Biological notes of Harpactor angulosus (Lepeletier & Serville, 1825) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

Abstract

Assassin bugs are one of the most diverse family of cimicomorphan Heteroptera and are known from all biogeographic regions. Except for the kissing bugs (Triatominae) that are hemathophagous, reduviids show a predatory behavior and are usually study as potential biocontrollers of crop pests. In this way, Harpactorines have been specially studied as they are mostly diurnal and live on the vegetation. In this contribution, the complete life cycle of Harpactor angulosus (Lepeletier & Serville, 1825) is described and illustrated. Specimens were collected in the field in El Manantial, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina, and were reared in laboratory to obtain all immatures (eggs and nymphs) and to observe its feeding habits, molting, mating, and oviposition. Collection specimens as well as online resources such as iNaturalist records were also studied to know the current distribution of the species. This resulted in the expansion of H. angulosus distribution in Argentina to Tucumán and Buenos Aires provinces, and to the recording of the species in Ecuador, Peru and Paraguay for the first time. Our findings reveal that H. angulosus would be studied as a potential biocontroller of Agraulis sp., an important pest of maracuyá crops in several South American countries.