| Cydnus aterrimus (Forster, 1771) |
|
|
|
Scientific name: Cydnus aterrimus (Forster, 1771) Common name: French name: Punaise de l'Euphorbe Order: Heteroptera Family: Cydnidae Wingspan : 8.5 to 12 mm. Biotope: This species is associated with Euphorbias. It is therefore found near these plants, often in dry and hot environments, rocky or sandy environments, dunes, river banks, dry meadows among others. It can burrow under the ground to feed by biting the roots of Euphorbias. Geographic area: Europe except Great Britain and Scandinavia, Asia east to China, North Africa, Madeira. Introduced to South Africa, the West Indies and the United States. Observation period : March to September with a peak in April and another in June. |
Bugs of the Cydnidae family are characterized by a pronotum with rounded edges which gives a general oval body shape. The head is clearly narrower than the pronotum. The antennas have 5 articles. The scutellum is shaped like a large triangle and never exceeds 2/3 of the length of the abdomen. The tarsi have 3 segments. The tibias have thorns and are used to dig the ground. Members of the Cydnidae family are also called burrowing bugs. They are very often black or very dark in colour. Cydnus aterrimus is completely black in colour except for the lighter wings visible at the end of the abdomen. The pronotum bears a clear transverse depression. It is densely punctuated. The corium have an indentation at the limit with the hyaline wings which gives an arch or hat shape. The second article of the antennae is as long or longer than the third. |
| [To know more about the Cydnus aterrimus] [Top] |
|
All the criteria for identifying Cydnus aterrimus, with the exception of the number of tarsi sections, are visible in this photo and even better in its non-reduced version. |
André Bon April 2024