OPEN ACCESS Freely available online

Entomology, Ornithology & Herpetology: Current

Research
Research Article

The Species Assassin Bugs (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) and their Preys in

the Mountainous Region of Northern Vietnam
Truong Xuan Lam1,2*
1
Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Nghia Do, Vietnam; 2Institute of of Science
and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Nghia Do, Vietnam

ABSTRACT
In the mountainous region of Northern Vietnam, field surveys in 2 National Parks, 7 Nature Reserves, Lao Cai, Cao
Bang, Hoa Binh, Son La, Bac Kan and Lang Son provinces shows that the 76 species of 43 genera, 7 subfamilies of
family Reduviidae (Heteroptera) were recorded, among them 5 species are newly recorded in Vietnam. The Lao Cai
(Bat Xat, Hoang Lien) has the highest diversity index and Bac Kan (Nam Xuan Lac), Lang Son (Huu Lien) have the
lowest diversity index. The index of similarity of species composition at 6 surveyed sites were divided into group 1,
Lao Cai (Bat Xat, Hoang Lien) and Cao Bang (Phia Oac-Phia Den); group 2, Hoa Binh (Thuong Tien, Hoang Kia-Pa
Co) and Son La (Xuan Nha, Copia) and group 3, Bac kan (Nam Xuan Lac) and Lang Son (Huu Lien). The number
of species in higher montane evergreen forest and lower montane evergreen forest is the biggest (69 species), in the
lowland evergreen forest and lowland semi-evergreen forest have 28 species, in agricultural ecosystems is containing
26 species, the buffer zone is containing 13 species and grassland is containing 17 species. The prey of 60 species of
the family Reduviidae was recorded.
Keywords: Assassin bugs; Reduviidae; Prey; Heteroptera

INTRODUCTION Hoang Lien National Park (3143 m). The Northeast mountainous
region consists mainly of medium and low mountains. The massif
The species of the assassin bugs (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) is documented upstream of the Chay River has many peaks above and below 2000 m,
with approximately 7000 species of 29 subfamilies. Many species play which is the highest area of the region [2].
an important role in the food chain of animals and plants, as well as
the ecological balance. Many species are either known as predators of So far, the study on the species of the family Reduviidae in Vietnam only
many dangerous pests or their indicative role for forest habitats except focused on the Central Highlands of Vietnam and some provinces of
species blood-sucking bugs (about 139 species) are dangerous vectors Northern Vietnam such as check listed 138 species of 9 subfamilies.
of disease to humans and animals [1]. The mountainous region of Discovered 2 new genera, 8 new species. New recorded for Vietnam
Northern Vietnam is fairly particular; it is adjacent to Guangdong, 01 subfamily (Centrocneminae), 15 genera and 40 species. Identified
Guangxi and Yunnan of China to the north, Laos to the west, Red 59 species with 15 species are their prey. The identified 2 common
River Delta and Central North to the south, and Gulf of Tonkin to the species of the genus Sycanus have an important role in protecting
east. Administratively, this region includes 11 provinces of Ha Giang, crops. Some biological characteristics of species Sycanus falleni,
Cao Bang, Lao Cai, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Tuyen Quang, Yen Bai, Lai Coranus fuscipennis (Harpactorinae) were recorded. Identify species
Chau, Dien Bien, Son La and Hoa Binh. The mountainous region of of blood-sucking bugs are Triatoma rubrofasciata in the North and
Northern Vietnam includes the Northwest mountainous region and with the increase in number in Ha Noi city [3-8]. However, the study
the Northeast mountainous region. Northwest mountainous region is on the species of assassin bugs and their preys in the mountainous
a region consisting mainly of medium and high mountains. This is the region of Northern Vietnam is very little conducted. Many new taxon
place with the highest, most fragmented and most dangerous terrain in for science and the new record is not discovered and published. The
Vietnam. The common terrain types here are high mountain ranges, information and data about the species diversity, their prey, as well as
deep valleys or canyons, limestone plateaus of medium elevation. The the relationship between them with their prey are not interesting and
highest and most massive mountain range is the Hoang Lien Son attentive.
range with many peaks over 2500 m, the highest peak is Fansipan of

