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Issue: Vol. 2729 No. 1: 23 Dec. 2010
Type: Correspondence
Published: 2010-12-23
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.2729.1.3
Page range: 51–52
Abstract views: 40
PDF downloaded: 1

Microphysidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) newly found from China

Institute for Biological Problems of Cryolithozone, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Prospekt Lenina 41, Yakutsk 677980, Russia
Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, China
Xinjiang Institute of Ecology & Geography, China Academy of Sciences, 818, South Beijing Road, Urumchi, Xinjiang, 830011P. R. China
Hemiptera Heteroptera

Abstract

The Microphysidae is a very small family, comprising about 30 recent species and 10 extinct species in 5 genera (Schuh & Slater 1995; Péricart 1996; Popov 2004, 2006, 2008). Microphysids are tiny predatory bugs (1.2–3.0 mm) sucking other small arthropods, like mites, springtails, aphids, psyllids, etc. Almost all of them are sexually dimorphic: males are fully winged and females are micro- and brachypterous. Due to their small size, restricted distribution, and cryptic habits, the family remained little studied (Schuh & Slater 1995). In the study of biodiversity of Heteroptera from Xinjiang, a Palaearctic species of this family was found. The species represents the first record of the cimicomorphan family Microphysidae from China.

References

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    Péricart, J. (1996) Family Microphysidae Dohrn, 1859. In: Aukema B., Rieger Chr. (Eds.). Catalogue of the Heteroptera of the Palaearctic Region. Vol. 2. Netherlands Entomological Society, Amsterdam, pp. 79–83.

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