneus (Stål) AC + + AL 11 E. elegans (Fabricius) AC + + AL 12 E. erebus (Distant) AC + + BR 13 E. flavomaculatus Stål AC + + AL 14 E. gangeticus (Bergroth) AC + + BR 15 E. horridus (Kirby) AC + + AL 16 E. melanopterus Distant — - - — 17 E. nigrochripes Murugan & Livingstone AC + + BR 18 E. ochropterus Stål AC + + AL 19 E. picturatus Distant — - - — 20 E. quadriguttatus (Fabricius) AC + + AL 21 E. quadrimaculatus (Serville) — - - — 22 E. simulans Distant AC + + AL 23 E. tibialis Distant AC + + PO 24 E. tuberculatum Livingstone & Murugan AC + + AL 25 E. vishnu Distant AC + + SD 26 E. xavierei Vennison & Ambrose AC + + PO 27 Lestomerus affinis (Serville) AC + + SD 28 L. sanctus (Fabricius) AC + + AL 29 L. wroughtoni Bergroth — - - — 30 Peirates bicolor Distant AC + + AL 31 P. flavipes (Walker) AC + + AL 32 P. mundulus Stål AC + + AL 33 Peirates punctum (Fabricius) AC + + AL 34 P. unipunctatus Livingstone & Murugan AC + + AL 35 Phalantus geniculatus Stål + + AL 36 Sirthenea bharathi Sucheta & Chopra C + - AL 37 S. flavipes (Stål) AC + - AL 38 S. nigripes Murugan & Livingstone AC + + AL 39 Spilodermus quadrinotatus (Fabricius) AC + + AL

ROSTRUM: AC - acutely curved, C - curved, S - straight, SC - slightly curved; TIBIAL PAD: F - foreleg, M - midleg, + - present, - - absent; WING: AL - alate, AT - apterous, BR - brachypterous, PO - polymorphism, SD - sexual dimorphism; - - unknown

Biosystematica, 2007, 1(1) 54 DUNSTON P. AMBROSE, S. SIVARAMA KRISHNAN AND V. JEBASINGH Acknowledgements Ambrose, D.P. 1999. Assassin bugs. Science Publishers, New Hampshire, USA and Oxford and IBH The authors are grateful to the authorities of St. Xavier’s Publishing Company Private Limited, New Delhi, College (autonomous) for facilities and encouragement. India, 337pp. The financial assistance received from Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India (SR/SO/AS-14/ Ambrose, D.P. 2000. Assassin Bugs (Reduviidae 2001 dated 18th Feb.2003) is acknowledged. excluding Triatominae), pp. 695-712. In: Heteroptera of Economic Importance. Eds. C.W. References Schaefer, and A.R. Panizzi. CRC Press, Florida, Ambrose, D.P. 1980. Bioecology, ecophysiology and U.S.A. 828pp. ethology of Reduviids (Heteroptera) of the scrub Ambrose, D.P. 2003. Biocontrol potential of assassin jungles of Tamil Nadu, India. Ph.D. thesis, bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Journal of University of Madras, Madras, India,. 229 pp Experimental Zoology India, 6(1): 1-44. Ambrose, D.P. 1987a. Assassin bugs of Tamil Nadu Ambrose, D.P. 2004a. Biodiversity of Indian Assassin and their role in biological control (Insecta: Bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Reduviidae), pp.69-104. Heteroptera: Reduviidae). In: Advances in In: ENVIS Bulletin: Wildlife & Protected Areas, biological control research in India. Eds. Conservation of Rainforests in India. Eds. A.K. K.J.Joseph, and U.C. Abdurahiman . M/S Printex Gupta, Ajith Kumar and V. Ramakantha. Wildlife Ltd., Calicut. pp. 16-28 Institute of India, Dehra Dun, India, 382pp. Ambrose, D.P. 1987b. Biological, behavioural and Ambrose, D.P. 2004b. The status of Biosystematics of morphological tools in the biosystematics of Indian Reduviidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), In: Reduviidae (Insecta: Heteroptera: Reduviidae). Perspectives on Biosystematics and Biodiversity. Proceedings of Indian Academy of Sciences Eds. K. Rajmohana, K. Sudheer, P. Girish Kumar (Animal Science), 96: 499-508. and S. Santhosh. Prof. T. C. N. Com. Vol., pp. 441- Ambrose, D.P. 1988. Biological control of insect pests 459. by augmenting assassin bugs (Insecta: Heteroptera: Ambrose, D.P. 2006. A Checklist of Indian assassin Reduviidae).In: Bicovas. Eds. bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Reduviidae) with K.S.Ananthasubramanian, P.Venkatesan and taxonomic status, distribution and diagnostic S.Sivaraman. Loyola College, Madras. pp. 25-40. morphological characteristics. Zoos’ Print Journal, Ambrose, D.P. 1991. Conservation and augmentation 21(9): 2388-2406 (plus web supplement of 34 pages). of predaceous bugs and their role in biological control. Ambrose, D.P., P. Ramakrishnan, and V. Kasinathan. In: Advances in Management and conservation 1985. Biology of Catamiarus brevipennis Serv. of soil fauna, Eds. G.K. Veeresh, D. Rajagopal and (Reduviidae) a predator of Bombay locust. Uttar C.A.Viraktamath. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pradesh Journal of Zoology, 5 (1) 20-24 Ltd., New Delhi. pp. 225-257. Amyot, C.J.B. and A. Serville 1843. Histoire Naturelle Ambrose, D.P. 1996a. Biosystematics, distribution, des Insectes. Hemipteres. Libraire diversity, population dynamics and biology of Encyclopedique de Roret. Paris: Fain et Thunot. reduviids of Indian subcontinent - an overview. In: lxxvi + 675 + 6 pp, 12pls. Biological and Cultural control of insect pests, an Indian scenario, Adeline Publishers, Eds. D.P. Bergroth, E. 1894. Liste de quelques Hemipteres de La Ambrose, Tirunelveli, India. pp. 93-102. Plata. Revue d’ Entomologie, 13: 164-167. Ambrose, D.P. 1996b. Assassin bugs (Insecta- Bergroth, E. 1915. Hemiptera from the Bombay Heteroptera-Reduviidae), In: Biological and Presidency. Journal of the Bombay Natural Cultural control of insect pests, an Indian History Society, 24: 170-179. scenario. Eds. D.P. Ambrose, Adeline Publishers, Tirunelveli, India. pp.262-284.

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