Correspondence to: Truong Xuan Lam, Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Nghia Do,
Vietnam, Tel: 0915935888; E-mail: [Link]@[Link]
Received: December 03, 2021; Accepted: December 17, 2021; Published: December 24, 2021
Citation: Lam TX (2021) The Species Assassin Bugs (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) and their Preys in the Mountainous Region of Northern Vietnam.
Entomol Ornithol Herpetol. 10: 261.
Copyright: © 2021 Lam TX. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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Lam TX OPEN ACCESS Freely available online

plateau to Cuc Phuong National Park. The main physical feature

MATERIALS AND METHODS within Pa Co-Hang Kia is a high ridge, which reaches 1,536 m in
Field surveys the north-west of the nature reserve and gradually decreases in
The larvae were reared at 25°C ± 1°C and 60%-70% Relative altitude to the east. Most of the nature reserve lies above 500 m [2].
Humidity (RH) with a 14:10 photoperiod on an artificial diet at 4. Thuong Tien Nature Reserve (Hoa Binh province) with
the College of Agriculture, Yangtze University (20). The adults were spreading 20°36-20°41' N, 105°24'-105°29'E and covering more
fed with 10% honey. In bio-assay, the larvae were transferred to than 6,000 ha. Thuong Tien Nature Reserve spreads across the
tobacco leaves gently. three communes of Kim Tien, Thuong Tien (Kim Boi district), and
1. Bat Xat Nature Reserve (Lao Cai province) with an area of Quy Hoa (Lac Son district). Thuong Tien commune lies in a core
18.637 ha, spreading 22°23’-22°37’ N; 103°31’-103°43’ E which is zone of more than 5,000 ha. Khu hamlet, inhabited by the Muong
located on five communes (Y Ty, Den Sang, Trung Leng Ho, Sang ethnic group, has the largest wild forested area in the province [2].
Ma Sao and Nam Pung). Y Ty is located at an altitude of about 5. Xuan Nha Nature Reserve with spreading 20°41'58"-20°51'26"N
2,000 m above sea level and is covered with mist all year round. and 104°40'54"-104°55'35"E in Moc Chau district in the southwest
Nature Reserve belongs to the beginning of Hoang Lien Son Range of Son La province. To the south and east the nature reserve is
and connects with Hoang Lien National Park [2]. bordered by Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces, while, to the
2. Hoang Lien National Park (Lao Cai province) is situated at a west, it is bordered by Laos. The highest point in the nature reserve,
height of 1,000-3,000 m above sea level in the Hoang Lien Son Mount Pha Luong at 1,970 m, lies on the mountain ridge that
Mountain Range, including Fansipan peak 3,143 m high in Sa Pa forms the international border with Laos [2].
and Van Ban districts with an area of 29,845 ha, spreading 21030'- 6. Copia Nature Reserve with spreading 210 15’-210 25’N and 1030
21046'20'' N; 106035'48''-106048'15''E [2]. 30’-1030 44’E in Thuan Chau district in the southwest of Son La
3. Pa Co-Hang Kia nature reserve is located in the extreme west of province. The Copia Nature Reserve is located in 4 communes (Co
Hoa Binh province, on the border with Son La province. Spreading Ma, Long He, Chieng Bom and Nam Lau) with a total area of
20040'30”-20045'30” N and 104050'20”-105000'35”E. The site lies 19,745 ha, of which the natural forest area is 13,426 ha as shown
in the limestone range that extends south-east from the Son La in Figure 1 [2].

Figure 1: The study site on reduviids in the mountainous region of Northern Vietnam.

