Diagnosis and Specialized Morphology

Species of Hammacerinae are characterized by:
1) head is strongly produced anteriorly and is not constricted or elongated behind the compound eyes
2) stout, inflexible, and curving labium
3) antennal pedicel annulated into 4-36 pseudosegments
4) forewing membrane with 2 closed cells
5) fossula spongiosa present on fore and middle legs

Taxonomic History

This group was originally proposed as a subfamily by Stal (1859), and is sometimes referred to as Microtominae. This subfamily consists of two Neotropical genera (19 species): Homalocoris Perty and Microtomus Illiger. Microtomus was revised by Stichel (1926).

Natural History/Biology

Hammacerinae appear to live under bark (Readio, 1927).

References

Readio, P.A. 1927. Studies on the biology of the Reduviidae of American north of Mexico. Univ. Kans. Sci. Bull. 17: 5-291.

Stal, C. 1859. Nova methodus Reduvina (Burm.) disponendi. Berl. Entomol. Z. 3: 328.

Stichel, W. 1926. Die Gattung Microtomus Illiger (Hem., Het., Reduv.). Dtsch. Entomol. Z. 1926: 179-190, pl. 1.