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Life history and laboratory rearing of Pseudometapterus umbrosus (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) with descriptions of immature stages
Jeffrey D. Bradshaw and John E. McPherson, Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901

The life history of the emesine reduviid Pseudometapterus umbrosus (Blatchley) was studied in southern Illinois from February 1999 to November 2000, and the immature stages were described. The bug also was reared from egg to adult under controlled laboratory conditions. This univoltine species occurred on the rock faces of sandstone bluffs often in association with plants and spider webs. Adults and nymphs preyed primarily on small flies. Adults overwintered within fallen leaves on the bluff outcroppings, emerged in early April, and began feeding and reproducing shortly thereafter. Eggs were found from early May to late October and were deposited on the leaves and stems of Heuchera parviflora Bartling. Nymphs were found from early June to early September. New adults appeared in mid-July and remained active until early October.