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7. Huu Lien Nature Reserve lies about 90 km due north of Ha Noi the specimens in the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources
and includes all of Huu Lien commune and a part of Yen Thinh were collected from April to July (2019-2021 year) on 5 habitats
commune, Huu Lung district, Lang Son province with spreading in the mountainous region of Northern Vietnam with nearly 593
21030'-21046'20'' N and 106035'48''-106048'15'' E. The landscape specimens of reduviids of 7 subfamilies (Harpactorinae, Saicinae,
of the nature reserve is dominated by limestone karst. According to Reduviinae, Ectrichodinae, Emesinae, Peiratinae and Stenopodainae),
the investment plan [2]. and preys of some species of them.
8. Nam Xuan Lac is situated in western Bac Kan province. To the Table 1 shows that: 76 species of assassin bugs of 43 genera, 7
west, the site is contiguous with the Ban Bung sector of Na Hang subfamilies (family Reduviidae) in the mountainous region of
proposed nature reserve. The topography of the site is characterized Northern Vietnam were recorded. Among 76 species of assassin
by steep limestone karst formations, separated by flat-bottomed bugs with 5 species are newly recorded in Vietnam (Parascadra
valleys with spreading 22017’12’’-22019’45’’ N and 105028’31’’- rubida [5], Peirates turpis Walker, 1873, Brachytonus nigripes
105033’20’’ E [2]. [5], Durganda rubra Amyot and Serville and Petalocheirus
spinosissimus Distant, 1903). The genera Peirates, Ectomocoris,
9. Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park (Cao Bang province) stretches
Oncocephalus and Ectomocoris have 4 species, genera Acanthaspis,
through the communes of Thanh Cong, Quang Thanh, Phan
Reduvius, Polytoxus, Lisarda, Canthesancus, Pygolampis, Biasticus,
Thanh, and Hung Dao and the town of Tinh Tuc in Nguyen Binh
Vesbius and Sycanus have 3 species, remaining genera have 1-2
district. The park has a total area of over 10,500 ha, with its highest
species. Among the 7 subfamilies recorded in the northern
peak at nearly 2,000 meters above sea level with spreading 22°35′-
mountainous region of Vietnam, the subfamily Harpactorinae
22°55′ N; 105°53′-106°13′ E [2].
is the largest subfamily of scarlet beetles with 23 species, among
The study on habitats and preys them 6 species are recorded in agricultural ecosystems (Biasticus
Investigation assassin bugs were conducted in some habitats as the flavinotus, Biasticus flavus, Coranus fuscipennis, Rhynocoris fuscipes,
higher montane evergreen forest and lower montane evergreen Sycanus croceovittatus and Sycanus falleni) [3,4]. The results of this
forest (EM); Lowland evergreen forest and lowland Semi-Evergreen study are also consistent with [5,6] as the subfamily Harpactorinae is
Forest (SF); The buffer zone (Ecosystem transitional buffer zone the largest reduviid subfamily in Vietnam, including more than 34
between forest, regenerated forests and agricultural ecosystems) genera and 62 species. In agricultural ecosystems, a few species of
