Protenor belfragei
This record describes Protenor belfragei (species). Recorded family: Alydidae. Recorded order: Hemiptera.
Identification and Appearance
characteristics distinguishing from P. australis : head less than one-fourth longer than pronotum; upper and lower pair of apical processes of cheeks contiguous or nearly so throughout their length Brailovsky separates our two spp. thusly: In P. australis the dorsal and ventral apical processes of the jugum are strongly divergent from one another, the antennal segments I–III usually densely clothed with long erect setae, and the jugum is shorter in lateral view (1.04 mm in males, 1.20 mm in females). In P. belfragei the dorsal and ventral apical processes of the jugum are porrect and contiguous throughout their length, antennal segments I–III clothed with medium size and sparse erect setae, and the jugum is longer in lateral view (1.08 mm in males, 1.40 mm in females). unfortunately, Brailovsky only illustrates P. belfragei spmns ( Figs. 11, 24, 37 ). Type Locality: Illinois
Wikipedia reference for Protenor belfragei: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protenor_belfragei.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
- Suborder
- Heteroptera
- Superfamily
- Coreoidea
- Family
- Alydidae (Broad-headed Bugs)
- Subfamily
- Micrelytrinae
- Tribe
- Micrelytrini
- Genus
- Protenor
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
sedge meadows, marshes, wet grassy areas bordering lakes
Geographic Range
mostly NS to n. Great Plains, also in c.TX, CO, se.AZ* and s.CA - Map ( 4 ) ( 5 ) (*BG data)
Diet and Behavior
Life History
"on animal dropping, likely from a fox"
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Protenor belfragei Haglund 1868
About True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hemiptera, the group containing Protenor belfragei. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hemiptera (true bugs) includes over 80,000 described species across cicadas, aphids, leafhoppers, shield bugs, and bed bugs. Aphids alone cost global agriculture an estimated $2.5 billion annually in crop losses.
Ecological role of the group
Many Hemiptera are essential food sources for birds and predatory insects. Cicadas provide massive nutrient pulses during emergence events - a single Brood X emergence can involve trillions of individuals across 15 states.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) caused $37 million in apple crop losses in a single year in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region. Bed bug infestations in the U.S. increased by 500% between 2001-2010, costing the hotel industry hundreds of millions annually.
Recorded sources for this group: USDA, EPA, University research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Protenor belfragei (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Protenor belfragei
What is Protenor belfragei?
Protenor belfragei is a species in the family Alydidae, within the order Hemiptera.
How big is Protenor belfragei?
12-15 mm
How do you identify Protenor belfragei?
characteristics distinguishing from P. australis : head less than one-fourth longer than pronotum; upper and lower pair of apical processes of cheeks contiguous or nearly so throughout their length Brailovsky separates our two spp. thusly: In P. australis the dorsal and ventral apical processes of the jugum are strongly divergent from one another, the antennal segments I–III usually densely clothed with long erect setae, and the jugum is shorter in lateral view (1.04 mm in males, 1.20 mm in females). In P. belfragei the dorsal and ventral apical processes of the jugum are porrect and contiguous throughout their length, antennal segments I–III clothed with medium size and sparse erect setae, and the jugum is longer in lateral view (1.08 mm in males, 1.40 mm in females). unfortunately, Brailovsky only illustrates P. belfragei spmns ( Figs. 11, 24, 37 ).
Where is Protenor belfragei found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | sedge meadows, marshes, wet grassy areas bordering lakes |
| Range | mostly NS to n. Great Plains, also in c.TX, CO, se.AZ* and s.CA - Map ( 4 ) ( 5 ) (*BG data) |
What is the life cycle of a Protenor belfragei?
on animal dropping, likely from a fox