Home     
 

Print This Page

 Major Groups | Insecta (insects) | Hemiptera (bugs) | Leptopodidae
 

Leptopodidae
Valleriola

Major Group: Insecta
Order:
Hemiptera
Family:
Leptopodidae
Genus: Valleriola
This family is represented in Australia by a single genus, Valleriola Distant.

Descriptive Features:

  • body delicate, elongate to ovoid
  • head with 4 - 6 cephalic setae
  • eyes prominent and subpedunculate
  • 2 ocelli present on a raised tubercle
  • rostrum short and does not extend far beyond prosternum
  • antennae extremely long and slender
  • pronotum enlarged, punctate, with an excavated posterior margin that covers the mesonotum
  • metathoracic scent gland well developed with 2 reservoirs and 2 osteoles
  • all tarsi 3-segmented
  • forewing with 2 corial cells and 4 membrane cells
  • Total length: over 2 mm
  •  

    Valleriola wilsonae

    Taxonomic Checklist: Species
    Valleriola tribulosa Polhemus & Polhemus
    Valleriola wilsonae Drake
    (1 undescribed species)

    Distribution: NE Qld, N NT 

    Sensitivity Rating: none

    Functional Feeding Group: predators

     

    tributary to Mossman River, Qld

    Ecology: Instream habitat: Leptopodidae species are semi-aquatic bugs that generally occur on drier areas of vertical rock walls or boulders adjacent to fast flowing streams or on emergent rocks in streams of tropical and subtropical regions.
    Feeding ecology: Leptopodid bugs are diurnal predators upon other arthropods.
    Habit: These bugs are strong fliers and so may also be collected in dry habitats away from water. Valleriola wilsonae can run rapidly across rocks.
    Life history:

     

    Information Sources: Cassis & Gross 1995, 1995a, Carver et al 1991, Williams 1980
    Key tp species: none