(ES); Grassland (GL) and Agricultural ecosystems focus on the the subfamily Harpactorinae have been studied for biological control
important group of plants like fruit trees and industrial crops (AE) of pests in the field as Coranus fuscipennis, Coranus spiniscutis, Sycanus
following methods of collecting specimens by Steyskal, Schuh and croceovittatus and Sycanus falleni.
Slater, including sweep net, lights trap, pitfall traps, beating net and Table 1: The list of species reduviid, distribution and their preys in the
the aspirator can also be used effectively when collecting from the mountainous region of Northern Vietnam.
light trap, beating net, sweeping net when sorting litter by hand and No Name of species Distribution Habitats Their preys
very many other similar situations. The experimental study [9] with Subfamily Ectrichodiinae Amy. and Ser. 1843
adults and nymph instars of reduviids were collected from different Ectrychotes andreae
habitats, they will be tested in the laboratory on the plastic bottle 1. SL, CB EM, ES 4,8,9
Thunberg, 1784
(h=20 cm, d=10 cm; 8 x 6 x 4 cm) or the cage (50 x 50 x 100 cm; 40 x Ectrychotes comottoi
40 x 40 cm) by different preys both in the field condition and in the 2. HB, BK, LC EM, GL 4,8,9
Lethierry, 1883
laboratory. The preys of assassin bugs were the larvae of some pests
Ectrychotes lingnanensis
of order Lepidoptera, Homoptera, Coleoptera and Orthoptera 3. SL, CB EM, ES 8,9
China, 1940
include Anomis flava (1), Helicoverpa armigera (2), Spodoptera litura
Mendis rufus Hsiao and
(3), Plusia sp.(4), Nephotettix bipunctatus (5), Empoasca biguttula (6), 4.
Ren, 1981
HB, LC EM, SF 5, 15
Empoasca flavescens (7), Erianthus spp. (8), Pieris brassicae (9), Aphis sp.
Bayerus pilosus Hsiao,
(10), Aulacophora spp. (11), Chrysomela spp. (12), Rhopalosiphum spp. 5. CB, LC EM, SF 15
1973
(13), Oxya spp. (14) and Corcyra cephalonica (15).
Neoirta orientalis
6. CB EM, ES 15, 11
Taxonomy Distant, 1919
By morphology of species of Reduviidae and their prey basis on Parascadra rubida Hsiao,
7. CB, LC EM 15
1973*
morphological characteristics, the analysis of morphology was
conducted with an SZX7 Olympus microscope. The morphological Vilius melanopterus
8. CB, LC EM 5, 11
Stal, 1863
structure was painted on SZX7 Olympus. The documents for
reference and comparative morphological description are based on Subfamily Peiratinae Amyot and Serville, 1843
[10-16] Sirthenea dimidiate
9. LC EM, ES 15, 13
Horvath, 1911
Statistics
Sirthenea flavipes Stal, HB, SL, BK, EM, GL,
10. 3,4
The experimental data with the tracking indicators will be analysis 1855 LS, CB AE
and calculate the probability level (P<0.05) by Primer-e Sirthenea nigra Cai et EM, GL,
11. LC 3,4
Tomokuni, 2004 AE
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Lestomerus affinis EM, GL,
12. CB 3,4,12
Serville, 1831 AE
The species reduviid in the mountainous region of
Peirates arcuatus Stal, HB, SL, BK, EM, GL,
Northern Vietnam 13.
1871 LS, CB, LC AE
3,4,12

