FILE:  <hemipter.key.htm>                                             Bibliography             Bibliography #2        Terminology             [Navigate to MAIN MENU]

 

 

HEMIPTERA / HETEROPTERA

 

(Email Contacts)

 

More than 18 of 60+ families of Hemiptera (Heteroptera) have entomophagous species.  The following key is adapted from Brues, Melander & Carpenter (1954) and Schlinger & Doutt (1964) by E. F. Legner:

 

Keys to Adults of Important Families of

 

Entomophagous Hemiptera

 

[Please refer to <Guide> for more illustrations & <Hemiptera> for order details]

 

 

HEMIPTERA  <General Characteristics>  [Latest Classification]

 

2

1a.  Antennae as long or longer than head, if not then eyes and ocelli absent

 

13

1b.  Antennae shorter than head, usually hidden in cavities beneath the eyes

 

3

2a.  Eyes, and often ocelli, present

 

---

2b.  Both eyes and ocelli absent ........... Termitaphididae   <Overview>

 

4

3a.  Claws apical, last tarsal segment with entire tip

 

12

3b.  Claws of at least front tarsi distinctly ante apical, the apex of last tarsal segment more or less cleft

 

5

4a.  Antennae with 4 segments, not counting minute intermediate ring segments or antenniferous tubercles on the head if present

 

---

4b.  Antennae with 5 segments ............ Pentatomidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

6

5a.  Tarsal claws devoid of basal pads (arolia), if present then meso- and metasternum are composite or front legs are raptorial

 

11

5b.  Tarsal claws provided with arolia

 

7

6a.  Meso- and metasternum composite, formed of more than 1 piece

 

8

6b.  Meso- and metasternum simple, formed of a single piece

 

---

7a.  Proboscis with 3 segments ............. Anthocoridae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

---

7b.  Proboscis with 4 segments .............. Miridae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

9

8a.  Pronotum simple, often large and broad, or long and narrow; head not constricted at base behind eyes

 

---

8b.  Pronotum divided into 3 lobes; head constricted at base behind eyes ......... Enicocephalidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

10

9a.  Antennae elbowed, slender filiform or often thin apically

 

---

9b.  Antennae short, with last segment swollen or enlarged ........... Phymatidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

---

10a.  Prosternum with a cross-striated median stridulation groove; proboscis with 3 segments ............ Reduviidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

---

10b.  Prosternum without a stridulation groove; proboscis usually with 4 segments ............ Nabidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

---

11a.  Antennae not elbowed; head not constricted in front of eyes ............ Lygaeidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

---

11b.  Antennae elbowed; head constricted in front of eyes ........... Berytidae (Neididae)   <Overview>

 

---

12a.  Hind femora extending much beyond apex of abdomen; proboscis with 4 segments ............ Gerridae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

---

12b.  Hind femora not extending much beyond apex of abdomen; proboscis with 3 segments .......... Veliidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

14

13a.  Ocelli present

 

15

13b.  Ocelli absent

 

---

14a.  Antennae exposed; front legs formed for running ........... Ochteridae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

---

14b.  Antennae hidden; front legs raptorial .......... Nerthridae   <Habits being sought>

 

16

15a.  Front coxae inserted at or near front margin of prosternum; hind tarsi with distinct claws........................

 

---

15b.  Front coxae inserted at hind margin of short prosternum, hind tarsi without claws ........... Notonectidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

17

16a.  Upper wings with membrane reticulately veined

 

---

16b.  Upper wings without veins ...........Naucoridae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

---

17a.  Hind coxae hinged; hind legs fitted for swimming .......... Belostomatidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

---

17b.  Hind coxae globular, rotating; hind legs formed for walking, not flattened .......... Nepidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>