Heterogaster flavicosta
Barber, 1939
Heterogaster flavicosta is a of in the Heterogastridae, described by Barber in 1939. The species is known from the United States and belongs to a family of small, often overlooked true bugs associated with ground cover and low vegetation. Very few observations exist in natural history databases.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Heterogaster flavicosta: //ˌhɛtərəˈɡæstər ˌflævɪˈkɒstə//
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Identification
The specific epithet "flavicosta" (meaning "yellow-ribbed" or "yellow-edged") suggests a pale or yellowish costal margin to the forewings or body edge, but no formal diagnostic description is readily available. The Heterogaster comprises small to medium-sized lygaeoid with relatively slender bodies. Definitive identification requires examination of male genitalia and comparison with .
Images
Distribution
United States (based on Slater 1964 records).
Similar Taxa
- Heterogaster urticaeCongeneric in the same ; H. urticae is a Palearctic species associated with nettles and has been more extensively studied, making it a likely point of confusion if specimens are misassigned geographically.