The research on assassin bugs (Reduviidae) is conducted based on

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Peirates leptidoides EM, GL, Canthesancus

14. CB, LC 4,12 HB, BK, CB,
Wolff, 1804 AE 41. trimaculatus Amyot and EM, SF 1, 2, 3,14, 15
LC
Peirates atromaculatus Serville, 1843
15. LC EM, SF unknown
Stal, 1870 Pygolampis biguttata
42. CB, LC EM, AE 10, 11
Peirates turpis Walker, Reuter, 1887
16. CB - unknown
1873* Pygolampis longipes EM,SF,
43. CB, LC 1, 2, 10, 13
Ectomocoris atrox Stal, Hsiao, 1977 AE
17. LC EM, AE 3,4,12
1855 Pygolampis rufescens
44. HB, CB, LC EM, AE unknown
Ectomocoris elegans Hsiao, 1977
18. CB EM, AE 3,4,12
Fabricius, 1803 Oncocephalus pudicus HB, SL, LS, 1, 2, 3, 4,
45. EM, AE
Ectomocoris Hsiao, 1977 CB, LC 14, 15
19. LC EM, SF unknown
yunnanensis Ren, 1990 Oncocephalus purus
46. LC EM, SF 12, 11
Ectomocoris biguttulus EM, GL, Hsiao, 1977
20. CB, LC 3,12
Stal, 1870 AE Oncocephalus scutellaris ES, GL,
47. CB, LC 1, 2, 12, 15
Subfamily Reduviinae Latre., 1807 Reuter, 1882 AE
Acanthaspis geniculata EM, AE, Oncocephalus lineosus ES, GL,
21. CB 3,4,12 48. CB 12, 15
Hsiao, 1976 ES Distant, 1903 AE
Acanthaspis ruficeps HB, SL, BK, EM, GL, 49. Staccia diluta Stal, 1859 CB EM, ES unknown
22. 3,12
Hsiao, 1976 LS, CB, LC AE Staccia plebeja Stal, HB, SL, BK,
50. EM, ES unknown
Acanthaspis collaris EM, GL, 1866 LS, CB, LC
23. LC 3,12, 15
Hsiao, 1976 AE Subfamily Emesinae Amyot and Serville, 1834
Gerbelius typicus Emesopsis nubilus
24. CB, LC EM, AE 3,4,12 51. CB EM unknown
Distant Uhler, 1984
Brachytonus nigripes Empicoris
25. CB EM, SF unknown
Hsiao* 52. rubromaculatus CB, LC EM, SF unknown
Durganda rubra Amyot Blackburn, 1889
26. LC EM, SF unknown
& Serville* Ploiaria glabella
53. LC SF, ES unknown
Reduvius tenebrosus Wygodzinsky, 1966
27. CB EM, SF 5, 12, 14
Stal, 1863 Subfamily Harpactorinae Amy. and Serv., 1843
Reduvius decliviceps Astinus siamensis SL, LS, CB,
28. LC EM, SF 2, 12,14 54. EM 9, 10
Hsiao, 1976 Distant, 1903 LC
Reduvius gregoryi Biasticus confucuss
29. CB, LC EM, ES 12,14 55. SL, CB, LC EM 1, 2,3
China, 1925 Hsiao, 1979
Subfamily Saicinae Stal, 1859 Biasticus flavinotus HB, SL, CB, EM, GL,
56. unknown
Polytoxus femoralis Matsumura LC AE
30. CB, LC GL, AE 1, 2, 5, 6, 7
Distant ,1903 Biasticus flavus Distant, EM, SF,
57. SL, LS, LC 1, 2,3
Polytoxus fuscipennis HB, SL, BK, 1903 AE
31. GL, AE 1, 2, 6, 7
Hsiao, 1965 LS, CB, LC Coranus fuscipennis HB, SL, BK, EM, ES
58. 1, 2,3
Polytoxus ruficeps 1, 2, 6, 7, Reuter, 1881 LS, CB, LC GL, AE
32. CB, LC EM,AE
Hsiao, 1965 12, 15 Endochus nigricornis
59. BK, LS EM, GL 3
Subfamily Stenopodanae Amyot and Ser., 1843 Stal, 1859
Lisarda pilosa Hsiao, Euagoras plagiatus HB, BK, LS,
33. CB, LC EM, AE 3,4,12 60. EM, SF 9, 11
1974 Burmeister, 1834 CB, LC
Lisarda uniformis Rhynocoris marginellus
34. CB, LC EM, SF 3, 4, 14 61. HB, CB, LC EM 1, 2,3
Distant, 1903 Fabricius, 1803
Lisarda rhypara Stal, Rhynocoris fuscipes
35. BK, CB EM, SF 1, 2, 3 62. HB, SL, LC EM, AE 6, 7,8
1859 Fabricius
Petalocheirus Isyndus reticulatus Stål, HB, SL, BK,
63. GL 1, 2, 3
36. spinosissimus Distant, LC EM, SF unknown 1868 CB, LC
1903* Panthous ruber Hsiao,
64. CB, LC EM 3, 13
Valentia hoffmanni HB, SL, BK, 1979
37. EM, AE 1, 2, 3
China, 1940 LS, CB, LC Poliditus armatissimus
65. CB, LC EM, SF 4
Aulacogenia corniculata Stal, 1859
38. CB EM unknown
Stal, 1870 Rihirbus trochantericus
66. CB, LC EM 5
Canthesancus Stal, 1861
1, 2, 3, 4,
39. geniculatus Distant, LC EM, AE Sphedanoletes
14, 15 67. CB, LC EM, SF 2
1902 impressicollis Stal, 1861
Canthesancus helluo HB, BK, CB, Sycanus croceus Hsiao, HB, SL, CB,
40. EM, SF 1, 2, 3,14, 15 68. EM, SF 1, 2, 3
Stål, 1863 LC 1979 LC

