Zelus longipes
| Zelus longipes | |
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| Species: | Z. longipes
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| Binomial name | |
| Zelus longipes L.
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Zelus longipes is an assassin bug (Reduviidae) that is a member of the harpactorinae subfamily. Its distribution ranges include southern North America, Central America, and South America (except Chile),[1] especially in agroecosystems in Brazil.
Z. longipes has been considered as a potential biocontrol agent, as it prefers caterpillars of Spodoptera frugiperda, which is a moth that is a pest in cornfields.[2] Z. longipes prefers smaller caterpillars, probably because there is less risk of injury while subduing smaller prey.[3]
References
- ^ Hart, E. R., 1986: Genus Zelus Fabricius in the United States, Canada, and Northern Mexico (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 79, 535–548
- ^ Sparks, A. N., 1979: A review of the biology of the fall armyworm. Fla. Entomol. 62, 82–87
- ^ R. Cogni, A. V. L. Freitas and B. F. Amaral Filho. "Influence of prey size on predation success by Zelus longipes L. (Het., Reduviidae)" (PDF). J. Appl. Ent. 126, 74–78 (2002).
External links
- Zelus longipes on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site