Extra-oral-digestion
Guides
Ablautus arnaudi
Ablautus arnaudi is a small species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, first described by Wilcox in 1966. Adults measure approximately 6–7 millimeters in length. The species exhibits sand-colored cryptic coloration and displays distinctive sexual dimorphism in facial hair coloration. Males possess bright white facial hairs and engage in elaborate courtship displays involving leg-waving and rocking movements. Like all Asilidae, this species is predatory in both adult and larval stages.
Asilidaerobber-flypredatorysexual-dimorphismcourtshipearly-springsand-coloredcrypticleafhopper-predatormystaxfacial-hair-dimorphismextra-oral-digestionvenomoussit-and-wait-predatorplains-habitatsmall-size6-7-mmwhite-facial-hairs-malegold-facial-hairs-femaleleg-waving-displayrocking-displayWilcox-1966Ablautus-revisionCharlotte-Herbert-AlbertsColoradoeastern-plainsRhinacloa
plant bugs
Rhinacloa is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, established by Reuter in 1876. The genus comprises more than 30 described species distributed primarily in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Some species exhibit facultative predatory behavior on soft-bodied arthropods, while others are strictly phytophagous. One species, R. callicrates, was introduced to Australia as a biological control agent for the invasive weed Parkinsonia aculeata.
Rhinacloa forticornis
western plant bug
Rhinacloa forticornis is a phyline mirid with a broad geographic distribution spanning the Americas, Caribbean, and Pacific. Laboratory studies demonstrate facultative predatory behavior on soft-bodied arthropods, particularly thrips larvae, using fore tarsi to manipulate prey and exhibiting extra-oral digestion. However, the species shows preferential feeding on plant tissue, indicating that phytophagy remains the predominant feeding mode. It has been introduced to Hawaii (1962) and is considered a pest of cotton and other crops in some regions.