The Holoptilinae are a subfamily of
Reduviidae
The Reduviidae are a large cosmopolitan family of the order Hemiptera (true bugs). Among the Hemiptera and together with the Nabidae almost all species are terrestrial ambush predators: most other predatory Hemiptera are aquatic. The main exampl ...
(assassin bugs) known as feather-legged bugs or ant wolves. Several members of the subfamily specialize on
ant
Ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from vespoid wasp ancestors in the Cretaceous period. More than 13,800 of an estimated total of ...
s. About 16 genera (one fossil) are known, with about 80 species described. Species in the Holoptilini tribe possess a specialized organ called a
trichome
Trichomes (); ) are fine outgrowths or appendages on plants, algae, lichens, and certain protists. They are of diverse structure and function. Examples are hairs, glandular hairs, scales, and papillae. A covering of any kind of hair on a p ...
to attract ants.
Three tribes are included in the subfamily -
Aradellini,
Dasycnemini, and
Holoptilini.
Genera
*''
Aradelloides''
Malipatil, 1983
*''
Aradellus''
Westwood
*''
Dasycnemus''
*''
Holoptilus''
*''
Holoptiloides''
*''
Rudbeckocoris''
*†''
Praecoris dominicana''
Poinar, 1991
*''
Ptilocerus''
*''
Ptilocnemus''
Westwood
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5884272
Reduviidae
Hemiptera subfamilies