Myrmedobia
Baerensprung, 1857
minute bladder bugs
Species Guides
1- Myrmedobia exilis(minute bladder bug)
Myrmedobia is a of minute bladder bugs in the Microphysidae. The genus contains approximately five described , with records dating back to the early 19th century. These small predatory true bugs are part of the diverse Cimicomorpha infraorder, which includes many predatory and parasitic hemipterans. The genus name suggests an ecological association with ants (from Greek 'myrmex' = ), though specific ant-related have not been documented in the available literature.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Myrmedobia: //mɜːrmɛˈdoʊbiə//
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Similar Taxa
- LoriculaThe Loricula is the other primary genus in Microphysidae and shares the minute body size and general habitus of Myrmedobia. Some sources have historically treated Myrmedobia as a subgenus of Loricula, and the two genera can be difficult to distinguish without examination of male genitalia and specific wing venation patterns.
More Details
Taxonomic instability
The taxonomic status of Myrmedobia has varied across sources. iNaturalist currently lists Myrmedobia as a subgenus of Loricula, while Catalogue of Life and NCBI treat it as a valid . GBIF accepts Myrmedobia as a genus but notes it as a higher-rank match, suggesting incomplete -level data. This inconsistency reflects ongoing taxonomic revision in the Microphysidae.
Fossil record
A fossil , Loricula pericarti Popov, 2004, was listed in the Wikipedia source as belonging to Myrmedobia, though it is currently classified under Loricula. This indicates potential historical confusion between the two in paleontological as well as neontological contexts.