Harmostes

Burmeister, 1835

scentless plant bugs

Species Guides

5

Harmostes is a of scentless plant bugs in the Rhopalidae, established by Burmeister in 1835. The genus comprises approximately 32 distributed from Canada to southern South America, with seven species documented in the United States. Members of this genus are distinguished by their lack of , a characteristic that separates them from related true bugs. They serve as prey for solitary in the genus Dryudella, which paralyze them as provisions for their offspring.

Harmostes reflexulus by (c) Bill Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bill Keim. Used under a CC-BY license.Harmostes reflexulus by (c) Justin Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Justin Williams. Used under a CC-BY license.Harmostes by (c) Annika Lindqvist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Annika Lindqvist. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Harmostes: //hɑrˈmɒstɪs//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Harmostes can be distinguished from other rhopalid by their scentless condition—they lack the well-developed typical of many true bugs. The is placed in the tribe Harmostini based on morphological characters of the and . Species-level identification requires examination of genitalic structures and detailed morphological analysis.

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Distribution

From Canada to southern South America. Documented in the western United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and Brazil. In Brazil, seven have been recorded from Rio Grande do Sul state, with six species reported there for the first time in recent studies. Expanded records include H. serratus in Amapá, Amazonas, and Santa Catarina; H. apicatus in Mato Grosso do Sul; and H. incisuratus in Santa Catarina.

Ecological Role

Prey for solitary . Documented as prey for females of Dryudella (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Astatinae), which paralyze Harmostes and carry them to nest burrows as provisions for their offspring. Both and nymphs are used as prey.

Similar Taxa

  • Other RhopalidaeMost rhopalids possess functional ; Harmostes is distinguished by being scentless.
  • Other HemipteraLack of separates Harmostes from most other true that possess these defensive structures.

More Details

Taxonomic Note

The Harmostes is divided into subgenera, including Harmostes (Harmostes) and Harmostes (Neoharmostes), based on morphological characters.

Prey Record

A female Dryudella was photographed in Tucson, Arizona, carrying a paralyzed Harmostes as prey, demonstrating the ecological relationship between these .

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Sources and further reading