Abstract:

The identification of flower bugs (Anthocoridae) is mostly based on characteristics of male genitalia, and it is believed that it is difficult to identify species based on females solely. Female copulatory tube of five known species of the genus Tetraphleps Fieber from China, including T. aterrimus (Sahlberg), T. galchanoides Ghauri, T. pilosulus Bu et Zheng, T. parallelus Bu et Zheng and T. yulongensis Bu et Zheng, were studied and compared. The result demonstrates that the structure of female copulatory tube in the same species is steady, whereas they differ distinctly between species. Therefore, copulatory tube can be used as a credible character in identifying species of this genus.

Key words: Hemiptera, Anthocoridae, Tetraphleps, female, copulatory tube, China