Emesinae
Encyclopedia
Emesinae, or thread-legged bugs, are a subfamily of the Reduviidae
(i.e., assassin bugs). They are conspicuously different from the other reduviids by their very slender body form. They are stalking, predaceous insects that can be collected on palm fronds, cliffs, spider webbing, or near lights at night (many can be collected by blacklight). They walk on their mid and hind legs; the front pair is raptorial. Some groups specialize on spiders. Very little is known about emesines except that many species are found in the tropics
. Pedro Wygodzinsky wrote the most recent revision of this group.
The Emesinae are worldwide in distribution; however, they are most abundant in the tropics. For example, the tribe Metapterini, while having a worldwide distribution, has the majority of its diversity confined to tropical islands. The center of emesine diversity is apparently Africa
. This continent contains the only species of the most plesiomorphic tribe, the Collartidini
, while a more derived tribe, the Deliastini, is restricted to South America
. There are approximately 90 genera and 900 species in the subfamily.
and Visayanocorinae. Additionally, Emesini
and Ploiariolini
were not supported as monophyletic groups. The taxonomy of the group is thus in doubt and as additional analyses are conducted, the taxonomy will be refined.
Reduviidae
Reduviidae is a large, cosmopolitan family of predatory insects in the suborder Heteroptera...
(i.e., assassin bugs). They are conspicuously different from the other reduviids by their very slender body form. They are stalking, predaceous insects that can be collected on palm fronds, cliffs, spider webbing, or near lights at night (many can be collected by blacklight). They walk on their mid and hind legs; the front pair is raptorial. Some groups specialize on spiders. Very little is known about emesines except that many species are found in the tropics
Tropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
. Pedro Wygodzinsky wrote the most recent revision of this group.
Biogeography
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. This continent contains the only species of the most plesiomorphic tribe, the Collartidini
Collartidini
The Collartidini is a tribe of thread-legged bugs restricted to Africa, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. Wygodzinsky proposed that this group is the sister group of the remaining Emesinae.-List of genera:*Collartida Villiers, 1949...
, while a more derived tribe, the Deliastini, is restricted to South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. There are approximately 90 genera and 900 species in the subfamily.
Systematics
The first cladistic analysis of the Reduviidae (assassin bugs) based on molecular data (mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal DNA) was published in 2009. This analysis suggested that the Emesinae is not monophyletic. The analysis sampled only 7 specimens of Emesinae, though 5 of the six currently recognized tribes were included. The analysis suggested that Emesinae is polyphyletic with respect to SaicinaeSaicinae
Saicinae is a subfamily of the family Reduviidae, or the assassin bugs.-Genera:* Bagriella McAtee & Malloch, 1923* Buninotus Maldonado & Capriles, 1981* Caprilesia Gil-Santana, Marques & Costa, 2006* Kiskeyana Weiruach & Forero, 2007...
and Visayanocorinae. Additionally, Emesini
Emesini
The Emesini is a tribe of thread-legged bugs.-Partial list of genera:*Chinemesa*Emesa*Eugubinus*Gardena*Myiophanes*Phasmatocoris*Polauchenia*Stenolemus*Stenolemoides...
and Ploiariolini
Ploiariolini
Ploiariolini is a tribe of thread-legged bugs, comprising 16 genera and 142 described species. Ploiariolini has a worldwide distribution....
were not supported as monophyletic groups. The taxonomy of the group is thus in doubt and as additional analyses are conducted, the taxonomy will be refined.