Rank Genus | Order True bugs | |
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Similar True bugs, Ploiaria, Emesaya, Empicoris, Stenolemus | ||
Emesopsis is a genus of tropical bugs (Heteroptera) from the family Reduviidae. There are at least 22 described species, of which one, E. nubila, also occurs in southern Europe.
Contents
The representatives of this genus are mostly relatively small, and measure a few millimeters to about one centimeter.
They move, as is common for the bugs of the subfamily Emesinae, with their back and middle legs. The raptorial front legs serve to capture prey. With them, the prey is captured, then bitten through with the mandibles and carried away. Then it is drained, which can sometimes take half an hour. Emesopsis prey on a variety of insect groups, ranging from beetles, bugs, flies, to springtails.
Habitat and distribution
The species of the genus Emesopsis be found both in agricultural and forest ecosystems.
They occur primarily in tropical Asia (e.g. India, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan, New Guinea) and Australia (e.g. E. bunda in Queensland). Only E. nubila is pantropical, probably a consequence of the spread of global trade.