Life History and Laboratory Rearing of <I>Pseudometapterus umbrosus</I> (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) with Descriptions of Immatures Stages

Abstract

The life history of the emesine reduviid Pseudometapterus umbrosus (Blatchley) was studied in southern Illinois from February 1999 to November 2000, and the immature stages were described. The bug also was reared from egg to adult under controlled laboratory conditions. This univoltine species occurred on the rock faces of sandstone bluffs often in association with plants and spider webs. Adults and nymphs preyed primarily on small flies. Adults overwintered within fallen leaves on the bluff outcroppings, emerged in early April, and began feeding and reproducing shortly thereafter. Eggs were found from early May to late October and were deposited on the leaves and stems of Heuchera parviflora Bartling. Nymphs were found from early June to early September. New adults appeared in mid-July and remained active until early October. This species was reared in the laboratory on adult Drosophila sp. at 26 ± 3.0°C under a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. The incubation period averaged 13.25 d; eyespots appeared in ≈7 d. The five stadia averaged 11.86, 11.77, 12.44, 15.35, and 18.88 d, respectively. The instars can be distinguished by differences in several anatomical features including body length and width.