Myiophanes kempi

Why in News?
A rare thread-legged assassin bug described from Siju Cave in Meghalaya a century ago has been rediscovered by scientists from the Andaman Islands.

• Recent Identification - Two thread-legged assassin bug specimens collected by a team of biologists from limestone caves in the Andaman Islands in 2019 were identified as Myiophanes kempi recently.
• First Described in – 1924 by British entomologist Willian Edward China.
• It had not been reported for the past 100 years after its first description.
• Assasin bug - It is a species of assassin bug, commonly known as thread-legged bugs.
• Genus – Myiophanes, distinguished from other Emesines by specific wing venation patterns and the structure of the prothorax.
• Sub family - Belonging to the subfamily of Reduviidae.
• Morphology - It has an extremely slender, delicate body with long, stilt-like legs.
• Habitat - It is a specialised predator of the subterranean ecosystem and lives in its complete lifecycle in the darkness.
• Distribution - This specific species is primarily associated with the Indian subcontinent, particularly reported from cave systems in regions like Meghalaya.
• Feeding Behaviour - It uses the long raptorial forelegs for snatching prey like small arthropods of the dark cave environment (troglophiles).
• Ecological Significance - Myiophanes kempi is a troglobitic species, meaning it is adapted to live permanently in caves.
• It plays a role in subterranean food chains, preying on other cave-dwelling organisms.
• Its rediscovery suggests that cave ecosystems may harbor many undiscovered or forgotten species.

Reference

The Hindu | Myiophanes kempi