ARS | Publication request: First records of the rarely collected bug Nannocoris arenarius from Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia (Heteroptera: Schizopteridae)

Submitted to: Banisteria
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: December 20, 2007
Publication Date: December 31, 2007
Citation: Hoffman, R.L., Roble, S.M., Henry, T.J. 2007. First records of the rarely collected bug Nannocoris arenarius from Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia (Heteroptera: Schizopteridae). Banisteria. 30:38-39.

Interpretive Summary: Litter-loving bugs are among the smallest of the true bugs, measuring 1.2 mm or less, and are seldom collected. They are usually found in the litter layer of forest and other undisturbed areas and are thought to be predatory on coexisting insects and other arthropods. The species treated in this paper previously was known only from one locality in Florida and one in South Carolina. We report three additional records of this tiny insect from Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. This paper provides important diagnostic and distributional information, including the northernmost record, and will be of interest to state, Federal, and university scientists involved in studying rare or endangered insects.

Technical Abstract: The schizopterid, Nannocoris arenarius Blatchley, originally described from Dunedin, Florida, and later recorded from South Carolina, is reported for the first time from Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. The original Florida specimens were sifted from debris collected at the bases of grasses in a dry sandy area, whereas our material was collected in Berlese samples from Panicum sp. (Poeaceae) and dried cow manure or in pitfall traps. A diagnosis and habitus drawing of the adult are provided to facilitate recognition of this poorly known species.