Diagnosis and Specialized Morphology
Species of Cetherinae are characterized by:
- short, transverse head
- vertex with transverse sulcus between compound eyes
- pedunculate eyes
Taxonomic History
Five genera and 23 species are recognized in the subfamily Cetherinae. The subfamily was first considered as a tribe within Reduviinae by Jeannel (1919). Putchkov & Putchkov (1985) elevated it to subfamily status and designated three tribes: Cetherini, Euphenini, and Pseudocetherini. A comprehensive treatment of the African fauna is provided by Villiers (1948).
Natural History/Biology
Four genera of cetherines, including Cethera Amyot & Serville, are known from Africa and Madagascar; Eupheno Gistel occurs in the New World (Schuh & Slater 1995). Members of Cetherinae are active, and some are known to feed on termites (Miller, 1956a).
References
Jeannel, R. 1919. Voyage de Ch. Alluaud et R. Jeannel en Afrique Orientale (1911-1912). Resultats scientifiques. Insectes Hemipteres. III. Henicocephalidae et Reduviidae. L. Lhomme, Paris. pp. 133-313, pls. 5-12.
Miller, N.C.E. 1956. The Biology of the Heteroptera. Leonard Hill Books, London. 162 pp.
Putchkov, V.G., Putchkov, P.V. 1985. A Catalog of Assassin-Bug Genera of the World (Heteroptera, Reduviidae). [Published by the authors], Kiev. 137 pp.
Schuh, R.T., Slater, J.A. 1995. True Bugs of the World (Hemiptera: Heteroptera): Classification and Natural History. Comstock Pub. Associates, Ithaca. 336 pp.
Villers, A. 1948. Faune de l'Empire Francais. IX. Hemipteres Reduviides de l'Afrique Noire. Office de la Recherche Scientifique Coloniale, Editions du Museum, Paris. 489 pp.