A new species of the web-inhabiting bug genus Heissophila Schuh (Hemiptera, Plokiophilidae) from China, with notes on host associations for the genus
Abstract
A new species of web-loving bug, Heissophila sinicasp. nov. (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Plokiophilidae, Heissophilinae), is described from Fujian and Guangdong, China. The species was found inhabiting the webs of Orientothele sp. and Vacrothele sp. (Araneae, Macrothelidae). It represents the second described species of the genus Heissophila Schuh, 2006 and expands the distributional records of the genus in the Oriental region. The new species can be distinguished from its only known congener by its smaller body size, predominantly brachypterous form, veinless hemelytral membrane, and corial glands with distinct morphology restricted to the hemelytra. The generic diagnosis of Heissophila is revised, a key to species of the genus and a new distribution map are provided. Additionally, the habitat, host spiders, and biological characteristics of the new species are briefly documented.
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BibTeX
@article{xiong2026species,
title = {{A new species of the web-inhabiting bug genus Heissophila Schuh (Hemiptera, Plokiophilidae) from China, with notes on host associations for the genus}},
author = {Haoyang Xiong and Zhuo Chen and Hu Li and Wanzhi Cai},
journal = {ZooKeys},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3897/zookeys.1296.200871},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1296.200871},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A new species of the web-inhabiting bug genus Heissophila Schuh (Hemiptera, Plokiophilidae) from China, with notes on host associations for the genus
AU - Haoyang Xiong
AU - Zhuo Chen
AU - Hu Li
AU - Wanzhi Cai
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
JO - ZooKeys
DO - 10.3897/zookeys.1296.200871
UR - https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1296.200871
AB - A new species of web-loving bug, Heissophila sinicasp. nov. (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Plokiophilidae, Heissophilinae), is described from Fujian and Guangdong, China. The species was found inhabiting the webs of Orientothele sp. and Vacrothele sp. (Araneae, Macrothelidae). It represents the second described species of the genus Heissophila Schuh, 2006 and expands the distributional records of the genus in the Oriental region. The new species can be distinguished from its only known congener by its smaller body size, predominantly brachypterous form, veinless hemelytral membrane, and corial glands with distinct morphology restricted to the hemelytra. The generic diagnosis of Heissophila is revised, a key to species of the genus and a new distribution map are provided. Additionally, the habitat, host spiders, and biological characteristics of the new species are briefly documented.
SN - 1313-2989
SN - 1313-2970
ER -