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Sycanus croceovittatus HB, SL, BK, EM, SF, (Phia Oac-Phia Den); Hoa Binh (Thuong Tien, Hoang Kia-Pa Co),
69. 1, 2, 3 Son La (Xuan Nha, Copia), Bac kan (Nam Xuan Lac) and Lang
Dohrn, 1859 LS, CB, LC AE
Sycanus falleni Stal, HB, SL, BK, EM, SF, Son (Huu Lien) have the diversity index and the number of species
70. 1, 2, 3 (H'=3.547, N=56), (H'=2.681, N=25), (H'=2.598, N=21), (H'=2.553,
1863 LS, CB, LC AE
Vesbius purpureus HB, SL, BK, N=17) and (H'=2.536, N=15), respectively (Table 2).
71. EM 1, 2, 3
Thunberg, 1783 LS, CB, LC At 6 surveyed sites in the mountainous region of Northern Vietnam
72. Vesbius sanguinosus Stal LC EM, SF - shows that: The index of similarity in species composition at 6
Velinus malayus Stal, surveyed sites was divided into different groups (Figure 2). Group 1,
73. HB, CB EM, SF 1, 13
1863 Lao Cai (Bat Xat, Hoang Lien) and Cao Bang (Phia Oac-Phia Den)
Velinus annulatus achieved 58%. Group 2, Hoa Binh (Thuong Tien, Hoang Kia-Pa
74. HB, CB, LC EM, SF unknown
Distant Co) and Son La (Xuan Nha, Copia) nearly 65%. The similarity
Velinus rufiventris index between group 1 and group 2 reached nearly 43%. Group 3,
75. HB, SL, LC EM, SF unknown
Hsiao Bac kan (Nam Xuan Lac) and Lang Son (Huu Lien) nearly 64%.
Villanovanus nigrorufus The similarity index between group 3 and group 4 reached nearly
76. LC EM 3, 13
Hsiao, 1982 50%. The similarity index of groups 1, 2 and groups 3 and 4 only
Note: *Newly recorded for Vietnam. Lao Cai: LC; Cao Bang: CB; Hoa reached about 38%.
Binh: HB; Son La: SL; Bac Kan: BK; Lang Son: LS.
The prey and habitat of assassin bugs
The species diversity of reduviid in surveyed sites
In habitats in the mountainous region of Northern Vietnam, the
The diversity index reflects the difference in species composition higher montane evergreen forest and lower montane evergreen
between surveyed sites. This difference is also related to the number forest (EM) was the highest recorded 69 species (rate 45.39%); the
of individuals in each species and the distribution of the number of lowland evergreen forest and lowland semi-evergreen forest (SF)
individuals in each species of the whole community. The Shannon- were the second highest recorded 28 species (rate 18.42%); The
Weiner diversity index (H') of each study site is shown in (Table buffer zone (ES) recorded 12 species (rate 7.89%); Grass-land (GL)
2). The Lao Cai (Bat Xat, Hoang Lien) has the highest diversity recorded 17 species (rate 11.18%) and agricultural ecosystems (AE)
index (H'=3.598) and the number of species (N=59). Cao Bang recorded 26 species (rate 17.11%) (Figure 3).

Table 2: Index Shannon–Weiner (H’) in surveyed sites.

Number of Index Shannon-

Surveyed sites Number of species Index (J')
individuals Weiner (H’)
Bat Xat Nature Reserve
Lao Cai 59 189 0.9375 3.598
Hoang Lien National Park
Cao Bang Phia Oac - Phia Den National Park 56 176 0.9255 3.547
Thuong Tien Nature Reserve
Hoa Binh 25 58 0.9815 2.681
Hang Kia - Pa Co Nature Reserve
Xuan Nha Nature Reserve
Son La 21 55 0.9766 2.598
Copia Nature Reserve
Bac Kan Nam Xuan Lac Nature Reserve 17 59 0.9466 2.553
Lang Son Huu Lien Nature Reserve 15 56 0.9287 2.536
LC LC LC LC LC LC

Figure 2: The similarity in the species composition of assassin bugs (Reduviidae)

in the mountainous region of Northern Vietnam.

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Figure 3: The species composition of assassin bugs in the mountainous region of

Northern Vietnam.

