Rhynocoris tristis is a species of assassin bug family (Reduviidae), in the subfamily Harpactorinae. R. tristis is a polyphagous predator found in sub-Saharan Africa.[1]

Rhynocoris tristis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Family: Reduviidae
Genus: Rhynocoris
Species:
R. tristis
Binomial name
Rhynocoris tristis
(Stål, 1855)

Life History

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R. tristis is associated with Stylosanthes guinaensis, and this association is thought to be due to the prey species attracted by flowers of S. guinaensis.[2] R. tristis is unusual in the insect world in that males provide paternal care by guarding egg masses[3] from parasitic wasps and insect predators.[1] Males will also cannibalize some of the eggs that they guard.[4] R. tristis prefers to lay its eggs on the stems of plants, in contrast to most members of the harpactorinae, which prefer to lay them on the undersides of leaves.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Lisa K. Thomas & Andrea Manica (2005). "Intrasexual competition and mate choice in assassin bugs with uniparental male and female care" (PDF). Animal Behaviour. 69: 275–281. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2010-01-09.
  2. ^ Thomas, L. K. & Manica, A. (2003). "Filial cannibalism in an assassin bug". Animal Behaviour. 66: 205–210.
  3. ^ Christy A. Beal & Douglas W. Tallamy (2006). "A new record of amphisexual care in an insect with exclusive paternal care: Rhynocoris tristis (Heteroptera: Reduviidae)". Journal of Ethology. 24 (3): 305–307. doi:10.1007/s10164-005-0190-2.
  4. ^ Thomas, L. K. (1994). The evolution of parental care in assassin bugs (Ph.D. thesis). University of Cambridge.