Probergrothius angolensis

Welwitschia bug
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Infraorder: Pentatomomorpha
Superfamily: Pyrrhocoroidea
Family: Pyrrhocoridae
Genus: Probergrothius
Species: P. angolensis
Binomial name
Probergrothius angolensis
(Distant, 1902)[1]
Synonyms

Odontopus angolensis[2]

Probergrothius angolensis (sometimes known as the Welwitschia bug) is a species of true bug found in the Namib desert and nearby regions. The species has been recognized under a misattributed name, Probergrothius sexpunctatus, for several decades, but sexpunctatus is a separate species that occurs farther to the north.[3]

They are best known for their association with the unusual Welwitschia plant, also endemic to the area, but it is in doubt whether they actually serve a role in pollination or only drink Welwitschia sap.[4] In addition, they may spread a fungus, Aspergillus niger, in the process, which is harmful to developing seeds.[2]

Probergrothius angolensis on Welwitschia mirabilis

It is yellowish with four black markings on its wings, while P. sexpunctatus is more reddish, and the anterior spots are separate, so the wings have six black markings.

References

  1. ↑ UniProt entry
  2. 1 2 http://www.nacoma.org.na/Downloading/Toktok_Talkie_No12-45.pdf
  3. ↑ Sudakaran, Sailendharan; Retz, Franziska; Kikuchi, Yoshitomo; Kost, Christian; Kaltenpoth, Martin (2015). "Evolutionary transition in symbiotic syndromes enabled diversification of phytophagous insects on an imbalanced diet". The ISME Journal. 9 (12): 2587. doi:10.1038/ismej.2015.75. PMID 26023876.
  4. ↑ http://www.zobodat.at/pdf/PHY_39_1_0167-0183.pdf
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