In Agricultural ecosystems (AE), the numbers of species of assassin biguttula, Empoasca flavescens, Erianthus spp., Pieris brassicae, Aphis
bugs that attack preys have been recorded in Figure 4. The prey spp. Aulacophora bicolor, Rhopalosiphum spp. species (rate 1.81%–
of assassin bugs is the larvae of 15 species of pest insects of order 4.91%).
Lepidoptera, Homoptera, Coleoptera and Orthoptera. Among 76
The results of this study are also consistent with [7,8] as the prey of
species of assassin bugs were recorded the prey of 60 species (Table 1).
assassin bugs in the Central Highlands of Vietnam are the larvae
The prey of 31 species is the Spodoptera litura species (rate 19.02%), of 15 species of pest insects of order Lepidoptera, Homoptera,
of 22 species is Helicoverpa armigera (rate 13.50%), of 21 species Coleoptera and Orthoptera. The prey of 19 species is the Anomis
is Anomis flava (rate 12.88%), of 17 species is Chrysomela sp. (rate flava, the prey of 17 species is Helicoverpa armigera, the prey of 22
10.43%), of 15 species is Plusia sp. (rate 9.20%), of 14 species is species is Spodoptera litura, the prey of 10 species is Plusia sp. and the
Corcyra cephalonica (rate 8.59%) and the prey of 3-8 species of prey of 16 species is Corcyra cephalonica (Figure 5).
assassin bugs are the Oxya spp., Nephotettix bipunctatus, Empoasca

Figure 4: The prey of assassin bugs in Agricultural ecosystems in the mountainous

region of Northern Vietnam.

Figure 5: The assassin bugs catch prey in agricultural ecosystems.

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Lam TX OPEN ACCESS Freely available online

CONCLUSION
In the mountainous region of Northern Vietnam, 76 species of 4. Lam TX. Taxonomic notes on species of reduviids with the descriptive
species of tribe Ploiariolini along to subfamily Emesinae (Heteroptera:
assassin bugs of 43 genera, 7 subfamilies of family Reduviidae in the
Reduviidae) in Vietnam. 2011;4425(1): 158-165.
mountainous region of Northern Vietnam were recorded with 5
species are newly recorded in Vietnam. 5. Lam TX, Cai W, Tomokuni M, Ishikawa T. The assassin bug subfamily
Harpactorinae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) from Vietnam: an annotated
The Lao Cai (Bat Xat, Hoang Lien) has the highest diversity index, checklist of species. Zootaxa. 2015;3931(1): 101-116.
and Bac Kan (Nam Xuan Lac), Lang Son (Huu Lien) have the lowest
6. Lam TX. The Species Diversity of Assassin Bugs (Heteroptera:
diversity index. The index of similarity of species composition at 6
Reduviidae) and their Preys in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Biolo-
surveyed sites were divided into group 1, Lao Cai (Bat Xat, Hoang
gical Forum– An International Journal. 2016; 8(2): 247-252.
Lien) and Cao Bang (Phia Oac-Phia Den); group 2, Hoa Binh
(Thuong Tien, Hoang Kia-Pa Co) and Son La (Xuan Nha, Copia) 7. Lam TX . A new species of the Emesine assassin bug genus Emesopsis
(Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) from Vietnam. Zootaxa.
and group 3, Bac Kan (Nam Xuan Lac) and Lang Son (Huu Lien).
2019;4608(2): 365-370.
The number of species on the higher montane evergreen forest and 8. Lam TX, Hoa BT, Linh HN, Cai W. A new species of the assassin bug
lower montane evergreen forest (EM) was the highest and the buffer genus Rihirbus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) from Vietnam.
zone (ES) recorded the lowest. In Agricultural Ecosystems (AE), the Zootaxa. 2020;4780(3): 4780.
prey of assassin bugs is the larvae of 15 species of pest insects. The
9. Ambrose DP. Assassin bugs. Science Publishers.1999: 1-337.
prey of 60 species of the family Reduviidae were recorded
10. Cai W, Zhou Y, Lu J. The morphology, postembryonic development
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and evolution of stridulitra in Reduviidae (Heteroptera: Reduvioidea),
with special reference to their taxonomic importance. Entomol. Sinica.
This research is funded by the Vietnam Academy of Science 1994;1: 1-6.
and Technology for senior researchers under grant number 11 Hsiao TY, Ren SZ. A handbook for the determination of the Chinese
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