Tree sickle bug
| Tree sickle bug | ||||||||||||
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Himacerus apterus |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Himacerus apterus | ||||||||||||
| ( Fabricius , 1798) |
The tree sickle bug ( Himacerus apterus ) is an insect belonging to the family of sickle bugs (Nabidae) within the subordination of bugs (Heteroptera).
features
The comparatively large and dark to red-brown tree sickle bug reaches body lengths between 8.6 and 11.5 millimeters. The segments of the slightly upwardly curved edge of the abdomen ( connexive ) do not have any noticeably lighter spots like the similar but significantly smaller Himacerus mirmicoides . In comparison with this type, the antennae are also significantly longer. The wings are usually significantly shortened, long-winged (macroptere) forms are rare and usually occur in females. Compared to the males, these have a noticeably wider abdomen.
distribution and habitat
Himacerus apterus is widespread in the Palearctic . He lives in the temperate zone; the distribution area extends in the north to Lithuania , in the east its area extends to Siberia and to China and Japan. The species is absent in southwest Europe. She was carried off to Canada by transporting plants.
The species is considered adaptable and lives in forests, parks and urban ruderal areas. While the adult animals and older larvae live in higher vegetation layers mainly on bushes and trees, the young larvae also stay in the herbaceous layer and near the ground.
nutrition
The bug feeds exclusively predatory, although it is not very specialized. Their prey consists of smaller insects ( aphids , leaf fleas , smaller beetles and bedbugs, their larvae and eggs) as well as mites . The prey must not exceed its own size. Occasionally, the species can be observed sucking on plant tissue, but this is not used for food, but probably more water. H. apterus only uses the forelegs to hold the prey when piercing. During the suckling process, the prey can be carried around freely.
Reproduction and development
The females prick their eggs with their ovipositor especially in September, mostly in plant stems and less often in young shoots of woody plants. The wintering takes place in the ice stage. The larvae hatch in spring. The bug species goes through four larval stages. From July onwards, the bugs have grown up and the females in particular live until October.
literature
- E. Wachmann , A. Melber & J. Deckert: Bugs. Volume 1: Dipsocoromorpha, Nepomorpha, Gerromorpha, Leptopodomorpha, Cimicomorpha (Part 1), revision of the bugs in Germany, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland, Goecke & Evers, Keltern, 2006. ISBN 3-931374-49-1
- Helgard Reichholf-Riehm: Insects. Orbis Verlag, Munich, 1984, ISBN 3-572-01088-8
- Ekkehard Wachmann: watch bugs - get to know. Neumann-Neudamm, Melsungen, 1989, ISBN 3-7888-0554-4
