Arhaphe

Herrich-Schaeffer, 1850

bordered plant bugs

Species Guides

Arhaphe arguta(bordered plant bug)
Arhaphe breviata
Arhaphe carolina(Eastern Orange-banded Arhaphe)
Arhaphe mimetica

Arhaphe is a of bordered plant bugs in the Largidae, comprising 26 described . The genus is notable among hemipterans for possessing a sound-producing stridulitrum, where the hind is rubbed against the costal margin of the forewings. Four species occur in the United States: A. arguta, A. breviata, A. carolina, and A. mimetica. The genus has been proposed as a potential model for ecological evolutionary developmental studies of insect-microbe .

Arhaphe arguta by (c) Steve Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Taylor. Used under a CC-BY license.

Arhaphe carolina by (c) Sam Kieschnick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sam Kieschnick. Used under a CC-BY license.

Arhaphe carolina by no rights reserved, uploaded by Lyn Roueche. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Arhaphe: /ɑːrˈhæfi/

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

Identification

Members of Arhaphe can be distinguished from the related Pararhaphe by genitalic and other morphological characters; the genus Jarhaphetus has been synonymized with Arhaphe. Within the United States, four are recognized: Arhaphe arguta, A. breviata, A. carolina, and A. mimetica. Previous records of A. cicindeloides from the United States are misidentifications of A. arguta.

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Distribution

The occurs in the Americas. In the United States, four are documented: Arhaphe arguta, A. breviata, A. carolina, and A. mimetica. The majority of species (22 of 26) are distributed in Mexico and Central America.

Behavior

Produces sound via a stridulitrum, in which the hind is rubbed against the costal margin of the forewings. This places Arhaphe among a small number of hemipteran known to possess sound-producing structures.

Similar Taxa

PararhapheClosely related in the same ; distinguished by genitalic and other structural characters
JarhaphetusFormerly recognized as separate , now synonymized with Arhaphe based on morphological evidence

Misconceptions

Records of Arhaphe cicindeloides from the United States were historically misidentifications of A. arguta; A. cicindeloides is a Mexican .

More Details

Taxonomic history

The Jarhaphetus Bliven, 1956 was restored as a junior synonym of Arhaphe. Arhaphe mimetica was transferred from Pararhaphe to Arhaphe. Lectotypes were designated for A. cicindeloides and A. mimetica in 2011.

Research significance

Arhaphe deviatica has been proposed as a potential model for eco-devo studies of insect-microbe due to its phylogenetic position within Pentatomomorpha.

Species diversity

26 described ; 22 species occur south of the United States, primarily in Mexico.