Cosmolestes+picticeps+(Yellow+Assassin+Bug)

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=Overview= //Cosmolestes picticeps// (yellow assassin bug) belongs to the family Reduviidae (assassin bugs) under the order Hemiptera. Assassin bugs are mainly predatory and as with all hemipterans, they have sucking mouthparts which they use to pierce their prey and carry out liquid feeding (hyperlink). Assassin bugs have a characteristic groove in their prosternum (Fig. xx; hyperlink) which is unique to the family.

This species has been found to inhabit grassy areas in nature reserves as well as parks and is common seen in Singapore. They are hard to miss due to their bright yellow colouration. However there are two species of assassin bugs (//Velinus nigrigenu// and //Narsetes// nr. sp.) which have similar colour patterns and are oftentimes misidentified. //Cosmolestes picticeps// can be differentiated from other similar-looking assassin bugs in Singapore mainly by these two characters: the spatulate apex of its scutellum (Fig. xx; hyperlink) and the white colouration on its wings between the corium and hemelytra (Fig. xx; hyperlink).

While they have been considered as potential biological controls in agriculture, the biology and phylogeny of //Cosmolestes picticeps// has not been well-studied (cite).

=[1] What is an Assassin Bug?=

=Distribution= Besides Singapore, this species has been recorded from Java, Sumatra, Borneo and Malay Peninsula (Maldonado, 1990). (map)

Within Singapore, //Cosmolestes picticeps// have been spotted in Admiralty Park, Holland Woods, Labrador Nature Park, Mandai and Bukit Brown Cemetery. (map)

=Habitat= //Cosmolestes picticeps// tend to be found in open areas which comprises of low vegetation such as herbs, shrubs and grasses. They are commonly seen in the parks around Singapore as well as in relatively open areas in the nature reserves. They are sometimes seen together with //Velinus nigrigenu//.

=Identification=


 * General Morphology**


 * Original description**

=Identifying Features (For Adults)= The identifying features of //Cosmolestes picticeps// have been adapted from [|Stål, C., 1859] and [|Distant, W. L., 1904]. The original description by Stal was in Latin and had only a brief paragraph. Subsequently, Distant included a short redescription in "Rhynchota II, The Fauna of British India, including Celyon and Burma" which provided more details on the colouration diagnostic features of //Cosmolestes picticeps//. It should be noted that the use of colouration in identification is not as reliable as using morphological structures as colouration may vary within species (intravariation), or the colours may fade over time as with museum specimens. Generally, the species of //Cosmolestes picticeps// in Singapore can be diagnosed by its scutellum with a spatulate apex and the apices of its femora with distinct nodules. This species is not sexually dimorphic, hence both males and females share similar identifying features.

Length: 11 to 12 +/- xxmm Lateral: 2.1 +/- xxmm ||  || - Alternating yellow and black annulation with starting with black as the basal colour || || - The rest of the dorsal surface of the head black in colour (c) || || - First rostrum segment almost reaching posterior margin of eyes || || - Apex of scutellum spatulate ('leafy-shaped') and light yellow || || - Posterior margins of corium elevated and light yellow || || - Apices of femora black and with distinct nodules || ||
 * || **Identifying Features** || **Annotated Figures** ||
 * **Measurements** || For both males and females:
 * **Antennae** || - First antennal segment longest
 * **Head** || - Oblique line in front of each eye (a) and central line on the head behind the eyes (b) light yellow in colour
 * **Rostrum** || - Apex of rostrum black
 * **Scutellum** || - Basal part of scutellum black in colour
 * **Forewings/**
 * Hemelytra** || - Considerably longer than apex of abdomen
 * **Abdomen** || - A series of pales spots on the lateral sides of the abdomen || [[image:Cpicticeps_morpho6.jpg width="484" height="222"]] ||
 * **Legs** || - Base of tibiae black

=**Differentiating Similar-looking Species**=

=Natural History & Biology=


 * Reproductive**



Sticky secretions on legs

They have been observed to feed on grasshoppers, caterpillars, moth, wasps and flies. They are also known to predate on larval limacodids and are considered important biological controls of palm pests in xx (Dolling, 1987; [|Howard et al., 2001]).
 * Diet**

=Taxonomy and Systematics=

Taxo-navigation system provided by [|Uniprot], covering classification from the genus //Cosmolestes// and above. › [|cellular organisms]  › [|Eukaryota]  › [|Opisthokonta]  › [|Metazoa]  › [|Eumetazoa]  › [|Bilateria]  › [|Protostomia]  › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #4094b4; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Ecdysozoa] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Panarthropoda] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #4094b4; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Arthropoda] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Mandibulata] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Pancrustacea] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #4094b4; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Hexapoda] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #4094b4; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Insecta] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Dicondylia] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #4094b4; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Pterygota] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #4094b4; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Neoptera] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #4094b4; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Paraneoptera] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #4094b4; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Hemiptera] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #4094b4; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Euhemiptera] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Neohemiptera] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Prosorrhyncha] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #4094b4; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Heteroptera] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Euheteroptera] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Neoheteroptera] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #4094b4; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Panheteroptera] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #4094b4; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Cimicomorpha] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Reduvioidea] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #4094b4; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Reduviidae] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #4094b4; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Harpactorinae] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #4094b4; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Harpactorini] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> › <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #4094b4; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">[|Cosmolestes]
 * Classification**

// Reduvius picticeps // Stål, 1859 //Velinus picticeps//: Stål, 1866 //Harpactor picticeps//: Walker, 1873 //Cosmolestes picticeps//: Stål, 1874
 * Taxonomy**

No synonyms exist for Cosmoletes picticeps.

The holoptype was collected by St ål, C. from Sylhet and deposited in the [|Swedish Museum of Natural History], Stockholm. Both d orsal and ventral images of the type specimen can be found [|here]
 * Type Information **


 * Phylogeny**