Kangkang (Anoplocnemis phasianus)

Kangkang (Anoplocnemis phasianus) is a species within Coreidae. It is an arboreal insect, predominantly black and brown in color, characterized by large legs with broad spines, a brown dorsal surface, and a pair of black antennae with brown tips.

In males, the dorsal side of the head is black, longer than it is wide, and covered in hairs. The ventral side ranges from brownish to black. The clypeus is slightly longer than the paraclypeus. The antenniferous tubercles are prominent, partially obscuring the median lobe, and are situated well apart from one another.



The antennal segments are black to brownish and hairy. The first three segments are black, while the apical (terminal) segment is yellowish (*luteus*) at both its base and tip. The first antennal segment is robust and longer than the second; the first and fourth segments are roughly equal in length, while the third is the shortest. The second and third segments are robust yet slender, and the fourth segment is spindle-shaped.

The eyes are large and globular, dark brown in color. The ocelli are light brown and positioned very close to the eyes. The bucculae are short and black, extending beyond the antenniferous tubercles. The rostrum is short and black, reaching past the procoxae (the bases of the forelegs).

The thorax features a black pronotum with a densely granular texture and a covering of hairs; it slopes downward toward the head and is shorter than it is wide. The anterior lobe is narrow and tapered, separated by a transverse sulcus from the broad posterior lobe. The humeral angles are rounded, with a ridge-like projection at the base.

The lateral margins are straight and slanted, while the posterior margin is slightly sinuate (curved). The base of the pronotum slopes toward the scutellum. The scutellum is triangular with a somewhat pointed tip and is covered in hairs. The corium and clavus are brownish, covered in fine hairs and a number of clearly visible punctures.

The legs are black. The hind femora are noticeably thickened and curved in the middle, featuring prominent spines as well as numerous smaller spines. The entire dorsal surface has a granular texture and is covered in hairs. The surface of the tibiae is also slightly granular and hairy. The hind tibiae are distinctly flattened. The wing membrane is brownish with a net-like venation pattern and does not extend beyond the apical segment of the abdomen.

The abdomen is elongated and ranges in color from brownish to black. The connexivum is black and clearly visible. The sternum is black and covered in hairs. There is a raised, semicircular ridge on segments II and III. The spiracles are large and prominent. The entire abdominal area is hairy and covered in numerous fine, black granules.

A. phasianus lives on plant stems, feeding on fluids from flower stalks and woody stems. As a result, the plant becomes nutrient-deficient and gradually weakens. The puncture marks left by the insect lead to the appearance of white spots, which are caused by the fungus Helminthosporium.

Females lay eggs on foliage, which then hatch into nymphs. These insects can be found in rice paddies, along riverbanks, in gardens, and in both rural and urban areas. They reproduce rapidly, forming colonies that dominate a given territory. They move nimbly along plant stems using their large, powerful legs.

TAXON

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Infraorder: Pentatomomorpha
Superfamily: Coreoidea
Family: Coreidae
Subfamily: Coreinae
Tribe: Mictini
Genus: Anoplocnemis Stål (1873)
Species: Anoplocnemis phasianus Fabricius (1781)

HOMOTYPIC SYNONYMS

Anoplocnemis phasiana Fabricius (1781)
Cimex phasianus Fabricius (1781)
Lygaeus erythronotus Lichtenstein (1796)
Lygaeus grossipes Fabricius (1803)
Lygaeus tumidipes Fabricius (1803)
Lygaeus varus Lichtenstein (1796)
Mictis castanea Dallas (1852)
Mictis dubia Dallas (1852)
Mictis ferrifera Walker, F. (1871)
Mictis lata Dallas (1852)
Myctis affinis Westwood (1842)
Myctis bicolor Westwood (1842)
Myctis punctum Westwood (1842)
Physomerus mictiformis Walker, F. (1871)

VERNACULAR NAME

Chinese (simplified): 红背安缘蝽
Chinese (traditional): 粗腿巨緣椿象
English: Kangkang
Indonesia: Kangkang
Japanese: アシブトヘリカメムシ
Java: Kangkang

Aryo Bandoro
Dlium TheDlium
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