Agaeus tessellatus Dallas, 1851
Synonyms
None
Taxonomic position
Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae
Diagnosis
- Head with clypeus longer than mandibular plates
- Antennae with segment I not reaching apex of head; bucculae with anterior apex usually acutely angulate
- Pronotum with anterior margin distinctly concave, with distinct collar
- Anterolateral margins of pronotum distinctly concave and rim-like and serrate.
- Humeri angular.
- Connexivum exposed; abdominal ventrites with prominent median longitudinal furrow
Male genitalia
Dorsal rim slightly concave medially; caudal lobes elongate, longer than remaining part of genital capsule and sickle-shaped; caudal lobes separated from the remaining part by transverse impression. Parameres elongate, anterior half of crown roughly C-shaped. Phallotheca nearly uniform width throughout length.
Female genitalia
Valvifers VIII nearly rectangular; valvifers IX elongate, transverse with anterior and posterior margin straight; laterotergite VIII elongate oval with smooth caudal margin. Spermatheca externally fluted into single bulb-like dilation. Apical receptacle indistinct rather modified into four finger-like processes or ductules immediately after distal flange.
Biology
Eggs laid in groups on the surface of leaves black coloured with a white ring surrounding operculum. Five instars are noted
Host plants/Prey
Not known
Distribution
Assam (Atkinson, 1888). Karnataka: Bengaluru (Salini, 2006), Fraserpet (Chatterjee, 1934).
Comments
Usually tree dwellers.
Selected References
Distant, W. L. (1902) Rhynchota Vol.I, Heteroptera. In: Blanford, W. T. (Ed). The Fauna of British India Including Ceylon and Burma. Taylor and Francis, London. XXXVII+ 438 pp.
Chopra, N. P., (1972) A new species of the genus Agaeus Dallas (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Oriental Insects, 6 (3), 305-307.
