Blaptostethus pallescens Poppius (=Blaptostethus piceus Fieber var. pallescens Poppius)

Hemiptera: Anthocoridae

Length 2.60-2.95 mm. Head, pronotum, scutellum and cuneus of hemelytra dark brown, membrane of hemelytra grey. Underside uniform dark brown, slightly lighter than dorsal side; legs lighter, yellowish brown. Antenna with first two segments stout, segments 3 and 4 slender and filiform, with several setae longer than width of segment. Pronotum with three pairs of long bristles, first dorsal on collar region, second lateral, just below anterior margin of pronotum, and third posterolateral. Scutellum with a prominent median depression or dent. Abdomen broader in female, posterior segments asymmetrical in male, last segment with a bunch of setae, dorsal side with elongate setae visible in both sexes. Fore femora with 5-6 strong, peg-like teeth on distal side; fore tibiae with a lateral row of teeth almost throughout their length; mid - and hind tibiae with irregular spines on surface, more in distal half. Female genitalia with two copulatory tubes.

 Head and pronotum, dorsal view
   Abdominal apex - female (left); male (right)

         Adult, dorsal view
   Nymph feeding on Tetranychus urticae

India: Karnataka; Maharashtra; Tamil Nadu. Celebes. Egypt. Madagascar.

Predatory on primary and secondary stored product pests; Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) on maize; onion thrips (Thrips tabaci); and mites. Its biology, feeding potential and rearing techniques were studied by Ballal et al. (2003). The common laboratory host, Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton), could be used for mass producing this predator.