A new record of the enigmatic burrower bug Microporus thoreyi (Signoret) (Heteroptera: Cydnidae) in Northland
Abstract
Microporus thoreyi (Signoret, 1882) is a poorly known but visually striking member of the heteropteran family Cydnidae (burrower or burrowing bugs). It has a shiny black, broadly oval body, and on first glance is easily mistaken for a dorso- ventrally flattened beetle. It has light, orange-brown legs that have a fossorial appearance and prominent bristles along the margins of the thorax. The front of the head (anteocular margin) bears prominent, short stout pegs interspersed with longer bristles. Body length of the three specimens examined by Larivière in her description of the species ranged from 4.36 - 4.75 mm. Her account also includes a line drawing of M. thoreyi and sketches of the female first gonocoxae and metathoracic scent gland opening. An excellent photograph of the species is provided by Thorpe.