Insect of the week

29.10.2024

Insect of the Week (100) Leptocentrus prob. L. confusus Distant (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Membracoidea: Membracidae: Centrotinae)

The Insect of the Week (100) is the genus Leptocentrus (lepto=thin or fine, centrus=central). The name refers to the long, thin spine that extends from the pronotum to the apex of the abdomen. Membracidae, with their ca. 428 genera and ca. 3450 species, is far and away the largest of the three families of treehoppers in the superfamily Membracoidea.

11.10.2024

Insect of the week 97, Chalcedectus (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Chalcedectidae)

"More than twenty years too late for his scientific reputation, and after having done an amount of injury almost inconceivable in its immensity, Francis Walker has passed from among us". (from an obituary of Walker written by an anonymous contemporary).

11.10.2024

Insect of the Week (96), Lydomorphus sp. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea: Meloidae: Meloinae: Lyttini)

Our Insect of the Week is Lydomorphus sp. of the beetle family Meloidae. Meloidae is one of the most interesting Coleopteran families.

11.10.2024

Insect of the Week (95), Aeptencyrtus bruchi (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae: Tetracneminae: Acroaspidiini)

A sliver of gold. This week’s Insect of the Week (95), the sleek and striking Aeptencyrtus bruchi De Santiswas captured about 50 m from where I’m sitting in my office at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in Nairobi. It was collected in a yellow pan trap set in degraded riverine woodland.

17.09.2024

Insect of the week (94), Chrysidinae sp. (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea: Chrysididae)

Joseph’s coat of many colours. Among the most beautiful animals in the world, the Chrysididae make use of nature’s broad palette to paint the estimated 3000+ species in the family. No wonder that “jewel wasp” is one of the popular names for this family.