Holoptilus is a genus of feather-legged assassin bug. Like others in the subfamily, they are characterised by their uniquely long hairs/setae. Most adults of this genus have a trichome on the underside of the abdomen, which is thought to produce chemicals to attract ants on which they prey. There are about 25 described species from the Old World tropics (Afrotropical, Indomalayan and Palearctic Realms).
Species in the genus include: Holoptilus agnellus Holoptilus aries Holoptilus astutus Holoptilus braunsi Holoptilus capensis Holoptilus cuneatus Holoptilus dimidiatus Holoptilus fasciatus Holoptilus flavus Holoptilus fur Holoptilus gillonae Holoptilus katanganus Holoptilus kinabaluensis Holoptilus lacustris Holoptilus leprosus Holoptilus lupus Holoptilus melanospilus Holoptilus nebulosus Holoptilus oraniensis Holoptilus silvanus Holoptilus transvaalensis Holoptilus ursus Holoptilus viverra Holoptilus vulpes
Description Members of this genus have widely separated ocelli, and the dorsum of the head behind the eyes is elevated in the middle. The antennae have four segments and the hemelytra are twice as long as the abdomen. The tarsi are two segmented.
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