Facultative Blood-sucking in Phytophagous Hemiptera

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Abstract
In 1926 Bequaert wrote, “In the light of the theory of evolution, the various cases in which hemipterous insects, that are normally predaceous or even phytophagous, occasionally become blood-suckers are of considerable interest. They show that haematophagous habits may be readily and rather suddenly acquired by insects that have developed suitable piercing and sucking mouth-parts, without previous adaptation to a blood diet.” These remarks accompanied an annotated list of the species of Hemiptera known to bite man without provocation. In the list are included six species of Cimicids and eleven Reduviids (Triatoma and Rhodnius) which are apparently obligate blood-suckers of Vertebrates; and nine Reduviids, one Nabid, five Anthocorids, and two Lygaeids (Geocoris henoni Puton and G. scutellaris Puton) which are normally predaceous on other insects, whose haemolymph they suck, being thus obligate blood-suckers of Arthropoda. The case of Clerada apicicornis Sign. is obscure, though this species is probably normally predaceous on other insects. An Australian species (C. nidicola Bergr.) is an inquiline in the nests of “opossums” (phalangers).

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